When it comes to parenting, I believe that my children learn to empower themselves through my encouragement, support and trust in them. Give them a safe, strong foundation, and from there they grow. Listen to what their needs are, give them choices, allow them opportunities to realize their talents and be fair when it comes to discipline. The final most important aspect of parenting, I believe, is to show my children respect.
I don't think this approach is limited to parenting. Throughout recent history, there has been much ado about globalization and the disenfranchisement of indigenous people living in developing countries. Negative press and conflicting opinions about this demise and how to go about finding solutions, have left me frustrated about the approach our government and the global community has taken toward solving world poverty.
If we applied some of the basic empowerment principles mentioned earlier, we would move toward a better world for everyone.
Recently, I met with an old friend for lunch, and she shared with me how the concept of empowerment is working in developing countries like Costa Rica. She's learned this lesson first hand.
My friend Barb has worked for Nordstrom nearly 30 years. She lives in a beautiful home in Magnolia, sends her daughter to private school and has enjoyed vacations in such tropical destinations as Hawaii and Mexico.
This year, however, Barb decided to take a sabbatical from her job to travel to Costa Rica-not as a tourist, but as a volunteer.
To most United States citizens, Costa Rica sounds like a wonderful vacation destination. In fact, the Lonely Planet Travel Guide describes Costa Rica as "Central America's Jewel ... An oasis of calm, beaches galore and a climate built for laziness."
Unfortunately, there is another side of Costa Rica the Internet sites don't talk about: the fact that 20 percent of the local population lives in extreme poverty; the average income earner for a Costa Rican is less than $200 a month; many Costa Rican's cannot afford to meet their own basic needs. Not uncommon are dwellings made from gasoline tins, old automobile tires and corrugated tin.
Cross Cultural Solutions is one of a growing number of programs throughout the global arena geared toward recruiting volunteers to work in countries such as Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, Tanzania and China. Volunteers work with the local community and grass roots organizations to promote sustainable community initiatives.
When Barb joined the volunteer force for Cross Cultural Solutions, her mission was to work for a program initiated by the Costa Rican government: a paid program employing local caregivers to watch over young children while their mothers go out and work. Before Barb got there, the ratio was 15 children under the age of 5 to every adult caregiver-everyday.
"The caregiver has no time to play or teach the children because her time is spent taking care of their basic needs," Barb said. "The government provides food for the caregiver to prepare; for some of the kids this is the only meal they receive during the day," said Barb.
"My job as a volunteer was to teach the children numbers, letters and organize art projects. These kids do not have any pre-school opportunities to prepare them for school. The children did not even have any toys. I bought them some Legos, crayons and a ball-they were thrilled."
Each volunteer offers a unique set of skills to the people living in the country where the volunteer works. There are programs for education, farming expertise and whatever else the local people feel is essential to sustainable living.
"It is not about giving donations or loans for quick relief," said Irving Perez, program director for Cross Cultural Solutions in San Carlos, Costa Rico. "We do not impose anything; we work with the people to help them develop skills they have an interest in and can be good at.
"The idea is to find solutions," Perez added. "We want the answers to come from within-locals are the experts."
For further information about Cross Cultural Solutions, visit the Web site at www.crossculturalsolutions.org.
Laura Cruikshank is a retail advertising representative for Pacific Publishing Company Inc. She can be reached at mageditor@nwlink.com.[[In-content Ad]]
