Poverty can be closer than you think

When we think of poverty, we often think of people in developing countries. But poverty also exists closer to home, emphasises Ronald Wilmes. “Poverty can be just as profound in our own communities. It can affect families in your immediate surroundings, sometimes without you even realising it.”

Wilmes is the former Head of Real Estate at Maastricht University and a board memberof Stichting Kanunnik Salden/Nieuwenhof. The foundation supports social, cultural and community initiatives in Maastricht and the surrounding area, including music and sports activities for children and young people. “By giving young people a solid foundation, we increase the likelihood that they will be able to participate fully in society later in life,” he explains.

University lecturer Latifa Abidi also sees that financial problems extend far beyond someone’s wallet. “People experiencing financial difficulties also experience stress as a result. This, in turn, affects their health.” Research has shown that people in lower socioeconomic positions can experience significant health inequalities. “That is why it is important to strengthen their socioeconomic position and, in doing so, reduce health inequalities.”

More than a financial problem

Hans Kasper, emeritus professor of Marketing and Supply Chain Management at Maastricht University, became more closely involved in tackling poverty after his retirement. In 2018, his Rotary Club Maastricht asked the then Mayor, Annemarie Penn-te Strake, what the club could do for the city. Her answer was clear: find a way to tackle poverty in Maastricht in a structural and sustainable way. A great deal was already being done, but the number of people living in poverty was not decreasing.

Kasper and the other Rotary members subsequently realised that poverty goes far beyond what someone earns or spends. He explains: “Families living in poverty may face a range of problems at the same time. These can include unemployment, poor housing, health problems, debt, or simply not knowing which organisation to turn to for help.”

Listen first, help after

The commitment of Rotary Club Maastricht is one of many successful initiatives in the fight against poverty. Rotary members work in pairs, each supporting one family with children living in poverty. They offer advice, help families find the right organisations and provide practical support. The families themselves identify the problems they are facing and what they consider to be their priorities.

For example, the Rotary Club supported a divorced father with two teenage children. The man was unemployed, found it difficult to communicate and hardly ever smiled. From the outside, finding a job might seem like the obvious first step. But when the volunteers asked him what he considered his priority, he pointed to his teeth. They were in such poor condition that they were preventing him from interacting with other people.

A dentist within the Rotary Club helped the man; through a dental technician, he was given a new set of teeth. He can now smile and communicate again – and he has even found a job. “Solutions to complex problems do not have to be complicated,” Kasper concludes from this case. “You just have to listen to the people concerned.”

Joining forces

Listening to people living in poverty is important, but so is cooperation between organisations. That is why the Day of Charity was established. “There are many foundations and private initiatives in Maastricht focused on alleviating poverty,” says Wilmes. “But often, they do not even know that one another exists.”

The Day of Charity brings these many different organisations together. Stichting Kanunnik Salden/Nieuwenhof provided financial support to make the event possible. Wilmes was also involved in the preparations. “By improving coordination between all these initiatives, we can respond to requests for help more effectively.” Abidi also hopes that the day will lead to new connections. “I hope organisations and residents will find each other more easily, and that there will be more and better cooperation.”

Sharing knowledge and experiences

During the Day of Charity, various organisations and people involved in tackling poverty will share their experiences. Kasper, for example, will speak together with fellow Rotarian Roel Pijsel about Rotary Club Maastricht’s approach and the lessons they have learned. Abidi will also give a keynote on socioeconomic health inequalities and inclusive research. She will explain how scientists can involve people living in poverty in research on an equal footing. In her view, talking not only about these people but with them can lead to new insights.

The Day of Charity can also provide inspiration for people who would like to volunteer themselves. “If that is the case, look at the initiatives that are presented and think about what suits you,” Wilmes recommends. And what about people who do not currently have the time or capacity to volunteer? Through the Day of Charity, they can discover how much is already being done to tackle poverty in Maastricht. At present, this is often done by individual organisations, but hopefully increasingly through joint efforts in the future.

Text: Romy Veul