Come on you cheap skates!

Published on: December 10, 2007 by Paul Boag

Okay I have been doing this blog and podcast for over 3 years now. It's about time I parted you from your cash.

Other than a bit of money from Google Adsense I haven't made a penny from you. Every week you listen to the podcast and read the blog but what do I get in return... nothing!

Well, okay that isn't strictly true. I get loads of emails encouraging me and it has to be said the podcast has been good for business, but that is not the point!

This christmas I want something more!

Picture of some of the kids from the Bethesda project

For a while now I have been supporting a charity run by a friend I grew up with. They run a orphanage and school in the heart of rural India (Chinnia Kalvarayan hills,Tamil Nadu). They take in kids that have no family left and teach many others who would normally have little in the way of formal education. They give these kids a chance to change their lives and to become something more. In fact they have been so successful that the children are starting to look at higher education. For example one girl called Rachel is now training to be a doctor in China even though she had never been on a bus let alone flown to another country.

The trouble is sending somebody to study as a doctor in China is expensive and they have more kids that want to do similar things. That is why I am after your money.

But I know you lot. You are hardened cynical geeks. You don't care about the poor children ;) So ask yourself this: How much is the information on Boagworld worth to you? How much have you learnt or how much has the show entertained you? Surely its worth at least £3. Maybe even more!

Once you have made up your mind give that amount to my Christmas appeal...

Give to the Boagworld Christmas Appeal

Of course, because I only thought up this idea an hour ago I am not very organised. There is no impressive site and no fancy campaign. Just give to my paypal account and Ill pass on the cash. As simple as that. After all, you aren't impressed by well designed websites... are you?

Why not support the cause on your site?

If you fancy going one step further than giving me all your cash why not support the cause by adding the donation link to your own site. You don't need to call it the Boagworld Christmas Appeal. Call it whatever you want as long as people give us money!

Comments

Comments are for the discussion of this post. If you have other questions / comments then post them to the forum or send me an email

Post by Dirk Ginader on December 10, 2007 4:27 PM

Done :-)
Post by Joe on December 10, 2007 4:31 PM

soon as you cough up some answers i'll cough up some money ;-) lol remember this email:

I’ve just started up an internet business www.twisteditch.com

I’d love to hear more about website promotion particularly gorilla tactics (mainly online) as I have absolutely no budget to get this up and running.
Managed to piece the site together through open source script, I have a myspace group, facebook group and have posted in a few blogs but would like to hear other ideas you may have or an expert. I have plenty of time to dedicate to this just very little budget.
Post by Tim Beadle on December 10, 2007 4:32 PM

Hi Paul,

Nice one - well done for highlighting someone else's need at this time of year, when we all spend far too much on food & drink!

Might I suggest that you set up on Just Giving, as their fees are lower than PayPal's (IIRC) and you can also get UK taxpayers to Gift Aid their donation, netting you extra money from the taxman at no extra cost to the donor :)

All the best, and Merry Christmas!

Tim
Post by Paul Boag on December 10, 2007 4:37 PM

Hi Tim,
I considered that but they are not a UK based charity so I dont believe that is an option.
Post by Paul Boag on December 10, 2007 4:38 PM

@Joe... drop the flash... there you go, I have given you advice. Now donate money! ;P
Post by Tigerblade on December 10, 2007 5:24 PM

It'd be easier to promote this if you had some sort of graphics to use as promos. *hint hint*

I'll be putting up some sort of link to this on my site, but a graphic would be more eye-catching.
Post by Anna on December 10, 2007 9:18 PM

How much is the information on Boagworld worth to you? How much have you learnt or how much has the show entertained you? - Looks like I'm going to be skint!
Post by Joe on December 10, 2007 10:47 PM

haha good one Paul, unfortunately based on your response to donation - paypal would eat the money i donated and you'd end up with nothing. ;-P (perhaps being a little cheeky now)

site is going for a relaunch in April where will remove flash advice I need is on on-line promotion any ideas or links to good info on this?

