Help me understand please! Third world countries...

[Bettacreek]

Ok, I need help understanding something. I'm not posting this to offend or to sound like a jerk, but, I really truely don't understand. Please keep that in mind when reading what I have to say/ask.

There are numerous agencies who are collecting donations for third world countries. Amiable, no doubt. But, what I wonder about is what these funds are doing. A lot of them are trying to get kids into school. Here in the USA, that sounds great, but, over there, is this really useful? Are they really going to use this information? If they're starving, I would think that the funds would be of better use if they were trying to help them become self sufficient, instead of taking the kids away from the household and putting them in school. There won't be instant businesses popping up to give these kids jobs in high tech companies. They really don't need to have a high school diploma in order to use what they have/need to survive. Maybe I'm just not seeing the big picture, or jumping too far ahead, I don't know. I mean, I understand that if a kid goes through basic school, they can learn medicine and become a doctor, help heal the community, etc. But, the community as a whole would have to step up to pay for the doctor's time and the supplies. I guess I do actually understand, now that I've thought it through. I guess we're trying to bring them "up to par" with our countries as far as technology and business. In some ways, it's probably a good thing, but in other ways, I almost wish the US could revert back a little bit, let the people become more self sufficient instead of relying 100% on everyone else, the country and cash.

Ok, sorry for this random ramble. Just a bit in the mind process of me. If anyone has anything to add, please feel free. Again, I didn't post it to offend anyone, just kind of rambling/thinking out loud.

 

[Mahonri]

I spent two years in south america.

I had a good friend that studied medicine became a doctor and then specialized.

He can't make ends meet.

 

[debilorrah]

To answer to the first part of your post, while I understand that you may not get it, several young people from third world nations do have goals to become doctors, teachers, scientists, etc. Basically the only way they can do that is to get an education. Without education, there is no way these people can help their country better itself.

You are right - there will not be high tech companies popping up. But consider this: if no one from these countries ever received an education, they would be far worse off than they are now. I admit that the people from those places that have these goals are few. However, those few can make a HUGE difference in this world. There are several medical organizations that welcome new doctors willing to help, sucha s doctors without borders, world health organization and Operation SMILE. These organizations use doctors that have been educated all over the world, not just American doctors.

Education in third world countries is necessary for this world to become a better place, eradicate disease and poverty, to give these people something to hope for. You never know if the skinny kid living in a box, with an education, could become the next Nelson Mandela.

 

[debilorrah]

I would like to mention that the OP is seeking information, not an agrument.

 

[Boyd]

the problem with education is all that money that is spent on the youth of those countries....... well as soon as they get a lick of education and specialize, they are no longer useful in their home market. So they have to move to a country such as the US where they can make $$ doing what they love. Ever wonder why there are two countries that citizens that seem to dominate the world of medicine?


ETA - so all this money we donate and collect is for kids and adults who are going to move here anyways and won't be improving their own lot. Just my .02 though

 

[dacjohns]

I have a MS in International Relations and have been to Thailand, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Kenya; all nation-states that can be considered developing (Third World) countries. Ethiopia and Kenya are where I had the most contact with the civilian population.

It is a complicated question with no easy answer so I will just throw out a few thoughts that are in no way inclusive of the entire subject and are not meant to address the subject completely.

Many people do not even have a basic education. I was asked for money a lot but I was also asked for pencils. A basic education, not even talking about college here, is key to raising a standard of living.

Some people are in the helping business to make themselves feel good.

Some are in the business to make money.

Some are in for truly altruistic reasons.

There are many agencies that help teach and build low tech approaches to solving problems like cooking without a source of adequate fuel and developing safe and adequate water supplies.


Hope this quick response helps.

 

[Bettacreek]

I can understand that part. I guess I can't wrap my mind around how they get from where they're at now to becoming a developed country. Like with starting currency... I don't understand that at all. Like, you go from trading your corn for another person's pork, then all of a sudden, the other person wants to give you a random piece of paper or a small piece of metal. You can't do anything directly with it, you can't eat it, you can't plant it, etc. You simply have to find someone else who is interested in that useless piece of metal/paper. That again would have to be on a mass scale I'm guessing, but, how? How could you convince people to trade their useable items for an unusable item? I mean, as a whole, with the system already in place, it's obvious that it's easier, but, how could you start it? That's similar with the education. You take one extremely intelligent kid, train them up to become a doctor, they come to another country to learn since there's no specific schools there. This is funded by outside agencies of course. They return to their country, they get supplies from outside agencies to help their community. Now, how does the community pay the doctor for their time? The doctor would probably sooner leave the country and make excellent money in another country and become something, instead of using, what, 8 years in college to become a doctor to help a community that pays in squash. I don't understand that part...

 

[redhen]

The problem i have is WHY are we EVEN sending money to other countries when we have needy kids here in the USA? Dosent make ANY sense at all!!!!

 

[debilorrah]

There is a website that the name totally escapes me right now. People donate money to business in poor nations, such as $20, and in turn you receive donation points and a progress report on how they are doing. Someone who makes shoes in Ecuador may need $1000, and you donate $10 and others donate a portion until their goal is realized. Its starts with a K.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I can see where the school would be good if they are also fed/doctor checked while they are students - it would serve a more broad purpose then, also.

That being said, the only charity that I know of at the moment that I would give money to is Heifer.org - they don't give people money, or schooling, or things like that, they give people cows and chickens and geese, ducks, sheep, rabbits, etc... and the way it works is the person who recieves the gift gives their first offspring to another person in the village so they can also start a herd/flock - it is for both extra money and food for the families - and it often gives enough money so they can afford to pay for schooling for their children (better than just giving them schooling, IMO, they also get to be self sufficient and not dependant upon the charity forever.)

http://www.heifer.org/#

I firmly believe in a charity being there to help people get back on their feet - not support them for the rest of their lives.


meri