Now you know how important foreign aid is. In this activity, you will learn about some of the obstacles that interfere with the delivery of aid to countries in need.

From collecting donations, to the actual delivery of the aid, aid agencies must overcome many hurdles.

The first hurdle Canada's agencies face can be found right here at home when aid organizations are trying to raise funds. Many people are hesitant to support them for several reasons. Some Canadians feel that, because the Canadian government uses our tax dollars to support foreign aid programs, they should not be expected to contribute any more money.

Some look at the poorer people in our own society and believe that we should focus on helping our own citizens. Because many Canadians lack information about the reality of life in poorer nations, they believe that people there should solve their own problems. These Canadians do not realize that this is impossible under the present conditions there. Some are concerned that much of any money they donate goes to the people who run these organizations and other administrative costs. Then, there is the worry that the actual aid does not reach those who really need it. They fear it will be taken by those who run a poorer nation and used to maintain their already wealthy lifestyles.

Given the importance of the job of delivering aid, these organizations do need to employ some people, but they also call on volunteers for much of the work. Finding enough volunteers to meet the need can be a challenge for any group. People in wealthy nations seem to have become busier in recent times as they attempt to maintain their own lifestyles.

In many instances, the commitment that is needed by aid organizations is quite large. The task is huge, the time needed is long, and it often requires overseas travel. The number of Canadians who are able to leave their lives in Canada for a length of time and work for no wage in some other country is very limited. Sometimes, people volunteer with every good intention, but when they arrive in one of these nations, they cannot cope with the realities that exist there. Ensuring the safety and welfare of those who do volunteer is an incredible challenge.

As you learned in an earlier lesson, some of these countries are involved in violent conflicts. Volunteers may be safe one day, but the very next day, something may trigger an uprising, and they can be caught quickly in life-threatening circumstances. Protecting volunteers from falling victim to disease is another consideration. Before volunteers even leave Canada, they have to receive several vaccinations against life-threatening diseases that do not exist in Canada.

After an organization has raised the money, found the volunteers, and prepared their volunteers for service, many hurdles remain in getting the aid to those who need it. When delivering foreign aid to a region, consideration must be given to the culture and beliefs of the people who live in the country receiving help. Not everyone around the world does everything the same way as we do in Canada. For example, it makes no sense to send pork to people in a Muslim nation. Workers must accept things that are different from our expectations in Canada. This can mean accepting young brides or families that are headed by children who have not even reached their teens. Organizations must take into account the region they are delivering aid to and the type of people in that designated area. One issue that is often very difficult for aid workers to tolerate is the corruption that exists in some of the receiving nations.

Self-check!