Comparing local vs global impact
Youth Cancer Service
When choosing where to donate, many people weigh the impact of supporting global causes versus contributing locally. While both are valuable, donating locally offers something uniquely powerful: the ability to create direct, visible change in your own community. At Canteen, local support means young Australians affected by cancer can access life-changing services - from counselling and peer support to education, career guidance, and leadership development - right where they live. It’s about turning generosity into personal outcomes that ripple outward, strengthening individuals, families, and communities.
The benefits of local donations
Local donations directly fund services that young Australians rely on, including specialised counselling, peer support events and programs, and access to online resources and support. By donating locally, you can see tangible results in your own community and know exactly how your contribution is making a difference.
Local donations allow Canteen to:
- Deliver specialised counselling and support where it’s needed most
- Fund peer programs, therapeutic workshops, and events retreats for young people in the community
Ensure regional and remote communities can access support services such as counselling and online events via Canteen Connect.
Understanding global donations
Global donations play a vital role in supporting international efforts - from disaster relief to healthcare and education in developing countries. These contributions are essential to addressing large-scale challenges across borders. But when it comes to creating direct impact in your own community, donating locally offers something different.
Supporting Canteen means donating to fund life-changing counselling sessions that provide critical support to young people, and funding programs that build resilience, confidence, and leadership in young Australians. It’s about helping young people not only cope with cancer, but grow through it - with support systems and opportunities that are close to home and tailored to their needs.
Block Content
Why local impact matters at Canteen
By focusing donations on local initiatives, Canteen ensures that young Australians receive:
- Access to free counselling and emotional support whenever and wherever they need it most.
- Opportunities to connect with peers facing similar challenges.
- Education and career support tailored to their circumstances and personal goals.
- Advocacy and youth leadership programs that help young Aussies develop the skills, resilience, and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the world around them
Local donations maximise the effectiveness of each dollar and allow supporters to see the real impact of their contribution in the communities they care about.
Balancing giving decisions
Both local and global giving are valuable, but for those who want to directly support young Australians facing cancer, local donations to Canteen provide clear, measurable, and meaningful outcomes. By giving locally, you help ensure that support is timely, targeted, and accessible to the young people who need it most.
Frequently asked questions
Collapsible field
Title
What is the difference between local and global donations?
Description
Local donations support services and initiatives within your own country or community, while global donations fund charities and programs internationally.
Title
How do local donations help young Australians?
Description
Local donations to Canteen fund specialised counselling, peer support events and programs, and access to online resources, providing direct support to young people impacted by cancer.
Title
Can donations to global causes also support Australians?
Description
While global donations may indirectly benefit Australians in certain cases, local donations ensure that your contribution has an immediate and measurable impact on young people in and around your community.
Title
Why does Canteen focus on local impact?
Description
Canteen’s mission is to be in the corner of every young person when cancer crashes into their world. Canteen provides life-changing cancer support in order to achieve a vision where no young person in Australia faces cancer alone. Focusing locally ensures services are relevant, accessible, and tailored to the specific needs of young people in Australia.
Title
How can I maximise the impact of my donation?
Description
To maximise impact, consider joining our CanDo Family and donating a monthly gift to Canteen. By giving regularly, you are providing the many vital peer and professional support services needed by young people living with cancer across Australia. Monthly giving is the best way to help us ensure no young Australian has to face cancer alone as it provides a predictable and stable income stream, allowing us to effectively plan ahead. Each day our support services reach thousands of young Aussies like Saskia, and that’s only possible because of the continuous support of caring people like you.