Is there questionable spending in informal charity funds, and can poorly conducted charity work help people in poverty?
CREATING MORE SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Many charitable groups in Vietnam operate informally, are not charitable funds, and do not hold charitable operating licenses as prescribed by Vietnamese law. It is also difficult to demand transparent audits from these groups.
In many charity groups I know, financial transparency is always a sensitive issue that concerns many members, yet few dare speak up for fear of offending others. They face a psychological barrier: “Why care about money when doing charity?” Or they simply trust the “pure hearts” of those who established the groups.
If we do charity by giving someone a little money, then leave them to their fate as long as we feel comfortable, that is selfishness. Charitable work is a whole process of bringing relief, not merely the act of giving money away.
Our elders taught: “Money entering a poor household is like wind entering an empty house,” coming in through the front door and out the back, then disappearing. Sadly, dazzled by the word “charity,” we overlook this. We give someone a little money and then leave them to face life with it, as long as we feel comfortable. That is selfishness. Charity is an entire process of helping people find a way out, not simply handing over money.
Charitable activities across our society are taking place spontaneously, without oversight, methods, or clear objectives, and are causing negative consequences for society.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES URGENTLY NEED ENFORCEABLE RULES
The flourishing of charitable activities reflects not only the wealth gap in society, but also the humanity and community spirit of some people who have more than enough. However, unchecked charity can expose society to unpredictable dangers when it erodes the work ethic of some people living in poverty and places them in circumstances where they can easily turn to crime. More than ever, we need clear, specific sanctions and decisive involvement from the authorities to bring charitable activities into order so they can achieve their inherent noble values.
We already have regulations governing the establishment of charity funds. However, the author has not found regulations or penalties for spontaneous charitable activities or activities showing signs of fraud or misappropriation of charitable assets. Nor have we carried out public education and provided legal guidance on organizing charity work. As a result, charitable activities across our society are taking place spontaneously, without oversight, methods, or clear objectives, and are causing negative consequences for society.
Without timely corrective legal intervention with sufficient deterrent force, uncontrolled charitable activities may turn into scams, undermine society's work ethic, or simply create more social problems.
(The author’s perspective as an employee working in Saigon.)