BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE THE HUMAN BASIS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PICK AND SIRKIN SHOW HOW IMIFAP, A MEXICAN NGO, HAS EMPLOYED A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARTICIPATORY, HEALTHY AND EDUCATED CITIZENRY. THE PROGRAM STRATEGY IS GROUNDED IN AMARTYA SEN'S APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EXPANDING INDIVIDUAL'S CAPABILITIES AND FREEDOMS. IT PRESENTS THE FRAMEWORK FOR ENABLING EMPOWERMENT (FREE) AND THE STEP BY STEP STRATEGY "PROGRAMMING FOR CHOICE," BASED ON THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND EVALUATION OF IMIFAP'S PROGRAMS. THE END GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN BE EXPANDED ACROSS A VARIETY OF LIFE DOMAINS (SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL). THE BOOK SHOWS HOW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CAN BE ENHANCED IF PEOPLE ARE ENABLED TO MAKE ACCOUNTABLE CHOICES AND EXPAND THEIR ALTERNATIVES. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WILL NOT BE SUSTAINABLE IF WE CONTINUE TO BUILD SCHOOLS WITHOUT QUALITY TEACHERS; HEALTH CLINICS WITHOUT ENHANCING LOGISTICAL AND PSY