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Dennis Nyakundi Onguti
Joined: Jan 10, 2007
Posts: 32 (view all)
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Gender & Age: Male & 31
Country: Kenya
Province/State: Nairobi Area
City: Nairobi
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Poverty Trap
March 28, 2007 - 04:02 PM
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I have always wondered why some families in the whole family tree they are confined to poverty in spite of their trying to redeem themselves from it! I analysed my own village and how the so-called poverty trap works. Here is a child who was born to a family which is not capable of providing the basic needs from food, comfortable shelter, clothing to basic education. When the child starts schooling, first will be going to school empty stomach which makes concentration in class difficult. Sorry last night did not have enough sleep because of the bedbugs. So, other than losing concentration, is also dozing. Well, the adimistration needs the developments fund. Oooh. the little kid has to go home for this funds. At home, the reality of poverty stares at then so strongly.
After trying to bear all these, it is possible to give up by the time they reach primary four or five. They get some "good samaritans" who offer them a simlpe job in the farms whose wage is enough for a meal. As it demands, one gets married and his/her family enters into the same cycle.
How can they get out of the trap? Someone to initiate a village project? Someone to give handouts?
No. Empowerment! Empowerment! Empowerment! How can we empower the poor in our society to liberate themselves from the poverty trap? What do you have to say comrades?
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Suraya Asmal
Joined: May 26, 2004
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Gender & Age: Female, 25
Country: South Africa
Province/State: KwaZulu-Natal
City: Bergville
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Re: Poverty Trap
March 28, 2007 - 05:34 PM
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Yeah, its really a sad cycle, i agree with the empowerment sentiment. Theres a chinese proverb that goes something to the effect of "give a man a fish and we will eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he will not go hungry". I think that if people can teach other people skills of sorts, or develop programmes to do so, then its a stepping step, albeit a small one, towards erradicating poverty.
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Earl B
Joined: Mar 28, 2007
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Country: United States
Province/State: Florida
City: Destin
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Re: Poverty Trap
April 1, 2007 - 12:44 AM
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Yes, empowerment is the key. I've worked in very poor villages and yes they need food, clothing, shelter etc... but somehow we have to find a way they can sustain themselves.
My work has been at ground level and trying to find a way to empower them is tough. It is not their fault as they are hard workers but caught in a cycle of trying to stay alive rather than to thrive.
I've been to SIFAT and they have great ideas. Their website is sifat.org
In the meantime we all must continue to help those who need us.
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vas
Joined: Aug 7, 2006
Posts: 223 (view all)
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Gender & Age: Female, 33
Country: India
Province/State: Delhi
City: Kalkaji
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Re: Poverty Trap
April 1, 2007 - 03:22 AM
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for starters education can be made free and supplemented with midday meal.in poor states in India govt provide incentives to study to poor kids .eg-girls get training in vocational skills to start small enterprises or get jobs along with regular education.for compeleting high school they get monthly scholarship and a cycle to come to school.
breaking from poverty trap is difficult.help can be found via microfinance(eg-www.sksindia.com
grameen foundation.org).a big socail cahnge is via equal employment opportunities near residence.it all seems easy to write or say but needs alot of time and patience to achieve tangible longlasting results.
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