Reclaiming the Village: Life-Long Learning
Teaching versus
Charity
As the saying goes, “Give
a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him
for a lifetime” (Maimonides). Anyone who takes a poverty 101 class will realize
the two different types of poverty: circumstantial/crisis-related poverty and
chronic poverty. The former poverty is the condition caused by a sudden change
in living either due to a natural disaster, job loss, medical health problems
or something of the like. The latter is usually of the condition that one is
born into or acquires throughout the generations because that family never
either had the opportunity or capacity to gain upward mobility in class
economics.
It’s a shock to live
in a country where 25% of American children skip one meal of the day. However,
the immediate needs as well as the chronic needs are just as important to be
fixed in this day. Sometimes giving a meal for several times is all that it
takes. But when that reception turns into dependence, you can begin to hurt
that individual more than help them – not only his ability to be economically
independent, but his pride, self-dignity and duty to himself and others to be
part of larger society.
Robert D. Lupton’s
book Toxic Charity better explains
the idea of charity as toxic and sometimes more harmful than helpful, but
Lupton also offers solutions for defeating such means. Education is always a
means to help break the poverty cycle. But education without sponsorship and
guidance only proves to make another gap between those who can pay for that
education and those who cannot.
Support on All Fronts
Everyone needs a
sponsor – someone who can monetarily support them in advancing their careers
and educational prospects and someone who can monetarily support the individual
if needed. Everyone also needs a mentor or guide – someone who can lead the
individual on the right path and offer advice and wisdom for the steps ahead.
We need more public
and private partnerships to provide training to individuals. Just look at what
the state of Missouri and the federal government are providing through the MO
Manufacturing Wins program. The program is federally funded and teaches
eligible and willing students the manufacturing skills they need to excel in
the industry. Plus, many of those who graduate from the programs with
certificates receive higher paid jobs than their peers.
Education & Training
Investment and
training are two fundamental points to economic development, and it only
doesn’t have to happen abroad. In his incendiary Ted Talk video, presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani
explained how more foreign companies must take a risk on countries like
Afghanistan providing investment and training to workers who desire and need
it. Why can’t the same be said about the U.S.? Why can’t we pay more up front
to invest in others so it pays more down the line?
Workforce
development programs like Connections to Success’ Personal Professional
Development class offers similar programs. It pays itself and more rather than
costs.
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