Non-governmental organization facts for kids
An NGO (which stands for Non-Governmental Organization) is a group or club that works to help people or the planet. It is not part of the government. Most NGOs are non-profit, meaning they don't aim to make money for owners. Many NGOs help people in need, like during disasters, or work on social issues. They can also be clubs or groups that offer services to their members.
The idea of NGOs became well-known in 1945 with the United Nations. Even though there's no single official definition, NGOs are usually seen as groups that are independent from government. However, they might still get some money from governments.
The United Nations Department of Global Communications says an NGO is "a group of citizens who volunteer their time. They are organized locally, nationally, or internationally to help the public good." Sometimes, the word NGO is used like civil society organization. This means any group started by citizens. In some places, NGOs are called non-profit organizations. Even political parties and trade unions can sometimes be seen as NGOs.
NGOs are often grouped in two ways:
- What they do: This means the type of activities they focus on. For example, they might work on human rights, consumer protection, environmentalism, health, or helping communities grow.
- Where they work: This shows how big their operations are. They can work locally, regionally, nationally, or all over the world.
There are many NGOs around the world. For example, in 2009, India had about 2 million NGOs. The United States has about 1.5 million NGOs.
Contents
What NGOs Do
NGOs help their members or founders reach social goals. These goals might include making the natural environment better, protecting human rights, or helping people who are struggling. Their goals cover many different topics. They might give money to local NGOs or projects. They also often run projects themselves.
NGOs can be described by:
- What they focus on: This is the kind of work an NGO does. It could be about human rights, protecting consumers, caring for the environment, health, or community development.
- How big they are: This shows if an organization works in a small area, a whole country, or around the world.
By Focus
- Charity: These NGOs often work from the top down. This means they plan projects and then deliver help to people. They focus on helping those in need.
- Service: These NGOs provide important services. This can include healthcare (like family planning) and education.
- Participatory: These NGOs involve local people in their projects. People might help by giving money, tools, land, materials, or their time.
- Empowerment: These NGOs help people understand the social, political, and economic things that affect their lives. They want to help people feel more in control of their own lives. The people they help are very involved, and the NGOs act as guides.
- Professional Groups: These are groups of people with shared interests. This could be in sports, culture, or specific jobs. Examples include the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and FIFA.
By Size and Location
- Community-based organizations (CBOs): These are local groups that help people in their own neighborhoods. They can help people understand their rights and get the services they need.
- City-wide organizations: These groups work across a whole city. They can include business groups or educational groups.
- State NGOs: These organizations work at the state level. Some state NGOs get guidance from national or international NGOs.
- National NGOs: These NGOs exist only in one country. They might have branches in different states or cities. They can also help local NGOs.
- International NGOs (INGOs): These are NGOs that work in many countries. They can be non-religious groups like Save the Children or religious groups. They often give money to local NGOs and projects. They also run their own projects.
How NGOs Help
NGOs are very important for helping people. They help those affected by natural disasters or other problems. NGOs can deliver important goods and services to people who need them. They gather money and people to make sure help arrives quickly and works well.
NGOs also help make changes by asking for policies that help communities. They often work with other groups, including governments. This helps them solve big problems that need teamwork. One of the best things about NGOs is that they work closely with communities. This helps them truly understand people's problems. Then, they can offer services that fit the community's exact needs.
NGOs work in different ways. Some are mainly advocacy groups, meaning they speak up for a cause. Others run programs and activities. For example, Oxfam helps people get food and water. The Forum for Fact-finding Documentation and Advocacy (FFDA) helps people who have faced human rights abuses get legal help.
The World Bank puts NGO activities into two main groups:
- Operational NGOs: These groups mainly plan and carry out projects that help communities develop.
- Advocacy NGOs: These groups mainly work to support a specific cause. They try to influence the rules and actions of international government organizations.
Sometimes, NGOs do both. An operational NGO might speak up for policy changes if they see problems in their work. An advocacy NGO, like a human rights group, often has programs that help individual victims.
Staff and Money
Some NGOs have paid staff, while others rely on volunteers. Many NGOs use local employees or volunteers in developing countries. Sometimes, foreign staff are used because donors want to see people from richer countries managing the project. However, foreign staff can be more expensive. They might also not know the local area as well as local people do.
On average, people working for NGOs earn a little less than those in for-profit companies or government jobs. But NGO employees often get more extra benefits.
NGOs usually get their money from donations. Some NGOs don't take formal funding and are run completely by volunteers. Many NGOs are considered charities, so they don't have to pay taxes. This is because they serve a social purpose. Since World War II, NGOs have become more important in helping countries develop. They are especially key in giving humanitarian aid and reducing poverty.
Money for NGOs comes from many places. This includes membership fees, selling goods or services, grants from international groups or governments, and private donations. Even though "non-governmental" means independent from governments, many NGOs do get money from governments. For example, a part of Oxfam's income in 1998 came from the British government and the EU. Some NGOs, like Greenpeace, choose not to accept money from governments.
Images for kids
-
Pekka Haavisto, a minister from Finland, at the first World NGO Day in Helsinki in 2014.
See also
