Non-governmental organizations or simply put NGOs are organizations whose activities are designed to influence and support specific groups/individuals. They also serve as a medium for raising awareness about a particular cause.
NGOs are defined either by their mode of operation or by the reason for their establishment. Each NGO is defined by the purpose of its creation and the role it is most likely to play.
Every NGO has a goal to fulfill, so there can never be a surplus of NGOs as long as there are problems in the world that they must serve. There are myriad categories of NGOs, each of which meets a specific need. Creating an NGO doesn’t happen overnight, because there are vetting procedures it must go through, and the proposed mission must have some appeal.
The main goal of an NGO is to serve a social purpose, these are associated mostly with humanitarian causes that promote and improve the lives of people within their sphere of influence.
Extensively NGOs are not funded by the government unless the organization is government-owned. They get funding for projects from the following sources.
- Private donations from investors.
- Sale of goods/exchange of services.
- Pooling of resources by members of the organization.
- Sponsorship from companies interested in ongoing projects.
Organizing fundraising events.
These funds go into projects that serve to alleviate world suffering.
Non-governmental organizations are of two main divisions, which are Operational NGOs and Advocacy NGOs.
Operational NGOs are non-governmental organizations involved in designing and implementing projects that improve living conditions for rural communities, nations in distress, and individuals in need of care and support.
Advocacy NGOs are non-governmental organizations that specialize in advocating certain causes, such as girls’ education, child labor, and other issues. Their main goal is to create a sense of awareness towards matters that can be influenced by public opinion in favor of human rights.
Operational NGOs therefore have there own different ways of operations which is listed below.
Community-based NGO: They are formed by people who come together for a common cause, for example, to draw attention to specific problems in the community, such as the high number of children not attending school or the consequences of improper waste disposal.
Regional-based NGO: An example of this is the Rotary Clubs, which provide free services tinstanceoor and also advocate for those in need. An example would be an event to provide food for families begging on the streets or a free eye exam for people who cannot afford it.
National-based NGO: They work on a larger scale, can reach more people,e and have branches in every state in the country. They are professional organizations that have grown over the years and have made their influence felt in important areas of the country.
International-based NGO: These are umbrella NGOs. They are the most powerful group of non-governmental organizations, they have the authority to make decisions that affect world bodies. They run projects that generate sustainable results over long periods.
NGOs work for the good of citizens within their sphere of influence. Membership is voluntary, as the work involves selfless service to humanity and a degree of compassion for people.
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If you do have any questions on non-governmental organizations do let us know in the comment section so we can answer them in our next post.