AGENTS OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY

AGENTS OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY

A civilized society is a society that can find solutions to her problems by taking full responsibility of the problems of the society. The following groups of people in our society are supposed to take the responsibility for poverty alleviation. 

1.    PARENTS: The family is the smallest unit of our society. Parents are the heads of the family. They have the responsibility of giving their children the platform to succeed. They are to pay the price of giving their children the legacy of education. This is a vital price to pay. Children should be empowered with balanced education. No child can educate himself. Every child needs a basic foundation as platform to move to the next level of human development. Parents should go extra-mile to make sure that they invest into the education of their children. Knowledge is the power that overcomes poverty. A mentally developed child is resources to both the parents and the nation. Education is only weapon which we can use to change the world.

2.    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS: In every community there are development unions that exist. These groups should initiate programmes that will empower people. These groups can create educational support funds. When you developed people, you develop the society.

3.    NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: NGOs established with the mission for poverty alleviation are equally responsible for poverty alleviation. A good NGO is initiated by divine calling. Those initiated for poverty alleviation stands to bring solutions for poverty reduction with projects and programmes that support the poor to rise from poverty to success. They are charged with this responsibility by divine purpose.

4.    BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS: Business organizations set up within a community are responsible for poverty alleviation within that community. They should do these through their business corporate and social responsibility. They should set up programmes and projects that will give people developmental opportunities. They should set up scholarship funds to support the poor. They should create business set up support programmes.

5.    PHILANTHROPISTS: There are people divinely created with the desire to help the poor. They enjoy helping the poor because they are naturally designed as helpers. They are philanthropists. They are called to help the needy. It is a divine assignment for them. They are equally responsible for poverty alleviation.

6.    GOVERNMENTS: There are three tiers of government in this nation. Each of the tiers is responsible for poverty alleviation. The Local Government, the State Government and the Federal Government should initiate programme and projects that can promote human development. Scholarship system should be established and made functional. There should be support for small and medium enterprises. Loan facilities with low interest rate if necessary and business set up trainings should be put in place from community to community. Women empowerment projects should be initiated with constant review of programmes and policies. Woman are great forces for family building, they should trained and supported as helpers to their husbands. We such systems in place in our government designed for poverty alleviation but we are not really seeing their impact. They need to do more.

CHURCHES: Churches are to take responsibility for poverty alleviation in the society. They are the light of the world. They should create systems and programmes that support the poor. Churches are really playing that role partially. Many have been trained and supported by the church. They should do more. God expect more from us. He has given us the minds to create ideas that can make life better for the world around us. If these institutions can wake up to the responsibility of poverty alleviation in our society, we can make a great difference in a short while.

INDIVIDUALS: Every one of us should be involved in the cause of poverty alleviation. we are all called to defend the poor and deliver the needy. In your own little way, you can touch lives around you. We all can do small thing with great love. You can belong to a community interest charity organization on the cause of poverty alleviation. you can extend a hand of scholarship to a poor child around your residence. You have to observe around you that child, adult or old person in poor condition. you can give a little assistance. you little contribution can make a big difference. Remember : CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME.

 

Comrade Arinze Okwara is a blogger, speaker, writer, content developer, social entrepreneur, founder; Missionary Organization for Child Education and Training and the initiator of Poverty Alleviation Academy.