Thursday, January 25, 2007
~ 20:49 ~
SS Thing
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/167884.asp
That unsigned $25k cheque
This article is about the recent results of the probe on Youth Challenge, a charity which helps in dealing with teenagers and helping them stay out of trouble. The results where published the day before, 24/1. The results were damning. The charity chief had earned more than half of what the charity had raised during last year. The amount, $248,867, was paid to Vincent Lam, who quit on Monday, last year, amounting to $20,738 per month. This will lead to more mistrust for charities, as it follows the NKF case last year.
This article has left me rather shell shocked. I have participated in some Youth Challenge's activites, more recently last year. Therefore i feel cheated, as the money i paid had found its way into someone's pocket. This event occurs even as the NKF trial is ongoing. Is this not evolving into a vicious cycle, as one charity after another plunges into darkness for a mishandling of funds? Should people not be given an assurance as to where their money ends up after their donations?
The government, i feel, is a little late in dealing with this matter. the government takes notice only after the wrong has been done for a very long time, should it not be taken care of before it happens? However, the government has done a remarkable job in dealing out the punishments for those in the wrong.
The government dealt with the NKF case effectively and efficiently. Thus, no doubt this case will be dealt with equally or even more efficiently.
However, this is a serious problem the government is facing, and must tackle the root of the problem, not just treating the symptoms as they appear.
The government requests for charities to be more trnsparent in their management of funds. This i feel is a good measure by the government to curb the mismanagement of funds, tackling the root and the symptoms of the problem.
The way in which the NKF and now Youth Challenge is to be dealt with will be pivotal in serving as a reminder to other charities, that none is above the law. If you try to flaunt the law, the law will catch up with you. That is the message the government needs to send to other charities. If these two cases are not dealt with properly, Singapore faces a serious problem, as other charities will feel that one can get away with it and thus few will be willing to contribute to these charities or any charity organisation. Needless to say, it is the needy who will suffer. Thus to treat the problem, these two charities must be dealt with severely.
Therefore, the government faces an uphill task if people do not learn from the mistakes of these charity organisations. this is not a problem which the government needs to tackle, charity organisations also need to uphold their own integrity and handle funds appropriately.
