ease poverty 是什么意思

ease poverty 是什么意思
Some American students from Florida are bringing the business of beekeeping to farmers in a community in Ghana. The program, called the Honey Project, not only gives the students a chance to own and manage a business. It also gives them a chance to help ease poverty in Agogo through beekeeping and the sale of honey. 这一段句子中的help ease poverty 如何解释?谢谢!
补充一下，help ease poverty中的ease 是什么词性，是什么意思。谢谢！