WHY do we keep giving AID (money, food, medicine) to 3rd world countries instead of teaching them a business?

Why do we put so much effort into Africa?
1. Cure the sick
2. Then we have to feed them
3. Then we have to educate them
4. Then we support their children when they have some.

It is a cycle that is also present in Urban areas of the US. Can't we TEACH these people to be self-sufficient?

Human nature seems to be shifting to a culture of doing as little as possible to get as much as possible now. Thoughts?

The money that goes into Africa might as well go into a black hole.

Why?

Because the governments there tend to be highly corrupt (if you think it's bad in the West, try Africa) and socialist. Socialist systems of government breed economic misery, stifle competition, and discourage production.

Money will not solve these problems.

You can put a great engine in a car, but if that car doesn't have a steering wheel, well...

i agree, but there is not much work there, and they have no real industry

Are we helping the people of dafur? did i miss something here?

We should teach them to color sand and put it into stretched coke bottles to sell at the amusement parks?

I thought we were teaching them the charity business

Go big Red Go

Please refrain from using the words "These people " , its gona hurt people from those regions who will read. Just consider urself as lucky to be born in US. Please dont take your attitude to the forum .

Very simple answer is The "Cartels" who control Africa's wealth never want people to use it wisely instead they want it to be taken out ,processed and return a small percentage to them as AID.
If they are self sufficient and without war how will weapons business run ? What will happen to diamond market ? If they start cultivating in the rich soil who will import the foods ??.

Nobody is aiding Africa ..any war in Africa has min two major players pulling the strings .

You look like undertakers. Most 3rd world countries have lots of deaths, so maybe you could teach them your skill.

have you ever tried to open up a business after you starved to death and are dead of Aids.. it's kind of hard to do...

you can't really educate someone who is starving... it's kind of hard to focus in that situation... now I agree that education is needed, but there are other steps that must be taken first... basic human needs must be met...

The why is fairly simple. When there are people suffering; there are people who want to relieve the suffering. "We" are not under any obligation to feed or education the poverty stricken of the world. We choose to do so because we are much more fortunately than they are.

We are lucky to have a government that doesn't accept bribes as part of normal business. Or that is run by criminals who are lining their own pockets rather than investing in the infrastructure of their country. We are not wracked by civil war or factional violence. We are not at the mercy of the World Bank who lends money to 3rd world nations that should be going to build water treatment plants but more often turns out just to enrich their contractor cronies. It is a very bleak environment for poor people in third world nations.

But, take heart, my friend. Because there are charitable agencies who, like you, believe that people in 3rd world nations lwould prefer to support themselves rather than taking handouts. 3rd world citizens like to build businesses and take control of their futures, take care of their children and contribute to stable, opportunity-rich environments.

The corporation I work for, Lenovo, awards "microgrants" of only a few hundred dollars to struggling 3rd world entrepreneurs to start up their businesses. They work through several agencies, Opportunity International and TechnoServe to identify the candidates. From what I've seen it looks like a very successful program. Check out the sites below.

Opportunity International: http://www.opportunity.org/site/pp.asp?c...

TechnoServe: http://www.technoserve.org/

Think this is a very good question but I don't think anyone will like my answer so I'll make it short.
There is a business in providing aid,some charity organizations have the budgets of multinationals.They have an interest in keeping their market open.That's cynical but I believe it's true.Lot of these charity organizations have a political agenda as well.
Food that is sent there is often over production form the US and Europe and destabilizes the local market.
Then there is local corruption which only is addressed if it's severe enough not to sent anything anymore.
Then there is the AIDS problem and the many armed conflicts and few stable and capable governments in that region.

Democrats have worked really hard to make training programs and education available to welfare recipients, and also to put time limits on it. I will go one step further and say that we should give NO money to countries with corrupt governments. We really should use economic sanctions much more than we do. whatever happened to the conservative party? It worked so well with Reagan, now we would just as soon bomb the hell out of them, force them into a democracy, and provide welfare for nation building. Seems pretty worthless to me. If you don't like the US, you don't get our money. And you DEFINITELY don't get our money before our OWN citizens do!

You keep using terms like "these people" and you claim to be a chruch goer, geez your so self rightious, you should count your self lucky that you have food to eat, a home to dwell in, and are able to access the internet. The idea of your ever having been a teacher is scarey, you are biggioted, repulsive, and a narrow minded fool

Your right the federal government stepped in where the hypocritical Christians stops helping when there commanded to feed, shelter and support the poor. Go ahead and complain because tax dollars are spent on the folks so-called Christians refuse to help, even use the church as a fake tax brake so your dollars aren't spent are they? Have a nice prayer life...

Africa is like a "Black Hole". It sucks charity from the world but there never seems to be anything coming back. With all the corruption, fighting, and absolute lawlessness that has existed for as long as I can remember, very little of anything given to that country gets to the common people. Personally, not a dime of mine will go to Africa. I support enough Africans right here in the USA on the welfare rolls.

This, unfortunately, is the world we live in. Few of the younger generation can remember getting up to change the channel, washing dishes by hand, or walking to the store. Little work is required to achieve the end result. And many carry this over into their work ethic. If they don't have to get up to change the channel (or go to work), why should they?

For Africa, I agree 100% with AIDS and medical relief. These are things they do not have the potential to "get up to speed" on in the near future. The rest needs to be done in a manner similar to the welfare overhaul the Clinton and the Republicans passed. We give them what they need and the capacity to attain more of what they need. After 2 or 3 years, they should have the capacity to be self-sufficient. If they are not, it is not from lack of compassion on our part, but a lack of effort on their part.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and Darfur is a good example of that. This country does not have the potential to "get up to speed" anytime in the near future, and we need to do all that we can to remedy that.

Thank you for an excellent question.

The US runs on money. Not anyone other single thing comes first.It,what you described,is out of looking good to enhance the rich,thats why.