Economic Empowerment

The idea of “uplifting” the poor can be approached with any number of different strategies. The Dasra philosophy is one of sustainable development, devising solutions to social problems that can be replicated and improved by the people dealing directly with those problems. In many cases, this means economic empowerment—that is, if you encourage wage-earning activities and protect the rights of workers to defend and improve their livelihoods, many of the social problems associated with poverty will disappear. Economic empowerment addresses myriad problems all over India and the rest of the developing world. In major cities, it can be the solution to feeding the hungry and keeping child beggars in school, off the streets and out of the hands of predatory human traffickers. In rural areas, it can help prevent female infanticide and get villagers involved with local politics. Among women, economic empowerment is particularly important, as it can help level the socio-cultural playing field in many societies, and in general, communities with empowered women tend to be healthier communities.

Dasra works with many partners worldwide that share the same vision. Together, we are working on projects that will improve the lives of thousands of Asia’s poor, in the hope that “teaching them to fish” will feed them for years and lifetimes to come.

“Give a man a fish and he will live a day…Teach a man to fish and he will live a lifetime.”