Giving Well at Christmas
Heading towards Christmas, many options are presented as ways in which western children can make a positive contribution to children and families living in poverty. For example, kids might buy items to put in boxes that are then delivered to specific communities in the Third World or they may have great fun choosing a toilet (or maybe a goat) from a catalogue.
It sounds simple, but is it as benign as it seems? What are the impacts of these kinds of activities from a development perspective? And what are western children really learning about poverty, and about giving? How does this line up with what God wants, in our response to poverty and injustice?
"It is difficult for a person associated with a development organisation to influence the avenues their faith community chooses to express their concern for the poor.
At the same time, it would be irresponsible do nothing and say nothing while your church embraces giving options that are easy for us to relate to, appeal to our sense of creativity, give us a feeling of personal connection and are ‘good fun’, but are not really helpful for the poor..."
Download the file below for the full article by Deborah Storie..
Deborah Storie began work with a community development team in rural Afghanistan in 1992. Since then she has led a variety of development projects, evaluated other aid and development projects, and facilitated training in development and in Biblical Studies - always encouraging Christians to make biblically shaped responses to poverty and injustice. Deborah is currently a PhD candidate at Melbourne College of Divinity and Chair of the Board of TEAR Australia.
