It is the responsibility of the individual to maintain their own living space and create it in the first place.

However it is the responsibility of the wider community to create shared spaces, for community interaction, collaboration and growth. And this is where international groups are best set to have involvement. The best example of this is the creation or improvement of platforms where industries operate.

Otherwise they contribute to the individual mindset that they can wait for the next handout, and by doing less they can end up with more. Where as community spaces will encourage the sense of working to build together.

What I have seen in the Philippines relates more to building villages, there is an idea that the people work together to form the village sensation, however at the end of the day each family ends up with it’s own house. In the best format they also get the chance to build a community space, however everything is derived from the donor.

The thing that drew me to check out SOPPEXCCA a coffee co operative in Nicaragua is that money has been given along the way, however it has not been used for individuals, but rather an industry that fuels the finances of the individuals.

This is a development style led by the consumer by directing resources at sustainable industries which empower whole regions to rise substantially out of poverty.

This approach looks at all stakeholders, from the producer, to the consumer, to the community and environment the industry operates in, as such it’s collective approach means a more rounded and sustainable development of the industry.

Whereas though focusing on the poor and giving someone the resources for a new house is a really nice thing, it doesn’t actually help them improve their lives on a day to day basis in general. There are however multiple exclusions, such as age and illness.

Please leave any thoughts or comments.