Study On The Deprivation Trap Religion Essay Example
Study On The Deprivation Trap Religion Essay Example

Study On The Deprivation Trap Religion Essay Example

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  • Pages: 12 (3135 words)
  • Published: October 11, 2017
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The South African authorities have brought in a community development expert to assist an NGO that was established to aid with the aftermath of a foreigner landing that occurred twenty years ago. These foreigners, referred to as "salvage," were initially placed in a restricted area on the outskirts of a city called District 9. The multinational corporation MNU was responsible for managing them but faced dissolution due to mistreatment allegations. The role of the expert is to help the NGO improve their management approach towards these foreigners and treat them as integral members of the South African community rather than seeing them as superior due to their ability to travel. It is unrealistic to assume that humans consider them inferior beings. Essentially, MNU's main goal was forcefully relocating the foreigners from District 9 to District 10, further pushing them away from South Africa's outskirts. Alongside being confined

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and relocated against their will, these foreigners also experience various forms of oppression by MNU, similar to how black people were treated during apartheid. This treatment instills fear and distrust within the foreigners towards humanity.According to Flora and Flora (1993), community development involves the combination of "community" and "development." The term "community" refers to a group of individuals who share common characteristics, identity, interests, and perceive themselves as separate from society at large. Community development relies on the interaction among individuals and collective action rather than individual effort. Cavaye (2000) further explains that community development occurs when a community actively participates in improving its social, economic, and environmental conditions. In contrast, development entails adopting different ways of thinking and striving to enhance the quality of life for residents

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in the community.

The concept of the "deprivation trap," explained in detail in the Appendix, illustrates how disadvantaged groups interact with each other to create a cycle from which they struggle to escape. This model includes elements such as powerlessness, where individuals lack authority, and fearful individuals who hesitate to express their needs due to a lack of social and economic influence.

In relation to this topic, there are currently foreigners stranded in South Africa without resources or knowledge of local customs. As a result, they face difficulties in helping themselves return home. Taking advantage of this situation, locals have forcibly relocated these foreigners to territory 10 without any prior notice. If satisfactory answers were not provided by the foreigners during this process, they would face shouting, threats of violence, and taunting.These individuals live in isolated, inaccessible, secluded, and quarantined areas with limited or non-existent access to healthcare facilities, job opportunities, clean water, security, and education. Due to their geographical separation from civilization, obtaining assistance becomes difficult. Johannesburg's territory 9 is specifically designated for these foreigners in order to keep them away from human civilization as desired by the locals. While one community member suggests repairing the ship and traveling, another acknowledges that at least they remained separate from them. Poverty can be understood as a lack of necessary resources such as land, assets, jobs, money,and skills required for both abstract (such as human dignity) and concrete (such as clean water) basic needs in order to function well financially and mentally within society. Their lack of money, education,and resources makes them vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment,sometimes resulting in being fed cat food. The foreigners face limitations in

improving their lives due to physical weakness which is further exacerbated by chronic illnesses.They reside in unclean areas characterized by piles of garbage and public urination,resembling slums.These conditions drain their physical strengthand energy needed to address these challenges.As a result ,they often resortto consuming cat food because it may be their only available option for sustenance unless they can afford proper nutrition through exchange.Alternatively, the text discusses how vulnerability arises when individuals lack choices and resources to defend themselves, thus making them easy targets for exploitation and intimidation. The foreigners in this context are particularly vulnerable due to factors such as powerlessness, poverty, and isolation. Exploitative tactics used against them include bribing with cat food or threatening to take away their children. Additionally, destroying the foreigners' eggs is commonly referred to as "abortion." To break free from this cycle of exploitation, community developers need to metaphorically sever the links that uphold the hold of the want trap on them. The information provided clearly shows how humans easily manipulate the foreigners into complying with their demands. Ethical principles are also discussed in relation to practical rules. Ethics refers to a set of standards that guide decision-making in specific situations according to Van Heerden (2005). Each person has their own personal ethics which help them distinguish between right and wrong. Swanepoel and de Beer (2011) outline six ethical rules that community developers should consider when working within a community, including human orientation. People living in poverty often struggle to meet their basic daily needsHence, it is essential for a CDW to empower the community in order to ensure that their needs are fully met and they can

lead fulfilling lives. Kleyn and Viljeon (2010) emphasize human dignity as the primary fundamental need, which entails individuals recognizing their ability to make decisions for themselves and feel capable and relevant. Fulfilling this internal potential also serves as motivation for addressing physical needs within the community.

