ACI and Literature

As ACI prepares to return this month to the 17th Infopoverty World Conference (IWC) at the United Nations in New York, we are reminded of our real purpose: 

Affecting Change International…Helping Disadvantaged Communities Learn to Help Themselves

In Entrepreneurship for Human Flourishing Chris Horst, Vice President of Development at HOPE International, and Peter Greer, President and CEO of HOPE International, make the point that although giving food, money, or things to people in disadvantaged communities can be helpful, giving people a means in which to create their own businesses, and teaching them how to own a business and invest their money wisely is perhaps more helpful. 

A few quotes from the book say it better than we ever could:

“…Charity is at its best when it complements the private sector, when it temporarily assists those who are unable to participate in productive employment and take care of themselves and their families” (pg 13). 

“…Meaningful work isn’t just a solution to the problem of financially vulnerable people.  It’s the best solution” (pg 14). 

“Jobs are the central weapon in the war on poverty.  They are the centerpiece of communities that flourish” (pg 22).

“Create–sell–invest–give:  this is the consistent cycle of any flourishing entrepreneur.  And when entrepreneurs flourish, people and places flourish” (pg 58). 
  
“If we care about reducing poverty, we have to think creatively and look at innovative solutions found outside the formal economy” (pg 60).

“Hope springs from having opportunity – a vision for the future.  When individuals can see beyond their day-to-day needs to invest in tomorrow, they take risks.  When students can recognize ideas are validated, they are free to experiment and push boundaries.  And when parents can dream, they are more apt to save for their children’s education, prompting multi-generational impact” (pg 86).
   
“All work is infused with meaning” (pg 87). 
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We at ACI want our work and your work to be “…infused with meaning”; one way is to support the efforts of those striving to help create sustainable communities throughout our world.  Will you partner with us and our new project?
 
For updates on our Idili Sustainability and Food Security Project (ISFSP), please visit the website http://www.affectingchange.org/ or www.idilifarmsproject.org.  

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