I’ve been working for ~8 years and doing well enough in life, hence I donate $500~ every month to various charities such as food bank, giving.asia, WWF,etc. But never NUS giving.
Here are my reasons:
1) I want my donations to go towards something impactful to society or for a worthy cause. Honestly giving a lower income student who scores good grades are the very last of my concerns – there are other government channels for that, and the student can jolly well work part time and take up a student loan. I did that previously btw, it builds up grit that a lot of younger students are lacking – got me to where I am today.
2) I want to know specifically where my money is going to, such as feeding the less fortunate or helping a particular person with a disease they have never wanted. People who actually do not have the means to get out of their predicament without external support.
3) No clear visibility on how the money is used and who gets it. I’m a true blue Singaporean, I don’t want my money to go to a foreigner, especially PRCs – from my time in NUS, yes I’ve heard and they bragged how our government and universities basically sponsor their studies just cause of their grades, where they intend to leave after whatever bond or scholarship ends.
Until then, I’ll just continue to donate to other charities and use the mailers from NUS giving to pick up my dog poop.
Here are what netizens think:
- Always remember to be contented and appreciative, even for your school that you study in. And if you feel that its not working out for you, find another worthy cause that links up with your donation interest. Bad-mouthing (whoever you are) doesnt look good on you. If you feel there is a case, build a worthy case to bring it up. If not, move on and be happy about what you do.
- I agree with point one but I believe that the best money given is to build up education and healthcare, especially in the areas of infrastructure like hospital and learning institutes. Things like those will benefit generations and improve standards of living from the next generation onwards. Giving money to pet societies and kidney dialysis centers will of course help with pain and suffering among Singaporeans but that doesn’t help the next generation, pain and suffering will continue and that hole will continuously require money to be plugged in.
- You’re letting a few bad eggs deprive the rest that are deserving. But it’s your money and your choice on how you want to make yourself feel good.