Are Sierra Leoneans Africa's most charitable people?

[Personal details removed by Moderator] Very interesting indeed! Please I would like to know the number of African countries that were involved in the research and also know the the type of instrument they used to conduct the research.If I find it to be very convincing,then " Thumbs up for them".Anyway,Freetown is an economic center and Sierra Leone can boost of mineral resources particularly diamond!I would like to find out their economic status whether they are very rich so that I can make my assession.
It's always good to be charitable-I go in for that.!With this I mean providing some sort of help or aid to the needy or vulnerable in society or country.In fact, I good in doing that because mine is "hereditary" sort of. Tracing it from my maternal grandmother down to my Mum,they are all generous!So who am I to be stingy or miser so to speak!Charity can be shown in so many ways-in the Corporate level within a community.It is translated in Islam as alms giving and the bible also spells it clearly that God loves a cheerful giver.We don't give as a means to an end but personally, I see it as an end in itself.When you do that, you become psychologically sound because you have been able to save a "life"

south african individuals are definately not generous but the government is.there are more assylum seekers in south africa than anywhere else in the world. cross border policies very friendly(ask zimbabweans).

Disagree with #2. I, as a South African, and those around do give....But allot is given to those organisations that work under the radar and prefer to contribute to those countries and organisations that do not 'obey' the American/Western leaders.

It is important that we are having this discussion at a time when the African Grantmakers Network is preparing to hold its Assembly here in Nairobi this coming November. The organizations that work to promote philanthropy in Africa for example the East Africa Association of Grantmemers appreciate and recognize the fact that Africans do give. In fact someone once remarked that every African is a walking philanthropists. Perhaps the discussion on whether Africa ranks low or not should be considered in the consideration of the African forms of giving which are evident in virtually all African Cultures. It is perhaps the way we define charity or philanthropy in the different parts of the world that could bring a new dimension to this debate. Had the question to the respondents been " have you assisted a friend or relative in need?" i would imaging that the ranking would be very high in all African countries because giving is indeed part of our social organization. Africans give to weddings, funerals and increasingly now to the religious organizations such as churches in form of dedicated tithes and gifts to the church. Recent years have witnessed significant growth in faith based giving- again had the question been have you given to church in the last.... some countries i believe would rank very high up. My point is, the discussion on whether or not Africans give/ or are charitable should be viewed in the context of Africa's social organization and how charity or help is defined.

The WHEAT Trust based in South Africa promotes philanthropy among women based on the belief that our wellbeing as women is intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of other women. We believe that throughout Africa women share their resources and give more than money alone. Food, knowledge, advice and care-giving to name a few. Women from different socio-economic sectors of civil society share with eachother making the African Continent a continent of givers. However, at the WHEAT Trust, we promote philanthropy and attempt to move women with greater resources to a position of meaningful giving and upscale their giving from small charitable giving which can contribute to the dependency syndrome to more sustainable giving.

State of charitable giving in Africa is such that if you are wired to give you will- note in the report, it is an emotional thing. Hitherto i tried to fulfil religious obligation of tithing but lately i have extended my giving to challenged people home. Also because of my mental health challenge while growing i always visit –mind charity in the UK,to buy stuff and contribute.Charity is giving-money, time, expertise and knowledge.In Nigeria, religions filter almost 90% of citizen charitable giving (by promising divine prosperity in return) thereby denying the primary beneficiaries-charitable homes their dues. Today, Lagos government recently banned motorcyclist on major roads, i offer four students a ride in my car. Though hesitant initially because of kidnapping. Rating oneself on charity may be self serving hence i will refrain. In Nigeria you are considered to be charitable when you steal money from government or private companies and make huge donations to religious courses. Corruption in SA will rarely make them give same here in Nigeria! The emotional part of most people here is dead –dehumanised

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Well, it's good that an African country has performed well in the rankings. It's even most exciting that it's Sierra Leon. perhaps, that spirit has helped them put the trauma of war behind them. The question which bothers me is, why they allowed hatred to over run them during the civil war? I hope, the surge in philanthropy isn't a religious obligation people performed. Whatever the case may be, Africans share everything, including sorrow. Kudos to Sierra Leoneans, Africa needs such positive news from the international media.

It is good to know the result of all the Africa states that were involve in the study. Out of one Hundred fifthy countries, for war torn Countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone to show the most charitable Nations on the Continent is very inspiring. However, BBC have your say, did not mention Liberia. Liberia top the list, and Sierra Leone also did very well. Looking at the Geographic Location of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, and the close cultural tides of the three, makes me wonder if, Culture and their past(conflict), had anything to do with it.

