Let´s Change Our Culture
"We have a very compartmentalize understanding of charity. We have in mind a certain amount for charity, and we have the rest of our budget to spend as we wish or think is best. We have certain values here and we have another set of values there. If we break this dualism apart, use the same kind of values for every dollar we spend in all the activities in what we engage with, we will change the world. If we start voting with our dollars every day (in what we decide to spend and in what not) we will surely change the culture of the business. By voting for companies that have a relationship with their suppliers, and those who don’t. For some, they are people, for others, just numbers in a balance sheet of paper." Paraphrasing Mark R. Weber, coproducer,
Poverty, Inc.
Growth is uncomfortable, it hurts. But it's time to think better before taking action the next time we have the opportunity to participate and help the needy. For decades, "everyone" has overlooked the fact that helping the poor is about people and relationships, and not about causes and being superheroes. We have to stop being protagonists of the development history of "the poor". That is so bad.
NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are the new colonialists of the time. Humanitarian aid has become a big problem because it nurtures beggars, instead of creating jobs and helping them access the pond, because they know how to fish! We have turned the poor into the objects of our charity.
The donation system has not developed intelligent solutions for social change. Instead of providing solutions, it has been damaging and destructive. It's time for us to become intentional. Many local factories have closed due to the negative impact that these unintentional donations cause in the long term.
A billion people around the world live in poverty and do not have the opportunity to use their natural talents. We need to take better practical actions that we will take when our desire is to express compassion through help and charity. Make it possible for people to grow and thrive in their context, providing solutions to their own people.
Many "poor" countries have been negatively affected by the good intentions of Europe, the United States, and Canada. How do we connect our good intentions and desires to help with things that really work? How can we make sure that that will not make people run out of business?
Poverty is complex. The extension of financial services to people is good, but microcredit will not end poverty. Business is not a utopian solution. It's just a brick in a market economy. With Microfinance, we create small businesses that make our world create jobs for our economy.
Every human being has a purpose and a gift to develop. The difficulty may be a great opportunity for people to discover their talents using whatever they have in their hands to breakthrough. Creativity and effectiveness can arise in desperate situations bringing practical solutions to the circumstances.
Our job is to engage people with their true identity and value. Remind ourselves that they are perfectly capable to expand and break there own barriers. That social change and prosperity will happen if we can guide them in their steps until they have access to the markets.
Truth & Transformation / Documentary Proverty Inc.
It was a very good article to realize how a consumer can help to stop poverty by buying from companies that have values and care for people. I once heard from a person from the organization called The Salvation Army that soap, soup and soul were very important to start to help a person. After this I think it is important like it says in your article to help people develop their gifts and talents so they can work in things that they will do well and feel happy. I like the example to teach them how to fish.
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