There are really two basic approaches to poverty alleviation. First is relief. Fikkert and Corbett define relief as the “urgent and temporary provision of emergency aid to reduce immediate suffering from a natural or man-made crisis. The key feature of relief is a provider-receiver dynamic in which the provider gives assistance-often material-to the receiver, who is largely incapable of helping himself at that time.” Relief should be applied in a crisis situation. Crisis counselors define a 6 week timeline for moving past the crisis. Beyond the 6 weeks, a situation becomes chronic.
The second approach toward poverty alleviation is development. Again, Fikkert and Corbett provide an excellent definition. Development is “a process of ongoing change that moves all the people involved-both the ‘helpers’ and the ‘helped’-closer to being in right relationship with God, self, others and the rest of creation. Development is not done to people or for people but with people. The key dynamic in development is promoting an empowering process in which all the people involved-both the ‘helpers’ and the ‘helped’ become more of what God created them to be.” So, development is an approach that allows for growth in all kinds of poverty, material and non-material poverty. Development becomes a platform for growth for all those involved. Development is what is needed in a chronic situation once the 6-week crisis period is over.
We need to encourage long term relationship over short term relief. In true development, both giver and receiver are growing to right relationships (poverty alleviation) with God, self, others and all of creation. It is through this type of long-term trusting relationship that we will see true life transformation, as both giver and receiver grow in their relationships with God, self, others and the rest of creation.
Long term relationships are especially needed right now. People have experienced layers of chaos and uncertainty over the last several months. Many are in need of relief due to legitimate crisis situations related to the pandemic and the resulting economic challenges, but we also need to be tapping into creativity to find a way into the next normal rather than remaining stuck in the cycle of relief.
Remember, everyone grows in development, which makes true development beneficial for all.
KATHY PIERBURG 