Tag Archive: modern practice

The Beggars’ Lunch – A unique Goan tradition

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in India Tags: , ,

By Elaine Peterson

Although examples of giving to the less fortunate can be found in many Indian traditions and customs, I would like to talk about a unique tradition that is found among the Goan Catholic families during wedding preparations. Goa is predominately a catholic state in India, having been occupied by the Portuguese who converted a large portion of the population. English is widely spoken and the western way of dressing is the norm.

A couple of days before the wedding, usually on a Tuesday, a lavish feast is prepared and 7 or 9 poor people in the village are invited to Read the rest of this entry >>

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Zakat in Afghanistan

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Middle East Tags: , ,

By Roma Rashidi

Afghan Muslims are responsible for carrying out the duties and rituals commonly referred to as the five pillars of Islam. These include the recitation of the creed (shahdah), daily prayers (namaz), almsgiving (zakat), fasting (ruzah) and pilgrimage (hajj), (Sitar, 1969).

In this paper I will be focusing on the zakat system as practiced in Afghanistan. Zakat, or almsgiving, means donating a percentage of one’s wealth to the needy or poor. Currently, many institutions and organization are surviving solely on zakat money within Afghanistan. Schools and orphanages actively Read the rest of this entry >>

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Personal Reflections of Eid in the United Arab Emirates

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Middle East Tags: , ,

By Imad Alassaad

The instance of giving that I have chosen to discuss involves the Islamic religious holiday of Eid. Eid can be described as being the combination of Christmas and New Years, in the sense that, it celebrates the end of the lunar calendar and a month’s long fast (Ramadan). On this day, Muslims worldwide practice the art of philanthropy by offering monetary and nutritional gifts (trays of rice and meat) to related family members, friends and fellow community strangers that undergo the act of pan handling. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Ubuntu: A South African perspective of philanthropy

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in South Africa Tags: , , ,

By Ann Kearns

Ubuntu is an indigenous South African philosophy that recognizes there is an interconnection between all people and no one person exists in isolation. Every interaction with a person is an opportunity to explore our humanity (Kamwangamalu, Nkonko M. (1999). Ubuntu in South Africa: a sociolinguistic perspective to a Pan –African concept.) At the core of this philosophy is the desire for all persons to live a life that can bring positive change to other people in their family, community, village, city or country.

The history of ubuntu was not scribed like the Torah, etched like Egyptian hieroglyphics or written like the Bible. It is indigenous Read the rest of this entry >>

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Ghana: Self Help Africa

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in West Africa Tags: , ,

By Adwoa Owusua

The continent of Africa has suffered from colonial rule, slavery, and not to mention robbed and stripped of all its wealth and natural resources. Though these atrocities took place centuries ago, most countries in Africa have not yet recovered economically. Due to this, poverty is the out most reason as to why African citizens cannot afford basic life’s necessities. Therefore, food insecurity is significantly related to poverty and food production. Likewise, droughts, Read the rest of this entry >>

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Sisters Netcare Services, Accra, Ghana

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in West Africa Tags: , ,

By Anita Kyere

The effects of colonization has affected the Africa greatly. It has left the continent in a dismal position where it is hard to be self reliant. The effects of colonisation has left Africa with little resources to be self reliant and productive to have a rich economy. Those affected greatly by the effects of colonisation have been women and children. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Community involvement with famine relief in rural villages in Tanzania

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in East Africa Tags: , , ,

By Nadine De Albuquerque

Throughout my childhood, family members would describe stories depicting their upbringing in East Africa; the difficult times, the government nationalization of personal property directed at particular ethnicities and the disparate situations they witnessed, always making a point to convey just how “lucky” I was. The importance of family and community support was a recurring theme to these tales. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Russian Response to the 2010 Summer Wildfires

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Russia Tags: , ,

By Julie Lafford

Philanthropy is a relatively new idea in Russia. During seventy years of communism where the government was expected to take care of all needs, material and spiritual, charity was thought of as demeaning towards the receiver (Gambrell). The response to the summer 2010 wildfires by the government, big business and the public at large shows that this attitude has changed greatly since the fall of the Soviet Union as the three parties rethink their role in philanthropy.

After the fall of communism some families and individuals profited greatly from new capatilist business activities; Russians refer Read the rest of this entry >>

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Personal Reflections of the The Carcross/Tagish First Nation

sduncan post on January 28th, 2013
Posted in North America Tags: , ,

By Roma Breese

“We’re not here to serve ourselves – Dikée Aankaawu (creator) made everything for a purpose and that purpose is to serve others, – like the moose serves us, the wolves, bears, even the plants in both its life and death – all things, all of nature same thing – it is about serving others – we do so in life and in death.” Pete Sidney, Elder – Carcross/Tagish First Nation

Some time ago, I was privileged to visit White Horse, Yukon and even more honoured to spend a day in Carcross with a First Nation community. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Cuba and Philanthropy

sduncan post on January 28th, 2013
Posted in Central America Tags: , ,

by Tyler Greenleaf

Cuba is a country of contrasts when it comes to philanthropy. For this article, it will be viewed through an internal lens (philanthropy done in the country) and external lens (philanthropy done by the country, specifically, international aid).

Internal Philanthropy
Modern communist philosophy presumes that the state and its institutions are owned, operated and controlled by the government without private ownership of capital. As a result, the possibility of an individual or corporation making a monetary donation is not part of the culture. The state is supposed to provide for everyone, Read the rest of this entry >>

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