Dubai: As foreign aid to Haiti slowly trickles in, observers worldwide are debating whether donating money or blankets and canned food is really the best thing to do.
Picking the right charity can be tough and not knowing how to help can leave onlookers feeling helpless. Individual donors would be forgiven for worrying whether their contributions will reach those they are intended for.
Through Dubai-based charity Gulf for Good, which organises sponsored sporting and adventure trips to fund charitable projects, participants can have peace of mind that their fundraising will not be in vain.
Kim Lester, charity director at Gulf for Good said they have specific criteria for charitable donations.
"Gulf for Good will only donate monies toward specific, discrete projects such as [the] building of a classroom within an existing school, [the] construction of an orphanage or [the] procurement of capital equipment.
Transparency
"It is important… that there is transparency and accountability. We therefore do not make grants or support operational or discretionary costs. All funds raised by our challengers are earmarked for a specific project," Lester said.
Gulf for Good is scrupulous in its research to choose a charitable project for donation, she added, as "laws governing non-profit institutions vary greatly country to country."
"Wherever possible, we try to work with a charity with which we have established a working relationship. Where not possible, we look for leads from numerous sources including recommendations from other charities, our ground handlers, schools, local Rotary or Lion's Clubs and, of course, pure research," Lester said.
Gulf for Good has been financing charitable projects in almost 20 countries over nearly a decade. It has run 28 challenges supporting 35 charities for children.
"Short-listed charities are required to submit detailed project proposals with detailed project estimates and proof of capability to implement. The Board will select the final charitable project for each challenge.
"Once approved and, prior to the challenge itself, we require the charity to submit an itemised project estimate, certified by an independent party.
"Interim reports are required. Upon completion, detailed project costings, again certified by an independent party, as well as invoices must be submitted. All payments from Gulf for Good are phased based on progress," Lester added.
During each challenge participants will visit the selected charity as part of the challenge itself and, wherever possible, take part in some work at the charity such as painting, decorating classrooms, reading to the children or playing with the children.
Have you got what it takes?
If you are interested in the Lebanon Mountain Eco-Trail or in finding out about Gulf for Good's other ‘charity challenges', please call +971 4 368 0222 or visit www.gulf4good.org for more information.
There will be Information Evenings held in Dubai on January 27 and Abu Dhabi on February 2 .
These events are the best opportunity to find out all about how the charity is run, all the challenges for 2010 and provide interested parties with a golden opportunity to ask questions and develop a deeper understanding of the charity's operations.
