From time to time we like to draw attention to articles that add important perspective to the discussions of justice and poverty alleviation. This is not an endorsement of the viewpoints, but an endorsement of the importance of these discussions

The Wall Street Journal recently asked eight prominent philanthropists and NGO executives how they would spend $10 billion to achieve the biggest and longest-lasting impact on the world’s problems. All eight came up with great ideas, but the clear winner in my opinion came from leading Swedish businessman and philanthropist Percy Barnevik, who said he would use the money to unleash the entrepreneurship of the world’s poorest citizens.

My experience in Africa over the past 27 years has convinced me that this is the only way for people to break out of poverty. People are poor because they have no sustainable income. It’s as simple as that.

via allAfrica.com: Africa: Create Jobs in Continent, and All Else Will Follow.

Working with The 1010 Project allows us to make our own daily bread. – Phaustine Wekesa

Phaustine Wekesa is a mother, grandmother, and our friend in leadership at Tumaini Pamoja (With Hope Together), a community-based organization in the Korogocho slum of Nairobi.

Tumaini Pamoja has a 4-pronged approach to breaking the cycle of poverty in their community:

• Encourage self-acceptance and acceptance by community members of HIV-positive individuals
• Help orphans and vulnerable children
• Provide microfinance opportunities to small businesses
• Break the stigma associated with HIV/AIDs

Phaustine explained recently in an email that her friends and neighbors are really suffering from hunger. Phaustine continued her message with a request for support, specifically for those living with HIV/AIDS. For these courageous individuals she explained, the problem is compounded because it is difficult to take antiretroviral drugs on an empty stomach.

According to the World Food Programme:

“High food prices have taken their toll on the daily lives of Kenyans. Poverty and food insecurity are highest in urban slums and among pastoralists and farmers in remote, arid and semi-arid lands, which comprise 80 per cent of Kenya’s land mass. Many households in these areas are chronically poor, and there are persistently high malnutrition rates among children under five. It’s estimated that around 5.6 million people [approximately 16% of the total population] have been made food insecure in Kenya because of high food and fuel prices. In order to deal with the high cost of food, people are cutting back on the number of meals they are eating, and buying less expensive food items.”

Despite these challenges, Tumaini Pamoja continues to grow and meet needs. This community-based organization has recently expanded into three separate groups with a total membership of 185 individuals. With the most recent income-generating grant ($270 USD) that they received, Tumaini Pamoja was able buy three orphaned children new school uniforms, purchase a small plot of land for farming, and provide two loans of $25 to small business owners.

This Mother’s Day weekend, empower the efforts of mothers and grandmothers like Phaustine with a gift of $10 to The 1010 Project!