Activity 2: “Proposed Solutions”
OUTCOMES:
- Students will see that some current “solutions” to poverty only address symptoms.
- Students will imagine other possible solutions that deal with root causes.
TERMS: Non-Profit Organization, Non-governmental Organization (NGO), Philanthropists
ARTIFACTS: English and French workbooks used at Ecole de la Rue, Ecopole items made out of pop cans, toy doll, sous verre painting, and sand paintings, photographs
PROCEDURES:
- We are going to examine how some people have tried to solve the problem of poverty. We are going to examine how this happens in the United States as well as how NGOs in West Africa have tried to solve the problem of poverty.
- Brainstorm: What are some ways that you know of that we have tried to solve the problem of poverty in America? (Collect the list on a chart)
- How effective have these methods been?
- Think back to our “Why are people poor” list. What side of the list do the solutions tend to address? (Side 1, the individual).
- So, if the problem is more systemic in nature, as we looked at The End of Poverty?, then what should our solutions be?
- How is “poverty” being solved on a local basis?
- Do some research on community organizations that are trying to address issues of poverty.
- Local Examples
- Habitat for Humanity (for example)
- Use the Internet to find out how Habitat operates.
- What is good about this model?
- Who funds this work? Why is it important to know this?
- What is it missing?
- How does Habitat help people get out of poverty?
- Do you think these solutions are effective?
- Does Habitat challenge the systemic structures that put these people in poverty in the first people?
- How is “poverty” being solved in West Africa?
- NGO’s in Senegal: Ecole de la Rue, ENDA Ecopole
- Examining two NGO's in Senegal that are trying to address the issues of poverty.
- Ecole de la Rue (Street School):
- Ecole de la Rue is free school run by a man who teaches children living in the streets in English and French. Most of the children who attend the school do not have birth certificates or money to pay school fees, and therefore cannot attend public school. Although providing students with some basic education, Ecole de la Rue merely encourages them to fit into the existing French colonial system, which is the very system that excludes students. This school does not change the material conditions of the students it serves.
- Go to this website to find out more information about the school - http://www.afrol.com/Countries/Senegal/backgr_corner_schools.htm
- The English and French workbooks from the box were used by the teacher at this school.
- Although the people in the workbooks have West African names, the lessons are still very Eurocentric in nature.
- Also, the teacher used a direct instruction method of teaching. He was not encouraging his students to use critical thinking skills.
- Discussion Questions:
- What is good about this model?
- Who funds this school? Why is this important to know?
- What is missing?
- How does this school help street children get out of poverty?
- Do you think these solutions are effective?
- Does this school challenge the systemic structures that put these children in poverty?
- ENDA Ecopole:
- The following two websites explain more about this NGO. Both of the websites are in French.
- Use the artifacts from the box to analyze what happens in this organization.
- This NGO teaches children to use reconstituted garbage and other materials to create artistic/practical creations. Tourists are the primary consumers of these products. Although providing some money and income for the participants, it does not ask the question, “why are these children poor in the first place?” It does not change the material conditions that made these students poor.
- Discussion Questions
- What is good about this model?
- Who funds this NGO? Why is this important to know?
- What is missing?
- How does this NGO help children get out of poverty?
- Do you think these solutions are effective?
- Does this NGO challenge the systemic structures that put these children in poverty?
Key Points
While these NGO’s help provide a temporary solution to the problem of child poverty, they do not address systemic and structural issues. They do not change the material conditions that made these children poor in the first place.