You couldn’t miss the Ashton Kutcher vs. CNN twitter race to 1,000,000 followers for a good cause. It was all over Twitter, CNN and digial billboards all across the country. While lots of money was raised for Malaria Nets for Africa some are questioning it’s effectiveness and whether or not this form of fundraising and giving is what the African continent needs. My good friend and Missions Innovator Tony Sheng 
twittered a link to a post on ProjectDiaspora.org about this very matter.
Celebrity stunts of altruism are killing livelihoods in Africa is an interesting article (as are the comments) to help us start thinking of better ways to use the money the God has blessed us with and find more helpful ways to bless others with (which of course was at least part of the idea of the race and what millions of others are doing each year regardless of any attention).
In the past I’ve given to organizations that give micro loans which is a great way to not only infuse money into poor area and to people who cannot get credit through traditional loans but is it also bring business education and accountability to people who have never been taught to make money work for them. Everybody, obviously has opinion, but getting educated about what ways are effectively making positive influences in 3rd World Countries but we also need to make sure that the organizations that we are supporting are being good stewards of the money entrusted to them. Take sometime to read the post linked above. Also spend some time reading International Development: lessons learned from ‘Women of Kireka’ project.
Then join the conversation! Let us know what you are doing in these areas and which ways you are finding to be most effective.
