Food, Poverty and Guilt: Where Do You Sit?

Communal Kitchen.

We're at a strange juncture right now. First we were hit by rising food and oil prices -- and then the whole financial system appears to be crumbling before our eyes. No one seems to know what will happen next - with commentators vacillating between fear and hope.

How long will these times of trouble last? How far will our standard of living drop? As I contemplate these things I realize that for a good portion of the world - the standard of living never rose in the first place, and "times of trouble" is a permanent aspect of daily life.

I'm talking about those gripped by poverty.

As a child I remember the images on TV - the fly-blown emaciated African kids - with the distended bellies. It was the time of the Ethiopian famines.

These ladies received a loan as a group.
The head sticking out at the back is yours truly.

I remember eating my dinner - feeling a little bit of guilt as I swallowed each mouthful. Was it right for me to be stuffing my face while others starved to death? Maybe if I ate less - then others could eat more.

I've grown older now - and perhaps less manipulated by guilt and more motivated to find pragmatic solutions. These days I enjoy my food with an attitude of gratitude. Guilt is a useless emotion really. Sorrow that inspires me to action is far more useful.

In reality the world is a complex tangle of NGO's, trade tarriffs, sanctions, supply-and-demand market forces, greed, war, and corruption. It would be easy for me to opt out all together.

But I can't.

The families in poverty are no different to my family. Parents love their kids no less than I love mine. They feel the same emotions as me. They want the best for their family.

I could opt out by getting caught up in endless arguments over the semantics of that word: Poverty. My own take on it is that it's all about a lack of choice - but that discussion is for another time.

First-hand
I am a fan of micro-enterprise development - a form of poverty alleviation where communities and individuals are encouraged to build their own businesses. They are provided small loans and then given the support needed to create their own business and possibly even employ others.

This woman used her loan to get this sewing machine.
She makes the most incredible fabrics and clothing.

A portion of Diet Blog profits (from the ads) go to creating small community based banks in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Earlier this year I visited Indonesia. It was a privilege for me to see first-hand how these projects are empowering people and giving them back their dignity. I was also humbled by the passion, skill, and dedication of the indigenous agencies that carried out this work.

If you are interested in these organizations - see Dinari - I can personally vouch for them. You can even loan money yourself through KIVA.