The parents of a 12-year-old child in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu province, spent 30,000 yuan ($4,762) setting up a charitable trust under the fifth-grader's name. Charitable as it is, considerable donations under a minor's name should not be encouraged, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:

Local media have reported that since 2009, when the city permitted the registration of charitable trusts in the name of individuals, 358 citizens have set up a charitable trust, 80 percent of which are set up by parents using the names of their children.

However, charitable donations should be voluntary and the benefactors should decide the amount of the donation and its use. Most of the charitable trusts set up under children's names simply reflect the parents' will. It is understandable that parents want their children to be socially responsible and benevolent, but they cannot impose their will on their children and make such decisions on their children's behalf.

Besides, charitable trusts set up under a child's name can trigger irrational competition among children, especially elementary school students who are at a critical phase of physical and mental development.

Instead of paying money to set up charitable trusts under a child's name, which encourages other parents to try and catch up with the Joneses, it is the responsibility of parents, as well as schools and society, to create a comparatively equal environment for children to grow up in.

Obviously, charitable giving should be based on personal capability and a considerable donation is far beyond a minor's capability. Children will benefit more by doing something charitable within their reach.

(China Daily 02/21/2012 page9)