Understanding Poverty?

I have worked in HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for a number of years. Through this experience I realised how compounding issues and intersecting vulnerabilities can inadvertently disadvantage people.
I learnt that people were not always the cause of their own strife/ misfortune. Sometimes people are destined to be found in these situations because of their social standing; their lack of access to opportunities; their living conditions, etc.  I have shifted focus a little (from just HIV) to look more closely at poverty and how this one situation acts as a feeder to other compounding issues.

One might say "but it is the individual who is in charge of these elements". In some instances this is right and in others it is not. When someone is fundamentally denied equal access to opportunities, resources, and other means of betterment, then who is to be blamed? If we look at things like the concept of environmental racism - where people of low-income or minority communities are forced to live in close proximity to (or within) hazardous or degraded environments - then we realise that the individual is not always in charge of these elements to improve their lives. 

Thus, our notion of poverty needs to be expanded. Poverty cannot just be thought of monetarily. It must take into account your socio-economic situation, your cultural background and other compounding variables. Therefore, there cannot be a "one size fits all" approach to poverty. Because, if we broad brush this approach to poverty some will be left behind and the cycle will continue.

In my studies, I've come across a concept - ABCD - Asset Based Community Development - bringing about change in communities and individuals through the use of their own assets and capabilities. I want to see how this approach can be used to lift people out of poverty and into new, hopeful beginnings. 

Mia Birdsong did a TED Talk on something similar, watch it below: