Blog Action Day: How To Eliminate Poverty

Posted by Ian McKenzie

Written on October 15, 2008

Okay, you as an individual are not going to eliminate poverty. Unfortunately, many people stop at that thought, feeling poverty is too big a problem for one person to solve, so nothing gets done. There are those who feel the solution to poverty has to come from government and institutions, so never bother to consider how it affects them.

No, you may not have the answer to global poverty. You probably won’t eliminate poverty in your community. You can make a difference in the lives of those who live in poverty. Yes, it’s only a “band-aid” solution, but often a band-aid is needed to staunch the bleeding until full treatment is applied.

Mother Teresa said, “There are thousands and thousands of poor, but I think of only one at a time.” She accomplished great things in awareness and advocacy for the poor, but she saw the needs individually.

What are some of the things you can do to help?

Global Poverty

Send money – This is the easiest response. Write a cheque, stick it in an envelope and mail it. Five minutes out of your schedule once in a while and you’ve done something. Look to support international organizations providing assistance to the poor:
- UNICEF
- The Salvation Army
- The Red Cross
- Habitat for Humanity
- Médecins Sans Frontières
- World Vision
- Foster Parents Plan
Send goods – There are a couple of ways you can make a difference with practical goods. Recycle items you no longer use that would have practical value elsewhere in the world. Eyeglasses are a good example. An organization such as Eyes on Africa take old eyeglasses and give them to people who couldn’t otherwise afford eye wear. Another approach would be to participate in a fund-raising program to purchase and ship major equipment to facilities in the third world. For example, an x-ray machine for a clinic in rural Brazil.
Send you - This takes more commitment. Volunteer personal time to work in a developing nation for a few weeks. A volunteer vacation might involve:
- Improve Children’s Dental Health
- Improve Community Services in Impoverished Areas
- Build a Habitat for Humanity Home
- Volunteer for a Medical Mission
- Help Orphans and Abandoned Children
- Build a School in a Developing Nation
- Organic Farming: Help Promote Sustainable Agriculture
- Volunteer as a Management Consultant
- Teach English Abroad
- Help Deaf Children Experience Their World
Reduce your impact – The way we consume in the West has great impact on the quality of life in other parts of the world. Our appetite for cheap goods has the effect of keeping the poor, poor. Whether as simple as buying Fair Trade coffee or as involved as not buying any goods from a nation with poor a human rights record, changing our lifestyle can have a ripple effect around the world.

Local Poverty

Send Money – Again, the easy response. Look around at organizations in your community making a difference in the lives of those in need. From international agencies with local programs to small charities providing limited programs in your area, there are many opportunities for financial support.
Donate goods and services – There are many ways you can put your goods and services to work to help the poor.
- Give good-quality used personal items to a thrift shop that supports charities with its profits.
- You know that treadmill serving as a clothes hanger in your bedroom? Give it to a community centre with a fitness program for women in need.
- Consider providing free or discounted services to local charities. For example, a printer could supply letterhead for a small organization.
- Donate goods or services to fund-raising events. Many charities depend on annual events to provide much of their funding, contribute something to benefit these events.
Volunteer – Give of your time. Most charitable organizations survive because of time given by volunteers. When they do hire, they can’t afford the kinds of salaries in the local market. Free up a couple of hour a week to support local groups.

This list is not exhaustive, but hopefully gives some idea of what you, as one person, can do to make the life of another person better.

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