The Problem
According to the World Bank
(2015), about 33% of the population in both Uganda and Kenya live on less than
$1.90 per day and 63% live on less than $3.10 per day. Reading the
figures is one thing; we shake our heads, comment “that’s too bad,” blame
exchange rates or buying power, and turn the page with hardly a blink. Really
understanding what it means to live in poverty—to live on less than $3.10 each
day, to relate to the people we serve in developing countries—requires an all
together different approach. This project is the result of much prayer and a
lot of research about the $3.10 poverty lifestyle. In the end I will invite YOU
to take the $3.10 Poverty Challenge.
At today’s exchange rate, $3.10 USD is equivalent to 10,800
UGX or 320 KES. Buying power between Uganda and the Malindi coast of Kenya,
where I will live about a year from now, is about the same so we will use the Ugandan
Shilling as we take a look at three very different lives and what is possible
with $3.10 per day.
Julius’s Story
Julius is a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) driver in Kampala
and works to support himself and his three children who live in the village
with their mother. You can read the details of his story and how his money is
spent in the separate
blog
post. We realized that if Julius was to live on 10,800 UGX per day, and if
we subtract what is needed for food, Julius would have 6,100 UGX remaining at
the end of the week. With that money, Julius had nothing more than morning tea
to drink every day, he did not tithe, did not pay rent, did not care for his
children. He was not sick, did not buy clothing, pay licensing fees or bribes.
He did not have electricity or candles and matches, he did not have water and
soap for bathing, and he did not have airtime. Not only could Julius not pay
for the regular daily needs he could not manage if even the simplest
inconvenience struck.
Carol’s Story
Carol sells vegetables in the market near my home and is the
mother of four school-aged children. You can read the details of her story and
how her money is spent in the separate
blog
post. We gave Carol 10,800 shillings for each of her children too, which
meant that she alone had to earn 54,000 UGX per day for her family to live at
or below the World Bank’s established poverty level. After subtracting for
food, Carol would have 4,100 UGX remaining at the end of the week. With the
4,100 UGX that remains each week, Carol did not pay rent, pay school fees for four
children including uniforms and requirements, provide medical care,
transportation, airtime, buy clothing and shoes and wash them, nor provide any
of the other little necessities of life.
Agnes’s Story
Agnes is probably one of those families living on $1.90 per
day (1/3 of the world population, according to the World Bank) which is 6,000
UGX. Agnes is married to Pr Patrick and they have five children, they live on
family land and survive on subsistence farming. You can read the details of her
story and how her money is spent in a separate
blog
post. We assigned Agnes 6,600 shillings ($1.90) for each family member,
which means she has to earn 42,200 UGX each day to live at the poverty line. After
buying food and some charcoal for cooking and soap for cleaning, Agnes remained
with 500 UGX each week. As I write, I know full well that the life Agnes leads
makes it next to impossible to actually earn 42,200 in a day. None the less,
Agnes has not tithed, put her children in school, or provided medical care, bought
airtime, clothing, or met other typical needs.
Not All Poverty is
Created Equal
With reputable organizations like the World Bank publicizing
poverty levels in financial terms, we tend to think that all poverty is defined
as a lack of food, clothing, and shelter. However, according to The Chalmers
Center (2016), “Not all poverty is created equal.” My own observations within
the East African countries support this idea. In reality poverty comes in many
shapes and sizes—financial, social, emotional, spiritual—each form requiring a
different poverty alleviation strategy. As material poverty is addressed, the
social, emotional, and spiritual components of poverty ought to be integrated
into alleviation strategies.
Corbett and Fikkert (2014) suggest three poverty alleviation
strategies: relief, rehabilitation, and development. Relief is needed in situations where the materially poor require
temporary and immediate outside help such as during natural disasters, medical
emergencies, or personal traumas. Think in terms of severe drought—a prolonged
period of below average water supply—or national insecurity where outside
invaders murder and injure hundreds of people. Rehabilitation is needed in situations where the materially poor people
participate in returning their lives to the pre-crisis conditions. They
contribute to improving their own situation by, for example, digging wells,
building water collection systems, or developing safety response protocols.
The development
response to poverty alleviation is needed when people want to participate in improving their lives beyond what they have
known or experienced in the past. The development strategy includes reconciling
the four foundational relationships—with God, with themselves, with others, and
with the rest of creation. People begin to recognize that God has given them
gifts and abilities and that they need to use those gifts for God’s glory to
support themselves through work which is a form of worship.
The Solution
I am not naive enough to think that world poverty is a
problem I can solve single handedly. But Surprised by Hope is very decidedly a
community development ministry. We
recognize the difference between the need for relief, rehabilitation, and
development and appreciate the value each strategy brings in the overall fight
against poverty. Our place of serving, however, is in the area of development.
Therefore, we provide the biblically based education and information needed to
build the economic and spiritual capacity of local people who want to
participate in improving their lives so that they can start and operate
successful businesses using the gifts and resources God has given them.
$3.10 Poverty
Challenge
To better relate to the people we serve, to understand what
it means to live in poverty to the best of our ability, and to best serve them
through Surprised by Hope, I am going to take the $3.10 Poverty Challenge. For
10 days, I will live on $3.10 or 10,800 UGX each day. What this means is that
in everything I consume, I will not spend more than 10,800 UGX in a day AND I
will continue to minister to God’s people in whatever way possible given these
constraints (rather than stay at home doing nothing that requires energy or effort).
Here’s how you can get involved.
- Pledge $3.10 to Surprised by Hope for each of the 10 days I
successfully complete, and challenge your friends to do the same. I would love
to have 100 pledges.
- Take the $3.10 Poverty Challenge yourself and live on $3.10
per day, and find at least 10 people to pledge $3.10 for each of the 10 days YOU
successfully complete.
WHEN: Any time between now and June 1. Funny, I can chose
when it’s convenient to me to sacrifice for 10 days in a row, but those who
actually live in poverty don’t get to chose when to start and when to stop. They
can’t save their laundry till after the 10 days to avoid spending money on
water and soap, they don’t have the luxury of waiting to purchase clothing
until after the 10 days.
Make your commitment publicly on Facebook and
email
me to get more details.
References
Corbett, S. & Fikkert, B. (2014).
When Helping Hurts. Chicago: Moody Publishers.
