I came across this story on Time.com today that explores why sustained food aid does not help but rather hinders in the long run.
Over time, sustained food aid creates dependence on handouts and shifts focus away from improving agricultural practices to increase local food supplies. Ethiopia exemplifies the consequences of giving a starving man a fish instead of teaching him to catch his own. This year the U.S. will give more than $800 million to Ethiopia: $460 million for food, $350 million for HIV/AIDS treatment — and just $7 million for agricultural development. Western governments are loath to halt programs that create a market for their farm surpluses, but for countries receiving their charity, long-term food aid can become addictive. Why bother with development when shortfalls are met by aid? Ethiopian farmers can’t compete with free food, so they stop trying. Over time, there’s a loss of key skills, and a country that doesn’t have to feed itself soon becomes a country that can’t. All too often, its rulers use resources elsewhere — Ethiopia has one of Africa’s largest armies.
I know of a couple of organizations that work in Ethiopia, as well as other developing countries, that teach people sustainable farming skills and animal husbandry. One is Food for the Hungry …
In developing countries on nearly every continent, Food for the Hungry works with churches, leaders and families to provide the resources they need to help their communities become self-sustaining.
and the other is Heifer International.
Today, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables.
Families who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses.
Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read.
And people who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving.
How is this possible?
With Heifer’s proven approach – almost 60 years in the making – to helping people obtain a sustainable source of food and income.
I am sure there are other organizations that offer the self-sustaining model instead of just the hand-out model. Please feel free to list them in the comment section if you know of one. I encourage my readers to support charities that give a helping hand and not just a hand-out. Obviously right now immediate food aid is needed, but in the future organizations that teach sustainable practices are going to be the most effective solution.