Lakshmi is eighteen. She’ s still at school. Another year, then she wants to go to university – if possible at Coimbatore, a four hours trip from here. When I meet her the first time in Villoni, a very small and remote village in the surroundings of Valparai in the West Ghat mountains, a very…
Tag: poverty
To end poverty micro-loans are never enough
Micro-loans – the bestseller among development tools is under fire “Microfinance, not a quick escape from poverty, studies show” – When I came across this article published recently in various media talking about the limited effect of micro-loans, I got angry – and at the same time I was more than surprised that we really need…
Back from India – issues with ‘development’
Coming back to my home town in Germany after seven weeks in India was not really characterized by a “big shock”. Although many friends have asked exactly that question during the last days: “Isn’t it a big difference and somehow strange to come back to a completely different, developed and modern world?” It is cold,…
7 weeks in India – Bangalore: two worlds, no bridge
I can’t get used to it: extreme poverty and awealthy up to rich middle class staying together as if they were friends. Strange friends: one of them has got everything and the other not even the basics for a human living. You may find this contrast everywhere in India. But due to the incredible economic…
7weeks in India – Rich people get incentives, poor just subsidiaries
One of the best speeches I ever heard has been given by an Indian journalist, P. Sainath. Did you know that actually every day more than five farmers commit suicide in India … means more than 200.000 people farmers in the last 10 years? That at the same time when the Tsunami hit the coasts…
Luxury and social change in Zermatt – dare to care
Zermatt, Switzerland. Sounds luxurious. Somehow a destination for a few people at the top of the pyramid. Impressive mountains that seem to be accessible just for a few people – too far away for all those living in poverty. But in these days Zermatt is also the location of changemakers, of people who want to…
Real change needs many bricks
Do you have identified very clearly a social need in our society? Do you have created a solution for a particular problem? Maybe a first result or even success is visible. You could convince some investors and help some people. Maybe you have been working on it for several years already and an entire group…
Go to a town store without reading skills – just imagine…
Just imagine you cannot read and you are poor. You live in rural areas. You need to go into a store in the next town. A real store, not like the small rural seller location where if you go late you just find two or three remaining items and the cans and small containers with…
Video of the month – Dignity for all
Education is the key for a better health and a better life. That’s what really brings change in a sustainable way. One impressive example on how this can be set up, is demonstrated by Molly Melchior. Molly Melching is founder and executive director of Tostan, an organization that seeks to achieve sustainable development and social…
Go India, go future! 