OBJECTIVES:
Recognize, through the lens of a documentary in Guatemala, how poverty is experienced in daily life of those living in LICs
Evaluate the effectiveness of microfinance as a grassroots approach to empowering people living in material poverty
INSTRUCTIONS:
Schedule a time with other course learners to watch Living on One Dollar. The movie may be accessible through Amazon Prime or Netflix; if not, a DVD copy or stipend for one digital purchase per course is available. Take notes during the movie, including questions you have. Use the questions below as a guide. At the end of the movie, take a few minutes to reflect on the film individually and in discussion with others present. TCH/UC Residents, please take notes and be ready to discuss your observations, concerns, and questions (You do not need to submit a 1-page reflection since a discussion is scheduled). UC COM Students, please complete a 1-page reflection on the movie, comprised of answers to the questions below, and email it to the course director.
Consider the following questions:
What did you find interesting, surprising, or concerning?
How did you feel about the four students’ project in Peña Blanca?
How did this project inform you about material poverty?
How did the video make you feel about the Guatemalan people, village life, or material poverty in general?
What do you think are more or less effective approaches to addressing such material poverty, such as microfinance?
Why is it helpful to think of poverty in terms broader than just material? How can materially poor people help us in our own areas of non-material poverty, such as relational or spiritual?
This module should take around 2 hours to complete.
MODULE EXTRAS:
“Microfinance: Credit where it’s due” (The Economist, 8/15/2020) - Brief overview of the world state of microfinance and its importance
“Cambodians are binging on loans from Microfinance firms” (The Economist, 8/15/2020) - Brief ground-level example of the regulation and dangers of microfinance