How To End Poverty (Task 2 Writing) (Listening)

One issue that is closely connected with globalization in the modern world is the issue of poverty. This blog has previously drawn attention to the issues raised by this Task 2 Writing question:

Although developing countries receive a great deal of financial aid from elsewhere in the world, they continue to have issues with poverty. Do you think that developed countries should give more help or a different kind of help? Or do you think that developing countries must find their own solutions to poverty?

To properly address this question, we need to examine several issues.

First of all, why do developed countries give financial aid to poor countries and why hasn't this aid led to significant reductions in poverty?

Secondly, what kind of help should rich countries give to poor countries instead of money?

Finally, how can poor people living in developing nations find their own solutions to poverty? Should rich countries simply ignore the problems of poverty overseas?

Many of these questions are answered in the following 20 minute talk. It gives information about a program that was used to help individuals donate money to poor families in Kenya, and the results of this program. Look up the following vocabulary words and read the questions for key words. Then, listen to the talk and answer the questions below.


Reluctant       Labourer       Misuse       Drunkard       

Dowry       Thatched Roof      Eligible     Heifer

Exotic       Macroeconomics    Charity      Anecdote

Geeks         Evidence       Intervention   From Scratch (idiom)

Click Here To Listen

1. Why were aid organisations reluctant to give cash to poor people? (Several reasons are given.) 

2. Why were people initially unwilling to accept cash?

3. What are some challenges related to giving money to poor people? How did mobile phones help to alleviate some of these problems?

4. What is the meaning of the quote, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."

5. When people were given $1000, what did they generally buy with the money?

6. Did most people use the money well or waste it?

7. What were some of the disadvantages experienced by people who received money? What about the people who did not receive money?

8. How does "Give Directly" decide who they give money to?

9. Compare the methods used by "Give Directly" to those used by "Heifer International."

10. Which giving method do you think is better, based on the information in this programme?

If you're interested in learning more about Heifer International, Click Here:

Heifer International Website