elbows:
I’m for things like Heifer.org . With your donation, a woman, in a third world country, is given a breeding pair, (goats, ducks, sheep, cows, etc.), she is also schooled in animal husbandry.
By choosing women the assets cannot be as easily gambled or bartered away. With the income, she feeds her family a better diet, brings in income, sends her children to school.
Part of the arrangement, when she gets her breeding pair, is that once she has established a herd, she is obligated to provide a breeding pair and animal husbandry education to another woman in her community.
I think, it’s a small thing, from the donation end, and so, accessible to many people. And the effect multiplies geometrically. Big impact, little organization or red tape for the recipients. Self replicating. I likey!
Heifer is my large charity of choice, too. The fact that the gift includes education about taking care of the animals, and that the animals will multiply, means that the effects of my gifts will almost certainly outlive me, and might very well outlive my daughter.