What's happening?

Jimmy Donaldson is speaking to the camera. "Every year," he says, "over 200,000 children are born without the ability to smile."

Donaldson explains that he is working with a charity to organise free operations for 100 children born with cleft palatesA gap in the upper lip and or the roof of the mouth that is present from birth. Cleft palates occur when parts of a baby's face do not join together properly in the womb. . When the operations are finished, he will take the footage and put it on YouTube for the whole world to see.

Jimmy Donaldson is better known as Mr Beast, the world's most successful YouTuber. He is worth nearly £400m and rose to fame for his stunt videos - one showed him counting to 100,000 over 40 hours.

In 2020 he set up another YouTube channel: Beast PhilanthropyGiving away (lots of) money to help people. . Its projects have included providing 2,000 free prostheticAn artificial body part, such as a limb. limbs and 20,000 children's shoes. The latest video on smiles has had over 22 million views.

Some have praised Mr Beast for his work to help others. But even though he is giving to charity, others have criticised him.

When Mr Beast posted a video about rebuilding an orphanageA group home for children who cannot be looked after by their families. in South Africa, the charity Hope and Homes for Children was not happy. It believes the world should put an end to orphanages, saying that 80% of children in orphanages actually have families who could care for them.

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The charity told Donaldson his project was a bad idea, but says it got no answer. It accused him of using the rebuilding to get more views.

Another project, to build 100 wells in Africa, was described as a "stuntSomething unusual or daring done to attract attention. ". One expertSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. warned that such projects might attract huge attention to begin with, but then be forgotten.

Is all charity selfish?

Yes! People only give to charity to feel good about themselves and look good to other people. Mr Beast could give to charity without naming himself and without posting videos.

No! Mr Beast already had millions of viewers. He did not need to give to charity, but instead chose to help other people. We should just be thankful that he wants to give to others.