Since the beginning of time humankind has sought to improve upon its knowledge and achievements. In the short time that humans have walked this earth we have gone dumb creatures to creating the wheel (which helped transportation and farming), the printing press (which helped the dissemination of knowledge), the internet (a vast computer network linking the world and information), among countless other inventions and discoveries that have improved out time on earth, improved our health, increased our longevity and numerous benefits of which we continue to learn. This year our world population will reach 7 Billion people, and sadly not everyone has enjoyed the great strides we have made in our humanity. 4 billion members of our world, human beings like you and I, do not have adequate health care, education, shelter, water, sanitation and other basic rights we take for granted. Helping those less fortunate than us is what Development is all about.
Development at the core is about progress and growth. Much like a child grows and develops to become a full human being. Development is a process that encompasses all the facets of life that help us grow: our culture and values, our society, how we are governed and the institutions that help govern us, our environment, our geography, our interactions with other human beings, our education, our health. Because countries develop at different rates Development cannot have a perfect definition beyond its goal of achieving progress. To me, Development is the process by which a given society and the world at large enables growth.
The world is filled with countless NGOs, and government agencies striving to help the poor and less fortunate among us. Not all of these organizations agree on the best course of action to achieving great strides in how we help the poor, but each does focus on what it thinks is the best way to help. Development is the work that these organizations do- whether or not you may agree with their work. No system is perfect; no one can agree what the best method is for helping those less fortunate…but every action, every step we take towards helping the poor is part of the process of Development. Development is any process or action that enables positive growth in a community. Development is not only confined to poor nations, it spans the world wherever there is poor and organizations helping to better their existence. Development is any system or program designed to enable or promote progress or growth.
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