WHY DO YOU GIVE? | Picture This Festival 2018 | USA Finalist

SPT Picture This

18 Jul 201805:06

Summary

TLDRThis video recounts a life-changing experience in Haiti, where extreme poverty and lack of clean water inspired a long-term commitment to bring sustainable solutions. The speakers describe witnessing the hardships of children too sick to attend school and how they decided to take action. Through providing clean water, building latrines, and offering hygiene education, they empower local communities to maintain their health and break the cycle of poverty. Their approach emphasizes community involvement, long-term partnership, and a commitment to making a lasting impact in regions that need it the most.

Takeaways

🌍 Experiencing extreme poverty in Haiti is a transformative experience.
❓ The question 'What are you going to do about it?' challenges individuals to take responsibility.
🇺🇸 Reflecting on the privilege of being born in a more affluent country.
💧 Recognizing that water-related issues are at the core of many health problems in impoverished areas.
🏫 Providing clean water enables children to attend school and mothers to contribute to their families' economic efforts.
🔄 The importance of long-term partnerships and commitments in addressing these issues.
👷‍♂️ Boots-on-the-ground organizations with local staff are essential for sustainable change.
📊 Community involvement, including small contributions, helps ensure the success of projects.
🔧 Expanding from water filters to broader initiatives like building latrines and rainwater harvesting systems.
🌟 Empowering local communities with tools and education leads to life-saving impacts and sustained progress.

Q & A

What impact did the visit to the poorest neighborhood in the hemisphere have on the speaker?
-The visit deeply affected the speaker, making them realize the stark differences in opportunities and the privilege of being born in a wealthier country like the United States.
What was the significant question posed by the director in Haiti that affected the speaker?
-The director asked, 'What are you guys gonna do about it?' This question made the speaker realize they had a responsibility to help and take action.
How did witnessing the conditions in Haiti influence the speaker's actions afterward?
-The speaker became motivated to help, particularly focusing on addressing the root cause of many issues they observed, such as water scarcity, by supporting families in the villages they visited.
Why does the speaker believe that their involvement is important in breaking the cycle of poverty?
-The speaker believes that by providing access to clean water and improving health, they are enabling children to attend school and mothers to participate in the economic effort, which can help break the cycle of poverty.
What does the speaker find most valuable about their ongoing commitment to the cause?
-The speaker values the long-term partnerships and the fact that their organization is committed to making a real, sustained impact in the regions they serve, rather than just offering one-off projects.
How does the organization ensure the sustainability of their projects in the communities they serve?
-The organization trains local people to maintain the projects, like water filters, and ensures community buy-in by having them contribute a small portion of the costs. They also provide ongoing education and training.
What additional projects has the organization expanded into beyond installing filters?
-The organization has expanded into building latrines, creating rainwater harvesting systems, and educating communities on health and hygiene.
How does the speaker describe the difference between simply donating money and their approach to making a difference?
-The speaker emphasizes that their work is an investment in the community's future rather than just a gift. They focus on empowering local people with the tools and knowledge to sustain improvements.
What motivates the speaker to continue their work despite the challenges?
-The speaker is recharged and motivated by reflecting on their trips and seeing the positive impact their work has on the communities. They are driven by a sense of greater purpose.
How does volunteering with the organization impact volunteers according to the speaker?
-Volunteering helps people understand the critical importance of water in the communities and the significance of the work being done, which can be deeply fulfilling and motivating.

Outlines

00:00

🚚 Encounter with Poverty and a Call to Action

The narrator recounts a transformative experience traveling through a poor neighborhood in Haiti, where they were confronted with the stark reality of poverty and the health issues it causes, particularly among children. The director's question about what they plan to do about the situation prompts a deep reflection on privilege and responsibility. The narrator expresses a commitment to make a difference, focusing on providing clean water as a means to break the cycle of poverty and improve health, allowing children to attend school and families to participate in the economy.

💧 The Power of Long-Term Partnership and Community Involvement

The script highlights the importance of establishing long-term partnerships over one-off projects in underprivileged regions. The narrator emphasizes the organization's boots-on-the-ground approach, with local staff implementing and following up on projects. The organization, 'Peer Wire for the World', trains community members to ensure the sustainability of water filters and promotes community buy-in by having locals contribute to the cost of the filters. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and pride among the community members.

🏡 Expanding Impact through Infrastructure and Education

The organization has evolved from merely installing water filters to designing and building latrines and teaching communities about rainwater harvesting systems. They also focus on educating 'water boys' and training teachers to integrate health and hygiene education into the curriculum. This comprehensive approach not only addresses immediate needs but also empowers community members to sustain these improvements and implement life-saving programs.

