As mentioned at the conclusion of my previous post, in this entry I would like to take a moment to move away from the theoretical and focus more on application. How does the potential-based development theory play out in modern day community development? The needs seem so great, what can one really do to alleviate poverty through developing potential?
This past week I spent several days serving with an international team in a rural community about three hours from the city of Sucre. This community (Ckara Ckara) is one of the highest villages in the world, located at close to 14,000 ft. in altitude. As is the custom with all of Food for the Hungry’s work zones, this is a community that has been labeled as one of the most vulnerable in Bolivia. Defining vulnerability is a great post for the future, but for now let’s just say it is extremely materially poor, with very little development. There are many reasons for this. One, being the extremely animistic worldview that exists among the people, which has played out in several consequences such as the Potlatch ritual which I mentioned in my previous post on resources. Secondly, this is one of the highest villages in the world, so agriculture potential is extremely limited. Crop diversity is difficult, and the farmers have a great deal of fear growing something that they do not have experience with.
As to be expected malnutrition is a major issue among the children and families of this area. The farmers grow mostly potatoes because that is not only what they know how to grow but it is one of the few crops that flourishes in the Andean mountain climate and at that altitude. Thus, many of the families and children living in Ckara Ckara live on a mostly starch based diet. As an organization, Food for the Hungry has two options when deciding how to help alleviate the material poverty that exists in Ckara Ckara. (As written in one of my earlier entries I believe poverty to be a holistic issue that has it’s roots in the brokenness of man’s four foundational relationships. For more information on this belief read the blog post titled “Poverty Alleviation From the Roots.”) With that said, as the organization seeks to help man in the reconciliation of his relationships, they also seek to provide tangible philosophies of development and transformation. As a development organization the question remains as to which development philosophy FH will choose. One option is the need-based theory, which would have FH constructing buildings, bringing in bags of nutritious food or a crate of GNC Vitamins, and providing a variety of other resources that could be used to eliminate many of the current material needs…… temporarily. The end result? The community has a temporary fix for their material poverty and a new list of needs to be addressed. Add to that, a new sense of inadequacy and a more dependant need for handouts. Not biblical empowerment if you ask me. So, how does the organization work at the roots of malnutrition while providing for the immediate felt needs? How does the potential-based development theory work in this case?
For Americans a greenhouse seems like a simple solution. However, for Bolivians this was a new concept, (growing food inside of a building???) and one never explored in the Ckara Ckara area before. All of the materials for the project can be found in the Ckara Ckara area and there was no financial funding imported into the village in order for this project to be built or maintained. It is merely wood, rocks, mud bricks (plentiful in the region) and corrugated plastic roofing, which you can buy in Ckara Ckara. Buy using products available in Ckara Ckara, along with the power of the sun; carrots, lettuce, basil, tomatoes, cauliflower and other healthy foods are being grown at an altitude of nearly 14,000 ft! Add this to the fact that a greenhouse takes up very little land, and the farmers are much more willing to invest in a small house of vegetables than risk farming 3 acres of their land on something they are unfamiliar with.
With the introduction of the greenhouses, Food for the Hungry along with the local indigenous farmers in Ckara Ckara are fighting malnutrition…. with success. Not only are the farmers proud of the success of their accomplishments but they have taken ownership of the project and grown from its achievements.
Fighting malnutrition is never an easy task. Malnutrition has deep roots and a greenhouse in and of itself will not solve the problem. But through teaching the biblical principles of stewardship and good health (notice the sign above the door on the greenhouse. It says Creation is Good!!! That is one of the principles that has been taught that accompanies this project), along with empowering the local farmers to see the potential within their midst, the struggle against malnutrition in Ckara Ckara is being defeated.
I believe in this project, Food for the Hungry has empowered the local farmers, through the potential-based development theory to realize their potential and make a direct sustainable impact on malnutrition in Ckara Ckara. When we permit the people of our communities to see the abundance of resources that exist around them, we allow them to develop as God designed them to. They take pride in the change and become motivated by the results of their efforts. They become empowered to follow through on God’s creation mandate to rule, subdue, multiple and administer with stewardship all that He has provided in them and around them. I believe that should be the goal when working with the poor in the area of development. May we model for them the belief that God has made each of us in His image, designed with potential, creativity and talents, and He has blessed us with all we need to develop.
So appreciate your work and the way God is using you to make disciples through holistic care and problem solving.
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