The Striking Balance of Social Change and Charity

In our modern world where the advancement of a certain group seems to simultaneously set back other groups, service becomes all the more crucial in terms of bringing about equity. Service involves varying types of social contributions, namely charity, projects, and social change. In my earlier years, I was exposed to the inaccurate perception that charity’s accessibility made it the best form of service; however, since volunteering at 826LA, I have firsthand witnessed the systemic inequities that exist in education, modifying my belief that social change is truly the most sustainable way to enact change because long-term government education schemes target the root cause of such inequities and aim to eradicate it as a whole. With this in mind, good service means a short term dedication to charity while fighting for government policy, as this will ensure targeting the root of the social problem while effectively alleviating present concerns.

Charity, despite yielding relatively short-term benefits and not permanently solving the issue at hand, remains a legitimate form of service that all should engage in while engaging in larger social change initiatives. It should be emphasized that there is a certain attitude one should carry while engaging in charity work. Typically, the dynamic between a volunteer and a beneficiary does not feel equal. Often, volunteers hold positions of privilege, naturally giving them the ability to determine the nature and extent of the assistance provided. This power imbalance can inadvertently reinforce existing societal hierarchies and manifest an environment where there is a clear dominant figure. Needless to say, such a phenomenon should not be present given that charity aims to eradicate social inequities, not continue to reinforce them.

To address this concern, a fundamental shift in the volunteer approach is necessary. Volunteers must first ensure a correct mindset and put aside the fact that they feel “dominant” purely because they are in a better social position. Instead, they should adopting a collaborative approach that involves beneficiaries actively participating in decisions that impact them. In the context of 826LA, this could mean listening to the concerns, ideas, and questions of students as they write their essays, yet not completely taking over that process and authoring the essay. Essentially, this entails giving beneficiaries the freedom to express their wants and preferences in addition to acknowledging their distinct viewpoints and areas of expertise. Through this approach, we can help create a more inclusive and respectful atmosphere of service that recognizes the dignity of the people we serve, by trying to incorporate an egalitarian partnership.

In addition, volunteers should attempt to develop communication and feedback mechanisms to guarantee that the power dynamic is consistently assessed and modified, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and mutually advantageous partnership. Asking beneficiaries how they feel about your help, your advice, and your contribution overall can help navigate necessary change that we, ourselves, were blind to. Regular communication serves as a vital tool to gauge the effectiveness of the assistance provided and to understand the evolving needs and aspirations of the beneficiaries. By actively seeking input from beneficiaries, volunteers can gain valuable insights into the impact of their efforts and adjust their approach accordingly. This not only helps to avoid the imposition of well-intentioned but potentially misguided solutions but also empowers beneficiaries to express their preferences and contribute to the decision-making process. Not only this, but such mechanisms also hold symbolic value. By utilizing feedback, we also indirectly communicate that beneficiaries will have their voices heard and volunteers absolutely do not hold more say over them. Ultimately, these mechanisms not only contribute to a more balanced power dynamic but also cultivate a relationship built on trust, respect, and collaboration.

With the proper approach to performing charity in mind, it must be noted that charity is not a means to an end when it comes to solving deep-rooted, historic structural issues. Education inequity exists as one of these structural issues, with the glaring racial and economic disparities in standardised test scores, math proficiency, and reading proficiency only being one of many that point to a broken educational system. For instance, “gaps in reading and math scores between black and white high school students nationally were roughly halved between 1971 and 1996” (Calmatters). With these inequities buried deep within the system and reinforced through years of enabling by government officials, charity work can no longer serve the ultimate goal of eradicating educational inequities. Thus, we must turn to a more sustainable approach that has the capability of eradicating the issue entirely — social change called on by the people and enacted through the government.

Namely, one policy approach is by equalizing education from the lowest level — kindergarten — as a step towards social change in the world of education. By implementing policies that ensure equitable access to quality education from the very beginning, societies can address the root causes of inequality. The status quo presents a situation where “teachers in high-poverty schools were more likely to report that academic instructional time was eroded by problems with school facilities, lack of access to technology and libraries, classroom lockdowns, standardized test preparation, teacher absences and uncertified or insufficiently qualified substitute teachers.” (UCLA) This proposed solution recognizes that the early years of education lay the groundwork for future academic success and overall societal advancement. Policies focused on equalizing resources, teacher quality, and educational opportunities in kindergarten create a more level playing field for all students, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds. When all students have access to more or less equal qualities of education, there is less room for the system to discriminate against who receives the best education, leading to less structural inequities between different races and economic backgrounds. By providing a more level playing field of public education starting from kindergarten and extending to the end of high school, there will exist overall less inconsistencies in education, meaning potentially having to take fewer measures in the future to promote diversity in higher education or high-level career paths.
Given this social change proposal, it is crucial for us to advocate for comprehensive policy reforms and engage in strategic activism. For instance, collaborating with education experts, community leaders, and advocacy groups to articulate the specific needs and challenges faced by underserved communities adds weight to the argument for change. Engaging with policymakers through writing letters, lobbying, petitions, and meetings provides a direct avenue for expressing concerns and championing specific policy proposals. The combination of using statistic-backed facts and meaningful calls for change directed at government officials aims to exert collective pressure on the government to prioritize and implement policies that will truly equalize education from the lowest level, ultimately paving the way for social change in the education sector.

While we engage in lobbying towards the government in order to enact substantial social change, we must presently focus on providing service in the ways we can, such as charity as mentioned in previous paragraphs. Charity is a necessary component of social change, because given the amount of time social change will take to be in effect, struggling communities still need outlets to temporarily alleviate certain burdens and concerns. Thus, while we call the government to action and campaign for change, we must remain dedicated to charity as a form of service and stay mindful of the power dynamic between volunteer and beneficiary. By performing charity alongside the enactment of sustainable social change, we effectively start to embody what “good service” means and ultimately, serve our goals of pioneering meaningful change.