Saying you will give and actually giving are two different things.

Charity has alwys occupied a vital postion in African culture to the effect that those Africans who know abit of our cultural heritage must not despute.But I must say that in recent times, some Africans turn to find it difficult to have a balance between the Western and African culture; something that is tampering with our charitable culture.We used to know the whole family even to the village and beyond as brothers and sisters whose moments we used to shall in happiness or sadness.Today,some can count more that three relatives etc.Am happy Sierra Leone has come to remind Africa on what and how to do.
However,some countries do give just that it has not come to the media.There is a cross section of philanthropic at regional,ethnic and village level that is worth appreciation and charity is many forms and from many angles.However I encourage their gesture and wish they either maintain or improve it meanwhile other Africans countries should try to emulate.They haveproven that to help must not mean that you have abundance until lacking where to put some before you give.Give yor widow's might.

The issue of givin or generosity runs through all cultures in most countries in Africa especially Ghana. In Ghana, the notion of giving to those in need is embedded in most people irrespective of their religious views. Da existence of religion in the daily lives of da ghanaian or african in general has enhanced giving even more.

Sierra Leone ranks top in Africa because of the "Helping a Stranger" index (75%) in the World Giving List. We are a friendly and helpful people and this has being proven officially. However, our scores in "Giving Money" is only 29%, clearly reflecting our economic hardship but we managed to score averagely in "Volunteering or Giving Time" at 45%. All said and done, KUDOS to all Sierra Leoneans, this is just the type of image re-branding we need after the terrible years of civil strife... People should just stop looking at us from the "Blood Diamonds" perspective. We are a better people than that movie suggests. Friendliness is part of being Sierra Leonean.

I'm not quite convinced with this research on charitable people in Africa that gives Sierra Leone the highest African country on a list which ranks 153 nations according to their generosity and that Guinea is the second after sierra Leone.I can say that Africans in general are generous and they do look after their entire family,cousins,uncles,ants and so on,so they don't give to charity much,where they have relatives that need help in the first place.

Elizabeth Kuranchie-Mensah A respose to your comment about Sierra Leone being RANKED as the 11th Country among 153 NATIONS WORLDWIDE for their generosity, and also the heighest among African Countries for CHARITABLE contributions. Elizabeth, we are NOT RICH in Sierra Leone to the point of providing for every human beings needs in Sierra Leone. But we in Sierra Leone as a NATION and INDIVIDUALS, do a lot of good deeds to others regardless of their ethnicity or nationality. SCRIPTURALLY, you do not have to be rich to do good deeds in the World. We do not need a Social Scientist to crunch numbers to verify your question about the kind of instrument they used to conduct the research. A GOOD DEED IS A GOOD DEED, PERIOD. NOTE: For your information, after the British gave back our INDEPENDENCE, the QUEEN of England made a visit back in 1960. Sierra Leone gave her as gift, the STAR of Sierra Leone. This is one of the LARGEST diamonds ever found on the face of the EARTH. Simple, its Sierra Leone, alright. And I commend and congratulate my current President Bai Koroma for continuation of such good deeds. Now coming to GHANA, because, from your last name (Mensah), you are a Ghanaian. DO NOT GET MAD NOW or feel insulted in anyway. This is fact about GHANA. The media knows this. Why do you and your people SPEND and lavish lots of money for BURIAL CEREMONIES? You build wooden CADILLACS, MERCEDEZ BENZ, AIROPLANES as CASKETS to bury the dead, but while the dead individual is alive, YOU people do absolutely NOTHING for that individual. Yet, when they die, you spend money on their funerals. We in Sierra Leone, rather spend money on the living other than the dead. Jesus will commend us for this in Sierra Leon.

I don't agree with this research report. The yardstick the report measured charity by isn't to universal. A lot of people donate to charity and prefer to stay anonymous.

Is it politically correct to ask why so few Middle east countries there?
Saudi Arabia for example is swimming in oil and can provide funds all over the world to build mosques.

I would like to know who is donating to who. Some countries only donate to another country as they happen to be the same religion, Islamic brotherhood and all that. That is not charity. Charity is donating to whoever needs it the most, Western countries can be proud of that.

And why doesn't the BBC focus more on those countries NOT on this list??