Watch PovertyCure

PovertyCure is a compelling and thought-provoking documentary series that seeks to understand and explore the complex issue of global poverty, examining underlying causes and providing insights into solutions. Hosted and narrated by Michael Matheson Miller, a research fellow at the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the documentary takes viewers on a journey through various locations including Africa, Latin America, and Asia, to examine the implications of aid and to explore ways in which entrepreneurship, community, and creativity could offer sustainable and effective solutions to poverty.

The series consists of six episodes, each looking at a different aspect of the poverty issue, with a focus on the institutional, social, and economic factors that contribute to it. The first episode of the series examines the history of international aid and how it has failed to deliver long-term and sustainable benefits to the world's poorest people. Miller questions why despite trillions of dollars in aid spending, poverty has not been eradicated, and notes how the perpetuation of aid can be counterproductive, causing dependency and stifling local entrepreneurial spirit. The second episode looks at how economic growth can be a powerful tool for reducing poverty, and explores how entrepreneurship and access to markets can help lift people out of poverty. Through interviews with local business owners and entrepreneurs in countries such as Ghana and Peru, the documentary shows how small-scale enterprise can have a transformative impact on society, creating jobs, income, and community development.

Another episode focuses on education, looking at how access to education can be a key factor in reducing poverty for future generations, and empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to build successful lives. Miller examines innovative educational initiatives in developing countries, such as the Bridge International Academies in Kenya, which provides low-cost education to some 100,000 students across the country, and the Jubilee School in India, which is transforming education in the slums of Delhi.

In another episode, the documentary looks at social entrepreneurship, exploring how local communities can work together to identify and tackle poverty issues in their own areas. One example is KIVA, a program that connects donors with individuals in the developing world who are looking to start their own businesses. Through KIVA, small sums of money can have a big impact, providing a start-up capital that can help individuals move out of poverty for good.

Throughout the series, Miller emphasizes the importance of treating poverty as a complex and multifaceted issue, and emphasizes the need for collaboration between governments, NGOs, and local communities to find solutions that really work. The series provides a clear and powerful argument for a new approach to poverty reduction, one that emphasizes entrepreneurship, social innovation, and community development. It ultimately emphasizes that the solution to poverty lies within the communities themselves and that by providing them the appropriate tools, we can create a world where poverty is no longer a barrier to success.

Overall, the PovertyCure series from Exploration Films is a powerful and compelling documentary that provides a new and fresh perspective on the issue of poverty. The documentary takes viewers on a journey through various locations, and provides fascinating insights into how entrepreneurship, education, and community development can help transform the lives of the world's poorest people. The series is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the complex challenges facing the world today, and for anyone who wants to learn more about the power of social innovation and community-led solutions.