Activist Philanthropists Offer More Than Cash

There are significant debates about the role of philanthropy and modern trends in philanthropy. Often philanthropy is viewed as the elitist activity of the rich in their attempts to raise their profiles, build power or show off their wealth. It can be done in a paternalistic and charitable manner that results in an imbalance of power between the giver and the receiver that is uncomfortable in the modern world and can result in a culture of dependency.

While we have a huge spread of income grants in South Africa, a great deal of work being done on the ground is being undertaken by citizens themselves—this includes early childhood development, care for the aged, caring for orphans and after-school care.