What Can I Do to Help End Poverty?

We’re all aware of the struggles that people are facing across the globe, but what can we do to stop poverty in the world? There are so many small changes that we can all be making to help alleviate poverty. Though the solutions to poverty aren’t always clear-cut, there are so many simple ways to prevent poverty. The smallest behavioural changes and financial contributions make all the difference to someone in need. Here’s how to lessen poverty. 

Break The Guilt Cycle

The first step to ending poverty is breaking the guilt cycle. We’re all aware of the state of poverty in the world and hear about it almost every day. Despite this, many of us cease to do anything about it. Whether we see people begging in the street and decide to disregard them or ignore various charitable campaigns, the point is that people in need are being snubbed on a daily basis. 

In order to make a difference, we shouldn’t feel quiet guilt, we should instead take accountability. Even if you give some food to someone begging or donate the smallest amount of change to an organisation, you can say that you did something. If everyone took small steps such as these, we could make giant leaps as a community.

Spare Some Change

We all seem to manage to save up our change to treat ourselves to something nice, but what about using that change to do something nice for someone who really needs it? Giving someone in need a pound or two may not seem like a lot, but if everyone did this, they’d be able to collect a considerable amount of money. 

Additionally, it only takes a matter of pence to clothe or feed one person each day. Many of us are even privileged enough to see loose change as an inconvenience, but someone in poverty finds great value in the smallest amounts. Give your change to someone who will truly appreciate it to help eradicate poverty. 

Sponsor a Child

Using the Muslim Aid website, you can sponsor a child for £420 per year. This equates to as little as £35 a month which could make a life-changing difference to a child in need. In order to reach their full potential, children need to be given the right support, including suitable education and a protected environment. Measures such as these ensure that children’s aspirations aren’t limited by poverty, providing them with proper healthcare, early learning opportunities, skills training, financial support, and generational growth. 

Childhood is supposed to be a time of freedom and fun; however, this isn’t the case for millions of children across the globe. Instead, they are tormented by poverty, hunger, and homelessness. You can help innocent children fight against these struggles through sponsorship. 

Contribute to Our Zakat or Sadaqah Appeals

Here at Muslim Aid, we can use your Zakat donations to alleviate poverty, strengthen healthcare, quench thirst, and relieve hunger. We promise to provide shelter to displaced people, deliver life-saving operations and emergency medical aid to those who need it, give access to sanitation and water to those in the midst of famine and drought, and help children and widows living in extreme poverty. Your Zakat isn’t solely about fulfilling your obligation; you should also ensure that it reaches its full potential to provide aid to someone in need. 

Despite this, it’s also vital that we voluntarily assist someone in need through Sadaqah donations. Acts of kindness such as these can completely transform the lives of those who are struggling. Like Zakat donations, we put your Sadaqah donations towards our established aid chain to help alleviate the struggles faced by those living in poverty. 

Clean Out Your Pantry

We’re all guilty of hoarding tins of food and other non-perishable goods. It’s a privilege to be able to forget about food, as this is all a hungry individual can think about. Your forgotten food could be what stops someone from going hungry. 

You’ll be able to find a local food bank with a little bit of research, so box up your non-perishables and donate them. Hunger in the UK is much more common than you’d believe and is worsening with the rising cost of living. Everyone deserves to be nourished and there is more than enough food in the world to make this happen. Clean out your pantry and feed the hungry. 

Clean Out Your Wardrobe

Another thing that we all find ourselves doing is refusing to get rid of clothes that we clearly never wear. However, some people have to make do with only one of each clothing item. Not only is this unhygienic, but it’s also painfully uncomfortable. Whether you donate locally or send your spare clothing overseas, there’s someone out there who desperately needs the clothes that you don’t wear. 

In some countries, bras are a sign of wealth, meaning that women and girls who wear bras aren’t as susceptible to abuse. Consider shipping your bras to foundations that tackle this issue so that women are provided with a layer of protection. 

Buy Fair Trade Products

By purchasing fair trade products, you support a sustainable trade system that ensures workers are paid fairly. Consequently, poor communities are able to sustainably develop and are provided with the opportunity to tackle generational poverty without relying on aid organisations. 

Donate to Muslim Aid

Here at Muslim Aid, we’re extremely conscious about taking the correct steps to help end poverty. In order to help us with our mission, please donate today.