Take Action

Non-governmental organizations are supported by donors like you, but how they spend that money is left up to them. As Rep. Yvette Clarke states in our “Haiti: Where Did The Money Go?” documentary, it is up to the donors to keep them accountable.

How do you do that? Well, we’re glad you asked…

Some NGO’s are responsive on social media, and you can call them out through online platforms like Twitter and Facebook. There is also legislation currently proposed in Congress to hold aid organizations to their protocols, which you can support.

What can I do?

Follow and Fan
Find the NGOs you support online and start a conversation with them. Develop a long-term relationship with an aid organization so that the next time there is a disaster, you already know how they spend their donations. Ask them how they involve local communities and groups in their plans, and ask to see the plan of action they put together for relief efforts. And remember: if you want to build a school, don’t give your money to a NGO that doesn’t specialize in building schools. This sets up unrealistic donor expectations, and aid organizations need to stick with their missions. You can help them keep a focus, not diffuse it.

Write Your Member of Congress
For the Americans in the crowd, we urge you to write your senators and representatives and ask them to hold oversight hearings on NGO accountability.

International Efforts
You can track changes to the minimum standards in humanitarian response by checking in on the Sphere Project.

Additional Recourses

Social Engagement:

Jumo

Watchdog Groups:

Charity Navigator
Charity Watch

General information and news:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Non-governmental Organizations featured in the film

Red Cross
We Advance
Catholic Relief Services
Oxfam America
Global Dirt
Project Medishare

Reports:

Haiti: One Year Follow Up Report – Disaster Accountability Project
Smart Development – Oxfam America

  • Pingback: How You Can Help Haiti | Film@11

  • Eva

    I am so angry after seeing this film.  10 months after the 1st interview, the expectant mother seems to have given up hope, which is the reason that would cause someone to go into a state of doing nothing to their hair.  All of that money given for this cause and this is what we see 2 years later? No way!  I will look into this further to see what pressure we can put on the American NGO to help the smaller camps and hire the companies to clean the outhouses so that the people will be encouraged to use them in efforts to avoid another cholera outbreak like the one that killed 6000 people.  I hope you will do the same for your location or country.

  • Michele

    I have been to Haiti in July 2011 to help for 1 week with a charitable organization. I came back so very upset about what I saw and witnessed. This  program validates my observations and feelings about the situation.  However my question remains, what can be done NOW to change the situation?  Bearing witness to it is one thing, changing it for the better so that the people of Hait get to have adequate living conditions is another.  It is now January 2012 and it is still really bad. Michele

  • Gordy1782

    Completly overwhelmed and angry after watching the film on Haiti .  Where did the money go?  I believe that every NGO needs to be closely scrutinized and forced to document all monetary spending, as well as to  whom they spent it on. I cannot believe what I just witnessed, makes me sick to see what could possibly be corruption at it’s best.  I will not be donating any more to charities until they can abide by rules and regulations that should’ve been applied many years ago.

  • Blige21c

    It’s so sad that Haiti supposedly received 1.4 billion dollars and nothing has change. God does not like ugly. What is happening to Haiti is disgusting. 

  • Vvimmer

     Michele, there are several possibilities. Than, Now and in Future. When you are interested drop me a mail, Vvimmer@yahoo:disqus.com

    Alfred

  • Jo

    One thing that we can do right now that will help the poor around the world is to contact our Representatives and Senators in Washington and push them to end this rediculous requirment that all of the aid provided by US Charities be purchased from the US.  Having recently been in Haiti, they need to have their economy start to function again, and they can’t if money isn’t injected into the system and the people there can have the dignity of being able to work and support their families.  Whereever possible aid should be purchased in the country where the disaster has occured.  In Haiti, NGO’s have had a very negative attect on farmers, who couldn’t sell their crops because  all fo the grain was shipped in. 

    This should be something that anyone who cares about charity should be acting on quickly. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarah-Green/100000018268617 Sarah Green

    It amazes me that the solution is so simple (but requires logistics and people who are not corrupt) and that politics and greed are on the way of human lives’ safety and health . Part of the money is to be used for immediate relief (food/water/shelter) and the other part has to go to rebuilding. And how one does that? Use the money to get equipments (locally if possible) to clean the areas, give the equipment/tools to the local people to take care of themselves (like building/maintaining toilets, taking the debris away, etc.) and let the local people be responsible and take part on their rebuild (supervised by knowledgeable people if needed). Until this happens, and NGO’s and others control Haiti’s relief the situation WILL NEVER CHANGE. If no one is accountable, how could there be a STRONG Leader to organize this mess and make changes happen? To make all them (NGO’S) accountable? I was appalled by some NGO’s on this documentary who seemed to not have a clue on the real situation (too much red-tape). Two of the hardest things to change in the History of the World are politics and greed. When the Planet faces too many challenges or maybe when a big tragedy happens to the exactly ones that are corrupt, then the Planet might change. PEACE.

  • Smith198821

    I just finished watching this documentary & it left me with a very bad taste in my mouth & a sour attitude to our NGOs.. I’m a 23 year old college student & as of today I’m looking at options where I will be able to travel to Haiti & help where I can personally under an organized aid group. We are ALL humans & there is NO WAY ANY human has to live in those conditions .. ESPECIALLY almost 2 years AFTER relief & aid were suppose to have executed a plan where ppl would be helped..

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