Answers to Common Queries

Please refer to the resource bank section of CFR HQ. 

To use a simple analogy, there are typically three kinds of developmental organizations:

Those that give a child a fish

Those that teach a child to fish

Those that ensure that the child is supported to use that teaching to actually sustain themselves through fishing!

Giving fish is just not a sustainable option. Once that fish is over, the individual is still dependent on you. In MAD's case, we could just give them money, but then what? It would either be taken away by a guardian, or spent on something inadvisable, as children don’t know what to do with the money. It would soon be gone, and while their quality of life might have improved for a short while, their longer term life situation wouldn’t have changed at all, and they’d still be in the same vulnerable place they always were. A better option that generates more value for the same funds is to convert that money into developmental services that enable the child to one day be stable and independent. And that’s what we do. 

But it doesn’t stop there. We're actually in that rare 3rd category, because simply teaching a child to fish is not enough. How do you fish without a boat and a fishing rod of some sort? And how do you survive the big ocean when you have never seen or experienced it before? So we go further than just teaching. We provide them with a small boat and the basic equipment, and we ride out with them across the big waves for long enough until we know they can really do it by themselves. That’s aftercare, and that’s why we continue on with them up to age 28, long after they leave the shelter, until we know they are truly independent.

Donors can make donations through PayPal on the GiveIndia website. The option to donate through Western union is not available. 

Yes, that can be done. As long as the details of the donors are updated. 

Calling your classmate has rarely proved to be a successful approach since students often operate on very tight budgets and are typically dependent on their families for their finances. Accepting small cash donations of Rs.100 or less simply creates an audit risk as you have to capture individual details for every donation and you would need 120 of these to get anywhere near your goal! If you know their families personally, then better to reach out to their parents instead. They are much more likely to say yes and offer a sensible amount. 

This is a default message that is sent by NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India). Please note that it is mentioned Max amount. Even with the default message, the amount that was updated by the donor will only be considered. 

There is no minimum amount for donation. Any amount will be accepted for a donation on our website. But considering the costs that go into accounting, the recommended minimum amount is Rs. 200.