A crowdfunding platform for individuals with healthcare needs

Through the Watsi crowdfunding platform, users can donate money to individuals in the developing world in dire need of medical treatment.

The UK’s Peoplefund.it has already enabled anyone to support healthcare projects – as well as donate their time – and now we’ve come across a site with a similar, but more one-to-one focus. Watsi is a crowdfunding platform through which users can donate money to individuals in the developing world in dire need of medical treatment. Collaborating with several medical partners, Watsi collects information on patients in poor regions that currently require medical treatment that they cannot afford. The company then uploads profiles with each patient’s story onto the site, where visitors can browse and pledge a donation towards the healthcare of those they feel deserve it. When an individual reaches their funding goal, pledgers’ payments are made via PayPal. Aside from the fees paid towards that website, 100 percent of the donor’s money goes towards the cost of medical treatment for their chosen recipient. Watsi is keeping all of its transactions available to view in order that its users can be assured that their funding is going to the right place. While many people may be concerned about the efficiency of non-profits and charities claiming to aid those in poorer countries, Watsi is attempting to provide a way for givers to connect directly with causes overseas. What other ways could the crowdfunding model be used for good? Spotted by: Florent Lesauvage