What We Do
Family Spotlight is a social innovation tool that allows families to assess their poverty levels and identify customised strategies to overcome their specific problems.
Our platform uses technology and social innovation to find solutions to activate the potential of families to lift themselves out of poverty.
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A quick, practical and visual survey helps families easily identify areas in their lives which are in poverty. With our help, families design and implement a poverty elimination plan based on their specific situation, motivation and skills.
The Methodology
The Family Stoplight methodology generates poverty elimination plans that go beyond mere subsidies, seeking to disrupt the typical patterns that create and sustain poverty. It breaks down the overwhelming concept of poverty into smaller manageable challenges that can be solved through action. Families evaluate themselves with the help of our Platform. They can prioritise their needs and develop a plan (Life Map) to solve shortcomings step by step.
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This visual survey takes about 30 minutes to complete and allows families to see how they are affected by poverty as well as what they can aspire to do. Family Spotlight allows geo-referencing to generate community maps, indicator by indicator. It highlights problem areas which all stakeholders can use to better leverage resources and complement each other in their efforts.
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“You can't get rid of poverty by giving people money.”
— P.J. O'Rourke
Family Spotlight defines what it means "not to be poor" across six dimensions.
INCOME &
EMPLOYMENT
01
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
An assured means for livelihood as adequate income families are better equipped to address the other five dimensions of poverty.
HOUSING &
INFRASTRUCTURE
02
HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE
A roof over their heads with at least basic infrastructure, essential for families to conduct their day-to-day livelihood without jeopardy.
EDUCATION &
CULTURE
03
EDUCATION & CULTURE
Opening up windows of opportunity for income generation and contribution to society, armed with the requisite skill sets and expertise.
HEALTH &
ENVIRONMENT
04
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
A healthy, hygienic environment with primary water and sanitation in the community making for safe living conditions ensuring the health and welfare of the family.
ORGANISATION &
PARTICIPATION
05
ORGANISATION & PARTICIPATION
Empowering them to have their voices heard in groups as agents of change in their communities.
INTERIORITY &
MOTIVATION
06
INTERIORITY & MOTIVATION
Timely and adequate motivation resulting in self-esteem, with families being proactive and sensitive to others’ needs in problem solving.
Life Maps
After taking the survey, results are portrayed using colours across Family Spotlight’s 50 indicators. This represents the life situation of families, who then identify their own strengths and goals. Life Maps enable families to understand their needs, which go beyond the basic ones of nutrition, housing and education, amongst others.
Once the self-assessment is done, families are guided through the process of analysing and determining the reasons behind their reds and yellows, and the solutions that could be implemented. Families can then optimise their efforts in order to obtain better results and turn their reds and yellows into greens.
We provide a network of resources which can help in this process.