“Mycoskie has a good heart. But, I have matured to see that following the heart to fight poverty is a terrible idea,” Widmer notes. “It pleases you more than it helps anything. To give anything is always a bad idea when you’re trying to fight poverty.”
The one-for-one business model has brought up a lot of controversies between companies and individuals. While one may think that the one-for-one business model aims to help people who live in “poverty”, it’s their kind heart and willingness to help which makes them buy the product.
I am opposed to the one-for-one business model because this doesn’t allow local businesses to flourish, nor does it help eliminate poverty. What it does do, is donate the product for example, a pair of shoes to someone who is in need of them. But how does this exactly help reduce poverty.
Yes poor people do lack necessities, but that isn’t what makes them poor. It’s their inability to use what they have and expand and grow. If instead of giving out a pair of shoes, a company could have training workshops on topics such as entrepreneurship or even giving away products which would help, such as malaria nets, this would have a positive impact on the poor people.
You may argue and say for example that a pair of shoes would make it easier to walk, but the same child receiving those shoes is still going to walk to school regardless of him/her having shoes. And so what is the necessity of it when at the end of the day, the child is receiving their education? What’s important is making people aware of their capabilities and their extremes, because it’s their innovative thinking which could help them grow, through workshops for example, and not a pair of shoes.
Image source:
tomsshoes.ca
