Fight Poverty with Hope

Ask any little boy in America what he wants to be when he grows up and you might hear firefighter, doctor, or astronaut. Little girls will say they want to be teachers, nurses, lawyers. Though their answers differ, these children all have something in common: They can answer the question.

Ask a child in Africa what he or she wants to be when all grown up and you may be met with a blank stare. Shrugging shoulders. “I don’t know.” They can’t comprehend the question and they don’t know how to answer. They don’t know, because they don’t know how to dream.

I’ve seen the blank stares. I’ve watched the shoulders shrug. I’ve heard the “I don’t know”s. Once when I asked a young boy what he wants to be when he grows up, he answered with a statement that has never left me: “I want to be alive.”

Poverty kills dreams. It murders hope. It squashes every last ounce of ambition. Poverty impacts the old, but targets the young. It steals more than full bellies and healthy bodies; it suffocates the future and squanders potential.

What Africa needs—what anyone affected by poverty needs—is not a hand-out. Africa needs more than charity, more than money, more than employment opportunities. All of those are vitally important, but Africa needs something even greater. Africa needs to learn to dream again.

Next time you choose to make a donation, contribute your skills, or give of your time for someone or some organization, find a way to also instill hope, offer encouragement, shine a light at the end of their tunnel. As you spark dreams in people’s hearts, you’re doing the best thing you can do to eradicate poverty.

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5 Responses - Add yours below

1. lin says:

   I don’t think the thought of not having a dream ever crossed my mind. Even as a kid when there was suffering I at least had dreams to lean on.

   I am at a loss for words…

2. lola says:

   this is amazing

3. Alex says:

   Amen. I loved reading this…it is sad thinking of the faces of people that I have met that have said the same thing…

4. Megan says:

   I believe the gift of dreaming is truly something from God. I, like Alece, have had the opportunity to ask African children the same question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And they, too, have said, “I don’t know.” Wow, children in America have the gift, ability, and right to dream… why not let children in Africa have the same? Truly inspiring blog post!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!

5. Alece says:

   lin — when i was contemplating what to write about poverty for blog action day, i wanted to help americans think about things differently than ever before. i didn’t want to write just from the typical angle/perspective regarding global poverty. i’m glad to hear that i was able to open your eyes and heart to something you hadn’t considered before. and thanks for supporting kaylen to be here to help infuse dreams into young people’s hearts!

   lola – thanks for the encouraging words.

   alex – i know you know what i’m talking about!

   megan – i’d love to hear more about your experiences in africa!

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