Philanthropy isn't solely about kindness, it entails obligation

In a world where some may question the role of government, we are called to press for better public policy and act where policy has yet to reach. This is the philosophy behind The Big Heart Foundation, an organisation that upholds dignity, invests in what works, and publishes what they learn.

The Foundation contends that keeping a child in school, treating a curable illness, and protecting a young person from exploitation are not extras; they are the foundation of a decent society. In today's world, children are going to bed hungry, mothers are choosing between medicine and rent, and families are living one unexpected bill away from a crisis.

Alya Al Musaiebi, the Director of The Big Heart Foundation, leads the charge in preventing such preventable suffering. The Foundation treats the choice to act as the everyday practice of justice. They believe that the choice between a non-essential purchase and a life-saving intervention should be viewed as a moral decision.

The Foundation's approach is grounded in responsibility. They argue that aid can create dependency, but responsible aid, delivered with dignity, supported by evidence, and shaped with clear exit strategies, does the opposite. Small gifts can keep classrooms open, stock clinics, and fund protection officers, closing real gaps.

The Big Heart Foundation's role is to take swift, principled action and oversee the slower work of recovery. They work quietly and accountably with partners who share the belief that a person's worth is never defined by misfortune. In recent days, they have contributed humanitarian aid and essential support to people in need, including donations of clothing and funding that aid displaced populations in conflict and disaster areas worldwide.

The Foundation prioritises approaches that protect agency. This includes cash where markets function, community-led design, strong safeguarding, and investments in education and livelihoods that reduce future need. They believe that duty doesn't depend on distance and in a connected world, "far away" is no excuse. If a child slips into a shallow pool, each of us must step in.

The author asserts that preventable suffering is bad and if it is within our power to prevent it without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to do it. The Big Heart Foundation urges us to rethink our language and calls life-saving work "charity" as if it were admirable but optional. Instead, they propose that it is our duty to act, and in a connected world, we are all neighbours.