7 Ways To Lay Down The Truth On Foreign Development Assistance

Who better to lay down the truth than the beloved memes.

1. Batman is sick of Robin, and everyone else, thinking we spend too much on development assistance.

The U.S. spends less than 1% of the federal budget on global poverty-fighting assistance. These programs help the world’s poorest people stay healthy so that they can go to school, support their families and lift themselves out of extreme poverty.

2. Success kid stands with millions of babies.

Millions of babies have been saved by anti-malaria bed nets that protects from mosquitoes. Half of sub-Saharan African families now own a bed net, up from only 3% in 2000.

3. This kid knows cutting foreign assistance is srsly not smart.

Development assistance is essential for growth in the poorest and most vulnerable countries. Global poverty-fighting programs are the only resources which focus solely on economic development and welfare.

4. The most interesting man in the world isn’t actually interested in helping the people who need it the most.

Development assistance is essential for growth in the poorest and most vulnerable countries. Global poverty-fighting programs are the only resources which focus solely on economic development and welfare.

5. That time creepy Wonka wasn’t actually being creepy, and deserved an answer.

Aid to African farmers is one good example of a way to help alleviate poverty. Research across 20 sub-Saharan countries shows that growth in agriculture grew the economy 11 times (!) as effectively as growth in the mining, utilities and services sectors.

6. Enough with the grumpy cats.

An AIDS-free generation is possible within our lifetimes. New treatments and policies have drastically reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Cutting aid would set back the global fight to end this deadly disease once and for all.

7. Really? You’re going to be that person?

Foreign assistance programs SAVE LIVES. For less than 1% of the federal budget, deaths of children under five caused by malaria have been slashed by about 60% since 2000, and the rate of overall deaths of children under five has dropped by nearly 10% since 2010 thanks to GAVI-supported immunizations. More than 600,000 new infections of HIV in children have been prevented in the last two decades, and 9 million patients are now receiving treatment for HIV, up from just 200,000 in 2002.

ONE Campaign volunteers – students, community leaders, business professionals, and faith leaders from across the country – will deliver these memes in a view-master (yes, the toy) to Congressional offices and meet with leaders to discuss the importance of development assistance.

Join the ONE Campaign in its fight against global extreme poverty and preventable disease.