Poverty Can End

I was at the Navs Center yesterday. As I was nibbling some nuts I bought from a nearby store, two children went inside the compound and picked up some overriped mangoes on the ground. Suddenly, images of the children, women, and men featured on the book I am currently reading , flashed into my mind. The book's title is The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs. He foretold about how the women, children, and men suffered in Malawi. I was quite shocked and depressed at the same time, that there are still areas in the world, that are not just poor, but they are "poor of the poorest", and that who are in fact at the door of death. There was this hospital he visited, where AIDS patients were "treated". The ward consists of 150 beds. The AIDS infected patients are all in all 450. Three AIDS-stricken people share one bed. And when the patient is considered at terminal stage and is nearing death, he/she shall be placed under the bed until his/her death. Horrific! Devastating! I was not able to sleep immediately that night I read it. My passion to help the poor and become an effective agent of development burned inside me that night. At last I knew what I wanted in life. I feel so restless sitting in my cubicle working for a multi-national company who aims basically at profit. Let's go straight to the point! The CSR stuff? Oh come on! They do that so as not to bear the ginormous tax! Though, God uses them to help alleviate the impoverished and marginalized societies at a certain degree. But poverty does not end by giving the people these and that. It just give the people temporary respite from sickening and painful implications of poverty. Able ones need to empower the people and not just dole out. Yes funding is still crucial. Money is needed for operations among other things. But without ownership of development of the people themselves; all efforts and endowments shall be futile. We need to help in making the poor realize that they will not be forever stuck at the foot of the development ladder, or at least make them realize that stepping unto it is indeed possible.

I am greatly empowered and encouraged by the women of Bangladesh. Though they are still considered moderately impoverished, they are still striving to climb the steps of the ladder even if it meant paintstakingly hurdling the physical hardship and emotional struggles brought by abusive foreigh employers. By moderately poor, Sachs meant that, at least 25 percent of the households are extremely poor or moderately poor, that is living under $2 per day. Thanks to the textile and garment industries in Bangladesh, women are more empowered; able to sustain their own living; provide for their families; and have a sense of significance in the society.

What is more interesting is that women in Bangladesh know and understand well the implications of too much population in the quality of life they may have. They know so well their responsiblity/ part in controlling the population growth.

As I handed over some fish crackers to the two children at the Navs center, I saw how happy they were. I knew that the packs of fish cracker wouldn't alleviate them from their situation, but at least I wanted them to see that there is still hope for them. For you who are reading this, I invite you to take part in whatever way to help END poverty.