JULY - Dignity & Inclusion

Illustration by Miki Howenstein

…….　Looking at dignity and inclusion from this perspective, we must be wary of our well-intended charitable actions that may actually be detrimental. By making others more dependent on handouts for simple􏱤􏱉􏰰 􏰰􏰲investing our time and money towards empowering these people to better care for themselves and, going a step further, personally working with them in the spirit of true kinship, making them a part of our lives, we move more towards a society where the spirit of dignity and inclusion prevails. (From page 212 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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Author’s Comment: For those who are well-to-do, giving generously to charity can be noble and much-needed. There is also the potential for financial giving to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and hopelessness among the recipients, doing more damage than good. Truly beneficial and meaningful giving empowers those who receive to take control of their own lives and thrive, enabling them to make a living and eventually become “empowerers” themselves.