From what I can see, the "P" word is the impetus for a decent majority of the social projects in Nicaragua.
People come to Nicaragua from all over the world to fight it, to reduce it, to combat it, and some come to wipe out the "P" word altogether.
I'm talking about "P" as in Poverty.
We know that "poverty" sucks, but tell me . . . does anybody know exactly what it is?
A search in Google for "What is Poverty?" turns up over half a million results. Half a million! I can't even begin to imagine the resources of human capital dedicated over the years to defining the "P" word.
I used to spend time trying to figure it out. I figured that because the mission of BECA was "Combat Poverty with Education" then we better know what the heck it is.
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| BECA Students on a Dengue Prevention Campaign May 2010 |
I am the founder of a non-profit organization dedicated to combating the "P" word in Nicaragua, but I can't tell you what it is. Huh? What's up with that?
Well, let's turn this around a little bit. I think I can tell you what the "P" word isn't.
It isn't very positive.
It isn't very pretty.
It isn't very pleasant.
AND . . . it definitely isn't very uplifting.
That much most of us can agree on.
So, I ask you, what is it doing front and center in BECA's mission statement?
BECA is all about giving opportunites. It is about giving people a break that they deserve. It is about opening doors.
I'm really sick and tired of the "P" word. And I absolutely CRINGE when I hear BECA students use it. (Does anyone else hear a voice crying out "I live in poverty, help me"?)
Time for an executive decision. It's time for the "P" word to hit the road. That means that over time, all references to the "P" word on the BECA website and in BECA communications will be removed.
No better place to start than with that BECA mission statement.
" The BECA mission is to create an educational opportunity for every Nicaraguan high school grad who is serious about continuing their schooling."
R(not)IP, "P" word.
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