Grade by Grade
B. People and Environments: Canada's Interactions with the Global Community · Canada's Interactions with the Global Community

Who Helps? Governments, NGOs and Individual Canadians

B3.3 B1.2About 45 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can describe several groups and organizations through which Canada and Canadians are involved in global issues.
  • I can explain what an NGO is and how it is different from a government.
  • I can give examples of ways individual Canadians, including young people, take action on global issues.
  • I can compare how a government, an NGO and an individual respond to the same issue.

Words to know

non-governmental organization (NGO)
A group that is not part of any government and works for a cause, such as health, education, the environment or human rights. Most are not-for-profit.
charity
An organization that raises money and uses it to help others, not to make a profit.
volunteer
A person who gives their time to help, without being paid.
advocacy
Speaking up to persuade people or governments to make changes.
donation
Money or goods given to help.

A six-year-old with a big idea

In 1998, a Grade 1 student in Kemptville, Ontario, named Ryan Hreljac learned in class that many children in Africa had to walk long distances to get clean water. He did extra chores to raise money, and his community helped. In 1999, a well was built beside a school in northern Uganda.

Ryan kept going, and later started Ryan's Well Foundation, which has helped communities get clean water and sanitation.

You do not have to be a prime minister to help with a global issue!

A metal hand-pump well beside a small rural school building with red earth around it.
A well near a school means children do not have to walk long distances for clean water. Projects like this are what many NGOs help build. AI-generated image

Three kinds of helpers

1. Governments

  • Global Affairs Canada runs Canada's international development and humanitarian aid. It gives money to UN agencies and NGOs and works directly with other governments.
  • The Canadian Armed Forces can help in disasters and serve in peace missions.
  • Governments can also make rules, such as banning a harmful chemical or signing an accord.

2. International organizations (made up of countries)

  • The UN and its agencies, like UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization. Canada is a member and gives them money.

3. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the people who support them

  • NGOs are not part of any government. They raise money from people and businesses (and sometimes from governments) and use volunteers and staff to help.
Government of Canada(Global Affairs Canada)individual Canadiansand businessesUN agencies(UNICEF, WFP, WHO...)NGOs(Red Cross, MSF...)people and communitieswho need helpmoneydonations
How help moves: the government gives money to UN agencies and NGOs, individuals donate to NGOs, and both kinds of groups work with the people who need help.
NGO (in Canada)What it does
Canadian Red CrossDisaster relief and health; part of the worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)Sends medical teams to war zones, epidemics and disasters; won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999
UNICEF CanadaRaises money and awareness in Canada for UNICEF's work for children
Oxfam CanadaWorks to end poverty and support women's rights
Engineers Without Borders CanadaSupports local businesses and projects in Africa that help improve people's lives
Rotary clubsService clubs in many Canadian towns; Rotary has worked to end polio since 1985
Ryan's Well FoundationClean water and sanitation projects
Some of the many groups through which Canadians are involved in global issues. Faith groups, school clubs and local service clubs help too.

What can individual Canadians do?

  • Donate money to a trusted charity.
  • Volunteer time (locally, or with groups like CUSO International or Canada World Youth, which have sent Canadians to work and learn in other countries).
  • Learn and share reliable information about an issue.
  • Advocate: write to your Member of Parliament, sign a petition, or speak at a school assembly.
  • Make responsible choices: buy fair trade, use less plastic, save energy.
  • Welcome newcomers, including refugees, to your community.

Check before you give

Before donating, a grown-up can check that a charity is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (search "list of charities" on the Government of Canada website) and read how the charity uses its money.

Where a donation goesYougive $Checkregisteredcharity listCharityor NGOLocal workersand community
Before giving, a grown-up can check that the charity is registered. Then the money travels to the NGO and on to local workers and the community.
Worked example

Let's compare three responses to one issue

Issue: many children in a region have no clean drinking water. Compare how a government, an NGO and an individual might respond.

  1. Government (Global Affairs Canada): gives a large amount of money to a UN agency or NGO to build water systems, and works with that country's government so the systems are looked after.
  2. NGO (for example, a water charity): works with local people to drill wells, train local workers to fix pumps, and teach about handwashing.
  3. Individual (a Grade 6 student): learns about the issue, runs a bake sale for a registered charity, and gives a presentation to the class.
  4. Compare: The government can give the most money and talk to other governments. The NGO has experts on the ground and works closely with communities. The individual raises smaller amounts but builds awareness and inspires others.

Each type of helper has different strengths. They work best together: government money, NGO know-how, and individuals who give, volunteer and spread the word.

Just for fun

Why did the volunteer bring a ladder to the charity meeting?

She heard they needed help at every level: governments, NGOs and individuals! 🪜

Hands-on activity

Helper web

You need: a large sheet of paper and pencils or markers.

  1. In the middle, write a global issue you care about (for example, clean water, children's education, ocean plastic, refugees).
  2. Around it, draw three bubbles: Government, NGOs, Me and my family.
  3. With a grown-up, search online for one Canadian NGO that works on your issue. Write its name and one thing it does.
  4. In the "Me and my family" bubble, write three realistic actions you could take this month.
  5. Circle the action you will actually do, and put a date beside it.

What to look for: actions that are safe, realistic and connected to the issue (for example, "collect coins for a registered water charity", "use a refillable water bottle", "make a poster for the school hallway").

Your turn

1

What does NGO stand for, and what is it?

2

Name three NGOs through which Canadians are involved in global issues.

3

Which federal department runs Canada's international development and humanitarian aid?

4

What did Ryan Hreljac do?

5

Give three ways individual Canadians can take action on global issues.

6

What is advocacy?

More practice: warm-up

1

Is the Canadian Red Cross part of the government?

2

What does a volunteer do?

3

What prize did Doctors Without Borders win in 1999?

4

Which disease have Rotary clubs worked to end?

5

Where can a grown-up check if a charity is registered in Canada?

More practice: on your own

1

How is an NGO different from a UN agency like UNICEF?

2

Why might Global Affairs Canada give money to an NGO instead of doing the work itself?

3

Name one strength and one limit of an individual student's response to a global issue.

4

Why might a charity prefer money to donated items?

5

Write one sentence you could put in a letter to your Member of Parliament about a global issue.

Challenge

1

Ryan's first well was paid for by a child. Explain how one person's action can grow into a bigger response.

2

An NGO raises money in Canada for a project in another country. What questions should it ask local people before starting? Give three.

3

Analyse: A student says, "The government should do everything; individuals can't make a difference." Do you agree? Use examples from this lesson.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

An NGO is...

2.

Which is an NGO?

3.

Which federal department runs Canada's international aid?

4.

Ryan Hreljac is known for...

5.

Which is an example of advocacy?

6.

Why do many charities ask for money instead of used items after a disaster?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Canadians are involved in global issues through governments (Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces), international organizations (UN agencies), NGOs (Red Cross, MSF, UNICEF Canada and many others) and their own actions as individuals.

How to help at home:

  • Complete the helper web together and help your child follow through on one realistic action.
  • If your family donates, show your child how to check that a charity is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.
  • Help with any online search, and stick to official websites of organizations.

Common difficulties:

  • Thinking all helpers are the government. NGOs are independent, though some receive government funding.
  • Feeling that kids can't help. Point to Ryan Hreljac and to everyday actions like learning, sharing and making responsible choices.