Process
Defining poverty
What words, phrases, or ideas come to mind when you think about poverty? In the U.S.? The world?
Come up with at least five ideas and then click here to begin creating a digital concept map. When the page opens, click Start Brainstorming to add your ideas to the concept map. (See example)
Now review the definitions of poverty from:
What other ideas to their definitions include? Add any new ideas to your concept map.
Save a copy of your concept map and use it to create your own definition of poverty.
Poverty in the U.S.
Look at the map of the United States showing the percentage of the population living in poverty by state. What national trends do you notice?
Compare the trends you noticed in state poverty rates with data on:
Describe any relationships you notice between poverty and life expectancy (health), poverty and education, and poverty and work opportunities.
What surprised you? Can you think of an explanation for the relationships you noticed?
Poverty in the world
Look at the world map reshaped to show the millions of people living in poverty by country. Then look at data on poverty rates by country. What do you notice?
Click each link below. Each graph compares average income per person (by country) with another factor related to well-being. Observe how average life expectancy, education, and labor force participation tend to change as income levels change.
- Life expectancy and income
- Years in school and income
- Labor force participation (employment) and income
Describe any relationships you notice.
What surprised you? Can you think of an explanation for the relationships you noticed?
Reducing poverty
View the World Bank video Moving Out of Poverty.
How can economic opportunities close to home help people improve the lives of people living in poverty? How do you think this idea applies to poverty in the United States?
Creating economic opportunities
Find out how Peace Corps Volunteers work with communities around the world to create economic opportunities, use locally-available resources, provide business knowledge and training, and target customers for their goods and services.
Click each photo below to learn how Peace Corps Volunteers are working with communities.
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Advising your host community
Now that you have seen some successful examples of businesses that other Peace Corps Volunteers have supported, you are ready to work with your host community to develop or expand an income-generating business.
Begin by reviewing and printing a copy of your community profile.
With your team, begin the process of conducting a feasibility study by choosing a product or service to sell. Then identify the possible customers who will support the business. Print a copy of this form and use it to help you plan.
Communicating your idea
Develop a presentation to introduce your idea at a community meeting. Be prepared to answer questions from community members. Be sure to discuss:
- What needs would the business help address?
- Who are the target customers?
- What materials would you need to get started? Are these locally available?
- How would the business use people's existing knowledge and skills?
- How will the income generated improve people's quality of life?
