Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Poverty Question

What can I do? To what point do I give such that I myself do not fall to a level of poverty? What must I give up to help the poor: meat, sushi, movies, coffee, cheese?

Seeing people especially kids in need really hits me and I feel the urge to give, but if I started handing out 5000 CFA ($10) bills does that help anyone? It provides a temporary solution to my guilt of being privileged and a temporary solution to a person's hunger. After the money is used up though hunger creeps in again.

How can I have an impact on poverty? Giving money? Teaching skills that help people make money? Putting money into the local economy by spending? Planting a Moringa tree? What can I do to put a dent into poverty and hunger?

My 10th graders say, "We need jobs."

1 comment:

Emz said...

Using your position to raise funds is always a good idea. You could set up a programme that teaches practical skills to compliment what the kids learn in the class room, and then rally corporate bodies in the area to pool eresources and fund thr programme as a way of fulfilling their corporate social responibility.

Another way to put a dent in poverty is to make learning fun. If you can awaken a hunger for knowledge/excellence in the kids, they'll believe they can achieve more, and they will. Watch Freedom Writers for inspiration, and I wish you every success. God bless.