Could one person do anything to make a difference??
By cyclopz
@cyclopz (251)
Sydney, Australia
March 3, 2012 12:06pm CST
I was roaming around the city where i have newly transferred to and i saw how poor the situation of some people really are. Upon going down the stairs from the train station i saw a child sleeping on the stairs. He was so thin and i think he just slept on his hunger as he also looked really filthy. Its quite a pity seeing these kind of stuations all over the city and i think the people i saw are just quite a few among the many who are also experiencing the same thing.
After seeing this it came to me, whose task is it really to help these people? Should it be the government who collect all our taxes?
As an employee, i also understand that a lage portion of the usual employee's salary goes to taxes. I won't complain if i see the changes and improvement in the city and also in the lives of the people living in the city. I think in other countries people don't complain very much about their taxes because they could really see where their taxes go like in improvement of infrastructures and helping those who are in poverty find jobs and others.
I feel pity for these people and i was thinking, as an individual is there really something I could do to make a change? I think none, i could not give them money because i'm also not that well off, and giving them money i think is not a long term solution to help these people.
What do you think about this?
Do you also think one person could do anything to make a difference?
What do you think could be done to help change the lives of people living in poverty?
Thanks for sharing guys.
1 person likes this
13 responses
@magester1 (148)
• Argentina
3 Mar 12
I don't think there's anything we can do as an individual. Like you said, giving them money would allow them to purchase perhaps dinner for one night, and that's it. Here, a big part of the population lives under those circumstances, it would be virtually impossible to give money to all of them.
I think the problems is, and always has been, getting jobs for them. Unless you live far away in the mountains or where ever and you can manage to sustain yourself on your own, there's nothing you can do without a job.
However, I'm also aware that it's not possible to create job opportunities for each and every one, there's not enough things to do (I think). Moreover, machinery and technology nowadays replaces most workers and employees, it's only going to get worse as those improve.
1 person likes this
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
3 Mar 12
If you already think that way nothing will chance indeed.
Even if you give some bread and a drink to someone who is in need once you will make that person's day! And there is way more you can do, little and bigger things that even doesn't cost you a penny. Giving away clothes, shoes, stuff you don't need anymore for example.
@magester1 (148)
• Argentina
3 Mar 12
I do give away clothes and old toys and that kind of things, I usually take them to the local church. Doing that may help, but it does not make a difference, as that was the main question.
I'm trying to be rational here, I know I might have sounded a little cold, but you have to see the bigger picture, not just individual actions.
@dazzledlady (1618)
• Philippines
3 Mar 12
I believe one person can make a difference. We call want to help but we dont know how or just waiting for someone to step up. A catalyst, the prime mover to put things in action. We often complain of how the goverment takes away big taxes from our hard earn money to help the poor and often dont see it. And frustrating as it can be, we also can hear stories that can move mountains. Its just we lack the initiative to start.
1 person likes this
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
6 Mar 12
Well one person can get the ball rolling but timing is everything with that. One person on their own, will not really have that much of credibility. Especially considering that your average person is considered to be a nobody by the government in general, a disposable tool, someone who is not considered to be mostly rather credible. But if one person gets a stir going, with other people following, it is harder to ignore.
Of course sometimes, most people are not really just going to rock the boat all that much. They might pay some lip service to any revolution that is going on but when push does come to shove, most people who are just really not going to keep fanning the flames. One person might start something but there has to be a plan and the realization that you might as well just be talking to a blank wall with many people.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Mar 12
I think one person can make a difference. Maybe not for a long time or make all their problems go away but helping people is infectious. When one person does it and others see they will want to help too! I think if we all helped a little more there would be no need for the government to step in. We do not need the government to do everything for us! Its bad enough their trying to tell us all how to eat!!!
I think its sad that there are tons of commercials saying help the people in this country or another, I'm sure plenty of people give to them but how many commercials do you see showing all of the homeless and starving people here in the USA??? I can walk around NYC and see TONS of people that could use our help and we should be donating money to help them first. Yes its great to help other countries but we should also help people here who need it desperately!!
