The word philanthropy, of Greek origin, means ‘love of humankind’ and in its modern sense means private contributions for public purposes by individuals, corporations and foundations. It is sometimes called ‘the kindness of strangers’ and is all about what is called the 3Ts – Time, Treasure and Talent. The industry is rapidly globalising and philanthropy is now front-page news.

Philanthropy recognizes that neither the government nor the market place can do everything especially in the areas of education, healthcare and the arts, and that partnerships are going to become increasingly important. Philanthropy recognizes the role and impact an individual can have. A better world cannot be brought about by some master strategy created by a central agency. It can only emerge from the bottom up – produced by many creative citizens and organisations willing to grapple with issues and bring about change for the common good in issues they feel passionately about whether it is in their own parish or village or in a community halfway across the planet. Many people in the diaspora often first connect with their homeland through philanthropy. They then become more engaged by travelling to the homeland and visiting projects. This ‘philanthrotourism’ often leads to deeper engagement with the homeland in areas such as trade and investment, education and culture. As donors develop a greater appreciation and understanding of the homeland and its needs, they begin to focus on areas of particular interest and they begin to make investments

The diaspora can help the development of philanthropy in the homeland in a number of ways: