Brabant municipalities are not very generous with Giro 555. As far as we know, no Brabant municipality has yet transferred money to the giro number. The Province will only make a decision after the autumn holidays. Earlier this year it was already decided to always transfer 100,000 euros for Giro555 during national campaigns.
Written by
Anouk Lambregts
Last Wednesday there was a national day of action by Giro555, during which money was raised for all victims of conflicts in the Middle East. The money is used for humanitarian aid such as food, water, shelter and medical and other care. In this action, these goods and care are for people in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, the West Bank, Israel and Syria.
At the end of the national day of action, the counter stood at more than fifteen million euros. That is of course a lot of money, but it also reflects the sensitivity surrounding the purpose of the action. The previous Giro555 campaign, for victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February 2023, raised more than 128 million euros. A collection for Ukraine in 2022 raised 184 million euros.
“This action is not about politics, but about helping people in need.”
This year, the subject of the campaign is slightly more sensitive than in other years, as Daniëlle Brouwer of Giro555 and the Red Cross also notes. Many people have questions or are afraid that their donated money will be used for weapons. “There is a lot of emotion involved in this topic, conversations about these conflicts quickly become polarizing,” she says. “But this Giro555 campaign is not about politics, but about helping people in need. Regardless of your religion or which government you fall under, there must be aid organizations that help you,” says Brouwer.
The Red Cross helps Syrian refugees (Source: Giro555)
Despite the fact that 15 million euros is a big difference with the amounts raised in previous editions, chairman of Giro555 Harm Goossens is certainly not dissatisfied. “The amount is so much higher than I dared to hope this morning. It is special how the Netherlands has come together, with all the difficulties in the conflict. It really feels that we are showing solidarity with people who really need our help,” he reports. of US.
“North Brabant donates 100,000 euros to every Giro555 campaign.”
Earlier this year, the province decided to always donate 100,000 euros to a national campaign by Giro555, regardless of the type of campaign. “The sensitivity of some actions did not influence the implementation of this new policy,” a provincial spokesperson said.
During Giro555’s national day of action for victims of the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, municipalities also made plenty of donations. For example, the five Brabant municipalities of Eindhoven, Tilburg, Waalwijk, Bergen op Zoom and Maashorst even donated one euro per inhabitant, which amounted to hundreds of thousands of euros in total.
This year it seems as if the municipalities are less eager to contribute. For example, spokespersons for the municipalities of Eindhoven, Maashorst and Bergen op Zoom have announced that they have no plans to make a donation this year. For the municipality of Maashorst, this has to do with “its financial position”, she reports. The municipality of Tilburg will only make a decision about donating after the autumn recess. It is not clear from the municipality of Waalwijk whether it is donating to this campaign or not.
Would you also like to donate to Giro555’s campaign? This is possible until January 10, 2025, via their website!
Wat is Giro555?
Giro555 is a partnership between ten aid organizations, under the name Stichting Samenwerking Hulp Organisaties.
In this partnership, the foundations CARE Netherlands, Cordaid, Kerk in Actie, Dutch Red Cross, Oxfam Novib, Plan International, Stichting Vluchteling, Terre des Hommes, UNICEF Netherlands and World Vision join forces to raise as much money as possible for people who affected by disasters.
“By joining forces we can make a huge difference for the people affected,” they write she scolded.
Brabant’s Giro 555 Dilemma: A Comedy of Generosity
Written by Anouk Lambregts
Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Brabant municipalities, promising us a thrilling ride of generosity that seems to have turned into a very slow, very uneventful train-wreck! You’d think with a global crisis going on, they’d be throwing money at Giro555 like it’s Black Friday all over again. But nope! So far, not a single cent has made it to the pot. And after the autumn holidays? That’s like saying, “We’ll get back to you sometime next year—unless the world ends first!”
The latest fundraising craze for victims caught in the crossfire of Middle Eastern conflicts has raked in a whopping 15 million euros. A lot of cash, no doubt! However, when you stack that next to prior campaigns, let’s just say it’s like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight. The campaign for Turkey and Syria? 128 million euros. Ukraine? A staggering 184 million euros! So, what do we get for a painful mix of Gaza and Lebanon? A mere pocket change. A case of ‘look what I found in the sofa cushions!’
“This action is not about politics, but about helping people in need.”
According to Daniëlle Brouwer of Giro555 and the Red Cross, people are understandably twitchy. Money meant for urgent humanitarian aid shouldn’t end up funding some politician’s next military coup. Let’s not rain on the charity parade, shall we? Everyone can see that the emotional stakes in these conflicts are as high as a kite at a garden party full of angry bees.
The Irony of Generosity
Now, onto North Brabant’s own little saga of generosity—or lack thereof. Earlier this year, they bravely declared their unwavering commitment: 100,000 euros for every Giro555 campaign! That’s brilliant! But wait, what’s this? When the chips are down, and the need is great, the same municipalities are now eying their wallets more closely than a kid with a birthday dollar. Eindhoven, like the cool kid in school, has opted out, while the mileage of Maashorst could double as an episode of “How to Save Every Penny.”
It’s almost as if these municipalities have collectively decided to put the “no” in “No comment.” With statements sounding like a financial heart murmur, it’s hard not to chuckle. One municipality has even delayed their decision until after the autumn recess. Because who wants to rush in when you could twiddle your thumbs for a while? Come on, folks, we need the energy of a national disaster for something as serious as this!
Your Chance to Shine
Now, if you, dear reader, are feeling moved by these tales of indecisiveness and lukewarm giving, fear not! You can still donate to Giro555, keeping those good vibes flowing until January 10, 2025. That’s right—2025! If only we could hoist local municipalities into the same spirit of giving. Imagine a world where an emergency call for aid isn’t met with a long pause, a cup of coffee, and a “we’ll think about it.”
“North Brabant donates 100,000 euros to every Giro555 campaign.”
So, What Is Giro555 Anyway?
For those scratching their heads in confusion, Giro555 isn’t just a catchy title; it’s a consortium of ten aid organizations—sort of like the Avengers of charity, minus the spandex and special effects. They come together to tackle issues on a global scale, ensuring that funds find their way to those who need them most. With heavyweights like the Red Cross and UNICEF on board, you’d think they’d be unstoppable. Yet here we are, twiddling our thumbs, waiting for a handful of town councilors to make up their minds.
