“But what can I do to help?”
People are celebrating the South African government’s decision yesterday to raise the basic income grant for poor people (essentially a form of UBI). The amount is an increase of a few hundred rands, and it is going to make a big difference to people. That’s all it takes to change someone from being absolutely desperate to surviving.
You don’t have to be a millionaire to help other people. Many South Africans just need a few hundred rands (literally around $25) each month to pay electricity, buy data and get some food. A further $50 can pay rental for a whole family.
What can you do?
Contact the poor people you know directly and ask them if you can help them. Use this opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and community between rich and poor, between suburb and township. Please do so in a way that ensures some dignity.
If you don’t know anyone personally who is poor, first of all put that on your to do list for after Covid. Make a note to question your life choices if you’ve been able to live your whole life so far without making connections with anyone outside your economic class. But then ... find an NGO/NPO doing work distributing food parcels or helping the poor and donate to them. I don’t want to make suggestions here, because there are so many doing good and it would be better to find one that is local for you; but DM me if you really are stuck and need suggestions.
If you live outside South Africa and want to contribute across borders into our country, please contact me. We have people literally starving here, and every dollar, pound or euro you can send will literally save lives. I’d be happy to facilitate your donation going to worthy causes. Every single cent would make a difference and would go to a good cause. Please seriously consider this and message me if you can help.
Right now, one the best things you can do to help is give money to poor people.