Poverty Was Not Manufactured in Africa or for Africans

By Rev Wilson Karani

Anglican Development Services Mt. Kenya

I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the facilitators of this programme - Helping Without Hurting in Africa. Indeed, this is a rich program which I would recommend to all clergymen, organisations, and also the target group being helped. The attitude of who is a poor person becomes different upon going through these lessons. It is evident that poverty has stricken us all in different angles and therefore none should consider themselves better than others.

Poverty of mind has made Africans think that poverty was manufactured in Africa and for Africans. Our people need to be taught to realise themselves that they can make it even without fully depending on well-wishers, for a child does not crawl forever.

I therefore want to thank the organisers of this program through World Renew for bringing another aspect that community can be part of the good work which different organisations are doing in an attempt to fight poverty in our communities.

Africans should stop looking at themselves as potential candidates of sympathy, stop regarding themselves as inferior as they too have different talents and abilities which can be used to bring positive change in their lives and the lives of others.

The notion that whenever an African sees a Mzungu (Caucasian) what comes in their minds is money and help should be discouraged. We are all unique in our own ways and we should use the God given talents to make our lives comfortable without necessarily becoming parasites which cannot live minus their hosts.

The clergy on the other hand should exercise servanthood and lead their flock towards understanding their potentials and coming up with practical solutions on ways in which members of their communities especially their Christians can use available resources to ensure growth in the community. Clergymen should also be good stewards of projects in their localities and ensure that the targeted groups benefit accordingly.

In a nutshell, this programme is an eye opener to the beneficiaries of different programmes, facilitators, clergymen, members of the community, all stakeholders, and also organisations supporting different projects.  Adherence to the teachings of this curriculum will bring forth a self-sustained and innovative community other than a dependent community.