Prosperity in Africa?

Just a quick thought: how do we turn the African economy/society round so that it is more balanced? There is a very small group of people who have everything they need - or rather- they have plentyfold of what they need - and yet it seems that most of them try to gather even more.

Then there is the vast majority who have almost nothing. Here in Uganda nature is so fertile that everybody can get something to eat everyday. It may not be enough not to feel hungry and you might have to struggle to get it but it is generally there. But apart from that some really have nothing.

Parents cannot afford sending their children to school. Even though the public primary schools are free the children are needed as a workforce. And that is if the children have parents. Many children have lost one or both of their parents to Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB and war. So the oldest child(ren) may need to work in order to get food for his/her siblings.

There is virtually no middle class here. Either you have bundles of money or you don't. If I remember correctly from my social studies/economics classes at school it is said that it is the middle class that powers the economy. The rich may spend lots of money numerically, but it tends to fizzle out of the local/national economy and end up as imports. The poor has almost no money to spend. In Europe, Asia and North America the it is the middle class that Dollar for Dollar, Pound for Pound, Yen for Yen create the most of the gross national product.

So what should Uganda do when it has no middle class? How can the so-called 1st world do to enable African societies to pull themselves out of poverty? We cannot keep pouring in money - as far as I can observe that only increases the difference between the "Have"'s and "have not"'s as the money never seem to filter through to the roots except for a tiny trickle.

The focus now are usually on empowerment projects and democracy projects. While those are right and needed and will become part of the solution, the 1st world can start and support these kinds of projects in their millions but in themselves these projects cannot solve the problems. Africa herself has to rise from her ashes, on her own willpower and determination. But how do we - Africans and Europeans, Asians and Americans (as in North/South A) - help her get a foothold and a vision that is lasting and motivating in order for every proud African to be proud of him/herself and his country and continent?