Last week I bumped into an individual I’d shared a laugh with the previous night. Wanting to know where I was heading, I invited them to join me in the seminar I was about to attend: “Understanding Poverty in a Developing Country.”
“What’s there to learn? Poverty means people are poor. I already know this! This is not my issue!” they began, before catching themselves and saying, “I am sorry. I am not from here and this is not for me.” That statement might have been an unconscious, perhaps an unintentional slip, yet a belief that is not uncommon, just unspoken. This echoed a sentiment I suspect many hold.
Is this “wrong” to hold those views or beliefs about poverty? Does that make that individual a bad person, or an insensitive foreigner? Poverty can often feel like a straightforward issue – a lack of resources. For individuals who haven’t experienced poverty or witnessed its complexities firsthand, their understanding is oftentimes based on the most visible aspect: a lack of material possessions and financial resources. This is the most readily apparent symptom.
Individuals, like this one and many others, also come from a different social-cultural framework emphasizing individual responsibility and meritocracy. With such cultural differences, there can be a tendency to view poverty because of individual failings rather than systemic issues.
I’ll ask again. Is that person wrong or an insensitive foreigner for holding such beliefs? I don’t think they are. I believe they are simply ignorant. A quick search for the etymology of the word ignorant breaks into two words, “not” and “knowing”. Not being aware of or not knowing something means there is an opportunity for awareness and change through education, not condemnation, anger, or mockery.
Poverty’s reach extends far beyond those directly experiencing it. It impacts our entire community, shaping our economy, social structures, and collective well-being. When segments of our population struggle, it affects everything from local businesses to healthcare systems. Understanding the dynamics of poverty as ex-pats living here should not be an act of empathy or sensibility, but rather an essential step toward building a stronger, more resilient community for everyone. Education on this topic is necessary, especially since we might be unaware of our cultural biases, assumptions, and perceptions.
This seminar, “Understanding Poverty in a Developing Country” by Adam Moss, aimed to provide a nuanced perspective on poverty, moving beyond simple definitions and exploring its complexities, especially within the context of developing nations and cross-cultural exposure.
As Dr. Rosa Merino, a fellow participant, shared, this seminar provided “very helpful information for our community… makes you think twice about the best way to provide financial support… sustainability key not feeding into crisis mode of giving.” And, Lynn Crease who also attended, found the seminar impactful, stating, “A capstone level presentation. Adam made several solid points and empowered the attendees to direct community involvement and action.”
These sentiments highlight the core message of the seminar: our well-intentioned efforts to help might inadvertently create dependency if we don’t approach the issue with a nuanced understanding of its complexities.
The seminar also delved into the often-overlooked psychological impacts of poverty, and the crucial role culture plays in shaping our understanding and approaches. It introduced concepts like “social safety nets” and the potential for “dependency” and emphasized the importance of addressing not just the material needs but also the psychological motivators for those in need. The introduction to the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model offered a powerful framework for empowering our local communities to become active agents in their own progress among other sustainable and scalable solutions.
If you want to educate yourself and learn more, join Adam’s next free seminar on April 25, 2025, at 5 pm at the Baja Explorer Club in La Paz. This is your opportunity to engage in this vital conversation, learn from local experts, and connect with fellow residents who are passionate about building a better future for La Paz. – Naailah Auladin. For more on my work: www.naailahauladin.com
Naailah Auladin is a life and relationship doula in La Paz, specializing in trauma, crisis, and mental health. She focuses on teaching and inspiring individuals to take responsibility and ownership in participating in their civic duties, focusing on the well-being of the self first, as she believes that fostering and maintaining well-managed emotional, mental, and physical health is our first civic duty.