Over these past days and weeks I heard countless people saying over and over again that TV stations have been turned into ‘tear funds’. This is, in the main, true.

We must have accumulated a dozen TV shows collecting money for those ‘in need’ during the autumn and winter schedule.

The irony of it all is that, on one hand, it seems to bother people but, at the same time, funds flow in and the end result is that large sums of money are being channelled via the telephone network.

In fact, I cannot think of a telethon that has been abortive, even when the small tangential TV channels were involved.

However, there are questions we need ask:

Is it true there is so much indigence that we end up having to collect all this money via telethons?

What about the so called ‘overly generous’ social benefit system we have, is it really as open-handed and as responsive as it looks?

Could it be that our social policy cannot see the wood for the trees and we might be investing too much resources in the wrong places, leaving those who are really in need shortchanged?

Is this a TV audience ploy that consumes life stories for the ‘greater good’ of hits and views?

Are people dishing out money because what the telethons do is command a guilt trip on all of us as we watch people crying their hearts out calling for all to give as much as they can?

As I go around listening and meeting people at my work place, in a variety of NGOs I am involved and in my broadcasting role I cannot deny that we have a belt of citizens at the margins of society that are not coping at all and that the wealth being generated is hardly coming their way.

There are parents unable to provide for a balanced and varied diet for their children.

Many are living in inadequate dwellings that are not even fit to host animals.

Some young men and women have to find a job to sustain their families instead of pursuing their academic dreams.

Teenage mothers are a reality. Domestic violence leaves both women and children on the brink of poverty.

Medical treatment, like (selected) chemotherapy and other basic therapies, are not on the government’s inventory.

Many people are uneducated, thus perpetuating a cycle of poverty that puts them in a rut.

The list goes on and on…

We need to have the courage to reconcile our social responsibilities

It’s strange that we should talk about the poverty and wealth divide we saw being reported upon in Brazil during the World Cup tournament but then we fail to notice that this is quite a reality in Malta.

Admittedly, this divide is hidden both because we are small and also because we are too embarrassed to admit this is happening at home.

But these are facts and there is no turning away from them. We need the money.

However, the challenge we all have is to strike a balance between having such telethons and taking the high moral ground and doing nothing.

Whatever the reasons and whoever’s duty it is, the truth of the matter is that we need to provide the dosh because NGOs still see copious cases falling through the proverbial net, notwithstanding our social policy and all the hard work the NGOs put in.

Apart from raising funds, it is possible there are implicit values in these telethons that we might be missing as citizens.

These could include: being acquainted with the traditional value of charity will help us respond to the contradictory profit maximisation value of the ‘free market’; contributing to a cause will help our communities add moral currency, strengthen the concept of a socially sensitive economy and create an opportunity to reinforce the values market; and fund raising helps the State recognise where social policy is going wrong, identifying those who are being shortchanged, as it would be very difficult to spot the lacunae in our systems if there are no campaigns of the sort.

However, I still believe that these ‘helping’ campaigns need to be founded on a set of principles, namely: enticing an inclusive society.

The people being helped should not be made to feel indebted and giving cash comes with giving time.

The value in helping lies in the fact that we need to have the courage to reconcile our social responsibilities.

A telethon on its own does nothing to change the long-term problems our communities are struggling with but, if done respectfully and meaningfully, it might serve as a warning bell.

Andrew Azzopardi is a broadcaster and senior lecturer at the University’s Department of Youth and Community Studies.