The fact that poverty is still plaguing the world is absolutely astonishing, particularly with all that is available to provide individuals with opportunities. Although we’re not quite there yet, technology is allowing us to take a step in the right direction when it comes to combatting the constraint of poverty. Despite the fact that technology itself can be quite expensive to begin with, it can help individuals reduce costs in the long run. So, how do poverty and technology link, and how can technology help us move forward in regard to the global poverty issue?
Technology Helps Charities
Currently, charities campaign and fundraise online more so than anywhere else. For instance, Islamic charities will collect Zakat using their online platforms, which is a new phenomenon when considering how far back the Muslim faith goes. As a result, this money can be distributed far and wide, meaning that technology has enabled charities to operate on a global scale. Before technology, charities didn’t have the means of reaching those outside of the local area with ease. Similarly, they weren’t able to raise awareness to wider audiences outside of the local vicinity, which is now considered the norm when it comes to charity.
Technology Enhances Value
A lot of poverty stems from professions that aren’t regarded to be valuable, meaning that individuals are unable to earn a decent salary. Despite this, technology is being introduced to more and more sectors of employment. As a result, the value of these services is being increased, meaning that earnings can also improve with this. For instance, working within the farming sector doesn’t always allow someone to earn a decent wage; however, technology is being used more readily to enhance the industry. Therefore, these farmers will be able to sell their crops for a higher price and will also be able to harvest more.
Technology Reduces Work Costs
Since technology is designed to enhance efficiency, it speeds up work processes. This saves time and, as the old saying goes, time is money. The lower cost of production means that the profit margin can be increased, which is a vital measure of eradicating poverty. Similarly, technology helps reduce the costs of ink and paper. Not only is this beneficial to the income of small business owners, but it also plays a role in saving the planet.
Technology Creates Opportunities
Once upon a time, you had to be in the same room as someone to do business with them, but those days are gone. The internet allows us to interact with anyone and everyone, enabling us to expand our services far and wide. Similarly, the internet allows one to pursue educational endeavors that otherwise wouldn’t be available to them. Education is one of the most effective measures that one can use to break the vicious cycle of poverty, as a quality education leads to better employment opportunities. Sadly, education isn’t available to everyone around the globe, with those in the most impoverished conditions having to sacrifice this.
Technology Allows for Equal Access to Information
As far as the internet is concerned, we’re able to discover the answers to almost anything. Previously, books were the only means of obtaining information and these books were extremely expensive. As a result, only the wealthy had access to information. Technology is now a universal feature of our society and it’s something that very few individuals won’t have access to. Therefore, regardless of wealth, the majority of individuals are able to access information readily and efficiently. When provided with accurate information, this helps individuals in their struggle against poverty which is currently a widespread issue.