Global Poverty Monitor

When we got to the Holiday Inn Maputo, the change was obvious as soon as we entered the driveway. We were back to having porters carrying our bags, and everyone being extremely friendly and helpful, unlike most of the staff at the airport. This is where the rich tourists come, including ourselves, and so this is where there is money to be made.

A few of the girls remarked that they felt guilty staying here after what we had seen on the drive, and that it felt wrong. Everyone agreed, including myself, but I wonder how we really would go staying in the slums. Especially since our driver told us that what we had seen were not the real slums, just some of the poorer areas. We all like to think that we could, or that we should want to if we are to work with World Vision. Do we have to give up material possessions in order to truly understand poverty? I really don’t know. Sometimes I think that I can’t help anyone unless I have the ability to do so, meaning that I can support myself comfortably and have money to spare. But then I wonder just how noble it really is to give only what we can spare, after first satisfying our own needs and wants and of course leaving some extra ‘just in case’. Does anyone really give only to deprive themselves at the same time? During the big Tsunami Telethon, every time I heard a large donation by a company, I always thought that the amount they donated reflected the excess money that they made. Of course it was great that they donated the money, they certainly didn’t have to and it is for a most deserving cause, but I never considered that the companies might give to the appeal and in doing so, leave themselves short.