So, about poverty...
- Samita Mwanicky
- Apr 7, 2023
- 4 min read
Kahawakati ~Coffee time with me
|| Editor's note: This article is purely from a value judgment point of view and Kahawakati's are personal reflection pieces.||
When I first interacted with the meaning of poverty, I always understood it as a lack of financial security and access to basic needs. How I wish I was taught differently. It automatically creates barriers and stereotypes from a young age. I came to understand people in society as haves and have-nots whereas poverty is not really about money. Poverty also exists in the absence of morality, justice, and integrity not to mention poverty of the mind which is the worst kind. There’s one Kikuyu saying I absolutely love,
Kaba gutarukirwo ni nguo kuri gutarukirwo ni hakiri ~(Thanks Dad!)
It lightly translates to: Poverty of mind is worse than material poverty. Deep.
There are many theories out there about the causes of poverty and why countries rich in minerals live in poverty. Equally, there are many solutions and goals to neutralize this problem such as SDG 1- No Poverty, charity organizations, faith-based organizations, and Non-governmental organizations, name them. I have never been able to wrap my head around the fortresses of NGOs that exist in areas deemed as poor. What are they doing year after year when little to no progress is seen over time? If they genuinely wanted to solve a problem in a certain area, why are societies still poor? I am sure there is a complex answer to this but sometimes the answers could be staring at us and could be filled with simplicity. Anyways…
Maybe we have been asking the wrong question about poverty. When we talk about poverty, the capabilities of people are never in the picture. It is always, ‘How can we help people out of situation D or B.’ It is never, ‘How can we first understand people who live in the area J, their culture and finds means to empower them according to their context to get them out of situation P and/ or F.’ This question recognizes the power, the capabilities that people have in a manner that upholds their dignity as persons and views them as agents of change. This question gives space for people to be given a fighting chance to improve themselves. Individuals will own the journey meaning, it is more sustainable. Trillions have been spent to alleviate poverty yet it feels like a deeper hole has been excavated over the years. I would like to think we are more advanced now than ever yet, poverty abounds. We have efficiently learned how to do things better yet, we are poor in morality and justice. Would it be wrong to assume that despite our advancements as a species, we missed the point of development? Would I be wrong to assume we institutionalized poverty?
The law of causality teaches us actions always have consequences. When the actions of a few go unrecognized, they over time create a ripple effect, and sometimes, the consequences can be devastating. When individuals act on their selfish interests instead of the common good, we are bound to threaten the livelihoods of others. In a culture of consumerism, we have taken more than we need. Take for example logging. Societies that have built their lives around the forest and what nature provides are threatened. On the other hand, no one cares if cultures die or animals go extinct as long as one’s belly is full. In this example, individuals become enablers of poverty and disablers of development simultaneously. Much damage is done when we abandon the common good. Despite living in a capitalist world, I think it would be viable to recognize the poverty of the mind as a framework to tackle poverty because it could pose a different question. “How can we enhance innovation, and improve moral capital whilst upholding human dignity?” This is important because of our perceptions of poverty in the past. Have you ever noticed the kind of pictures capitalized by charities or foundations to raise money? The theme of the pictures does not uphold human dignity in any form, shape, or manner. They are intentionally used to evoke feelings which most of the time is a pity. This creates an atmosphere of stratification between haves and have-nots just like I was taught when I was younger. Consequently, there is no space to recognize the person behind that picture has a dignity that ought to be upheld. Neither does it recognize people as individuals who can be change-makers, individuals filled to the brim with potential and capabilities they can achieve in their lifetime. The person behind that picture has dreams, ambitions, and desires just like you and me. I would dare to say that they are another you, just in a different place. Anyone could have easily been the person in that picture used to raise funds. I could have easily been the child on a banner in a land far away from mine. I could have been. I wonder how one would feel if one knew their picture was used for such purposes— So much for protecting one’s privacy and dignity.
The importance of asking a different question about poverty is because the car came before the road. Innovation has proved that necessity is the mother of invention. I know I have touched on many aspects in this piece but I hope it was thought-provoking enough for this Kahawakati! I am an advocate for self-realization and individuals being part of the solution. As the old adage goes, "History repeats itself." Sometimes I wonder if this happens because we fail to learn from it and that is why it repeats until we learn our lesson.
Sounds feasible huh?
Nothing but cocoa love,
Sam 🌻
Some TED talks that inspired me weeks ago
2. Why the poor don't deserve your pity | Fred Branson
3. How do the poor see life? Uneducated, not stupid | Rajen Makhijani
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