On one hand, there are people who live their life lavishly. They are not only enjoying the joy of essentials but also have what they want and desire; a luxurious living providing them an extra comfort. On the other hand, there are people who cannot even afford the basic requirements of living. They do not have shelter to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear.People who have extra are living a comfortable and a posh life. While those who have barely the vitals are fighting each day for life.They fail to meet the basic requirements.
There are people who have much more than they need to live while others have barely enough to survive.
Poor people do not have enough clothing, food, education and healthcare. Being poor means deprived economically, politically and socially. They hardly get opportunities. They have inadequate nutrition, higher risk of diseases and lack access to healthcare and basic essentials for living resulting in low achievement.
One cannot make such people opulent but can at least help them achieve the essentials of life and lead a prosperous life. Helping the poor and needy people is a good deed. Caring for the poor and needy people and helping them is a noble endeavor. The more you give to poor and needy people, the more you strengthen their dependency. If you give them the chance or opportunity, you’ll see an effective and long-lasting improvement in their lives. Create a new system built on inter-dependency which motivates them to work and move forward and their dignity is maintained. Tossing out money or other kinds of donation do help the poor and needy people but the need is to direct your energies and efforts in raising them, building relationship, teaching them and moreover, regaining their self-confidence and self-esteem to work for themselves.
Change your perspective. Instead of considering them as a project to help, view them as people to love and respect. Following are the few ways to help the poor and needy people
10. Moral Consolation
One of the better ways to help the poor and needy people is to give them a hand up rather than a hand out. Giving them moral support, showing heartfelt humility and respect makes them aware that someone really does care about them and trying to improve their condition. By providing them with the opportunities to improve their condition on their own would increase their self-esteem and help them in overcoming barriers they face everyday. Work with the poor and needy people and help them discover their own capabilities and capacity and putting them to use at the right place at the right time. Support them and let them know that they have something of value which can be used for meeting their basic requirements.
9. Social Media
Social Media has become one of the most used way to help the poor and needy people and perhaps, the easiest way as well. Through the use of Social media and Social Networking Sites like Facebook or twitter, one can raise his or her voice and create awareness and get a helping hand; can connect to various charity organizations or community centers involved in helping the needy people; can buy products online from websites that donate a portion of their proceeds to charity that helps the poor and needy people.
8. Personal Financial Help
Individuals can help the poor and needy people monetarily also. Providing financial assistance to the poor can help them solve the basic problems of living. By providing money to the poor and needy people, they can get the essentials of living. One can get associated with charitable houses and donate money there to help the needy. By providing monetary help to the needy people, they can get meal for their family, a place to live or some clothes.
7. Fund Raising
One can join the fund raiser community or engage himself or herself with some organization who are involved in raising funds for the poor and needy people. They can join various activities and plan various strategies for fund raising like help in creating awareness in the society through various modes, conduct various shows like road shows, etc. They can organize activities and become an active member of an organization’s board or membership. Fund raising can involve donating items for free and holding auctions for those items. This would help raise funds.
6. Donate Groceries/Eatables
Provide nutritious meals to the poor and needy people. Donating groceries can help end the hunger of poor and needy people. They cannot even afford a single time meal for themselves and their family, so donating food will make their stomach fill and stay healthy. Rather than wasting food or throwing it, it is better to give it to a needy person.
5. Collection Drive
By conducting collection drives for food, clothes, books, blankets and other necessities one can help the poor and needy people. These collection drives can be conducted in schools,offices or locality and reaches to the neediest people. It is one of the easiest way to help the poor and needy people. Contact the organizations who work for poor people to find out what they need and then organize collection drive by setting up containers at schools, or local premises in which people can drop off donations, ask offices to donate to the drive.
4. Group Involvement/Volunteering Teams
Volunteering time and skills can help the poor and needy people. Creating awareness among the people for helping the poor and needy people can get more and more individuals join the drive. Groups can be formed that can help the needy, buy them a meal, give them a ride to shelter and other necessary assistance. Volunteers can help and teach them. These volunteers can help in arranging free health camps, doctors can be invited to treat the poor and needy people.Even the smallest efforts count. By sparing just few hours a week and doing even the smallest bit possible can do great wonders for the poor and needy people. Also, one can encourage friends or family members to join for just a noble cause.
3. Donate Old Belongings
In order to help the poor and needy, one can donate the old stuff from old clothes to appliances, furniture and other materials. Rummage through your belongings and give them away to the needy. Delving through old stuff and donating does help the poor people and makes a difference to those who needs such stuff. Donating clothes especially in winter season when the weather is too cold is of great help to the poor and needy people. Unneeded stuff can be donated to brighten someone else’s day.
2. Better Understanding
Understand the needs and requirements of the poor and needy people. Help them overcome the adversities of life. One can help the poor and needy people by understanding their wants, desires and thoughts without diminishing their dignity and helping them achieve those wants in a respectable manner. Also, one should treat the poor and needy people with respect and understanding. This would make a huge difference in their lives. Give them the same respect and courtesy you would accord your friends and family members. Respond them with a kind word and a smile.
1. Education
Imparting knowledge can help the poor and needy to stand on their feet. Education is the beginning of getting out from hardships of life. Giving free education to the poor and needy people help them to grow as individuals and help them lead a better life. Education can help them to get a job, be employed build career and achieve success, capability of handling problems and lead a successful life. The poor and needy people can become independent, self-sufficient and better human being through the power of education. Through education, we can help the poor and needy people to develop their skills so that they can take over efforts to revitalize their life rather than always depending on the outsiders to do so for them.
Please Keep Sharing and Keep The Humanity ALIVE-- Ayaan Ahmad
