Choosing trade over aid as giving drops
New Zealanders are giving less time and money, but companies with a conscience say they are filling the gap.
The latest World Giving Index which compared countries’ behaviour in donating money, helping a stranger and volunteering - showed a drop in the generosity of New Zealanders.
It followed a global trend of people from developed countries giving less.
However, to combat this decline in traditional giving, entrepreneurs say people are giving more through consumer choices.
Jason Baird, of Sozo Coffee House in Glen Eden, said asking people to give over and above their weekly budget was difficult in the current economic climate.
His cafe was part of the growing number of social enterprises that are seeking to both make a profit and a difference.
‘‘Asking for hand-outs is no fun,’’ he said.
Baird and his wife set up a children’s home in India. Profits from the coffee house fund the project, which supported orphans and widows.
‘‘This is a much better way to do things. You are already purchasing coffee. We don’t want you to buy anything extra,’’ Baird said.
People would come for a coffee but have the added bonus of the gratification of giving, he said.
Baird’s sentiments were echoed by Jacob Parsons, founder of Mt Atkinson Coffee in New Lynn, West Auckland.
‘‘My wife and I have a vision statement for ourselves as a couple - in everything we do, we transform lives.’’
Parsons and his wife help fund the training and construction of water tanks in Northern Uganda.
Both Parson and Baird saw a future in tapping into coffee production in and around the projects they support.
‘‘Just giving money doesn’t solve problems,’’ said Parsons.
When it came to traditional giving, New Zealand still outperformed many nations, including Australia, in the World Giving Index.
New Zealand held on to fourth spot, despite dropping from 59 to 57 per cent in 2017.
Across the measures, 65 per cent of New Zealanders surveyed donated money, 41 per cent donated time and 65 per cent had helped a stranger.
The top spot was taken by Myanmar, followed by Indonesia and Kenya.