At my sister’s high school, the students have the opportunity of applying for a student exchange to Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The application process is obviously long and the competition tough.

When the teacher’s were informing the students about the program they also said, “Only take a form if your parents are willing to pay for the exchange.”

Obviously exchange programs involve a lot of money – getting passports and visas, travel costs, possibly accommodation costs, as well as pocket money.

These utterances, however, are the most blatantly exclusive that I have heard in a long time.

It is an honour to be chosen as an exchange student. It means that you have excelled at the interviewing process, that you are deemed a true and efficient ambassador for your country.

It is also an opportunity that many people will never have.

The statement by the teachers reflects that they lack understanding of exchange programs in the context of developing countries, such as our own.

It also reflects unwillingness to put in a little extra effort, if a poorer student is selected, to help with fundraising. A child given the opportunity to see a different part of the world will have no problem thinking of and implementing means in which to raise funds.

I am not poor, but I can certainly not afford a trip overseas. In fact, I am attending International RYLA in Montreal, Canada in June and I am busy raising funds for myself at this very moment.

It is time for the rich to cease trying to “buy” opportunities. In the 21^st century, we should know better than to exclude people from opportunities because they cannot afford it. All it means is that if the person cannot afford the opportunity, he/she must be willing to put in the effort of raising funds.

Valentine’s Day is around the corner.

Cynics will proclaim that “love sucks” and romantics will become googly-eyed at all things red, hearted or rosy.

Why do we love special days – Valentine’s, Thanksgiving, birthdays, Hanukkah, Christmas – so much? Is it because we get gifts on these days? The conscientious among us would want it to be because of togetherness and the meanings behind the respective days.

I think it is because we are made to feel special on these days. Be it because of gifts or hugs-and-kisses-all-around, special occasions become extra-special occasions when we know that we are loved and acknowledged.

I wonder if this is sometimes the greatest hurt in the lives of those living in poverty. Not relating to special days at all, and not saying that people in poverty are unable of finding contentment though.

I only fear  that when we drive or walk past beggars and turn our noses upwards, staring right through them (or averting our eyes), we are doing greater damage than malnutrition and poor sanitation ever will.

We can have a lengthy debate regarding whether we should or should not be held responsible for the emotional states of others – that is not really the point.

The point is that what we do, does affect those around us – including those whom we pretend do not exist.

I have felt unloved, unwanted and vulnerable in my life. It was not fun.

I cannot begin to imagine the devastation of being that both physically and psychologically.

A week ago, our world was shaken by the news of a country experiencing such terrible devastation that we can scarcely comprehend such loss of life and loss of hope.

There have been millions of reports regarding Haiti over the past few days, and thousands of businesses and individuals have offered their services, donations and other forms of aid. Water purifying tablets, food, medical supplies... you name it.

This post does not regard poverty per se – or perhaps it does; you choose.

This is my question: Do we reach deeper in our pockets for disaster-induced poverty than for those engulfed permanently in poverty?

Do not get me wrong; I think it is wonderful that people are giving so much of themselves to disaster victims. That is not the point. I also do not want anyone thinking that I don't want relief to be sent to Haiti. Now that would be inhumane.

The point is that Haitians were very poor to begin with. The poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, to be exact. The nation has an unemployment rate of 80% and more than half of Haitians live on less than a dollar per day. How many of us knew that? How many of us cared?

Haiti wasn’t an averagely poor country... it was one of the poorest of the poor.

How many of us reached into our pockets for Haitian charities before the earthquake?

I think what makes us care so much now is that we can actually see the devastation and understand the hopelessness of the huge loss of life.

I do also think it says something of our humanity that we are stirred into great deeds by tragedy.

My only request is this: that we look beyond the obvious.

Because if we truly consider the tragedy of poverty, the desolation and the pain; if we truly understand it... Then we will be stirred to do as much about poverty as we do for survivors of natural disasters.

Mao’s Last Dancer, the autobiography of and by Li Cunxin, acclaimed ballet dancer, was published in 2003 and has recently been released on film.

The book tells the story of how Li, born to peasants in rural China 1961, started life in poverty, won a scholarship for Madame Mao’s Dance Academy, and eventually became one of the most acclaimed dancers of the Twentieth Century.

The tale also involves the influence of communism on Li’s life – his experiences as a young, malleable boy who became passionate for his country and his leader, but also his harsh realization of the hypocrisy and propaganda that he and his fellow Chinese citizens were exposed to.

It is easy for us to hypothesise regarding the causes and solutions to poverty, but such musings does not get one passionate for the cause. It does not give us insight or understanding.

If you are one of those people who reads only one book a year, make this your book for 2009. Li tells his life story from the perspective of each life stage – and he does so with feeling, wit and compassion. It is written simply and honestly and holds no difficulty in reading.

Although the book is a marvellous read; it also does a great job of integrating different factors causing poverty and giving one an understanding of the intensity of poverty in China – what it was, and what it has become.

Definitely a must-read and, if you are able to see the movie, a must-see!

I often blog about the roots and solutions to poverty.

It does, however, take more than a blog (or a series thereof) to pin down the all-encompassing causes of the global poverty crisis facing us today.

For this reason I recommend watching a new documentary, The End of Poverty?

The film, directed by Philipe Diaz, investigates the very roots of poverty – from historical beginnings to reasons for its persistence today.

It is filmed in the slums of Latin America and the ghettos of Africa, and features knowledge and insights of acclaimed economists, professors, authors and ministers.

While certainly no Friday-night chick-flick, this documentary serves to enlighten; to inform in such a way that we cannot claim ignorance as excuse for our lack of action regarding the poverty of millions.

The film has been nominated for various awards and selected for a great many international film festivals, which leads me to believe that it is well worth watching.

As a matter of interest, the documentary’s website, www.theendofpoverty.com, offers a wealth of information beyond merely a synopsis and credits – but more about that in other posts.

Once again, geographic location prevents me from watching this film in the immediate future, but I welcome feedback from those who do watch it.