A new supporter of Oxfam

(some precious kids I met in India enroute to Nepal)

Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working in over 100 countries that finds lasting solutions to poverty and social injustice. These “lasting solutions”* include:

• research and lobbying to change international policies and practices that improve opportunities for the poor in controlling and improving their own lives (e.g. trade);
• public education and awareness of global issues to encourage global citizenship;
• development programs/projects on education, human rights, women’s skill development/gender equality, HIV/AIDS, fair trade…
• disaster relief, especially in water and sanitation

*72% of Canadian Oxfam funding goes to overseas programs; 8% to education/awareness campaigns and programs in Canada; 8% to administration; 12% for fundraising…2007 financial summary

Top reasons why you should support Oxfam (or any International social advocacy NGO for that matter!):

1. In the era of information technology we find ourselves more globally connected with people and other nations. No matter where you are in the world, advocating for change at the national and global level is now very easy and very possible to do. 

2. Global citizenship is equally as important as local citizenship. Social welfare and environmental issues occurring in your local community are just mere reflections or by-products of the issues that are occurring on a national and/or global scale. We don’t live in a bubble, nor should we be (although some choose ignorance and believe that world issues like disease, climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, food shortages, inequality, war…can never affect them). Shouldn’t being human involve some element of humanity? Get involved! 

3. There are endless benefits in contributing to both your local and global community. Monetary donations are especially important, and although they are needed as much in local charities, they seem to “cover more ground” in developing countries. For example, $215USD can cover a teacher’s annual salary or $40USD can educate a child for a year in India. That’s hardly a sacrifice for people like me to donate $10-20CAD/month to a good cause!

4. Social advocacy groups that help communities in self sufficiency are invaluable for providing long lasting solutions, e.g. building safe community water supplies, skill development, immunization against disease or education. Awhile ago I considered individual sponsorship of a child. But upon reading reviews & blogs from overseas educators and reviews from former foster parents, individual sponsorship created divides in the community and classroom, and unneeded expectations from the child that s/he would be living with their sponsored family some day. Furthermore, it does not address long term community needs like trade, health care or food security.

5. Tragically, the developing world will be hardest hit by global climate change. A 2006 report by the International Food Policy Research Institute reinforces this view with the prediction that climate change will put millions of Africa’s poor and most destitute people at even greater risk for poverty and hunger. Increased risk of worldwide desertification, droughts, floods and outbreaks of disease are also anticipated. 

If you have concern over where or how your money is being spent, do your research and choose an organization that is accountable and transparent (i.e. publishes its finances and expenses, and is audited by a third party). There are also some organizations that offer you options as to where you’d like to have your donations directed (e.g. disaster relief, HIV/AIDS, women’s right, etc.).

Oxfam is one of many organizations that does just this! Contact your local Oxfam office for volunteer opportunities or for getting involved in local campaigning events, &/or if you don’t have the time, make a (monthly or one-time) donation on-line. Help make global change a reality and get involved any way you can!