Got an urge to give? Crowdfunding could be the answer.
For those who like to give through crowdfunding — the concept of multiple donors connecting to individuals online for a cause — one organization has added the option of paying for surgeries to the list. Some even suggest that crowdfunding has gone mainstream this year, with sites like AngelList raising large amounts of cash.
Watsi is a non-profit organization and crowdfunding platform that lets users fund medical treatments for people in developing countries who may not have the chance to seek proper treatment themselves.
Focusing on human interest stories, the website is able to highlight one specific person and their health condition, and how much money they would need to pay for their treatments, according to TrendHunter.com. Better yet, the site also has an open door policy where donors can see how much money was sent to an individual and the progress of their surgeries.
The site features stories of mothers like 52-year-old Emiliana of Guatemala, who is currently suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma (a type of blood cancer). In order for the mother of three to get proper treatment, Watsi is looking for a donation of $1,450 to fund three rounds of treatments.
Other sites like Kiva have a similar set-up. Using the web to post stories of people in need from all over the world — from helping a man in Kosovo pay for his broken freezer to helping a mother from Mongolia pay for her son's tuition fees, the site urges donors to lend to a cause that is close to them.
Watsi founder Chase Adams believes his site has similar goals to Kiva, but one of a healthcare platform, he said in an interview with FastCoExist.com. Adams co-founded the organization along with Howard Glenn and Mark Murrin.
What are some of your favourite crowdfunding websites? Let us know in the comments below:
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