Conference on Indigenous Charities: Historical Studies of Charity Institutions Across Culture

Origin

NGO’s are the subject of considerable social science research, but much less so, indigenous charities. Unlike NGO’s, indigenous charities tend to focus on the community rather than on a specialized service. Some of them are religious in origin, but many are communal, such as Hong Kong’s own Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Because they tend to be communal, they see themselves as providing multiple services to a community, rather than an expert service to a particular clientele. If Chinese communities are any guide, a great deal of resources is channeled into community building through these charities.

Much can be learned about communal organisation by studying indigenous charities. The TWGHs, for example, is an independent body of community leaders who for more than a hundred years has been involved in funeral and medical service, and education, among other activities. There is a very strong cultural base to TWGHs’ activities: Chinese communal leaders have historically been involved with the provision of charitable services, beginning with medical and funeral services and education. However, there is much more than servicing the needy in these activities, for very closely connected with it all is the self-perception of the leadership, the perpetuation of its deals and the acceptance of its institutional role by the community it serves, all of which requires much fine-tuning over the years. Not least, the corporate holding of communal property and the need to raise funds brings up questions of accountability. The TWGHs has been exemplary in accountability, but it is possible in this question, there can be a great deal of variation among indigenous charities.

A study into indigenous charities can also provide useful entry points into different cultures. However, in this respect, these would be entry points not only of interest to the scholar, but also to sponsors of the charities themselves. With their local interest, even sizable indigenous charities tend not to know a great deal about similar organisations in other communities. The opportunity for Hong Kong’s indigenous charities to learn about the experience of their counterparts in Southeast Asia, India or the Middle East, should be a refreshing experience.

	Origin
	NGO’s are the subject of considerable social science research, but much less so, indigenous charities. Unlike NGO’s, indigenous charities tend to focus on the community rather than on a specialized service. Some of them are religious in origin, but many are communal, such as Hong Kong’s own Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Because they tend to be communal, they see themselves as providing multiple services to a community, rather than an expert service to a particular clientele. If Chinese communities are any guide, a great deal of resources is channeled into community building through these charities. Much can be learned about communal organisation by studying indigenous charities. The TWGHs, for example, is an independent body of community leaders who for more than a hundred years has been involved in funeral and medical service, and education, among other activities. There is a very strong cultural base to TWGHs’ activities: Chinese communal leaders have historically been involved with the provision of charitable services, beginning with medical and funeral services and education. However, there is much more than servicing the needy in these activities, for very closely connected with it all is the self-perception of the leadership, the perpetuation of its deals and the acceptance of its institutional role by the community it serves, all of which requires much fine-tuning over the years. Not least, the corporate holding of communal property and the need to raise funds brings up questions of accountability. The TWGHs has been exemplary in accountability, but it is possible in this question, there can be a great deal of variation among indigenous charities. A study into indigenous charities can also provide useful entry points into different cultures. However, in this respect, these would be entry points not only of interest to the scholar, but also to sponsors of the charities themselves. With their local interest, even sizable indigenous charities tend not to know a great deal about similar organisations in other communities. The opportunity for Hong Kong’s indigenous charities to learn about the experience of their counterparts in Southeast Asia, India or the Middle East, should be a refreshing experience.
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