Cheers
Post by Parhar on December 10, 2007 11:35 PM

First visit to your site. Really liked it. And yeah, parted with some money.
Post by Simon Warrick on December 11, 2007 10:41 AM

I've just spent the past week in the hills and mountain tribal farming areas of Tamil Nadu.

This is certainly an area in need of assistance. I've just conducted a survey in 15 villages. Not one of them is food secure with most being severely unable to get enough food from their meager income. They grow cash crops that they get paid next to nothing for and are so dependent that they have no land left on which to grow their own vegetables to feed themselves.

Despite this they are a happy, friendly and optimistic bunch. It so good to be working with some people who are trying to get them to engage with alternative more valuable crops to bring them out of the very low income position they are in.
Post by matthijs on December 11, 2007 11:43 AM

Good thing Paul. My donation is on its way. One easy tip for people who want to do something: when you celebrate say christmas or your birthday: ask people to give something to a charity instead of presents. You'll feel so much better when you know there's been given something to a good cause instead of receiving some presents (often stuff you didn't even ask for). Being a geek, you already did buy that new gadget when it came out anyways.

Ok, I admit this is too easy, but well, better then doing nothing isn't it?
Post by Charlotte on December 11, 2007 2:21 PM

I think it is wonderful that you take this initiative!
Though I am wondering about this China bit.

I am an M.D. and have grown up in India.

The medical education that can be had there would rival shipping a youngster from the very south of India to China where the language is difficult to learn, to say the least. There is something strange about the idea.

Maybe there is alogical explanation but it could also be that you are bing had. Sorry. Don´t take this as an afront - it is a very laudable cause.
Post by Paul Boag on December 11, 2007 4:10 PM

Charlotte, thank you for your concern but i am not being "had". I grew up with the woman who runs the project and I live around the corner from her parents.

The reason for the course in china is one of expense unfortunately. It was more expensive for her to study in India than it was to go elsewhere. I cannot claim to know the exact details but that is my understanding.
Post by Matthew on December 11, 2007 4:39 PM

Looks good and all, but I don't like the fact that I have to give you my money and then you pass it on.

I mean sure you've taught me a bit here and there, but I don't know that I trust you as a middle man with my money.

Wouldn't it be a bit better (and perhaps a write-off for Headscape) is you helped this group to setup their own way to receive donations?

That way it might also be easier for other to spread the news. I can't really go around telling people to give some guy I've never meet money so he can give it to a charity.

Just my thoughts.
Post by Paul Boag on December 11, 2007 10:03 PM

@matthew I completely understand your feelings and that is fine. In fact I nearly didn't do this for that reason. However people raise money for charity all the time through sponsored events or buy selling cookies. We hand money to them and trust they will pay it to the charity. That is the principle I have been working on. However if you are not comfortable with that then fair enough don't give. As for us building them a site, well that would have worked if I had thought of the idea earlier. Maybe next year.
Post by Andrew on December 12, 2007 8:39 AM

Well done Paul! Sent a donation this morning.

Thanks for all your efforts this year on the podcast as well - I still get something out of each one I listen to.

Have a great Christmas and New Year.
Post by William Knelsen on December 12, 2007 7:06 PM

Thank you for considering the less fortunate in India.

I am also involved with an organization that works in India called Children's Camps International. I used to be the developer at their office and I continue to offer technical support for their websites.

See www.ccicamps.com for more info. (It is a Christian organization, focusing on evangelizing and discipleship training).
Post by Greg on December 12, 2007 8:10 PM

Hi Paul,

I couldn't send much, but I do appreciate your generosity in sharing web development information.

Blessings to you and yours this Christmas!
Post by Peter on December 14, 2007 2:48 PM

When I get paid Ill donate a tenner, Im skint until then :)
Post by Tony Isaacs on December 20, 2007 8:07 AM

Done. I can't believe you don't have more donations considering joy much joy you bring to so many people!!
Post by Tony Isaacs on December 20, 2007 8:08 AM

Done. I can't believe you don't have more donations considering joy much joy you bring to so many people!!
Post by Martin Baker on December 30, 2007 6:35 PM

It's a great idea and I'm more than happy to give a donation. I've only recently discovered boagworld and am thoroughly enjoying it. You're doing a great job guys.

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