Today is Blog Action Day and thousands of bloggers around the world will unite to write about a single subject: poverty. My take on the subject will be personal, rather than a discussion of macro-economics.
Long ago, I took a class in college that brought to my attention the horrible disparity between the wealth enjoyed by most people in the United States and the amount of wealth enjoyed by many people in the rest of the world.
Here is a telling statistic—annual per capita GDP. (In simple terms, that means the annual national income divided by the number of people in the country. It's a measure of how much wealth is theoretically available to people if everyone in a nation shared it equally.) I'm listing some representative countries below. For a complete list, you can go here.
Zimbabwe--$200
Democratic Republic of Congo--$300
Liberia--$500
Somalia--$600
Ethiopia--$700
Rwanda--$800
Afghanistan--$1,000
Haiti--$1,200
Bangladesh--$1,400
Kenya--$1,700
United States of America--$45,800
Does that kind of disparity make you feel ashamed? That's the impact it has on me.
It's easy to be overwhelmed by statistics like these and to become paralyzed with the thought that there is nothing I can do. But we can all do something, and if we did, it would make a difference in this world. I've told this story before, but I'll repeat it now. When I was in my mid-twenties, I was considering taking a Caribbean vacation. But the thought of the huge income gap between rich and poor that exists in that part of the world troubled me. In the end, I decided I didn't want to feed the big corporations who ran the hotels and put together vacation packages, Instead, I realized that I'd rather feed a child. So I sponsored a child through Compassion International. They assigned me a boy in Haiti named Josue, and I sponsored him for 14 years until he reached adulthood. My actions did little to correct the economic injustices in that country, and yet . . . because of them, one person who might otherwise be still trapped in poverty received an education. He now works as a professional musician.
My husband and I have sponsored several other children throughout the years, and each of them has gained better nutrition and education at very little cost to us. Does this solve the problems of institutional poverty and global income disparity? No, but it does provide individuals with the tools they need to better their lives.
Even in these times of financial insecurity, most of us can do something--even if it is buying a few cans of food for a food panty. In fact, in times like these, it is more important to act than ever before.
If you still don't think such actions make much difference to anyone, let me leave you with at recent letter from one of the children we sponsor in Africa.
Dear Michael and Ruth,
How are you, my lovely friends, and all your family? I am writing to you this letter particularly to thank you for the Christmas gift which you sent for me and my family. (Ruth's note: Gifts are limited to $10.) I used this money to buy a trousers, shirt, a hen, and food and meat. Home is fine, and all my people are fine. I also take this opportunity to thank you for the birthday gift that you sent for me. I bought a hen, clothes, and food and meat. I celebrated my birthday and it was great fun. I am at school and doing well. Pray for me to continue doing well. May God bless you.
Asuman
It's been a tight year for Michael and me, but we are not cutting our support for Asuman or Doris from our budget.
Please consider what you can do to help eradicate poverty.
17 comments:
it's very good of you to do that. i hope to, as well, when i'm working.
for now, i turn to sites like freerice, kiva, and goodsearch, as ways to help alleviate poverty online.
saw this post via the front page of blog action day. it's great that you're participating. :)
I'll post later about poverty, too, Ruth. Thanks for sharing this.
XOXO
It's wonderful that you are able to sponsor those children! That's something I'd like to do one day, too.
I've found the best way to deal with poverty is to do what I can to counteract the culture that creates it. I don't participate in the consumerist lifestyle and encourage others to consume more mindfully.
There's nothing I can do in terms of changing the government or the public policies here. One by one though, we can all change the way we think, the way we consume and the values we support.
~*
Excellent post Ruth. What organization do you go through to sponsor these kids?
A very good entry Ruth, very moving, informative and sobering.
Blog Action Day!
I didn't know.
Thanks Ruth!
Gosh Ruth, I hadn't heard about this. Wish I had. Your post is lovely. We give gifts to our family in the name of Kiva which is a person to person loan process. The wonder of this is that as you are repaid, you can then loan out again to someone else. We plan to do it again this year, and within a few years have a few hundred dollars being used in this way. It is a wonderful feeling to do something that can make a difference. Blessings to you and your efforts. you are special.
An eye-opening and moving post, Ruth. The GDP list.....wow, our U.S. wealth is just glaring. Someday, won't there need to be a shakedown and balancing of the world's wealth. It would seem like it.
Lately, I've been perusing foreign newspapers online. One from Africa showed people lined up outside of banks desperate to get enough cash to buy food......due to the financial crisis, which seems to be hardly noticed here in the U.S. (Is this "crisis" even real, or an election ploy of some sort?) But, maybe it is hitting hard in other places which already has little wealth.
It is wonderful that you and Michael sponsor needy children.
That is money well spent. And to think how fast we drop $10 at someplace like Starbucks or the organic market. Blessings to you and Michael for continuing to support these kids. It would be great if you got to meet them one day.
I would love to do that Ruth....who do you go thru to sponsor a child? I was always so leery of the scams I heard of that were going around, I never did that. I'd love to do it, if I could find a reputable sponsorship organization.
I use Compassion International: http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm
I use them because they are considered one of the most financially responsible. (Some groups spend too much money on administration. With Compassion, 80% goes to the children.) They are also great about keeping in touch. I get letters about four times a year and photos once a year, and I can send letters to my kids online. It's been fun. Asuman and I have had exchanges about how far Uganda is from "my district" and about comparing American football to soccer.
The cost to sponsor one child is $32 a month. If that's too much, Compassion also accepts one-time donations instead of ongoing sponsorships.
Ruth, this is really beautiful.
And that made me laugh when you said you weren't going to talk about macro-economics! (I guess that was my job? ;-)
In any case, I realize I also have this side of me... to help in small practical ways. My heart swelled to hear of your efforts. Small touches of human kindness that shelter and nurture a life.
What a lovely, and very touching post. I am moved. ... Thank you for sharing. Loved the letter you shared from the person you sponsor.
I also love your post, Ruth. Of the comments, I resonate most with Thailand Chani. I try to live on less and counteract the prevailing culture of consumerism here. I'm not as minimalist as I'd like yet, but I know I'm getting some resources redistributed more fairly. Your story is a good example.
I do not know how I missed stopping by here yesterday, but I did.
Oh Ruth- this is such a moving post.
Thank you, thank you for publishing this.
Ruth I was by yesterday a few times and each time I got interrupted.
What an excellent way to make a difference in the world. By improving the lives of a few children, they will in turn help improve the lives of others in their country.
May God bless you.
Ruth, I'd like to look into doing something like this, too. How do I go about it?
Thank you for posting this...I often talk to my sister about this subject. She is always telling me how poor I am because my husband and I don't make a six-figure income. She is worried about me, but I try always to put this into perspective for her by comparing our situation to the plight of so many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Please either e-mail me or post about how we can be involved in sponsoring a child.
Blessings,
Elizaeth
God bless you for all you do!
Ruth, that's such a beautiful letter. Thank you for sharing their story and the link.
I may not make it today, but I will try to post something in a day or so with a few good links that I know of. I read about one in Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable, Miracle that I keep meaning to look up - so this is the perfect time to do it.
love,
fiwa
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