(From: The Times, 2001.)
21 Answer the questions:
What is acute stress disorder? What are its symptoms? How long does it last?
What symptoms characterize post-traumatic disorder? What kind of people does it affect?
What is used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder?
22 Use any sources available (newspapers, magazines or Internet resources) to find information about organizations that provide aid and support after disasters and accidents and work for the emotional and physical relief of the people involved in troubles. Be ready to make a presentation basing on the information you’ve found.
23 Write any of the following compositions using 120 -180 words.
Evaluation
What have you done in this unit?
What have you learnt from it?
What did you enjoy about it?
Have you any criticisms of it?
Have you any recommendations or suggestions for doing it differently?
Charity
“Donations go further when you give to groups that spend responsibility”.
N. Jacobe,
French Philosopher and Thinker, 20-th century
……………………………………………………………………………………………...
1 Could you give a definition for the term “charity”? Are there any differences between the words “charity” and “sponsorship”? What are the main aims and principles of charity and sponsorship programs existing in your country? Give any examples to back up your opinion.
2 Before reading the text make any comments on the quotation suggested at the beginning of the unit. Look at the heading of the text and try to predict what it’s going to be about.
3 Read the text “Money Where their Mouth is” and be ready to answer the questions given after it.
Money where their Mouth is
Whether your altruism is prompted by a large-scale tragedy or just old-fashioned goodwill, you should always carefully evaluate the organizations that will benefit from your hard-earned cash.
You want to be sure the money being donated is actually going to the purposes promoted by the charity, as many non-profits spend a substantial portion of their donations on fund-raising, salaries and other administrative expenses.
A good relief appeal should define what special need or service the group is filling or providing, says Weiner. Even a newly-created organization should be open about why it was created, what niche it hopes to fill and how it plans on spending contributions. “If they don’t have a plan, it may be a sign of good intentions, but bad management. It may not be evidence of fraud, but it may indicate whether the donation will be used effectively,” said Weiner.
Charity watchdog groups, such as the National Charities Information Bureau and the Council of Better Business Bureaus, can tell you more about the spending habits of individual organizations. Generally speaking, their guidelines demand that at least 50 or 60 percent of donations received by a charity goes directly to the cause being promoted, though 70 percent is ideal, says Langan.
Some smaller charities may not be evaluated by this watchdog group, but you can do your own homework. Charitable organizations are required to provide anyone who asks a copy of their most recent Form 990. The form includes the information about their budget and plans.
A charity has the right to charge a “reasonable” copying fee if this document is requested, so don’t be surprised if the group asks for a few dollars in exchange.
Charities with gross income less than $25,000 are not required to file a Form 990, but you can check with the help of your local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the organization.
(From http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/)