POVERTY - A STATE OF MIND OR A STATE OF POCKET? PART 2

Kenya - Community & Orphan Care - Orphan and Teaching Project, Kenya

Jul 18, 2011

The second in a 4 part series of looking at what poverty really is and how we deal with it.

Last month we defined the different types of povert and discovered that most of us in one way of the other have some form of poverty in our lives:

1) poverty of being;
2) poverty of community;
3) poverty of spiritual intimacy;
4) poverty of stewardship.

This month we look at different ways of dealing with poverty effectively.

WHAT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE?

It is crucial to identify which kind of intervention is needed in the community/projects in order to not cause more harm, disempowerment or create dependency on foreigners.
Does the situation/project call for relief, rehabilitation or development?

    Relief
This is urgent, temporary provision of emergency aid to reduce immediate suffering from a natural or man-made crisis, e.g. providing shelter, food and water at an IDP camp during the post-election violence in Kenya. There is a need to 'stop the bleeding', and the assistance needed is often material or financial. The receiver is largely incapable of helping himself at the time.

    Rehabilitation
The restoration of someone to a useful place in society through therapy, empowerment or education.  Rehabilitation begins as soon as the 'bleeding' stops; it seeks to RESTORE people and their communities to the positive elements of pre-crisis conditions. The key is in working WITH the victims, as they PARTICIPATE in their own recovery.

    Development
Process of ongoing change that the people involved into a place where they can work and support themselves and their families with the fruit of that work. Development is not done to or for people but with people. Development is an empowering process.

We would love to hear what you think.  Please tell us your thoughts on either our Facebook page or Twitter