Ramadan is here...

...and along with it, the seasonal migration of beggars into Jakarta. So, it's perhaps the appropriate time to refer you to this old post. Here is a snippet:

So, here is the lesson: To help the poor, you should restrain from giving to ensure that the total amounts of your gifts is so low that (a) it discourages the use of children; and (b) it discourages organised begging. Of course, this is not the only lesson. Another lesson is this: To really help the poor, you really have to want to help the poor – there is no such thing as a free lunch.