Fighting Poverty Through Education and Community Service

Poverty is a major problem all over the world as well as in our country and in our own state of Tennessee.  There are many different opinions on how to solve the problem of poverty but few, if any, have worked. When I was six years old, my family and I became actively involved with The Haitian Project, a non-profit organization working to establish schools across Haiti. At the time, participating in fundraisers or volunteering in anyway was just another opportunity to have fun. I didn’t even realize a commitment to helping others and a desire to serve was growing inside of me. As I grew older, a question began to haunt me. Why do we still see so much poverty in our own county when children in the U.S. have access to public schools?  Through the years, I came to understand one problem in our own country is similar to one of the problems in Haiti.  Most people from an impoverished community, whether in the U.S. or any country, who are fortunate enough to receive a good education will most likely leave the failing community for something better. By Fighting Poverty Through Education and Community Service, I want to bring awareness to help change this with 2 steps. The first step is to help children in impoverished communities get a good education and encourage them to stay in school. The second step is to teach the children we help, they too can give back and serve to make their communities better.

 According to the US Census Bureau, the national poverty rate is around 12.3% or 39.7 million Americans. The South makes up 8 of the poorest states with Tennessee ranking as the 12th state with the highest poverty level. Sadly, poverty is not something that can be fixed overnight; however, there is one key that can unlock the generational cycle of poverty within the United States and other countries – education. There is no doubt education and poverty are linked. Educational achievement even at the high school level reduces food insecurity, improves personal health, and provides economic opportunities. By Fighting Poverty Through Education and Community Service, I intend to help children improve academically and also instill in them that no matter what obstacles they may face today they can still grow to be leaders in their communities. It is important to me to help those children excel in school, and equally important to me to teach them how they can give back to their communities in hopes the children we reach will then strengthen their impoverished communities from within by staying and giving back.

Through my work to fight poverty, I have created a Firefly Network, which consists of friends of mine at different schools and churches in Tennessee. These people are not just my friends, but are also exceptional human beings who shine from the inside out just like a Firefly. These Fireflies help me tutor kids after school that need help with their homework, through organizations like Big Brother Big Sisters of the Mid-South and the Refugee Empowerment Program.  Starting this year, they will also help me collect discarded school supplies, backpacks and uniforms to give to children in Haiti through the Haitian Project as well as children in Memphis we work with.

Like education can cure poverty, fireflies offer light in the dark.  Our Firefly network shines a light of guidance to those who feel lost or hopeless because of the community they live in.  As we teach and give to those who need our help we also work with them to find their own strengths and passions.  I’ve seen it a million times, when someone is shown they have value and can give back by helping others they are filled with hope and sense of self worth.  I want children to understand even though they may need help in one area, they can still help others within their own family or community.  If we tutor someone in reading or math, it doesn’t mean they have to become a tutor.  They can volunteer to help their community or family in any way they can.  Maybe they teach their little sister to tie her shoe, braid her hair or dance.  The most important thing is they become educated leaders and stay in the community to continue to help it grow and improve until it thrives!

I have been blessed with a natural ability to connect with others and want to use what God has given me to illuminate from within in hopes my light will attract the attention of others who will share my passion and spread the message that everyone has value, everyone can give back, and education can cure poverty. When people learn to take what is given to them freely, and in turn freely give, it will change not only our local communities, but also the world!

Much Love,

Genevieve Geno