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Donation you chose instead of a usual donation

Haebom
YouTube—people call it the radio of our time. I used to just have it playing in the background or look things up when I was curious. But once in a while, I’d come across creators who really snap me to attention—those who open my eyes to new worlds or get me thinking more deeply. Naturally, I subscribe and hit like for people like that. I used to support them with Super Chat or membership, but seeing how much commission Google takes, I started to doubt if that really helps the creators. So lately, I’ve been supporting them directly.
This time, I made a special decision. I was always a passive consumer, but I decided to actively support creators. Wanting them to keep making great things, I sent a million won each to eight creators. If they had a public account or donation page, I wired it right away; if not, I reached out by email to ask. I focused on choosing independent creators, not those affiliated with a company.
Switching from the donations I’d made for three years over to supporting individual creators—this was a pretty big decision for me. I used to donate to places like the Community Chest of Korea, World Vision, and the Red Cross. But I always had doubts. Was I really helping? Did anyone’s life actually get better? However the money was used, it was hard to tell if it truly made a difference. There’s data for big organizational work, sure, but I wanted to know specifically “who” my money was helping and “how”—and never got a clear answer, even when I asked.
For example, when you donate locally, the Community Chest of Korea usually manages and distributes the funds. You can pick an area, like education, and your money will be funneled there. But it’s pretty much impossible to say, “Please buy school supplies only with my donation.” It’s the same with donations to facilities or associations. Unless you donate actual goods yourself, you just have to leave it up to them.
I wasn’t satisfied with this, so I tried looking for alternatives, but couldn’t really find anything better. The most straightforward system was World Vision’s program, where the recipient would choose the donor, write letters, send photos, and so on. But I stopped after a few months. Personally, I felt uncomfortable with how they used the images of children from poor countries. And the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if those kids were really getting anything, or if maybe helping kids here at home was more important... In the end, I just couldn’t keep up with those donations.
In some ways, I wondered if people donate more than 10 million won a year just for the tax benefits. Wait, am I donating just to feel morally superior? That thought crossed my mind too... And then I figured, if that's the case, wouldn’t it be better to give to creators? There’s no tax break, but I’m spending the same money anyway.
This is also a kind of experiment for me. I wonder what meaning these people I support will bring to my life. I’m hoping they’ll create even better content or be a voice where it’s needed most. In the end, I think this means more to me than donating to a child in another country whose name I don’t even know—so I’m writing this down as a record.
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I post articles related to IT 💻, economy 💰, and humanities 🎭.
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5
영미
좋은 의미가 되길요 문득 8명의 창작자의 선정 기준도 궁금해졌어요
Haebom
공통점이 있디면 개인이며, 창작이나 자신의 생각, 작품을 담는 분들입니다.
Haebom
본 글이 번역이 두번 되면서 말투가 이상해졌습니다.. 추후 윤문하겠습니다..
축
축축한 빨강 새
기부방식을 변경하신것....잘 하신것 같아요.
****사람감성을 자극하는 이미지를 경쟁적으로 쓰면서 기부모집을 하는 행태가, 인간적이진 않다고 저도 생각합니다******
기부가 하는사람,받는사람 둘다 유쾌하고 기분이 좋아야죠!
Haebom
크리에이터분들과 직접 소통도 되고 좋은 것 같아요. 더 효과적인 방법이 있을까 고민 중입니다. 지금은 계좌 이체 뿐이라..
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