The Poorest Billion: Why pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps doesn't work

           In the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, two young boys, ages 8 and 5, work every day, transporting goats to slaughter houses simply to provide food for their family to survive. This kind of job is no place for children, however, many mothers encourage their children to work and provide income for their families. Police try to "help" the problem by arresting 20-50 kids per month rather than targeting the business owners. The issue remains because as soon as the kids are let go, they return right back to work. Another example of a poverty trap is in India. Recently the Indian government is trying to pay cash to couples who wait at least 2 years before having their first child. Since a majority of the world's poorest population comes from India, lowering the birthrate average from 2.6 to 2.1 per household will significantly change the dynamics of the countries poverty issues. The problem is that many of the poorest nations have the highest birthrates, usually 4 per household, while wealthier & more educated nations' averages are below two. The introduction of birth control and planned parenting are essential to these people living in the "poorest billion trap." As the article says, "an educated girl is your best contraception." 


          So, why can't the poor just stop having children, get an education, a career, and help themselves? Because they are in a trap, as economist Paul Collier, author of The Bottom Billion puts states. He suggests that the traps are due to conflicts, bad neighboring countries, lack of natural resources and bad government. Many people say the poor are poor and will remain poor until they are educated. But these people do not have the choice of education. There is no hope for them; they must fight to simply make it alive to the next day. Many countries in this trap are in civil war, with no development, communication, or transportation. This is why countries like India are paying people to decrease family size; why wealthier countries reach out with aid in the form of food and education. Organizations like Save the Children know how to empower these people: education. They focus on giving hope by educating the young generation, giving them the chance at a better life because, on their own, it would be nearly impossible. Impossible, because you could spending your entire life working and only be making less than $0.50 a day to feed your family. As for bad governments who do not wish goodwill to their own people (North Korea, for example), influence and aid must come from outside, from other developed countries. But what can average people like you and me do? Become aware. Educate yourself because you can. And if there is a cause you wish to donate to, help. Be proactive. 

Erica Evans