THE RIGHT WAY TO GIVE

A forum explains that donors to foster homes should prioritise bonding rather than only donating physical goods

- STORY: SUWITCHA CHAIYONG

The World Giving Report 2025 indicates that supporting children and youth is the most popular cause, appearing in the top five in every continent.

According to the SCB Economic and Business Research Center in 2019, 96% of Thai households had charitable expenses. The centre also stated that in 2017, it was found that charitable expenses in Thailand amounted to over 130 million baht.

Many Thai donors support children and young people because they are the future of the country. Some donors donate basic necessities to foster homes because they believe that their act of charity can benefit many children.

To discuss positive or negative results of donating to children at foster homes, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Programme of Religion and Ethics for Sustainable Development, Mahidol University, organised an online forum titled “Is Making Donations To Children At Foster Homes Good Or Bad?” via Zoom and Facebook.

Before discussing donations, Assoc Prof Dr Wanida Paoin, a paediatrician at the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, explained the three main principles of caring for children, so people can understand what children need.

The first is taking care of their physical needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medicine, clean air and safety.

“Secondly, it is necessary for children to have a strong bond, known as ‘somebody's child! This bond is essential for the formation of the human brain and stable identity. Children must feel a sense of belonging. It is a bond that both sides feel,” Assoc Prof Dr Wanida explained.