When Helping Hurts

We have been reading some helpful books recently relating to poverty and development in a Christian context. One was particularly clear regarding when relief is appropriate (i.e. emergency aid, such as during the floods here earlier in the year) and when just 'giving stuff' can actually do more harm than good, such as in areas with long term poverty-related problems (i.e. most of the Cusco region). And then there is rehabilitation, an example of which is the help being given to people in flood-hit areas to restart their small businesses. This can then progress to development, where they are able to reach a better living standard than before the floods (more about that, including Roland's involvement in businesses raising small animals, in the newsletter!)

What is Poverty?

The question of ' What is poverty?' is also addressed in a comprehensive way in the same book, looking at the way we all experience 'poverty' in some way - we all have a less-than-perfect relationship with God and with other people, and a less-than-perfect view of ourselves. In relationship to our environment, we may have too much or too little, work too much or too little, and cause environmental damage, for example. While recognizing that material poverty is a particular focus of Jesus, when working with the materially poor it is important to remember that we all have areas of need and we are not the ones with all the answers. Also, we need to keep in mind that meeting people's physical needs does not solve all their problems, and that as Christians it is crucial to be working with people in a holistic way, something on which Roland and the team have been focusing in the micro-finance project recently, starting to use some new business training materials that encompass a Christian worldview. If you are interested in getting hold of the book, it is called ‘When Helping Hurts’ by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (Moody Publishers 2009).

How does it work out in practice?

These are some of the thoughts on which we have been reflecting and which are affecting our work here. Sometimes deciding how to best work is complex: The mountain project, for example, is an interesting mixture and while some of that work could be classified as 'relief', more and more we are trying to help people become more self-reliant and able to cope with crises. For example, at times we help with money for medicines, such as for Luz Marina, pregnant with her 6th child and suffering from domestic abuse. But if we can help her, and mums like her, to register with state insurance system (very basic, but worth doing), she will be more able to cope with health problems herself, needing to rely less on other people which further damages her very low self-esteem. The educational help, the young teens work and the Bible teaching are all designed to help members of the community into work in the future, into better family relationships and into a personal relationship with their Father God who ultimately can help them in all areas of material and relational poverty far better than we can.