“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Hellen Keller
As the year comes to a close, we are compelled to revisit our memories and reevaluate our actions throughout the year.
From our achievements to our losses and faults to our good deeds, this is a time for self-evaluation and much introspection. During this time, we also look at how we have made the world a better place for the next generation. But in the ever-moving state of the world, there never seems to be time to lend a helping hand.
A prevailing factor throughout the year has been the financial crisis the entire world has faced. From issues like period poverty and the rising cost of medication around the world to dire problems of insecurity and gender-based violence, the world draws close to mayhem, and this can pose a daunting challenge to our mental and physical well-being.
Charity and wellbeing
In a bid to remedy this, charities stand as a gateway to provide solutions to issues our society is riddled with. Charity organisations are often non-governmental with a specific cause they cater to. Their primary objectives are often to aid and provide social well-being, all while harnessing the power of community to bring about socio-economic and socio-cultural change.
More often than not, people question the benefit of donating to charities and non-governmental organisations. Aside from religious and moral reasons, studies have shown that charitable giving, or any form of selfless volunteering, can positively influence the physical and psychological well-being of individuals participating in philanthropic activities. An article by the Charity Aid Foundation on why giving is essential listed five main benefits of giving to charities.
- Giving to charity makes you feel good.
- Giving to charity strengthens personal values.
- Giving to charity is more impactful than ever.
- Giving can reintroduce family and friends to the importance of generosity.
- Giving to charity builds and strengthens the community.
While these benefits are significant, we must also consider the overall importance of donating to charities.
The importance of donating to charities
Underneath the surface of financial contributions is a significant influence beyond donating. Here’s a closer look at the significance of charitable giving and the ripple impact it has:
Meeting Critical Needs
Charities play a crucial role in addressing urgent and essential community needs. Donations serve as lifelines for persons experiencing difficult situations, from giving food and shelter to supporting healthcare and education efforts. Individuals may help satisfy the urgent needs of the less fortunate by donating to organisations.
Addressing Global Challenges
Many charities operate worldwide to solve critical concerns such as poverty, inequality in healthcare, and environmental protection. Donations help the collaborative effort to address these issues, underlining humanity’s need for each other and shared obligation to build a better future.
Encouraging Social Responsibility
Giving encourages a sense of social duty. It promotes people, corporations, and communities to participate actively in societal well-being. Donations create a communal commitment to social responsibility, producing a culture where everyone contributes to constructive societal progress.
Leveraging Collective Impact
When small individual efforts are aggregated, they have a considerable collective influence. Charities use the power of collective contributions to address complex challenges methodically. This collaborative approach increases the impact of gifts, resulting in more meaningful and long-term change.
Cultivating a Culture of Generosity
Giving to charity helps to foster a culture of generosity in society. When people see the beneficial results of contributing, it stimulates others to join the cause. This cultural change toward generosity helps make the world more compassionate and selfless.
Charities you can donate to
Donating to charities is more than just money—it’s about the positive impact of collective kindness. When people realise how far-reaching their generosity can be, they become essential contributors to a better, more compassionate world.
Every donation, big or small, creates waves of positive change that touch lives and shape a future filled with kindness and compassion. In the spirit of generosity and charity, we have curated a list of charitable organisations in Nigeria that cater to the needs of people in need and people who deserve better opportunities in life.
The Irede Foundation
The Irede Foundation was started by Crystal Chibgu in 2012 to provide aid to people with disabilities. It was also created to form a support network for mothers whose children have deformities from birth. Their motto, ‘Extending limbs, raising champions’, shows evidence of the organisation’s commitment to providing help to people with disabilities, all while bringing awareness to the cause.
Their programs include:
- Limb empowerment: provide child amputees with prosthetic limbs
- Psychosocial support: provide psychosocial support through physical and virtual counselling sessions, peer-to-peer support, etc.
- Inclusive education: promote quality education for all children with disabilities in Lagos State by advocating for a comprehensive, inclusive education policy and encouraging organisations of persons with disabilities to participate in the monitoring process.
- School-based advocacy: educate students of Primary and Secondary Schools on Disability to curb the stigmatisation Children With Disabilities face from their peers.
Donate here
Mirabel Rape Crisis Center
The Mirabel Centre is Nigeria’s first Sexual Assault Referral Centre, with the mission of providing survivors of rape and sexual abuse with complete medical and psychosocial treatment.
The Mirabel Centre has offered direct free medical treatment and emotional assistance to approximately 8000 survivors of rape and sexual abuse (including men, women, and children) throughout its ten years of existence as a non-governmental organisation. The youngest survivor was a three-month-old infant, while the oldest was an 80-year-old woman.
Donate here
STER Nigeria
The Stand to End Rape Initiative is a youth-led social enterprise that advocates against sexual assault by offering preventative methods and psychological treatment to survivors.
The STER initiative achieves its objectives through various programs, including seminars, awareness campaigns, capacity-building training, and many more.
Donate here
WAAW Foundation
The WAAW (Working to Advance Science and Technology Education for African Women) Foundation is an international non-profit organisation that seeks to empower African women and girls to become transformative leaders through STEM education, leadership, and entrepreneurship training while significantly impacting the world.
Donate here
Wellbeing Foundation
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) is a non-governmental organisation established in 2004 by Mrs. Toyin Ojora-Saraki. Its mission is to enhance health outcomes for women, infants, and children.
The foundation combines programs and advocacy efforts globally and in Nigeria to provide comprehensive support for its primary beneficiaries from birth to adolescence.
As a leading authority in WASH, maternal and newborn health, and adolescent health in Nigeria, WBFA leads effective initiatives to prevent disease transmission, reduce infections in hospitals, minimise neonatal sepsis, and enhance the capabilities of healthcare workers through sustainable approaches for each community’s needs.
Donate here
YEDI
Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI) is a teenage health organisation and partner of Grassroot Soccer Inc. with a mission to educate, empower, and inspire youth and community development in Nigeria using proven effective and innovative development approaches.
Donate here
Cece Yara Foundation
The Cece Yara Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on preventing child sexual abuse and offering support, information, protection, and emergency intervention for children at risk or who have experienced sexual abuse, along with their families.
The foundation provides a free 24-hour child helpline and Child Advocacy Centres in Lagos and Abuja. These centres offer professional counselling, medical aid, legal support, shelter, forensic interviewing, psycho-social assistance, and referral services in a child-friendly environment.
Donate here
BRECAN
The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) is a non-governmental organisation that actively mobilises efforts to combat breast cancer in Nigeria. Their focus includes ongoing public education, patient support, advocacy, and research.
Donate here
Girl’s Power Initiative
The Girl’s Power Initiative (GPI), founded in 1993, is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to feminism and youth development. Its mission is to intervene in the socialisation of girls, aiming for a future where women are recognised and valued contributors in Nigeria. This vision is seen in their motto: “Towards an Empowered Womanhood.”
Donate here
