How to Break out of the Vicious Circle of Poverty - Essay Example

One thing I would change in the world I think poverty is a curse in our world, and leads to most other problems faced by humankind today. We live in an unequal world, where some people think nothing of spending huge amounts of money on a single meal, or the celebration of a social event, while others do not have the wherewithal to adequately cover their bodies, protect themselves from the elements, or sometimes even indulge in the luxury of having two square meals everyday. If there is one thing that I could change in the world, I think I would like to help in some way in the eradication of poverty. I grew up in a small village, where I saw girls aged five or six, carrying younger siblings, and begging on the streets for food. They were dirty, unkempt and wore clothes that were little more than rags. I wondered, why their parents would not give them enough to eat, till I was told that their parents probably gave them all they had, and went hungry themselves. They lived in hovels, and often while the older children begged, the younger ones were asleep on the roadside probably having exhausted themselves crying. As I grew up, and left the village to pursue my studies in a bigger town, these images stayed with me. However, to my dismay, I found that there were more such beggars there, than I had seen in my village. It struck me then, that I lived in a poor country where poverty was a curse suffered by large numbers of the population. It was at this stage of my life, that I made up my mind to do my bit to ease the pain of these poor, unfortunate people. My parents were happy to see that I felt so much sympathy for those less fortunate than me, and encouraged me to do small things like offering food, sweets or clothes to poor people nearby on my birthday, instead of having a party for my friends. Fortunately, my school too was at the forefront of social work, involving educating those who did not have the means to go to a proper school. We students, were taken to nearby rural areas, to mingle with the villagers and understand their problems. We also sometimes helped the younger children with their homework, and encouraged them never to stop their schooling, because many children are forced to stop going to school, and instead help their parents out in small jobs. As I graduated from high school, I realized that the means to end poverty was education. I found that poor children were less healthy, and more prone to disease than their peers in more advantaged homes. Living in unhygienic surroundings, and never having the benefit of being educated in the advantages of cleanliness, these children grew up with habits that are not conducive to good health. They are also often taken advantage of, especially girls, who become victims of diseases like HIV/AIDS. These children also face social discrimination and this inhibits their self confidence. They grow up lacking skills to earn enough to feed themselves and their families, which leads them into crime. This vicious circle is a never ending part of their lives, and they find it difficult to break out of it. When I pondered the plight of such people, and read about, and viewed such people in various parts of the world; I realized that this was not a problem related to just my part of the world. It was a global phenomenon, and steps needed to be taken on a war footing, if poverty was to be eradicated. I have read of the good work being done by social organizations, the world over to counter the menace of poverty. Philanthropists are actively seeking to bring these people into the mainstream, and give them equal opportunities to grow and develop. I have often contributed small sums to institutions, that are helping people from lower income groups, to receive education or vocational training, so that they are supplied with the tools to earn a good living. Julius Nyerere, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, once remarked "Education is not a way to escape poverty - It is a way of fighting it.”(UNESCO, International Workshop on Education and Poverty Eradication) I think this is the key to eradicating poverty. If poor people are equipped with the tools to lead a better life, and earn a better living, they will be healthier, less prone to diseases, and more likely to keep away from criminal activities. Educated parents will be in a better position to bring up children who are healthier, and better equipped socially, emotionally and physically. They will also have the confidence to improve their lives, and be aware of their rights and responsibilities towards society at large. Our school had also pioneered a program to spread computer literacy among students of lower income groups. The idea was to teach them to use computers, to gain more knowledge of the world, that they could not experience for themselves. Giving them a basic foundation in the use of computers, would also educate them about choices they could make for further studies, and give them better prospects for their future. While working with these youngsters, I found that they were as quick in their grasp of the subject as we were. It brought home to me the fact, that what separated us was only the difference in the opportunities that were available. I am proud of the fact that I was among the students who opted to help the teachers in this school initiative. Although, there is a long road to be travelled before poverty can be completely eradicated from our world; I would like to believe that it is an achievable goal, and play a role in giving some help and succor, to those who have the misfortune to be poor. I think that since all of us come into this world in similar fashion, all should start their lives with some basic standards of equality, like food, shelter, clothing and basic education. If these basic rights which are guaranteed in the constitutions of all countries of the world, can be actually made available to all the world’s citizens, we would see an end to poverty. It is a sad commentary on man’s progress, that he has not been able to alleviate poverty. Despite mind boggling strides in fields such as medicine, and communication, science and space research, man still battles poverty, and there are millions of people in our world who cannot meet the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, and are denied a life of dignity. Works Cited UNESCO Quoted in the International Workshop on Education and Poverty Eradication Kampala, Uganda, 30 July to 3 August 2001 Web 22 May 2012 Read More