Degrees For Students Who Want To Help Impoverished Communities

There’s no shortage of degree programs that can lead to prestigious careers, but not all students are driven by the same ideals. For some, making a meaningful impact on the lives of others is a deciding factor in how they want to live their own lives. Fortunately, plenty of degree programs also lead to career paths that enable students to help others. For many living in impoverished communities, it can feel like their situation is hopeless. However, students who complete one of the below-mentioned degrees can use their skills and knowledge to help impoverished communities and uplift others.  

The Reasons Why Communities Can Become Impoverished

To help impoverished communities, it is vital to understand why they can become needy and how difficult it can be to break free from the cycle. The following are the most common causes of poverty and what degrees and career paths can enable you to assist. 

Hunger

When families struggle to make ends meet, providing children with adequate food can be difficult. Unfortunately, this can mean that those children then end up struggling to concentrate in school. Regularly going without meals can also result in inhibited brain development in children. The long-term effects include malnutrition, weakened immune systems, and stunted growth. 

Earning a degree in nonprofit management, which covers courses like nonprofit marketing, fundraising, ethics, and corporate philanthropy, can lead to a career that involves addressing the hunger issue in impoverished communities. Careers in nonprofits range from on-the-ground implementation roles to support roles, enabling you to see the positive impact that your actions are making in communities. You also don’t need to wait until you have completed your degree to start making a positive contribution. Volunteering at soup kitchens, participating in fundraising events, and collaborating with local businesses for food donations can all be done while studying.   

Education

Education is essential to getting ahead in life, but unfortunately, it is often a luxury in impoverished communities. In addition to factors such as hunger mentioned above, students frequently struggle to concentrate at school due to the conditions in their homes. It’s not uncommon for schools in impoverished communities to have fewer resources available or access to less funding than those in more affluent communities. 

Earning a degree in education can lead to a career as a teacher where you can have a direct influence on children. Children from impoverished communities need teachers and mentors who understand their circumstances and can offer the type of support they need to do better in school. Other career paths in education involve more administrative tasks, such as getting better funding for schools or working on the curricula. School counseling degrees can also lead to jobs where you can assist children from low-income households to improve their lives.

While studying education, you can use your free time to volunteer as a tutor to help children improve their academic skills. 

Substance Abuse

It is not uncommon for impoverished communities to struggle with substance abuse problems. It is a vicious cycle as people can turn to drugs and alcohol if they don’t have employment, which in turn decreases their chances of finding employment.  

Completing a degree in social work or psychology can help you become a certified substance abuse counselor who is able to help people with their problems and assist them with breaking free from the cycle. You can also gain valuable experience and start making a difference while studying by volunteering at a rehabilitation center. 

Crime

Crime can be a big problem in impoverished communities for several reasons. People can turn to crime if they do not have work or school to keep them occupied, and for many, it can feel like a means to get out of a hopeless situation. However, people who live in poorer communities are also more likely to become the victims of crime themselves. 

Earning a degree in criminal justice can open pathways to becoming a correctional treatment specialist who can assist with rehabilitating law offenders. This work can involve assessing the progress of people being rehabilitated for crimes, determining the best course of rehabilitation for them, and assisting them with getting substance abuse counseling if necessary. A law degree can also lead to a career where you can provide legal assistance to people in impoverished communities. 

While studying for your degree, you can also use your free time to volunteer as a youth mentor and encourage younger people in these areas to avoid a life of crime. 

Family Instability

A stable family unit is vital for children, but this is often a big issue in impoverished communities. When a family member is involved in a crime and arrested, it might mean that older siblings have to take care of their younger siblings instead of attending school. If the incarcerated family member is responsible for the household income, it can also put a lot of financial stress on the rest of the family. 

A degree to become a family and marriage counselor or child and family social worker can lead to a career where you can help families stay together during difficult times. Social workers can also help families in need get the required housing and benefits. 

Some support centers have volunteer positions for students who want to assist while studying. 

Conclusion

All the degrees mentioned above can help make a direct impact on the lives of others and help uplift impoverished communities. However, you can still follow your own dreams and embark on a completely different career path but still help out in other ways through donations and volunteer work.