Two words that are usually never muttered within the same breath. Two small words that describe the great divide of globalisation since records began. But in this update I am not talking about financial wealth, although that may crop up in sections.
But more about the wealth of knowledge and information that survives in communities that face the real struggles in life, those communities that live hand to mouth each day, not due to any fault of their own, but by being left behind by an institution focused on the lining of their pockets and global greed has come to a point where this is no longer hidden, but accepted.
I live in a community in the North of England and my community is built up of many cultures, some live in houses 200 year old, some live in terraces and some live in modern lego style properties that are advertised as affordable and great for first time owners. I work within my community and being unpaid it opens the senses to experience first hand on the difficulties to get the right information from the local authorities and national organisations. But one thing I find of great value is the knowledge of my fellow Thornabians. Knowledge of every system out there that is working against us as a community, some focus on the local burning issues, some talk about the wider picture and "the establishment" also known as the government. But hidden within the stories and the minds of fellow man/women is a wealth of knowledge and information that could rival the world wide web.
In my community are people who know the complete ins and outs of the systems working against us, welfare and benefits is a topic of great discussion, living in an area where 37% of the population lives in poverty after housing costs, its not hard to see why. But there is also members of my community who know and work hard for the rights of families who are parent/carers living on the edge to provide for children who have disabilities and a range of other issues, that have been left behind due to the lack of investment by successive governments, due to the lack of knowledge of those decision makers who sit in London in their ivory towers.
If you take any community that faces the issue of poverty and sit them around a table, you will discover that the knowledge base and the information to guide people is there by the bucket loads. The Wealth that is often overlooked by our media who are guided by financial storytelling and misery making is open to see. In my opinion, give these communities a platform and see what can happen when communities and knowledge become a movement. Knowledge is power and as we know, power changes the balance of life.
By gathering together people with a wealth of knowledge on issues, pathways can be built to try and lift communities out of poverty. It isn't an overnight fix, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but surround yourself with people who care about their community and the benefits of that wealth will shine through.
But more about the wealth of knowledge and information that survives in communities that face the real struggles in life, those communities that live hand to mouth each day, not due to any fault of their own, but by being left behind by an institution focused on the lining of their pockets and global greed has come to a point where this is no longer hidden, but accepted.
I live in a community in the North of England and my community is built up of many cultures, some live in houses 200 year old, some live in terraces and some live in modern lego style properties that are advertised as affordable and great for first time owners. I work within my community and being unpaid it opens the senses to experience first hand on the difficulties to get the right information from the local authorities and national organisations. But one thing I find of great value is the knowledge of my fellow Thornabians. Knowledge of every system out there that is working against us as a community, some focus on the local burning issues, some talk about the wider picture and "the establishment" also known as the government. But hidden within the stories and the minds of fellow man/women is a wealth of knowledge and information that could rival the world wide web.
In my community are people who know the complete ins and outs of the systems working against us, welfare and benefits is a topic of great discussion, living in an area where 37% of the population lives in poverty after housing costs, its not hard to see why. But there is also members of my community who know and work hard for the rights of families who are parent/carers living on the edge to provide for children who have disabilities and a range of other issues, that have been left behind due to the lack of investment by successive governments, due to the lack of knowledge of those decision makers who sit in London in their ivory towers.
If you take any community that faces the issue of poverty and sit them around a table, you will discover that the knowledge base and the information to guide people is there by the bucket loads. The Wealth that is often overlooked by our media who are guided by financial storytelling and misery making is open to see. In my opinion, give these communities a platform and see what can happen when communities and knowledge become a movement. Knowledge is power and as we know, power changes the balance of life.
By gathering together people with a wealth of knowledge on issues, pathways can be built to try and lift communities out of poverty. It isn't an overnight fix, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but surround yourself with people who care about their community and the benefits of that wealth will shine through.
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