Many people today support a variety of organizations and charity foundations. The question is: what is your money really supporting?
There are many verifiable, charity organizations, but some aren’t doing what you think they are. Example: Kony 2012.
The Kony 2012 YouTube video became wildly popular all over the world, with more than 84 million views.
The video is a creation of the Invisible Children, Inc to promote the “Stop Kony” movement. It tells of Joseph Kony, who for the past 26 years has cruelly kidnapped over 30,000 children and forced them to be child soldiers in Central Africa.
When someone watches the video he or she feels saddened or upset by what is going on and they want to help; that was the purpose of the video. The Kony 2012 project plans to make Kony famous in order to find him and have him arrested for his crimes.
The Invisible Children also take donations to be sent to Uganda to help the children in these horrible situations.
There is a problem though: According to the Invisible Children website, less than 37% of all money donated actually goes overseas. Of that money it is split into several areas, none of which actually tell you where the money goes or what it is doing to help.
This fact seems sketchy to me. If I’m going to donate my money to help a cause I want to be sure it’s truly going to what I am supporting.
There have been several videos made and several people speaking out about the truth of the situation in Uganda.
It’s been said that Joseph Kony is either dead or not in Uganda anymore. He has not been seen or heard from since 2006, and the problem of children being kidnapped and turned into soldiers has diminished.
In a response video on YouTube user “slubogo” ,who is originally from Uganda, said “If we have military groups looking for Kony in Uganda and he’s not in Uganda, what are we doing?”
Yes, it was a problem and should have been helped. I am not heartless, but the problem no longer exists so there is no current need for help.
Why would someone send money to an organization without knowing all the facts or where the money is going?
YouTube user “slobogo” also said, “Educate yourself. I mean you shouldn’t base it off one You Tube video that a guy makes $90,000 a year for making this video.”
Jason Russell, the video’s filmmaker receives over $90,000 a year for creating the video with/for Invisible Children, Inc. Russell was recently arrested in San Diego after he was seen running down the street naked vandalizing cars and touching himself inappropriately. He was taken into custody and later hospitalized for exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition.
Like most people, I care and want to help those in need, but I’m not just going to give money away without knowing the facts.
Do research and be sure what you are supporting is real, and that your money is doing something good, not just paying a guy who runs down the street naked $90,000.
