Stop Asking for Money!

Just like so many popular scams in India, running an orphanage, an old age home or a home for disabled also seems to be a means of quick & easy money to lots of people over here I guess. Sorry if I sound judgmental or if you feel that I am generalizing it.

Then let me put it straight. I by no means, am trying to say that everyone out there doing something around it wants to fulfill some of their selfish motives. There are some really nice people too in the world who are doing an incredibly awesome job for the needy.

This is again based on some of my encounters in the past. I was about to step in a shopping mall when a lady (quite well to do she seemed) came to me and said “I am from XYZ institution. We run an orphanage, where we provide quality education, free meals and take care of the deprived and disabled kids well. Madam, would you please donate some money so that we can provide better services to them.”

I was like, ok; let me think for a while. Then I said, after a pause of a minute or two. Where exactly is that orphanage located?  She says, it’s in HSR, near so and so place. I inquired further, ok, kids of what age-group do you take care of there? By the time I asked this question, I could see her being uncomfortable and a sense of irritation on her face. But then she replied keeping her calm: “No madam, it’s not specific to some age-groups.”

My next question was: “Do you send them to schools for education or ..? How do you manage?” She was like ‘No madam, it’s more of an in-house schooling’.

I said: that sounds great. You know what, I stay in HSR and I would be happy to teach some of those kids. If you think I am not qualified enough to teach high school students. I could start with preliminary or junior level classes and I can easily spare a few hours every weekend for/on them. I would love to do that. Could you please tell me the exact address and I will visit the orphanage next weekend and we may discuss about this donation part then? She said “No madam, you need not come there. You may just donate some money and we will take of all that. We don’t want to bother you.”

I said “No, no, no, you’re getting me wrong. I will enjoy teaching them. No botheration at all. So, just tell me the address.”  She was like “No madam, it’s ok, you need not come, you may just donate some money”

Then I just told her, in that case I would not donate any money to the orphanage.

Last year I wanted to donate some money to an orphanage. So, I sent an e-mail to 1 or 2 institutes.  But I found none of them convincing enough to donate money. Similar incident happens every weekend, when a lady calls from a famous trust here in Bangalore and she reads out a list of packages I may donate for: Morning breakfast, lunch or dinner and blah blah..

What is this some kind of holiday or beauty package? Did you have similar experiences? Would love to hear about them..