LEVELLING UP FROM CHARITY DOLE-OUTS TO LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS

LEVELLING UP FROM CHARITY DOLE-OUTS TO LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS

What is the difference between charity dole-outs and livelihood programs? There are many ways to differentiate between the two, but for now, allow me to share with you my own ideas about it.

Charity dole-outs are good, especially if these are given purely in the name of caring for other people and sharing resources with them without expecting anything back. That’s why in my book, giving dole-outs for political reasons is not really charity. The so-called giver—usually a politician—is expecting something in return: votes when election comes.

Worse, most political dole-outs are not even funded by the politician’s own resources. The money or goods being distributed come from the people’s taxes. In other words, there is no sacrifice involved because the supposed giver does not actually lose anything. That is why I do not call that charity at all.

At best, charity dole-outs only alleviate poverty. They ease the suffering of people, but they do not liberate them from the cycle of poverty. Poverty alleviation is temporary; poverty reduction is transformational. The more desirable outcome is poverty reduction—and this is where livelihood programs come in.

Take for instance the inspiring story of Marcel LeBrun, a Canadian entrepreneur who sold his company for hundreds of millions of dollars. Instead of buying a yacht or mansion, he invested in building a community for the homeless in Fredericton, New Brunswick. His project, called 12 Neighbours, is not about handouts. It is about giving people dignity and a foundation to rebuild their lives.

LeBrun didn’t just build 99 tiny homes, he built opportunities. Each house is solar-powered and complete with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom—plus a porch for community living. At the center of the project is a business hub offering job training, education, and real pathways to independence. The goal was not simply to shelter people but to empower them.

That’s the difference between a dole-out and a livelihood program. The former hands out food or cash for survival. The latter invests in people’s ability to earn, to sustain themselves, and to participate fully in society. One is relief; the other is empowerment.

Here in the Philippines, the challenge is that many politicians still equate generosity with handing out bags of rice or distributing cash allowances. These efforts, though appreciated, do not move the needle on poverty. The real measure of leadership should be: did poverty rates go down in your city, your province, or your country after your term? If not, what have you really achieved?

No mayor or governor is worth anything if he or she cannot reduce poverty rates within his or her jurisdiction. At the national level, the question becomes sharper: who do we blame if poverty rates don’t fall? The President? The Department of Social Welfare and Development? The Department of Finance? Whoever it is, there must be accountability—and there must be poverty reduction targets tied to every mayoral, gubernatorial, and presidential term.

Personally, I don’t think we need to set targets for poverty alleviation. Relief will always be needed in times of disaster or crisis. But what we do need—urgently—are targets for poverty reduction. That means livelihoods, jobs, skills training, and inclusive economic growth.

Marcel LeBrun’s project shows us that transformation is possible when the approach shifts from dependency to empowerment. If one man’s personal vision could move government to invest alongside him, imagine what could happen if our local governments worked hand in hand with private investors, cooperatives, and civil society.

What we need in every barangay is not just a feeding program but a skills program. Not just a subsidy but a sustainable livelihood. Not just charity, but real change.

At the end of the day, we should ask ourselves: do we want to keep people poor but grateful—or do we want to empower them so that they can stand on their own feet with dignity?

The answer should be obvious.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-19-2025 

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