However, an examination of how foreigners were treated reveals a clear lack of respect or fulfillment of their human dignity by those in power. Local authorities imposed restrictions on aliens, hindering their progress and preventing them from reaching their full potential. The treatment of aliens was deplorable - they were subjected to derogatory names such as "shrimp," verbal abuse, physical assaults, and constant humiliation. They were publicly exhibited engaging in inappropriate behavior like urinating in public, violently tearing apart meat, and incessantly fighting among themselves.

In terms of community engagement, involving locals in decision-making processes empowers them to feel a sense of control over their environment. However, authorities deliberately excluded foreigners from participating in initiatives related to environmental preservation and decision-making processes with the intention of reinforcing their submissive status.Heywood (2007) states that authorization entails possessing political power to make decisions, even without the necessary skills. The foreigners lacked any authority and lived in constant fear for their safety. They were required to immediately submit whenever a human approached, demonstrating the authorities' dominance over them. They faced continuous belittlement and mockery, with any resistance resulting in being shot. Ownership grants individuals the power to make decisions about their lives. According to Swanepoel and de Beer (2011), individuals have a significant role in their own future and development. Mobilization aims to empower people, enabling them to take control of their future endeavors.

However, when it came to the treatment of foreigners, mobilization was not utilized; instead, people preferred exerting authority over them and stripping them of control at all times.
The primary goal of developmental projects is not solely addressing poverty or its manifestations but eradicating it completely. The focus is on gradually liberating the community from poverty's grasp rather than providing temporary relief. Nevertheless, MNU's handling of Territory 9 suggests that they aimed to keep foreigners impoverished rather than creating opportunities for improvement like offering education for acquiring necessary skills.This resulted in the foreigners living in slum-like conditions.Sustainability is crucial as any harm to the natural environment also poses risks to individuals within that environment. A healthier natural environment contributes positively to the well-being of the community. The presence of foreigners serves as evidence for this, but their living environment constantly threatened their survival. This area was filled with trash, foreigners urinating everywhere, meat being cut in the open, foreign disputes occurring in the middle of the road, battles between aliens, and foreigners vomiting openly.

The text also mentions four practical principles that every community developer should consider when working in a community. These principles must be followed to adhere to ethical standards. The first principle is learning, which involves meeting the community's needs through adaptable, continuous, investigative action-based aid. This process allows for knowledge and resource exchange between the community and developer, emphasizing autonomy and empowerment for the community to make their own decisions.

However, MNU (organization name) did not provide any learning opportunities for the foreigners. This deprived them of a chance to make a difference in their community and humanity as a whole. The lack of

freedom and authorization prevented them from making decisions in their own lives.In territory 9, there were no CDW's or programs in place to improve the foreigners' stay and promote knowledge building. Compassion, which helps build trust and cooperation within the community, should be pursued by CDW's. However, MNU lacked compassion, resulting in derogatory names, threats, and violence towards foreigners. These principles are crucial for community development and poverty alleviation. Conflict arises when there is a contradiction or disagreement between values, perspectives, and options that have not been aligned or agreed upon. Primary causes of conflict include misunderstanding and miscommunication. Effective communication is important to overcome conflict. According to Mersham and Skinner (2009), various causes of conflict include unclear boundaries, conflicting interests and personalities, lack of consensus, misunderstandings, and unresolved past conflicts. Cavaye (2004) adds that conflicts also emerge from diverse community values which generate conflicting perspectives and power dynamics within the community. Additionally, a communication barrier existed between locals and foreigners leading to conflict and the death of many foreigners. Furthermore, it is vital to acknowledge that every individual has inherent rights from birth as stated by Kleyn an Viljoen (2010). These rights belong inherently to humanity and cannot be revoked.
According to Grech (2006), the concept of human rights encompasses fairness, acceptance, mutual respect, and human dignity in all aspects of life. Grech emphasizes that these rights are inherent and not granted by the state but bestowed upon every individual at birth. Unfortunately, numerous countries have violated several rights when treating foreigners. Kleyn and Viljoen (2010) highlight that the most frequent violation is the right to human dignity, which involves recognizing individuals' worth and treating