When I was in High School our whole volleyball team would pack tons of lunches and take them all to the city. We would pass them out to the hungry and homeless people. They were so grateful to not be eating out of the garbage! I think we had a huge impact and we made them smile at least for that day which in turn made us all happy. So, I absolutely think one person can at least make a person happy if nothing else.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
3 Mar 12
Yes one person can make the difference since we all are just one attached to eachother, one part of the chain.
If everybody would help out one other person just once in a while the world would be different. It's not that difficult to brighten up someone's life.
I am not saying you have to give the never ending help since begging is a job already since ages (already in the middle ages there were real and fake beggars and if it comes to the fake even 42 different kinds of).
I also think there is a part the government should do. especially if you live in a country with social help were we all pay a lot of tax (all kinds of and seldom used for what they are ment to be).
The problem is only that most governments spend way more money to the poor people abroad as they they do for their own people.
If you want a better world you should start with yourself.
1 person likes this
@shwetat195 (628)
• India
4 Mar 12
yes, i agree giving money is not the solution, may be it would buy them one dinner, two dinner however that would not end the poverty. one more thing i would like to add, giving money does not necessarily mean that it wud go for food...these people are always bounded / controlled by some other factors/people/habits...one such habit is of drinking...these people would not even understand that the importance of money...they actually might waste this money for unnecessary things...so i think the way we can contribute is through education. if we can find an institute where we can pay for their education so that these people know wht is right and wht is wrong. money can not buy everything for them however if we can capitalise on these human resources, we can actually contribute towards a progressing economy and justify our life....
@GardenGerty (157837)
• United States
4 Mar 12
Can you help them learn a skill so that they can earn money and work their way out of poverty. I had the idea today that I could help some people learn more about getting online. Where I am you must go online to look for work, and to apply and to submit resumes. Many people who are middle aged do not know really how to do these things. I am helping one friend in this process right now, and I believe I could help others as well.
@celticeagle (159832)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Mar 12
First off you wouldn't be human if you didn't feel badly about such situations. I believe that we all need to start in our own little corners of the world. Teach our kids to be good parents. Do whatever we can for our schools and churches. Speak out about injustices in our neighborhoods and counties. If we can all do that there is such a thing as a ripple effect.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
3 Mar 12
I think that no matter where you live the poor are there. In the USA it's the children who often lead the way in helping, collecting blankets and coats are one thing that helps, collecting food for our food banks also helps. I am sure there is some one thing you could do. You just have to think outside the box and then get the public interested in it. The Red Cross and Red Cresent do fine work in most countries around the world. There are also many churches and temples who have help programs, usually they are always in need of people who can give time to help. just remember if you can start with just one person, that is one less person in pain. Blessings
@krajibg (11923)
• Guwahati, India
4 Mar 12
Hi cyclopz,
This is a common site in most other developing or under developed countries. Poverty is a big issue and I do not think this is one man/person soluble problem. This first hurdle , whatsoever you think or whatsoever money you mightn't be having you are an outsider.
It seems the entire system is is corrupt. And you alone can not alter the already deep rooted evil. A crusade led by local leader could bear fruit but there is no guarantee.
Yes one man can change or bring great change to a Nation but the issues are different. You see Gandhi, Mandela etc. In your case it would be better to remain human and act as much as you can and not go beyond the limit for that might invite trouble unto you.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
4 Mar 12
hi cyclopz,
i always ask the same thing to myself. what on earth is the government doing? why is it that i am seeing more and more of these people on the streets and it seems nobody is doing anything. i see more children running in the middle of the streets begging from passengers of jeepneys during the red light. it is very dangerous. i wonder where are the parents of these children. why are they left unattended like that?
not only are these people pitiful but also a sore to the eye and a bad image to the term "cleanest city in the philippines".
long term solutions are educating these people so that they learn about livelihood. but then they will not stop just to be educated. their priority is looking for food that they can eat for the day.
so how the government should do such - they have to have a very good strategy.
but since you are asking could one person do something to make a difference? the answer is yes. but it will need dedication to such a big big work.
ann
@blazer2 (48)
• Nigeria
4 Mar 12
giving money as you rightly pointed out cant make a long term difference. personally you can do nothing. but if there's just i you can help among the thousand, you can really make a difference cos that one will remember someone helped and he/she will want to do same. if the sequence or trend continues, you will have started something to effect change