🌟 The Inspirational Impact of Community Empowerment

The narrator is deeply moved by witnessing the effectiveness of community members once they are equipped with the tools and knowledge to implement life-saving programs. The script conveys that the work is not just about donations but about making an investment in the community's future. The narrator encourages volunteers to share their experiences and the importance of their work, emphasizing that the impact of their efforts is profound and enduring.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Poverty

Poverty is a central theme in the video, depicted as 'elbow-to-elbow' in certain neighborhoods in Haiti. It represents the extreme economic deprivation faced by people in these areas. The script describes the stark contrast between the speaker's privileged life and the dire conditions in Haiti, emphasizing the urgency of addressing such inequality.

💡Haiti

Haiti is highlighted as the setting where the speaker witnesses extreme poverty. It serves as a case study of the broader issues of global inequality and the need for humanitarian intervention. The director’s challenge to the speaker, 'What are you gonna do about it?' underscores the responsibility to act and support those in need.

💡Water

Water is identified as a fundamental issue contributing to the poverty and sickness in the communities visited. The lack of clean water leads to illnesses that prevent children from attending school and women from contributing economically. The video stresses the importance of clean water initiatives in breaking the cycle of poverty.

💡Long-term partnership

The concept of a 'long-term partnership' is essential to the approach discussed in the video. Rather than providing one-time aid, the speaker emphasizes the value of ongoing support and collaboration with local communities to create sustainable change. This partnership is crucial for the success and longevity of the projects.

💡Community involvement

Community involvement is portrayed as a critical factor in the success of the humanitarian projects. The video highlights how local people are trained to maintain and implement programs, ensuring that the projects are effective and sustainable. The community’s contribution, even in small ways like paying a portion of the filter costs, fosters a sense of ownership and commitment.

💡Education

Education is mentioned as a transformative tool for communities. The video discusses how providing clean water allows children to attend school and mothers to join the workforce, thus improving the economic prospects of the entire community. It also talks about training teachers to integrate health and hygiene education into the curriculum, which is essential for long-term health improvements.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability is a key principle in the projects described. The video emphasizes that the goal is not just to provide temporary relief, but to create lasting change by teaching communities to build and maintain their own infrastructure, such as latrines and rainwater harvesting systems. This ensures that the benefits of the projects continue long after the initial aid is provided.

💡Health and hygiene

Health and hygiene are crucial aspects of the projects discussed in the video. The lack of these in impoverished communities leads to widespread illness, which in turn affects education and economic stability. The projects aim to educate communities on health and hygiene practices to prevent diseases and improve overall well-being.

💡Boots on the ground

'Boots on the ground' refers to the hands-on, local involvement of the organization in the communities they serve. The video contrasts this with more detached forms of aid, emphasizing that having local staff who are part of the community ensures that the aid is more effective and relevant to the community’s actual needs.

💡Investment

The video frames humanitarian efforts not just as charity, but as an 'investment' in the future of these communities. This perspective highlights the belief that supporting these communities will yield long-term benefits, not only for the recipients but also for the broader world, as it contributes to global stability and prosperity.

Highlights

Witnessing the poorest neighborhood in the Hemisphere had a profound impact on the individuals, prompting them to consider their role and responsibility.

The director's question about what they would do about the poverty in Haiti challenged their preconceived notions and inspired action.

The stark reality of children too sick to attend school due to lack of clean water was a call to action for these individuals.

Upon returning from Haiti, the group committed to helping entire villages by providing clean water solutions.

The initiative aims to break the cycle of poverty by enabling children to attend school and mothers to contribute economically.

The organization emphasizes long-term partnerships rather than one-off projects, reflecting a deep commitment to the regions they serve.

Being a boots-on-the-ground organization, they ensure that the work is done by local staff, fostering a sense of ownership and community involvement.

The organization trains people within the communities to ensure the ongoing use and maintenance of water filters.

Community buy-in is achieved by having locals contribute a small portion of the filter costs, promoting a sense of investment in their own well-being.

The organization has evolved from installing filters to designing latrines and teaching communities about rainwater harvesting systems.

Education is a key component, with programs training teachers to integrate health and hygiene into their curriculum.

The effectiveness of community members in implementing life-saving programs is a source of inspiration and impact.

The work is not seen as a gift but an investment, with the aim of creating sustainable change in the communities served.

Volunteers are encouraged to continue their involvement and share their experiences after returning home.

The narrative emphasizes the importance of understanding the significance of water for the communities and the impact of the volunteers' work.

The organization's approach is about more than just providing services; it's about training and education for long-term sustainability.

The transcript conveys a sense of purpose and the transformative power of engaging with and supporting these communities.