Problem:
How does better distribution ensure that developing regions are empowered to eventually solve their own hunger problems? What other development measures are necessary to strengthen a society? Is there a place for food distribution, perhaps early on in a development strategy?
The developing regions are unfortunately deprived of sufficient food, reason being the unequal distribution of food, hence scarcity of food in not the issue. The state governments and departments shall subsidize the purchase of food from under developed economies so as to increase their food supply, while farmers getting competitive prices. This will eventually better distribute the food, sources and resources ensuring better life, it can empower the undeveloped economies to solve their hunger issues getting subsidy on their products when sold so that they can get their share from the market. Providing food is a good option but this is a temporary solution. Measures shall be taken to make these economies self sufficient in order to prevent the problem in the long run.
Problem:
How can education be a priority when children are too hungry to learn and families cannot afford to send their children to school? What other development measures are necessary to strengthen a society so that education can be effective?
Unfortunately this is a misery of people of these countries that they can’t afford to send their children to school, not only for the reason that they can’t bear the expenses of their education but also that they can’t afford one of their working hands to be occupied who could potentially earn some fortune for their bread and butter. In order to strengthen a society so that education can be effective, NGOs can play a vital role by providing these children opportunities of education, vocational training along with giving them employment. This is been done in many countries yet it needs to be implemented more strongly and on grass root level.
Problem:
How will these technological advancements affect the environment, considering that they are genetically modified and/or not native to the area? What happens when the fertilizer or special seeds run out, or the machinery breaks? What other development measures are necessary to strengthen a society so that technology can be effective?
The technological advancements has brought quite worry some issues along with the miraculous results. The genetically modified foods and fertilizers are neither environment friendly nor human friendly. But to counter poverty it is not a bad option to adopt these advancements in order to get rid of the bad economic condition. In order to have sufficient supply of seeds and fertilizers, the developed countries shall take anticipating measures to help these countries. Once the economy is on the run, farmers can move to healthier options as it is the need of time. Along with that research and development shall be done to devise new and healthy ways of agriculture.
Problem:
In cases where government is corrupt or under-developed, how does the cancellation of debt guarantee effective social spending? What other development measures are necessary to strengthen a society so that debt cancellation can be effective?
Debt cancellation can help reduce poverty and can guarantee effective social spending, as debt cancellation would result in enormous taxation bills. This would help the economies to get back the looted money from the corrupt government as they would stand accountable through this process. This money can then be invested in capital which will subsequently help flourish the economy. Smart and strategic system of check and balance is required for proper implementation of the debt cancellation system so as to ensure the proper deliverance of the expected results.
- Using specific examples, describe how these stories helped you understand poverty in Kenya, India and Sierra Leone.
These stories have helped a lot to understand poverty in Kenya, India and Sierra Leone. The example to the village in Kenya where there was no running water and no electricity, without which we can imagine our lives today and then the story of Helen, who had to leave her house due to war and had to live in bushes having no electricity, not even house to live in and no proper food to eat. And in India where there were people waiting for little help, the mother whose children were hungry and she could do nothing but wait for help and the children studying in broken buildings with leaking roofs. All this and the rest tells a lot about the people who are just like us but their lives are not.
2. How are these stories different than the ones we see in the media (e.g., textbooks, newspapers, magazines)? Do the ages of the writers make a difference to you?
These stories are different from the media because the purpose behind these stories is to share personal experiences of the authors and not to exploit the poverty of these people for some substantial gains. The media one way or another ages of the writers do make difference exaggerates and manipulate information. The ages of the writers do make a difference as they younger authors are more sensitive though less experienced. In the given stories the writers have felt the tragedy of the poor children from their heart and have noticed minute details as they could relate themselves with those children who were of their ages but were spending entirely different life.
3. Whose voices are heard through these stories? Are there any voices not heard?
The voices of poor children, spending highly deprived life, who want basic necessities of life who desire to get education and of those who feel their pain and want the world to look at them and work for the betterment of this segment of population, are heard from these stories. There certainly are more voices that need to be heard, the people discussed in these stories are just a fraction, and there are millions of such people who are waiting for the good times and for their voices to be heard.
4. How might these stories be different if told through other voices?
These stories could be different if told by some media person; they would have exaggerated the stories and may have fabricated scenarios. Alternately, if told by an adult or mature writer, the story could have more facts and figures rather than emotional experiences.
5. What struck you as similar about children in all three stories?
The common thing about the children in these stories is that the children from these stories wanted to have basic necessities of life, they wanted to have better life, and the best thing about them was that even though they all were spending a highly deprived life yet they were happy, they were smiling and they were striving for a better living.
6. What “needs” were not being met in these stories? If we had the chance to ask them, what do you think these children would “want?”
These stories had limited views and life experiences, the writer could have added few more experiences so as to have a little more understanding of the misery of the life of the discussed serenities. I think that these children would want to have proper education system, and proper resources for their living.
7. What questions would you like to ask about the children Jason and Katelyn talk about in their stories?
I would like to ask; the reason of their happiness while spending so deprived life.
How does it feel to see children like Jason and Katelyn having all the comforts of life?
And what do they expect from life in the coming future?
8. What do you still want to know about poverty?
Besides low income, ignorance, and corruption, what are the other factors contributing to poverty?
Knowing the reasons and solutions, why these countries are still fighting with poverty, what steps have been taken so far to eliminate it ?
What role can I play to help reduce the poverty?
