What is a poverty cycle?
In the economy, a poverty trap or cycle of poverty is caused by self-reinforcing mechanisms that ensure that poverty, once it exists, persists unless outside intervention is done. It can last for generations.
Families trapped in the circle of poverty have limited or no resources. There are many drawbacks that work collectively in a circular process making it virtually impossible for individuals to break the cycle. This happens when poor people don't have the resources needed to get out of poverty, such as financial capital, education, or connections. In other words, poor people do not have access to economic and social resources because of their poverty. This lack can increase their poverty. This could mean that the poor remain poor all their lives.
How can this cycle be broken?
We want to break the poverty cycle in communities by providing people with education, financing their businesses or ideas through micro-credits or connecting with people who can help them further.
An improved self-image can also help the individual to overcome poverty problems. According to the researchers, the improved self-image appears to be able to deal with the poverty stigma and psychological barriers that make it difficult to leave a problematic situation behind.
Previous research has shown that poverty consumes so much mental energy that there is little room left to focus on other aspects of life. Material deprivation therefore limits the mental space that could be available for education, training, time management, utilities and other steps crucial to breaking the poverty cycle.
What is the impact of 4Watoto?
- 22 children have access to education, shelter, connections, support, safety and above all a home.
- It employs 14 people with a good salary, which leads to extra financial capital, giving 14 families more spending options.
- Develops and implements a Pan African education program, this strengthens self-image and future possibilities.
- 22 children have the opportunity for self-development through a varied educational program in which individual wishes and talents come first.
- Support local economy; everything is bought locally from partners (often mothers) instead of large chains.
What does the 4Watoto foundation see as future opportunities for the children that have been taken under her care?
We live in the 4WatotoHouse in the now, and ensure that children feel good now and are now empowered. But still the future, we are all going to come there at some point. 4Watoto strives to offer children, from a guiding role, options from which they can continue to grow.
Options:
1.Reunion
We attach great importance to the fact that our children are raised by fellow Congolese and thus remain bound to African culture. We hope that we can also help children to reconnect with people with whom they are genetically or emotionally connected before we started to take car of them.
Our goal is to bring children into contact with relatives whenever possible or to return them to relatives if they still have them. The added value that our organization can then offer in this regard is mainly expressed in financial or educational support.
2.Study
4Watoto embraces education. At the moment the children are at school at 4Watoto and are following the catch-up program of primary school. When they have completed this program in a few years, 4Watoto hopes to have a secondary school of its own where the children can follow 6 years of secondary education. If not, the 4Watoto foundation will pay the costs for attending a good secondary school. After that, it is entirely up to the child and his or her wishes / capabilities. When the wish is expressed to continue studying, this is fully supported and arranged from us. If this is more subject-oriented, such as dance or woodworking, 4Watoto will arrange and pay for internship addresses and individual teachers.
3. Financial support
When there is an entrepreneurial spirit in a child, the 4Watoto foundation sees it as its duty to invest in the children. After training and a well-thought-out plan of action, 4Watoto will ensure that the first months of the business are covered or rent for the shop / house is paid by means of microcredits. 4Watoto wants to guide children to full independence and to say after schooling and care in the house just find out, will therefore never happen. The goal is that the children eventually go into life independently, but the time, path and pace to get there differs per person. And that is all good.
4. Peer4Peer
Another option is for a child to grow up fully and receive training within 4Watoto. After this there is the possibility to work within the organisation, for example as a mentor, social worker or teacher. The 4Watoto Foundation would see this as a beautifully completed cycle because then we can offer them a good place to work and other children can learn from people who understand their situation well. Again it is entirely up to the child, if they are interested in social work this could be a good option.
