Give Work: Reversing Poverty One Job at a Time

by Leila Janah

Global poverty is a hairy problem without a clear culprit, but my experiences in Africa, India, Haiti, and now Lebanon have continually reaffirmed that it is only opportunity that is spread unevenly, not potential. That’s the beauty of digital work: it is borderless. It transcends ethnicity, race, religion, and gender. It transcends the artificial walls we build between humans. It seems so obvious to me that breaking down these barriers should be a priority for all of us, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it makes political and economic sense. When we provide opportunities for work instead of aid, we provide a long-term solution that not only lifts people out of poverty but gives them a say in how goods and resources are allocated.