Saudi Gazette A wise author once said, “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.” This saying is very true since it reflects the fact that giving food to the needy one day will satisfy his hunger only for a day, but teaching him how to earn his own living will help him get his own food for a lifetime. In order to eradicate poverty from its roots and to prevent it from creeping back again, communities must offer permanent solutions. Standing true to this wise saying, Al-Birr Charitable Society in Jeddah has helped many poverty-stricken families to evolve into self-sustaining families. This generous society has helped several deserving families to produce and market their own goods. A poor man once asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for alms and the Prophet noticed that the man looked young, healthy, and strong. Rather than giving the man money, the Prophet bought him an axe to chop wood and sell; and hence earn a living from his own hard work. Al-Birr Charitable Society in Jeddah is using this strategy as a model in helping families inch their way above the poverty line. Their program called Producing Families gives the family an initial loan to start up their own small, home-based business. With this sum, they can secure their own income and are no longer in need to ask people for money and assistance in the future. 600 families have benefited from this constructive program, said Mazen Batterjee, Chairman of Al-Birr Charitable Society. He stated that this is a non-traditional and creative method of supporting impoverished families. The Charitable Society gives the loan to women who are serious about work, have a feasible plan, and a promising idea, but lack the necessary requirements and insurances to be eligible for bank loans. Al-Birr proudly announced that the Producing Families program has had a profound and positive impact on otherwise hopeless families. Most of the women receiving loans are divorced or widowed and have a household to feed with no other means of income and is therefore impractical for them to find employment outside home. The businesswomen-to-be are trained in making the product of their choice from their homes. After production is completed, they sell their products by word of mouth and also at various bazaars and festivals. The women are given crash courses in accounting and calculating cost, profit, and deficit, and how to market their creations. Their home businesses are closely monitored by specialists to offer them guidance and support. Some of these women have exhibited shining signs of creativity, resourcefulness, and work ethics. They have climbed out of their trap of despair and fatigue and have become optimistic and actively responsible for their own welfare. They have successfully made a variety of attractive products to sell, including memorable gift items, accessories, hair clips, baskets, perfumes, and girls' dresses. __
