Author: Robert L. Black
Article:
POVERTY ON ROATAN, HONDURASMany of you, reading this, are going to learn things about poverty in third world countries that you did not know. Many of you are going to have to change your thinking about just what poverty means in a third-world country. I know I did! I had to change one of my main conclusions. Perhaps what might even be considered a stereotype. Fortunately, the focus of Spartanburg Angels has been on track even though my thinking might not have been!
The intent of this article is to give you an eye-level glimpse of poverty on the island of Roatan, Honduras. It is not a scholarly article and makes use of several assumptions which are not verified. But it is written from the prospective of someone who has seen conditions there, amongst the indigenous peoples, in one of the poorer areas of Roatan. Please bear with me through the following dull statistics. They will reinforce just what poverty is. We, here in the United States, do not even have a glimmer of an idea what poverty is! They set the stage for understanding.
A comparison will be made with the United States in order to put the level of poverty is greater perspective. More can be learned about Roatan and our mission from our website at:
www.spartanburgangels.com . Anyone with comments may contact me
at: www.achristianplace@charter.net .
Median income data for the United States was taken from Census Bureau information for the years between 2004 and 2006 and applicable to the state of South Carolina, USA. The data taken as applicable to the indigenous families of Roatan, Honduras is from personal contact and other information available on the internet.
In June, 2006 we (Spartanburg Angels mission team) spent one week doing a Vacation Bible School program in one of the local schools. This school was a 'state' (Government supported) school in what is generally considered to be one of the poorer areas of Roatan.
The comparisons are made based on the following: It was previously reported that the 'average' indigenous family in this area lived on $180 (US) per month. While that would be hard to verify, it is supported by the fact that a reasonable income for a worker there might be $10.00 (US) per day. Given 52 weeks in a year and someone working 5 days per week would yield $216.76 per month.
The poverty level for a family of 4 in South Carolina, USA is $18,850 / year or $1,571 / month. That is 7.25 times as much in US dollars as the average family in Roatan in this community.
What is most striking is the comparison of what the family gets for their level of income. In the United States the poverty level income assures the family of all the pure water they need for drinking, cooking and bathing at anytime they need it. They also have electricity for lighting and cooking and heating (Perhaps gas for cooking and heating), clothing and an ample amount of nutritious food and access to medical care beyond their means to pay for it. All this includes a roof over their head and a refrigerator to keep food cool and safe to eat. They may or may not have additional amenities such as TV, air conditioning, automobiles.
In the community we observed they get running water for 2 hours each 8 days. Calling it 'pure' water is problematical and quite frankly, probably not safe for US citizens to drink. The average family does not have electricity, or if they do it only for the barest necessities such as lighting at night (Electrical usage rates are approximately three times our rate). They have no refrigeration and needless to say; air conditioning is all but unheard of. Indoor plumbing and sanitation procedures would horrify our sensibilities. The best medical care they might receive is at a clinic that charges the token rate of $20 Lempira (Honduran currency) which is equivalent to approximately
$1.08 (US). Using that same rate to apply to a doctor visit here in the US would be $9.43. Do you know where you can go to a doctor for that amount?
Additionally, in order to go to school, the children must supply their own uniform (required) and also their own school supplies.
More children do not attend school than do attend school. The 'state' schools go through the 6th. grade but the average child quits school in the fourth grade in order to earn money for the family.
This is where my uninformed conclusion collided with the reality of their situation! We found them happy and I thought it was because this is all they know and because they had no hopes of attaining more. No dreams or route to realistically fulfill their dreams if they had them. This is where my thinking was so terribly wrong. Actually, it is because they have a much simpler life than we do. When told this I had to think back to the 40's and 50's to put it into perspective. A time when kick-the-can, Oly, oly, in free, Simon says and such were free and fun pass-times. When sitting on a neighbors porch and just talking was a wonderful experience.
That is their life. Those in third-world countries. There they don't have to depend on $50.00 to go out at night; to a movie or dining to be happy. They don't have to obsess about keeping up with the neighbors because every one is poor. Well, not everyone. One of their neighbors might be a millionaire, but they just ignore them or better yet; make fun of the 'gringo's'
obsessive need to have everything the way it was at home (US or where ever they are from.). Their enjoyment comes from an impromptu soccer game or even sharing in an impromptu get together thrown by someone who had some unexpected money come in. These are the same entertainment sources your parents had and those I remember.
And as for dreams; it is difficult to have dreams when two out of every ten children never see their eighteenth birthday. This is not because they are dying from complex problems, but simple ones! That is where the focus of Spartanburg Angels was right on track despite my former incorrect conclusions. In the United States $100 buys little if anything. There, a hundred dollars can buy A.I.D.S. tests for the whole family, transportation for treatment at Familias Saludables (The A.I.D.S. education and treatment clinic.) if they are positive, family health and dental visits for a couple of months at Clinica Esperanza (A local health clinic.). There, that same $100 can improve education and health care. It can save a babies life by providing powdered baby formula for Familias Saludables (The A.I.D.S. education and treatment clinic.)
We have (Here in the US.) all led the privileged life and it is difficult to make a profound change in someone's life. There it is easy to do without a lot of time or money! Just a little money in the right place saves lives and educates a child . Will you help?
About the author:
Robert Black has an "Associate Degree" in business management and extensive experience in retail. He is also the president and founder of Spartanburg Angels (
www.spartanburgangels.com , which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational and medical aid to the indigenous children of Roatan, Honduras.
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