There is a time in everyone’s life where there is clarity that is seen in complex problems. Mine happened in January in Malawi Africa in 2007 and continued to the end of that year and beyond. I realized that the “Business of the Poor” was helping the Business more than the Poor. From charities, churches all the way through to the Governments of different countries, the Business of the Poor is a multi-Billion dollar business. Seeing, that through accounting creativity and seemingly good sleight of hand, “…your $30 dollars a month to help this poor child…” should really be helping a family in these areas. Where the average income (although it is rising, mind you so is inflation) is under $700 a year for a family of 6. Do the math. If you are giving $30 a month x 12 months x 4 children = $1440.00 Start to ask questions…
Then I took a second look and saw the “Business” of being Poor and its fundamental flaws. These business are usually run by people living outside the Target country that they are helping. Which means that you are paying a much higher rate for salaries within the remote country that is trying to find funding for the Target country. Now I realize that the only way to get a large enough injection of funds to help these Targets is through outside sources and yet wouldn’t it make sense to base these organizations within the Target countries that they are helping? Have a scaled down fund raising staff in the Remote countries that are trying to sol
licit funds from? A fund raising presence within the Target country would not only contribute more funds locally by having local staff spend local dollars, the cost benefits of having local staff and their expertise would be huge. Again do the math. Local salary of lets say a telemarketer in Vancouver is $12 an hour x 8 hours x 5 days x 4 weeks = $1960.00 per month! That is almost 3 families yearly earnings in Malawi alone!
And yes I’m sure that somewhere along the line that all this is flawed as well. Yet it seems to be a much better answer – base things in the host country and get money sent and directed locally – one would imagine that they would know where the money is needed most. And yes I realize that we can’t save everyone and the poor will always be poor. Yet I would like to try and change peoples perspectives of how things are done. A lofty goal , still I will try.kke to try, wouldn’t you?
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