About Pay It Forward
Pay It Forward is a 2000 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was directed by Mimi Leder and written by Leslie Dixon. We have chosen this name as this is how we wish the Organization to run. We, through our valued Members, and after assessment, will if deemed necessary, assist you. We ask that when you are back 'up', you help us to help others, thus, Pay It Forward..............
Started due to a need in one Community, and now able to assist through specific Projects (on a Project by Project basis at this stage) in many areas around South Africa.
ASSESSMENT PROCESS IN DETAIL –
NOTICE ON THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS –
When a request is received initially and provided it falls within what I think is a possible matter to be looked at, a standard response is sent together with the Assessment Sheet (see the standard response below which is self-explanatory).
The Assessment Sheet is to be completed in FULL. When returns are received and information already asked for is not provided, information which is needed, the request is set aside. This is advised in the initial standard response in the first paragraph. (Help me to help you).
The returned assessment is then looked at in terms of the need and information provided has to be verifiable (or as happens at times when checks are done the information is found to be incorrect or debatable at best. Such assessments go no further but a Profile is still added to the Data Base).
Taking the information received on assessments which are complete the needs are looked over. There are times when I go back to those requesting assistance and advise that we will seek assistance albeit not exactly in line with what the request was, or using the method the request was made in terms of how the person wished to receive the assistance (an example here is where the person requests cash to be deposited to their account among many others).
If an assessment is approved and we have funds available to settle it, this is done without posting a request on the Facebook Page. Where funds are not available a Post is put together outlining the need and it is then at a potential Donors discretion to assist with the specific request, or not.
1. I do NOT identify potential Recipients openly (where we have somebody doing a shop and drop for example on our behalf, the person handling that aspect will receive the Contact Sheet pertaining to the Recipient) on the Page. Dignity, often the last thing a Family have left is important and is protected by PIF.
2. I do NOT identify those who contribute openly on the Page when updates are provided as to the Status of a request. The reason for this is that all too often people then seek out the Donor via Facebook and send them arbitrary messages. (It happens often enough simply by some who watch the comments under any given post and then message these folks, many who are not Donors).
3. Requests are NOT accepted telephonically. Everything is reduced to writing so that the Profile of the person in need is clear from the initial communication to the time they receive assistance (where assistance is provided.
Each person / family’s request is as urgent to them as the next is to the following family. There are times when a specific request is pushed ahead and that is a decision I make based on my discussions with a person in need. To that end each person requesting assistance needs to understand and accept that sending a message for assistance at for example 10h30 does not mean that assistance will miraculously be provided by midday. There are times it can take a week, at times even longer before assistance is found after the processes are followed.
4. NO person is able to publish Posts to the Page. And NO person should sneak a request in under an alternative Post. We do not put up personal details, such as telephone numbers or eMail addresses pertaining to potential Recipients of assistance. Neither should you. This leads to the comment being noted, deleted and if it happens a second time, blocking from the Page.
Many disagree with the process of assessment. My standard response to those people who do is that they should please seek assistance elsewhere as without the process being followed NO assistance will be provided or sought on their behalf.
This leads to the question of WHY assessments are done. Why don’t I simply accept what people send in and seek assistance immediately? The answer to that should be obvious. Not everybody gives us the truth about their situation. Over the 13 years of running PIF I can assure you of this. For me the very important bit is that our Donors will be protected at all cost. Donors are learning about a strangers struggle and then trusting that the contribution they make will be used for what the request outlined is.
My job is to ensure that that is what happens. Therefore I reiterate – no assessment equals the end of the road of communication. There are people who still to this day make attempts to send in ‘alternative’ information in the hope that no connection will be made to the previous. There are ways to connect them. It is done. That ‘alternative’ info is then added to the initial ‘request’ and there are those who have tried numerous times. The Profile is then marked as BLOCKED. ‘Donor protection 101’.
NOTICE RE MISSING PERSONS. PIF will certainly assist in matters such as this, especially when it pertains to Children. Adults however, are not excluded. Each matter is dealt with on a case to case basis.
A few points to remember please –
1. Please note that we do not post Flyers concerning missing persons from other Organisations (there are exceptions, which are minimal).
2. We do not post Photographs found on the Internet and sent in to us by people not connected to the Family of the missing person.
3. Direct contact with the Family / Caregiver of the missing person is necessary before posting would be considered.
4. As with every other matter, irrespective of the nature of the request, we do verify information received, down to the Enquiry Number with the SAPS.
5. If there is no Enquiry Number for us to verify, meaning it has not been reported, we cannot assist.
6. We will ask personal details concerning the circumstances regarding the missing person, as we do not only distribute the Flyer, but actively make enquiries / conduct searches in the attempt to locate the said person.
7. At times there is no charge for this (a question often asked by the Family). Physical searches and cost related enquiries are dependent on funding available at any given time (fuel / printing of flyers / airtime and more). Details upon enquiry.