5 Ways to Reduce Poverty

Our 5 Ways to Reduce Poverty

5 Ways to reduce poverty
What is poverty reduction?
What is the relation between economic growth and poverty reduction?
Why is poverty reduction important?

Poverty is a complex issue that requires social, economic and cultural solutions. There are 5 ways to reduce poverty that are proven to help families live healthier lives that enrich communities as a whole. To design and implement effective solutions, it is crucial to explore the question, “What is poverty reduction?” and gain a helpful understanding of the dynamics at work in places where poverty prevails.

Why is poverty reduction important? Poverty not only devastates individuals and families, it can also cripple entire communities and societies. People cannot joyfully enter into life and society, contributing their gifts and productivity, if every part of their lives is defined by lack.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA),

“Those who are poor face challenges beyond a lack of resources. They also experience mental and physical issues at a much higher rate than those living above the poverty line.” The APA points out that children born into poverty have higher instances of chronic diseases and low birth weight, both of which contribute to ongoing health issues that likely cannot be addressed because there is simply no money to pay for treatment.[1]

With the myriad of issues and challenges present right from birth, individuals may never be able to think about education or thriving in a community. What resources they do have are entirely wrapped up in daily survival. Children who never move from survival to thriving cannot develop the skills and physical strength necessary to be contributing members of society.

That’s why it’s important to ask, “What is the relation between economic growth and poverty reduction?” Working adults contribute to the economy in significant ways. Not only are they providing for their families, but they are helping to build strong economies.

Economics Online tells us,

“Poverty creates many economic costs in terms of the opportunity cost of lost output, the cost of welfare provision, and the private and external costs associated with exclusion from normal economic activity. These costs include the costs of unemployment, crime, and poor health. In addition, the poor have little disposable income, and so cannot spend and generate income for firms and jobs for other individuals.”[2]

An economy cannot grow without skilled workers coming to their jobs each day and fulfilling the needs of a company that is trying to build or produce something. The community as a whole suffers without services or products. Communities without thriving businesses cannot provide enough jobs to keep families from suffering the effects of never having enough.

So, why is poverty reduction important? Reducing poverty lifts entire families, economies and countries in the essential areas of health, social strength and productivity.

GFA World works to care for both the individual and the larger community with our 5 ways to reduce poverty. Each have been proven over time to lovingly raise individuals and, therefore, entire people groups by providing steps out of poverty.

These 5 ways to reduce poverty include:

  1. Income generation assistance
  2. Food security solutions
  3. Education access
  4. Family strengthening
  5. Donor partners

Taden was a husband and father who was born into generational poverty. Though he did not choose this path, he still berated himself and experienced sadness and anger at his situation. There was simply no way for him to work any harder for a different outcome for his family.

A local pastor observed Taden’s situation and felt compassion for him and his family. Through GFA, the pastor was able to gift him a cow, the beginning of a dramatic change for his family’s future.

“We were really overjoyed,” Taden recalls, “because we did not have anything in our house to call our own. But we felt that if we got the cow, we could really improve our lives.”

The cow gave birth and produced milk. The milk was sold, and the sale of the calf enabled Taden to buy goats, who give birth every five months. This extended his business even further, providing yet another income stream. From one cow, Taden’s family was able to secure a stable source of income, giving them food security as well as the funds to send their children to school. Their family was strengthened in multiple ways, and it was all because of donor partners who helped GFA to provide the cow for his family.[3]

Donor partners like you can be the difference not only for families like Taden’s but also for entire villages that are looking for ways to escape generations of poverty. There is now milk to purchase in Taden’s village because of the cow, and the goats are reproducing, providing both more milk and more options for income and economic growth.

One cow, two goats, a water buffalo; these are loving and yet simple ways for you to help reduce poverty. Taden’s life is now about thriving instead of mere survival thanks to a donor whose heart was moved to act. You can be the next heart that acts through love to help others. Donate today.

Learn more about overcoming barriers to healthcare access

[1] “Exploring the mental health effects of poverty, hunger, and homelessness on children and teens.” American Psychological Association. Updated October 2022. https://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status/poverty-hunger-homelessness-children.
[2] “Poverty.” Economics Online. January 27, 2020. https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/managing_the_economy/poverty.html/.
[3] A Surprising Antidote to World Poverty: Farm Animals.” GFA World. November 30, 2021. https://www.gfa.org/special-report/solutions-poverty-farm-animals/.