BBC Podcast on Poverty

Adam has asked us to listen to a Podcast on Poverty from the BBC

Kenya - Isaah - Small house, sleeps on rugs. Cooks on open fire (dangerous for children). Has Cows. Looks after grandchildren, 8ppl all together. They find it difficult to get food. 1 acre of land which he grows maize. Poor harvest because land is bad. Sells Tea, but makes nearly nothing (Kenya has famous tea too)... Monthly income is < $6... he has debts to meet (fertilizer). Co-Operatives are collapsing, while the wealthly people are getting richer. Must have a uniform for going to school which costs $3. No free medical. Had a child die from malaria, a net could protect the family but they cannot afford one. Things are getting worse than 20 years ago.

Josen Casseco - prices are changing daily, and no one can make plans because of this. The Government is dishonest.

Francis Imbuya - better off than Isaah, has mosquito net for himself, and an animal. Not enough money to get net for children. Just takes water from the river for drinking. No electricity. Wife does mechanical things fixing bicycles, making bricks etc, when husband is selling Maize in market. Makes enough money to buy sugar. He makes about $2/day. Government gives loans to people... but the interest is too high. Also thinks that thinks are getting worse because people have less land.

Population depends on agriculture. Population is growing, but the land is not. Francis thinks that Kenya needs population control. Francis wants people to see how Kenya is with their own eyes, that way people know themselves how they can help. When Kenya gets money from Western Nations... the wealthy people get the money, not the poor people.

Josen - Lots of money invested in Kenya, but people have not had significant changes. The projects haven't involved the poor people. Managers are aloof from the target group. Need radical examination of the design and implementation of the projects to stop poverty. People need to get right to where the poverty is so that they can see what is really needed to do.
2015 poverty goals are unrealistic if things do not change.