This writing is based on an interesting statistics that I found, 500 people at the top of the world's pay scale possess the same total wealth as the 416,000,000 people at the bottom of the scale-2005 United Nations Human Development Report-
Unbelievable numbers!!(writers note: please dont believe in all of the statistics, those I present to you is just a prologue).. There is a simple question that arise complicated answer concerning the statistics, How can we alleviate poverty ?
After several literature and day dreaming that I did :p, yet constrained with the capacity of a university student not-truly-sensing of the real situation outside the campus, I found there are two main approaches...The misfortunates have 2 main problems, - First of all MOTIVATION...
They always think that they are meant to be poor and there arent any way to take the next step of ladder; they dont realize that there are so many examples of great people that take the chances and reach to the next level, what they must have is the revolution of their paradigm..thus, we, the fortunates, must oftenly interact with them; motivate, inspire, and urge them to open or take every chances!!!..take a further step..change their line of destiny..ikhtiar!!allahu akbar!!
- Second, THE GREEN (now valuable) PAPER (money money money money money-like The Apprentice song :p)..
If they want to make their own business then they need enough capital, that reminds me, one of the people that creates a world-recognized system is Mohammad Yunus, with his famous micro-credit..using micro-credit, the people can help themselves, creating small business to cover their household expenses, and furthermore improves their health...giving micro-credit means giving them the chance to improve their lives. Nevertheless, entrusting an amount of money to them must be based on a well-established system of supervisory..The results are over-whelming in many places, Bangladesh, Honduras, and many others...each places has different characteristics, thus the credit system must adapt with the local culture..Moreover, the microcredit system is very strict since it gives low interest to the obligors; usually, if the loans are non performing for 2 consecutive months then the obligors cant get credits anymore, or usually requires a saving accounts of a certain amounts of their income...A strict system but with vision(I believe)
After breaking down into several problems of those misfortunate people have, then it comes to the two aspects or topics that interest me the most, having different effects on the poverty issue,
- Direct effect : Entrepreneurship
It's not a subject that I really know, so I'll only write based on the social impacts..entrepreneurship doesnt really need any academic background..it needs the sense of business and hard work!!..by building a business then it will firstly affect their family, then hopefully affects others in the community by giving new jobs..the unemployed then has the energy to sustain and find a descent food and education...and it's not just that, when an entrepreneur is born then he/she will inspire others in his/her community; thus, creates other entrepreneur spirited by the predecessors success story...in this way the cycle of poverty will be broken...
- Indirect effect : Education
My favourite subject, of course... I believe that education gives a systematic thinking and broader knowledge; yet, every people has their different stages and needs to satisfies the neurons in their brains..like Bill Gates, maybe he doesnt need academic input to become like he is right now...so everyone has it own starve of formal education...and education is not limited only in academic context or formal school; of course, education has broader meaning it's about drawing out our valuable potentials...education will change people, the way of thinking on many issues, creating dreams, etc...ok, like I said before that education is more systematic, involves curriculum, and designed by the experts, I will say that in this writing I eliminate the possibility of experts using curriculum as a way of indoctrinisation, thus, giving a thorough knowledge to the student with particular objective of study...
Yes, as you can see...there are so many options to alleviate poverty...after we identifies this step, then what should we do???..ACT!!!the 3 powerful letters but very difficult to do!!!start right now...choose your own path(like I prefer education than entrepreneurship), or maybe you have a different definition of the poverty root causes, yourself..but put your heart into it, when you found one..put your soul..since it's worthy to give and to pass it to others..
There are so many unfortunate people..when you are thinking that you cant give much, you are wrong!!...little that you give means alot to them!!! if you dont start it right now, then the inspiration will fade..cause just maybe by giving a penny for them, can be used for their food...or maybe abit smile and hug for them, can make them believe that there is always HOPE...