them respectfully. In this case, foreigners were treated disrespectfully, manipulated, and devalued as individuals. They were derogatorily referred to as "Prawns," implying their social status was akin to bottom feeders or scavengers surviving on remnants; even their basic food supply resembled cat food. Additionally, their right to life was violated since they were killed without hesitation. One horrifying incident involved burning a house containing eggs about to hatch with baby foreigners inside. Moreover, their right to privacy was infringed upon as their homes were raided without justification and false allegations were made against them. Lastly, their freedom of movement was destroyed as they were confined exclusively within territory 9; leaving this area would result in a threat on their lives.The text underscores the importance of fundamental human rights, such as nationality, a free society, justice, food, shelter, and education. However, due to their different nationality, foreigners were treated as criminals and excluded from civilization. Lack of intervention led to insufficient and unsafe shelter for them. They were given cat food instead of suitable human nutrition. Additionally, they did not receive any education on human customs. Locals violated their right to freedom by killing some foreigners and using others for experiments. Any challenge to authority resulted in coercion or weapon threats. These violations caused suffering, isolation, physical harm,and psychological damage.Their basic needs were denied due to political oppression and discrimination.War offenses include intentional harm within a community and causing unnecessary suffering or long-term environmental damage (Maises 2003). These exact atrocities occurred against the foreigners in territory 9.Genocide was committed as humans intentionally burned their baby eggs.The treatment by MNU was extremely cruel,mindless,and shocking,resulting in suspicion,fear,and distrust

towards humansTo improve the treatment of foreigners, a new NGO group is striving to address these challenges. Their recommendations include:
1. The organization should act as a facilitator of community development, empowering the community and creating an enabling environment. This means helping the community adapt to their changing surroundings. It is important for a community development worker (CDW) to engage foreigners in community work, making them feel welcome and fostering confidence-building.
2. Efforts should be made to promote inclusivity and understanding between humans and foreigners through educational programs, cultural exchanges, and initiatives that foster empathy and respect for diversity. These actions can improve relationships.
By implementing these recommendations, it is possible to enhance the treatment of foreigners and create a more harmonious coexistence among all beings on Earth. Familiarizing CDWs with local development environments helps them understand the planetary context and the importance of the environment while providing assistance and strengthening support. Additionally, these environments play a crucial role in communication and improving the community's social environment for foreign communities.Baron, Branscombe, and Byrne (2009) stress the importance of recognizing different organizational structures within communities. These structures can include social groups such as families, churches, clubs, or formal institutions like friendships. CDWs need to be aware of the negative aspects that may exist in these environments, including power struggles, group divisions, and crime.

To improve communication and bring about necessary changes, CDWs must understand how foreigners come together and form entities. Stability is also crucial in the social environment for successful adaptation and elimination of negative aspects. CDWs should create an atmosphere where individuals can align with their upbringing and personal values. Values play a significant role in determining

progress (Cavaye, 2004).

Understanding cultural traditions provides insight into people's actions and reactions in real-life situations. Since foreigners come from a different culture, it is vital for CDWs to expand their knowledge of foreign civilizations for a broader understanding. Similarly, foreigners need to comprehend South African culture to settle comfortably on the planet. Life experiences vary greatly among individuals and encompass psychological aspects such as stress, fear, rejection low self-esteem empowerment ,and indifference from the outside community (Willian & Sheffe ,1989).The foreigners at MNU have experienced unfortunate circumstances that have left them scared, battered, and fearful for their future endeavors. It is crucial for CDW beings to address these abstract emotions in order to rebuild trust in their lives and motivate them to contribute towards a better future for themselves and the community.

