"What Can I Do to Help?"

BECA gets quite a few e-mail messages from people we don't know.
 

I read every single one that comes in to us through our Contact Us page.

95% of the e-mails come from desperate people from Africa (mostly) and other parts of the developing world looking for sponsors. I reply to each and every one sadly informing them that BECA is only active in Nicaragua.

From time to time, another kind of e-mail comes through the door.

They go something like this:

Dear BECA,
I just stumbled upon the BECA.org website. Wow, you guys are doing something really fantastic. I'm really impressed. I think education is what developing countries really need. I once visited Nicaragua and I noticed . . . [blah blah blah] . . . What you are doing is very cool. What can I do to help? . . . 

Wait, it doesn't stop there. Here is the kicker.

"As a matter of principle, I don't give money."

Hmmmm.

Okay, fair enough. There are things this BECA fan can do and I am happy to oblige. He or she can:

• make a comment on a student blog
• sign up to get our newsletter
• join us on our Facebook page
• tell other people about BECA

Nevertheless, when I get e-mails like this, I can't help but scratch my head and wonder . . .

To what me-no-give-money principle are they referring? Does anyone know?