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A sigh of relief
Our country aspires to be a cyber island, where automation, computerization and the rate of vehicles are in constant rise; where many big IRS resorts are developing and two million tourists are forecasted by 2015; on the other hand, there is another extreme with people living in dreary conditions, nearly starving, without a proper shelter against weather conditions and where going to school is a luxury. However, there are a few organizations that are trying to bring some light in the darkness of these people.
SOS Poverty caters for the underprivileged people around Vallée Pitot. The main problem there is one of poor infrastructure, poor communication network, sewerage problems, illiteracy, drug abuse and prostitution. In such a situation, SOS Poverty is struggling against social exclusion. Rather than giving immediate aid, the organization believes on long-term strategies such as education and economic empowerment. The principle is to promote a social economy based on autonomous democratic and participative management whose final goal is to serve the community.
Another arm of SOS Poverty provides facilities and free access to education for needy children. Its kindergarten ?Bees? and its pre-vocational ?School of Hope? have helped lots of needy pupils and given them the ability to stand on their own feet. SOS Poverty also provides coaching classes to children having learning difficulties at primary level. With the partnership of Microsoft, free IT courses are also offered to young unemployed who often don?t have the proper mindset for the labour market. A non-formal educational course offered by the organization is a Social Leadership training course, which has been a success over the years.
Economic emancipation is yet another focus. Vocational training, parental education, micro-credit funds for financing small projects, community development, support for social housing projects, medical follow-up of the most needy and distribution of basic foods are on its agenda. Besides, various courses such as cooking/pastry and sewing are offered for the sake of economic emancipation.
?Begging culture?</B>
?There is a ?begging culture? in Vallée Pitot. Food distribution does not solve the problem. We must take long-term actions, and make the authorities aware of the problem. We are not tackling the problem from a holistic approach. In the fight against poverty, we need a holistic approach, commitment, long-term objectives, heavy resources, finance, technical materials and know-how. But still, we do lack resources. There are five main lines in the fight against poverty:education, empowerment, community development, ICT and financial independence and people?s own trust?, says Yusouf Dauhoo, president of SOS Poverty.
Caritas is another major organization fighting for poverty alleviation. It has existed for 42 years serving the needy people. The organization provides services such as shelter and food to the homeless, emergency rescue services during calamities, support and follow-up to needy children, youths and families, training courses for integral human development, empowerment programmes, among others.
<B>Adapted training</B>
?There are lots of positive things, which have been done to help the poor. The poor have lots of potential. There?s a strong solidarity among them. We must provide them with opportunities to prove themselves. We must make training courses which are adapted to these people to create the trust within them. Sometimes, the word ?training course? itself is a barrier for these people. For us, a person may be poor in terms of wealth but also in terms of knowledge and power?, says Josian Labonté of Caritas.
The Red Cross organization also helps the needy, especially underprivileged children. Through its welfare programme, the organization provides food and clothing to the needy as well as meals for the most needy schoolchildren in certain deprived areas. ?The mission of the Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate the suffering of people?, says Gilbert Duvergé, dissemination officer of the Red Cross.
Apart from these focused organizations, many other NGOs and socio-cultural organizations bring their contribution to the fight against poverty. In a life which is increasingly hard, the organizations fighting for poverty alleviation are bringing a sigh of relief to underprivileged people.
<B>Bilkiss JAFFARALLI</B>
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