I think this whole fund raising business is a minefield, in so many ways. Some very well known international charities realised that if their advertising in the First World depicted just another sparse, orange coloured hair, pot bellied, large brown eyed toddler peering from behind his mother's tattered skirts, they were just another amongst many. Donors felt that even if they donated a hundred dollars what would it do?....a mere drop in the sea of poverty. People want to give their charity dollars to needy people, but please, don't show the true horror of real poverty...it's depressing. We want to feel positive about giving, and that our dollars will make a real difference. Then their marketing people came up with a different strategy. $60.00 will buy a pig...$80 a goat... $20 a chicken... $10 a sack of seeds. Aaaah. thats more like it...a cute little piggy who will grow up and have more little piggies, who the village can sell and the money be used towards a well...much better. What's your paypal number? That balance...to woo the potential donor yet not sell out the destitute, hungry toddler with a farmyard of donor animals taking his place on the posters....Who's right, who's wrong, so long as that kiddie's village get their well.
