The Saint Louis University BRI chapter is proud to screen Poverty, Inc. to students and faculty. It is a bold look at “the business of doing good.” Please join us for refreshments and lively discussion following the film.
From the film’s website:
“The West has positioned itself as the protagonist of development, giving rise to a vast multi-billion dollar poverty industry — the business of doing good has never been better. Yet the results have been mixed, in some cases even catastrophic, and leaders in the developing world are growing increasingly vocal in calling for change.
Drawing from over 200 interviews filmed in 20 countries, Poverty, Inc. unearths an uncomfortable side of charity we can no longer ignore.”
POST-EVENT SUMMARY: Twenty-one students attended to watch the movie over lunch that was provided during screening. After the event we had a productive conversation about how government programs and philanthropic efforts (such as Tom’s Shoes) may not lead to independence in impoverished peoples, and we explored possible alternatives and systems such as micro-loans.
“We had a productive conversation after the event. Many that attended “had no idea” that their good efforts could be perpetuating a system that only deepens a group’s level of poverty and dependence on the first-world. I think all those in attendance will have additional skills to critically evaluate charity in the future.” ~Alex Wisbeck, BRI-SLU chapter president