The images of the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti shocked the entire world. It sparked many students into action, with many groups on campus attempting to set up fundraisers for the Haitian people.

As we watched charities and student groups campaign for Haiti, a question arose — could this process be more effective? In general, student charity groups seem to face many problems when it comes to raising student interest and support for their causes.

With so many charities to choose from at Western, it is nearly impossible to accomplish the admirable goal of raising money for those in need. There are dozens of charities on campus — and they’re all fighting for the same pool of volunteers and charitable donations.

In addition to the overwhelming choice of year-round causes, such as Cancer fundraising or Western Heads East, new “hot button” issues like Haiti are guaranteed to emerge and draw the attention — and support — of students.

Even if a charity manages to gain volunteers from this competitive pool of supporters, the majority of students who join these new causes only know the bare minimum and lose interest in the issue after a few months, especially when another natural disaster or political cause occurs somewhere else in the world.

There is a problem with the general approach most charities use. A common tool for spreading awareness is Facebook. But more often than not, students will join groups just as a nod of support, rather than a pledge for action or monetary donation.

When charities do successfully draw a large number of supporters, fundraisers — which often seem more like catered parties — tend to follow. Add to this the time spent organizing the logistics of these events meant to raise money, and it’s easy to see how the main goal of fundraising can get lost.

An alternative for students is to avoid the bureaucratic process of large advocacy groups and instead try accomplishing something on their own. After all, if Craig Kielburger could start Free the Children, why can’t anyone do it?

Of course it’s impossible to raise enough money to save all of Haiti at once. A better solution is to start with a practical starting point, which will hopefully inspire others, and allow your charity to grow.

At the end of the day, the important thing to keep in mind for all charities is to ensure that their work is sustainable. While it is great to support Haiti now, it will mean very little if there is no support a few months down the road.

To do this requires setting up an established volunteer and donation base to draw from. While this is easier said than done, perhaps it will require similar charities to pool their resources and accomplish their fundraising goals together. After all, the goal isn’t to compete with each other, but to help those in dire need of money and supplies.