Objective: To show how Canada compares with other industrialized nations in regard to foreign-aid spending
Time: 30 minutes
Materials: None
Group Size: Any

Instructions
Select seven students to represent each of the countries listed below and give each a name tag with that person's country written on it. Have the students line up in an order different from the one in the list along the blackboard with the words "Most" and "Least" written at opposite ends of the board.

Explain to the class that the United Nations has set a target of 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) to be spent as foreign aid by developed countries such as Canada (in other words, 70 cents for every 100 dollars). The students standing represent seven developed countries; the objective is to move the students around until they are in the proper order according to how much each country gives to foreign aid.

Divide the rest of the class into two teams. Each team takes turns arranging the "countries" in the order they think is correct. After the first team has lined up the countries, consult the list and tell them how many countries are in the correct position (but do not tell them which ones). The other team now goes.

The game continues until one team has successfully placed all seven countries in the correct order.

Afterwards, inform the students that Canada contributes only 0.34 per cent of its GNI to foreign aid and is ranked 14th among other developed countries. Discuss how Canada compares with other nations and whether they think Canada could give more.

List of Countries ranked according to the percentage of Gross National Income that is used to assist development overseas (from most to least):

Norway (0.93%)
Denmark (0.81%)
Austria (0.52%)
France (0.47%)
Ireland (0.41%)
Canada (0.34%)
United Sates (0.22%)

Related Resources
Transforming Lives—available here