Kiva founder, Jessica Jackley, on TED

Shortly after my post on  poverty's affect on health care access, TED talks released a seminar by Jessica Jackley, the co-founder of Kiva.org. 
I was delighted to hear how much it related to recent  posts!

Kiva.org helps facilitate small loans to empower folks in need (that you can select) that are trying to run their own businesses to improve their lives. I like it because I can recycle the same money: one $25 gift can be used over and over again for different people as it gets repaid (so what was $25, has the actual effect of hundreds)! Then if you are ever tired of it, you can withdraw the money again and you have made a huge impact on people's lives at zero cost to you!


In her talk, Ms. Jackley recalls hearing the teachings of Jesus that say we are supposed to help the poor, but also that the poor will always be around. To her, as to many, this meant that the charge to serve all of the poor in the world was an unobtainable and discouraging goal. Her response, as is so common, was to pull away and to avoid interactions that reminded her of the problems people face and of her own responsibility in the situation. She felt incredible guilt that she wasn't sure how to get around it--the guilt became a barrier to relationships.

Ms. Jackley makes a profound statement about charity: that she would often donate money to relieve her own suffering and discomfort, rather than that of the recipient, in order to "buy the right to go on with our day." I can certainly  relate to this statement and recognize how this obligation-ridden interaction prevents deeper relationships with others in my life.

Ms. Jackley goes on to emphasise that helping those in need is really about the relationship that we have with each other and that one's poverty is a side note to one's identity as a whole. Certainly this is the case if we view each other as fellow children of God. This unifying characteristic should be at the forefront of our interactions, rather the relative size of our bank accounts. She mentions how the people with whom she interacted didn't want donations, but wanted to take charge of change in their own lives. No one wanted pity, just partnership.

Finally, Ms, Jackley emphasises her belief that people care and truly want to help. She mentions that they often care so much, that they are afraid to try and then mess up. So often, I think this phenomenon plays a major role in compounding the distance we place between ourselves and the people with whom Jesus calls us to fellowship. We are scared to make a misstep or say something hurtful, and so we avoid the situation all together--and up feeling guilty anyway.

I have attached the video below. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!


Background
TED:
A nonprofit organization that sponsors short lectures given by the great thinkers of our time. They propagate these 'ideas worth spreading' to the general public at Ted.com

Micocredit:
Small loans given to low-income entrepreneurs to spur development. Microfinance harness the power of small sums of money that are almost insignificant for one part of the globe, but that can be quite empowering elsewhere. Most famously pioneered by Nobel Lauriet, Muhammad Yunus.

Kiva:
A microfinace website that connects entrepreneurs all over the world with anyone willing to lend $25 at a time. Functions based on the principles of dignity, accountability and transparency. Lenders may withdraw their money once the sum is repaid, or can re-loan the amount to someone else.
                                                                                  Try it out here!




See also:
Guilt
White Savior Complex
Health Care Reform
Why I love the Church for All People