S’POREANS MORE LIKELY TO GIVE MONEY THAN VOLUNTEER OR HELP STRANGERS

Singaporeans are more likely to offer money to strangers rather than give up their time to volunteer or help strangers, this according to the World Giving Index, compiled by a UK non-profit organization.

The poll by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) saw nearly 6 in 10 Singaporeans give money to charity in the month before when they were polled last year, but less than 3 volunteered for charity and around 4 had helped a stranger.

Singapore ranked 18th for how often residents gave money to charity, but placed 89th for how often they help strangers and 42nd for how often they volunteer.

Singapore is thus ranked 34th on the index, behind countries like Myanmar (ranked 1st), Malaysia (10th). However, Singapore’s position did improve from its dismal 114th position out of 145 countries in the 2013 CAF index.