Adventure, Challenge, Opportunity
We humans like the idea of adventure, derring-do in foreign lands,
or testing our mettle in wilderness. Adventure invokes physical or
emotional challenge; or great risk, maybe the loss of life or
limb.
Meanwhile one- third of the world's population live in
poverty. Some are truly desperate, starving, living in fear or
conditions of war. Many more have housing of a sort, possibly some
schools, water or electric power, perhaps access to jobs or paid
work. Another sort of adventure confronts the challenges of
poverty. How can poor people live a healthy, happy life? What
pieces of the puzzle of life are truly needed by people living in
poverty?
Everyone agrees that the poor need education. But an unprecedented
number of today's urban poor are reasonably educated in reading,
writing and rudimentary math. This is sufficient to launch them
into the world of omnipresent TV, shows and advertisements. The
result is a secondary education of sorts. TV has created a more
literate, cosmopolitan society of poor people with middle-class
aspirations of affluence, comfort and consumerism. This education
may not be appropriate to their reality.
For example, the majority of urban 3rd world poor have lost
knowledge and interest in such useful skills as milking cows and
raising food crops. There are good reasons for this.
So, for example, in barrio El Rosario, Nicaragua (the site of our
Sparrow project), what education is really needed? And, from
another point of view: Can well-meaning, middle-class people help
the poor (other than donating money) meet the real needs in their
lives? *
This draws from my particular experiences in Nicaragua. But due
to the phenomenon of globalization the growing similarity
of social circumstances throughout the 3rd world these
concepts may translate to other locales.
Nutrition promotion Typical diet in 3rd world is shockingly
white, starchy and sweet. The original reason for a high starch
diet cheapness is no longer so applicable. Prices for
all foods are climbing. Today unenriched white bread costs as
much-- or more-- than protein-rich, high-iron peanuts
Millons of dollars have been spent promoting soy and soy
products. How has soy served the poor? What are its prospects?
One potentially powerful nutritional fix for the 3rd world is
whole grain rice. Most Nicaraguans eat rice 3 times a day. Yet the
rice they and all the 3rd world eat is "polished", by removing the
germ (about 9% total weight) and most nutrients apart from
protein. This immense nutritional loss is justified by appearance
("purer, whiter"), and a slightly shorter cooking time. [Also
useful in this promotion would be a working knowledge of the
simplest stoves including the paint-can sawdust model, and the
most basic solar ovens.
Cost: Low
Exercise program, especially for women Exercise levels are
low. In the past, mainly rural poverty, execercise came with daily
living. In todays urban barrios, women work but get insufficient
exercise from the work. Can exercise be fun? As type II diabetes
increases, it will be a matter of life and death for some women.
And leading directed physical fun for kids (sometimes called
"play") could be rewarding beyond your wildest dreams.
Composting, trash sorting, use of grey water, recycling plastic
into useful stuff-- Present trash mode in Nicaragua is throw it on
the ground, let some woman sweep it up later.
We have instituted the separation of trash in two places, put into
buckets before it ever hits the ground. This is meeting widespread
approval. What does it take to recycle numerous plasic bottles,
tossed aside, into something useful? Grey water runs
everywhere can it be turned into an asset?
Some number of people are receptive to such innovations. Cost:
Very low
Business promotion chocolate, mango butter, peanut butter--
Jobs are badly needed, hands are willing but entrepreneurial
spirit is rare. Peanut butter is the nutritional superstar of our
neighborhood, handle with care. But business could be done in
this.
Chocolate and mango butter are exotic, for the wealthy and tourist
class. We have a tremendous advantage in chocolate, with recipes
and considerable experience.
What kind of business? Easiest is with Gringo owner/boss. But is
this really what is needed?
Cost : Low enough
Fun, games, Circus-making This is a much neglected
need. Theater! Circus! Kids love this stuff but have become
preternaturally shy. One woman says they have lost their
imagination in a haze of television.
Organizing kids to have fun what could be better??
Cost: very low
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* Appendix: What are the needs of the poor?
Abraham Maslow identified the "hierarchy of human needs". While
these are presented in order, there is no crisp line dividing them
in real life.
* Physiological needs are to do with the maintenance of the
* human body. If we are unwell, then little else matters
* until we recover.
* Safety/security needs are about putting a roof over our
* heads and keeping us from harm.
* Belonging needs introduce our tribal nature. Our neighbors
* and our immediate environment are huge determinants of who
* we are
* Esteem and "self-actualization" concern our position within
* a group, and our potential for growth we are capable of
* becoming.
My own translation is that everyone wants love, security and
comfort. The poor people I know rarely have enough love. Their
security is either on the edge, boring or both. And comfort
too often comes in the form of sweet or starchy food.
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