The Block 2022‘s Omar Slaimankhel has addressed allegations that he misused funds raised for charity.
The renovation show winner recently raised $50,000 for underprivileged children in Afghanistan. However, those who donated to the cause have been questioning whether the funds went to the charity they were intended for.
“It’s been a topic of conversation in the community that Omar raised over $50k for kids in Afghanistan but ended up leaving after just a few days of handing out food packs,” one person told So Dramatic! podcast host Megan Pustetto.
“So people are wondering what’s happened to the money he’s raised for them.”
They added: “He did give out some food packs but people are saying $50k is a lot and it didn’t look like there were that many food packs given out.
“Only a couple of truckloads and definitely not $50k worth. Like where did all that money that we donated go?”
The Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission states that charities operating overseas must still “ensure any money, assets, goods, resources or other items that it sends overseas are used properly”.
Charities must also “follow procedures for sending funds and assets overseas in a way that promotes transparency and accountability”.
What did The Block‘s Omar Slaimankhel say about the allegations?
When contacted by So Dramatic!, Omar vehemently denied allegations that he misappropriated charity funds.
“That’s strange a donor to the appeal would say that to you, given I posted videos on my socials showing the families the money helped,” he said. “The donation appeal was set up while I was on the ground in Afghanistan and witnessed firsthand the dire circumstances Afghani families are experiencing.
“The donations were not paid to a charity of mine. I don’t have a charity fund but it is something I am considering given the huge response the appeal garnered.”
Omar explains where the donated money went
Omar continued: “The donations collected by My Cause were only transferred to me after a stringent verification process carried out by their team.
“I firstly had to be verified by the funding organisation people were donating to and then I had to demonstrate that the money was going towards the legitimate cause stated on the donation page. I passed their checks after showing them the videos of me on the ground there buying food, clothes and handing over cash to families in need.”
He added that given Afghanistan is a “poverty-stricken, developing nation”, “receipts for goods purchased are not a thing”. As such, “the strongest proof” he has are the videos of him “on the ground physically doing anything”.
“Hope that clears things up for this mystery donor and anyone else who missed all the videos I posted.”
Want even more goss? Listen to the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