According to the Oxford study dictionary (2002), a community refers to a group of people living in a specific place who share common interests and values. Given their expert knowledge about the area, it is important for the community to play a significant role in supporting the foreigners' integration.

While they have been treated with deference since arriving 20 years ago, creating an empowering space can help restore their confidence and establish trust between locals and foreigners. This empowerment may also grant the foreigners some authority over their preferred living conditions, making them feel more comfortable despite being far away from home.

Communication is a complex process that involves unpredictable interactions due to individuals using different communication codes. The potential barriers in communication between the sender and receiver include fear, differing expectations, preoccupations of the receiver, physical disabilities, and environmental factors as highlighted by Swanepoel and

de Beer (2011).The argument is that effective communication could have prevented conflicts between foreigners and the human community. Effective communication fosters understanding and allows for interventions to address misunderstandings. The ultimate goal of effective communication is mutual understanding. One aspect of communication is motivation, which according to Van Heerden (2005), encompasses hope, a positive outlook, enthusiasm, and a willingness to change attitudes in communities. Motivation can lead individuals to transform their mindset positively and feel accomplished when given responsibilities. It's important to note that due to the negative aftermath of MNU, foreigners have lost faith in humanity.

The primary role of CDW is to change their perception of the world; hence motivation becomes an effective tool for achieving this goal.Motivation plays a crucial role in helping foreign individuals adapt and thrive in South Africa's environment.By motivating foreigners, they are encouraged to become more knowledgeable and fully integrated into society.This,in turn, leads to increased productivity and understanding between locals and foreigners.The main goals of contact making are establishing connections with people,gaining acceptance within the community,and identifying its specific needs.Building relationships involves understanding each individual's circumstances while meeting needs may include providing resources such as schools for children.Acceptance without conditions and the freedom to live a normal life, while enjoying basic human rights, are crucial needs for foreigners. Fulfilling these needs empowers them and motivates personal and community development. However, many CDWs fail in their community development efforts due to incorrect mindset or strategy. According to Swanepoel and de Beer (2011), two positive properties must be followed for achieving positive results in the community. The first property is creating awareness, where the community becomes aware of their environment

and gains understanding, enabling them to make changes and gain knowledge about their situation. The second property is further development, where the community identifies necessary actions, sets goals, and achieves them. Increased confidence and optimism from fulfilling abstract needs promote development and inspire others to participate, known as societal influence (Baron, Branscombe & Byrne 2009). Community building not only strengthens the community but also supports both abstract and concrete needs by fostering awareness, dignity, self-sufficiency, and self-relevance.This inclusive approach promotes foreign involvement and facilitates the acquisition of valuable skills such as adaptability, organization, and community development. In terms of education and human rights (5.7.Education and human rights), it was previously noted that entrusting foreigners with human rights aids their integration into the community's development process. Upholding these commitments provides a sense of security for foreigners who can depend on their rights instead of enduring past MNU behaviors. Education plays a crucial role in community growth by equipping foreigners with the knowledge necessary for effective collaboration within the community. By educating them, conflicts are minimized along with disempowerment, submissiveness, demotivation, and lack of survival skills. Education has the ability to transform lives by offering employment opportunities, enhancing living conditions, promoting efficient community management, and fostering positive contributions to society. It can be seen as a pathway to a better life on Earth.

Regarding the presented situation, MNU's approach was flawed from the start. They not only violated foreigners' rights but also failed at effectively communicating and establishing a harmonious society for everyone. Society quickly judged and isolated those who were even slightly different without making an effort to understand foreigners better. The arrival of foreigners in this

new world raised suspicions about whether it was intentional or accidental.However, by implementing positive interventions, there is an intriguing challenge of bringing together both foreigners and the human race. In this video, a successful approach to educating foreigners and informing humans is demonstrated, aiming to enhance communication and avoid repeating the behavior of MNU. As Marcel Proust stated, "The real exploration journey lies not in searching for new landscapes but in seeing with fresh eyes."

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