Polling the nation
War Child | 2nd May 2008
Over the past few weeks War Child asked you what the UK government could best do to help developing countries: provide more financial aid, help with training for politicians, doctors and teachers, make it easier for them to sell their goods in Britain, put diplomatic pressure on countries’ own governments to change or... invade them. No prizes for guessing which option came last.
The overall response was that helping to train more politicians, doctors and teachers is the way forward – giving people in developing countries control over their future.
As some of your comments recognised, the answer is perhaps more complex than our poll suggested. Amanda Jones commented that financial aid can alleviate short term problems, but “we should work toward a world where aid is no longer necessary - throwing money at the situation will not do this. Local people should be trained to participate with the global nation as equal partners, not powerless beneficiaries of First World aid.” This is something highlighted in our projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where we work with former child soldiers like Remi providing them with training, advice and livelihood grants to set up their own businesses, meaning they have real long-term prospects.
Next up, we’re looking for your opinions on the BBC story that UN troops have been trading arms with militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Who do you think has the best chance of achieving lasting peace in the country?
