Innovative Ways of Dealing with Poverty, Problems through Media
The clichéd efforts to fight poverty around the holiday season make people feel better about doing something in the world at large. Salvation Army ringers, Toys for Tots boxes and other charity efforts are noble but only offer a temporary salve against the rigors of poverty. The value of work and the long term benefits of self-sufficiency make a year-round effort to fight poverty a necessity. I dislike immensely all of the commercials for holiday charities that make it sound like an Elmo doll will help lift a family out of poverty.
GOOD Magazine is currently conducting a drive to help organizations interested in sustainable development, job creation and poverty alleviation. The magazine allows a subscriber to select a charity where all of their $20 subscription fee will be donated up to $1 million. I gave a few gift subscriptions for the holidays this season where I donated my money to Kiva, an organization that facilitates loans to small businesses in the developing world.
I understand the skepticism of shoppers who are afraid to send their money into an abyss. GOOD Magazine has done interviews with representatives from each charity on their subscription list including Jacqueline Novogratz from Acumen Fund. This organization provides simple solutions to help farmers in poverty including inexpensive irrigation systems that can mean the difference between life and death. If I sound a bit like a shill for GOOD Magazine, Kiva and Acumen Fund, it is because I think these are organizations with the transparency to help you make an investment in lifting others out of poverty. We need to think globally and long term when thinking about poverty and these solutions are a good start.
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