escaping the cycle of dependence
“It’s a good cause…or is it?” Is a charity worth supporting if it continues to exist perpetually? When does a charity ever end? How does it know that the job is done?
Charities aren’t geared to ever stop. They’re geared to continue. The fundamental design of charities hasn’t shifted much since their inception decades ago.
But, in a number of grassroots charities, change is afoot. These are charities that defy the limitations of this design by setting end goals and clear exit strategies. They are more interested in finishing the job than creating dependency. They are more interested in shutting down than growing. These charities are known as Redundant Charities.
In this book, Weh Yeoh builds on his experience working globally with international and grassroots charities. This book is for those looking for a new approach to charity work. An approach that starts by recognising that a successful charity is one that makes themselves redundant.
book reviews
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“Bold and counterintuitive. Redundant Charities will make you rethink the business of giving and have you questioning whose interests are really served. An important read for anyone who cares about inequality”
Antoinette Lattouf – broadcaster, columnist and author of How to Lose Friends and Influence White People
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“A much-needed antidote to the corporate thinking and big-is-better mentality that have come to plague the non-profit industrial complex. Weh Yeoh shows how charity work could be better: more self-aware, more far-sighted, and ultimately more effective. Anyone who works for a non-profit, or aspires to, should read this book.”
Sebastian Strangio – Author of Cambodia: From Pol Pot to Hun Sen and Beyond
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"Having worked in the sector for almost 20 years, it’s rare to see new ideas and practical ideas for giving to charity. Rather than simply critique aid (as many have done before), Weh presents a clear pathway for how donors can empower leaders in-country to be in charge of their own solutions."
Jessica Bowman — Co-Founder and Charity Analyst, Seedling Giving
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"A mindset shift that we all need to aspire too - this book is for all, government, corporates and not for profits. A thought-provoking and timely exploration - offers readers a fresh perspective on the social impact sector. A must read!"
Tasnia Alam – Co-Founder and COO at Arise Foundation
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"A must read for everyone who is involved with charity. It can be an uncomfortable read at times as you reflect on your own thinking and decisions, but that's what makes it a powerful read. It's a call to action and a chance for all of us to do better with a clear view of what better can look like."
Margaret O'Brien – Co-Founder and CEO, Young Change Agents
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“Made me reconsider everything I thought I believed about charities”
Claire Wilcock — communications specialist
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"This book forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and our intentions. Nevertheless, "Redundant Charities" is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration that challenges us to reevaluate our approaches and ultimately emerge as more effective and compassionate agents of change."
Jo Muirhead – Business Coach for Health Professionals and author of The Entrepreneurial Clinician
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About Weh
Weh Yeoh has worked internationally and in Australia, his home country, in the social impact space for close to two decades. He is the founder of OIC Cambodia, an initiative that aims to establish speech therapy as a profession in Cambodia.
He has a BA in Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney and an MA in Development Studies from the University of NSW. He has volunteered with people with disabilities in Vietnam, interned in India, studied Mandarin in Beijing, and milked yaks in Mongolia.
He started OIC in 2013, and handed over leadership to a local Cambodian team in 2017. He has since co-founded Umbo, a social enterprise bridging the gap for rural Australians to access allied health services.
as featured on
redundant charities that weh supports
Latest posts from the blog
Most people think that it's better to teach a man to fish, than it is to give a man to fish. I agree, but I think the aphorism doesn't go far enough. Better than teaching a man to fish is to help them build their own fishing industry. This mean that you address the root causes of the problem as opposed to just the symptoms. It means the charity can make itself redundant.