Giving to Charity is a Generous Act of Kindness, But…

Extreme poverty on a global basis will only be overcome when money flows out of the poverty stricken area.  The trouble is very few organizations are trying to develop strategies that bring income to residence in these poverty areas so that money can flow back out.  Rather what you see are many charitable people and organizations taking and giving things to those in poverty.  Then they leave and whatever they gave is consumed and often times fast forgotten.  

Giving things to people is a very generous act of kindness.  In some cases the recipient’s life is changed.  But in many cases this will also create a dependency to be established and the next need is met with an open hand.  Not all things fall into this category; a life saving drug for example is often a pure gift and the recipient has no ability to utilize it beyond its purpose.  But what if things could be different for other things that are essential to life?  What if the person getting the gift is also getting an income, a skill, a craft to be used to provide an income?  One such item is a simple shelter, a home.  

Is it far fetched to think this is possible?  Not at all, and in honesty it is not a new thought but when it is applied to housing it is new indeed.  Housing unfortunately has a high cost associated with it.  Higher than many things people who live in poverty need and higher than most people are accustomed to giving.  For example it is easy to give a pair of shoes or an article of clothing but how does one give someone a simple shelter, a house?  After all, a simple shelter or adequate living space offers more positive benefit than anything else.

In simple terms the occupant needs to become part of the solution.  They must be given the skills and tools as well as the materials to build shelters for their communities or geographic regions.  Once skilled and employed their ability to overcoming the challenges of poverty has begun.  Once employed, like everywhere else on earth, much can be done with the income: improve education, health, wellbeing, child care and development, personal security, and much more.  The journey to the end of poverty can begin.