by Selaelo

Created on: September 19, 2008   Last Updated: October 01, 2008

This is a challenging question that has no black or white answer. Foreign aid has certainly contributed to alleviating global poverty over the years, but it should definitely not be used as an ongoing solution to ending poverty. Aid is without doubt needed in eradicating poverty, but how that aid is applied should perhaps be the issue that gets more scrutiny. There is no question that the idea of contributing to poverty stricken countries to help reduce the levels of poverty is a noble one, but ongoing aid to these countries should be of great concern to everyone involved. If aid is continually provided to the same countries, year after year, it simply means that not much progress or no progress at all is being made in trying to reduce poverty. Ideally, no country would like to be dependent on foreign aid as a source of income and it is the responsibility of governments providing aid to ensure that resources contributed are well spent. Part of this responsibility is ensuring that aid is used to invest in projects that will make countries become more self-sufficient. Ongoing foreign aid is not the answer to global poverty and care has to be taken in making sure that aid is applied in such a way that it will not be provided indefinitely. Below are suggestions of ways in which foreign aid can be better applied in order to ensure that there is less future dependency by poor countries.

Firstly, part of the aid should be spent on teaching people or communities in rural or poor areas to farm in the form of planting vegetables and fruits. This will ensure that people learn skills that will make them survive and become self sufficient. The farm produce can either be sold to generate more income for households and the community. This will not only ensure that there is food on the plate for many families, but it will also provide healthy food that will help reduce the many diseases that often affect developing countries. By investing in such projects, foreign governments will not only be reducing poverty levels, but they will also be contributing to other areas such as a communities' overall health.

Secondly, foreign aid can be used in providing food such as breakfast at schools in poor communities. In poor communities in developing countries, children often miss school because they have no food and cannot concentrate in class on empty stomachs. Education is a passport to self-empowerment and providing a child with it will be the greatest gift that one can give. Giving

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