Poverty is a big problem in the world and must be solved as soon as possible. But for that, we all have to work hard to help the poor. There are several practical ways you can do to alleviate poverty.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Helping the Poor Through Direct Action
Step 1. Educate yourself
Poverty is related to reproductive rights, workers' rights, to social justice in various ways. By educating yourself, you will know where to devote your time and energy to helping the poor acquire the skills and strengths they need to help themselves.
- There is ample research showing that the cycle of poverty is linked to the criminal justice system, which plays little role in re-educating criminals. Especially in a country like America, the deteriorating conditions of prisoners further fuel their poverty and is a system that must change. This toxic feedback loop is made even more difficult for people of color, who usually have lost their right to vote due to poverty and societal structures.
- Reproductive rights are linked to poverty. Access to reproductive control, particularly for women, means fewer children, which is usually associated with higher education and higher job opportunities. Reproductive health programs mean fewer teenage pregnancies and better education for women.
Step 2. Donate something
Donations to local and global organizations are very important. Many of these organizations depend on donations to survive and serve the community. If you donate money, make sure you know what the money is being used for. You have to be sure that the organization is really helping people in need.
- Make a vow not to buy luxuries for a month (like expensive coffee or chocolate, or shopping for clothes) and use the money you save to donate to local or global charities or nonprofits.
- In addition to money, you can also donate food, clothing, toiletries, old furniture, toys and books to local programs and shelters. These donations help people in need.
- There are various books for inmate education programs in different cities. See if your city has such a program. If not, maybe you can try and launch the program. Ensuring that prisoners get the education they need (and often are deprived of them) will help them become productive members of society instead of being trapped in the criminal justice system for life.
Step 3. Be a volunteer
There are many ways to help communities through direct action. Check with local religious organizations or nonprofits. Check the programs at the local library and see if they need help.
- You can work with many different groups: children, the elderly, mentally ill patients, the homeless, women. You need to decide which group you want to focus on.
- You could work on something like teaching resume development, or computer skills. You can set up a local community garden and teach how to grow plants for sustainable food. Many people living in poverty cannot afford much to eat, so teaching them to grow their own food cheaply and sustainably can alleviate the problem of vitamin deficiency.
- You can work in shelters, soup kitchens, community centers, after-school activities, and job fairs.
Step 4. Help an individual
Even helping one individual can make a small change for the better. If you see someone who needs help, talk to them. Give money, even a few tens of thousands can help. Offer your help without being condescending or judgmental.
- Try and help the person find a place like a shelter or soup kitchen.
- Ignoring the poverty around you, or issuing judgmental opinions about people living in poverty, are sure to help nothing. You don't know how they got poor and you don't know what their money will be used for.
Part 2 of 2: Helping the Poor Through Activism
Step 1. Start forming or joining an organization
Gather like-minded people and choose an activity to do to alleviate poverty. Form a group to help educate community members about poverty, or set up a program of after-school activities for children from low-income families.
- Take advantage of your group to hold a charity concert. Distribute flyers throughout the city and get the activity supported by the local newspapers. Get funds to continue helping people in the community.
- Start a petition in the community to help students from low-income families get more nutritious food, or for the school system to adopt better sex education programs.
- Programs such as Results and the Children's Defense Fund work locally and globally to support legislation and practices that specifically help children cope with poverty.
Step 2. Take legislative action
Get involved in local government and in your country's government. Pay attention to legal filings and draft laws that impact programs to help people living below the poverty line.
- Support a health care system that protects and helps the people who are a part of it. Many people, especially in America, are forced into poverty because of medical situations they cannot afford.
- Support better education for your community and country. Better education means people have the life skills and knowledge that help them realize their full potential and become engaged and productive members of society.
Step 3. Help create a dialogue about poverty
Only by opening up discussions in local communities, and on a global scale, can you help with poverty alleviation efforts. Challenge your family and friends' assumptions about poverty.
Write a column for the local newspaper, or write a letter to the editor, outlining what must be done in the community to help people living in poverty
Tips
- If you can donate the cost of one fast food per week, the amount will be more than three million rupiah per year.
- Donate goods instead of money.
