One day, when I was on the way to my first tutorial of the semester, a strange girl smiled and stopped me when I was passing by. She complimented me on my lip colour, introduced herself and asked for my name. As my university’s campus was not far away, I thought that she was one of my university’s students and she wanted to make friend. Yet, frustratingly, she was a street fundraiser and all she wanted was my donation for the charity campaign that her organization was operating.

 

Street fundraising is a familiar way that most charitable organizations use to boost donation. They let their part-time employees stand on busy streets, stalk, stop pass by passengers and convince them to donate to their charity campaigns. I find this method extremely annoying, as it has somehow altered the meaning of making donation from a willing act to a compelling act. Most street fundraisers, in my opinion, are awfully rude. They do not give a care whether you are rush or not, all you must do is to spend your precious time to listen to their bored to death presentation of the charity campaigns. As soon as they finish, you will have to present your credit card immediately, notwithstanding your unwillingness to do so. Excuses to leave will definitely be ignored.

 

Back to my story, it is not until the girl introduced the plan from an anonymous organization to help Australian native animal from becoming extinct, I know that she was a street fundraiser. As soon as I realize it, I attempted to leave immediately. I told her that I my class is about to start and I had to leave, and that it was my first tute for my first semester in Uni, nevertheless, she told me to give her a few minutes until she finished and asked me if I knew about Tasmanian Devil. Although I really love Koala and Joey, I did not want to be late for the first tutorial of my very first semester, I decided to walk away without saying anything.  As soon as I turn my back to her, another guy came towards me and introduced as the girl’s friend. After that, he repeated the campaign that the girl mentioned before. I told her and her co-worker that I was already late for my tutorial and that I had to go. Instead of answering my request, they gave out a donation form and asked me to provide my personal information, including my credit card number without asking for my decision. As I did not want to donate for these rude people, I asked them if I could have the organisation’s website to donate online, so as I could leave the scene immediately. However, once again, my request was disregarded. As I had already late for the class, I decided to present my credit card and donate $15 to them.

As much as I hate street fundraisers, i admire of how most of them can make their victims pleased even though they are forced to give these fundraisers money. I find that some street fundraisers are professionals at pleasing people. They may compliment on your dress or your new handbag. They smile at you and give you big hugs. They may even give your children toys and balloons. We all know what they want is to get some money from you, nevertheless, you are unable to be mad at them for the friendliness  until you leave the scene, as you realize that you have been late for your important meeting or you have been tricked by a honey tongue. Although I really hate these street fundraisers for their rudeness, I was pleased of the thought that I had contributed to help Australian native animals from becoming extinction, yet it was not until I realized that it was a fraud.

Until now, I cannot understand why I did not get angry after donating for the two fundraisers although they forced me to do so and then made me late for my very first class. Perhaps, it is because they created friendly atmosphere, maintained lovely smile, expressed their gratitude to me for my charity and hugged me goodbye. All of these behaviours pleased me until I realized that I had made a $15 monthly donation to the charity fund instead of a $15 one-time donation. I was so mad as I knew that I was cheated. It took me nearly 2 weeks to cancel my charity, luckily without any fund charged. At the moment, every time when I roam the streets, whether alone or with my friends, I avoid to stay close to any fundraisers and ignore their attempt to greet me. To me, being cheated once is enough. One said: ‘Failure doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything, but simply that you can learn one more thing’, to me, this experience is a somehow lesson to learn. And mates, please don’t assume I’m a greedy who does not want to spare a penny for the ones in need. Indeed I’m happy to help every one, unless someone tries to force and cheats on me so that he could earn something from me.