When the word “poverty” is spoken, what does your mind conjure up?
Is it an image of starving children in a faraway place with torn clothing? Or perhaps an unhoused person pushing a shopping trolley with all their worldly possessions down a crowded city street?
Though these may be the first things that come to mind, the reality encompasses so much more. Poverty is not limited to underdeveloped nations or specific ethnic groups. Poverty can mean not being able to stretch the contents of the refrigerator to last until the next payday, or sitting in darkness because the electric bill could not be paid. Poverty exists in every corner of the world, for people of all backgrounds.
Because January is Poverty Awareness Month, we wanted to take the opportunity to shed some light on this worldwide (yet officially uncategorized) epidemic.
Poverty in Numbers
According to the World Bank, across the globe nearly 700 million people are currently experiencing poverty. That means that over 8% of the entire population of the world does not have their basic human needs met.
Breaking it down, ‘poverty’ is defined by a person’s lack of ample food, water, clothing and shelter. Adding in access to healthcare and education rounds out the many traumas faced by those too poor to afford life on our shared planet.
Why are so many people poor?
There is not a singular answer to this question, but some of the most common reasons are:
Structural Inequality
Being born into deprivation in an underdeveloped nation, it’s often an insurmountable task to break the cycle of poverty. It’s not that the communities in those areas wish to remain poor or don’t have the ambition to turn their situation around, it’s that they literally don’t have the infrastructure in place to achieve their goals.
Whether due to political conflict or cultural divide, external forces cannot help in a profound enough way to restore financial stability. Sudan is an example of a country experiencing extreme poverty, with over 76% of the population suffering, yet relief groups and nonprofits cannot offer long-term solutions because the continued armed conflict on their soil prevents them from safely entering their space.
Lack of Education
An incomplete education can often lead to challenges entering and/or succeeding in the workforce, thereby prohibiting many from making a living and remaining dependent upon governmental support (if it’s even available to them in their country).
Not having access to education in impoverished nations is also a key reason for the continuation of the cycle of poverty. Many of our Cynthia Lennon Scholarship for Girls recipients are young women who are working to overcome that challenge. We are inspired by those who have utilized their educational opportunities to forge a successful path forward.
Unfortunately, the lack of education is not limited to those in underdeveloped areas of the world; there are many in the wealthiest countries in the world who do not complete school (even when available to them) due to family obligations (i.e. working a low-wage job to keep the lights on), mental health challenges and a lack of community support.
No Access to Clean Water
As many as 4 billion people struggle to get the most basic of human necessities: Clean water. Though we’ve spoken about this topic at length since it is one of our focus areas at TWFF, the problem obviously remains significant.
Without clean water to drink, prepare food and practise basic sanitation, everything else in life becomes understandably secondary, causing the inability to work and generate a living wage.
Discrimination and Inequality
Disadvantages due to race, gender, geographic location and sexual orientation can deeply impact one’s socio-economic status. As we reported in a previous essay, the gender pay gap alone continues to afflict women across the world, and only small improvements have been made to reverse the problem.
Climate Change
Natural disasters and the intensification of them due to climate change causes forced migration of communities worldwide. Just last month, The Conversation reported on the severity of this issue, which unfortunately is projected to get worse due to lack of action on scientific climate concerns.
Poverty and Crime
It is no surprise that areas that suffer from poverty are also those that experience the highest volume of criminal activity. It’s an understandable correlation, as desperation leads to acts of theft and violence when basic needs are not being met.
In developed countries such as the U.S., there is evidence that poverty contributes to the number of violent crimes committed. There was a study done in Canada several years back, which implied that cash assistance could turn these statistics around. If only the world had listened …
How to Help
Though the problem is so complex that it needs a combination of peace-restoring missions, sweeping legislations from governments, and a fundamental change in how tackling all of the individual issues are approached, there are many ways we can do our part as individuals to alleviate the pain for those who are experiencing poverty:
Support a Food Bank. Whether you spend hours as a volunteer to sort or distribute donations, or make a monthly stop at the grocery to donate food, offering help to a food bank in your local community will make a significant difference in the lives of those who are hungry. The Global Food Banking Network hosts a worldwide directory to connect you to food banks in your area.
Donate to Clean Water Projects. We welcome one-time donations or monthly subscriptions (which start at just $10 per month) to The Ripple, which is our fund specifically dedicated to bring clean water to those in need. With partners like charity:water, Farmer Tantoh and the Women Arises Association, you can rest assured your contributions are well spent.
Give Clothing to Those in Need. The Dress for Success organization has helped over a million women in over 20 countries prepare to enter the workforce with generous clothing donations that allow them to have an equal start. Visit Dress for Success to learn how to donate gift cards/store credit, or volunteer your time.
Help the Homeless. For a holistic approach to solving the unhoused problem across the world, The Ruff Institute for Global Homelessness has developed a See It, Solve It, Share It method. Learn more about how to get involved at their website. You can also reach out to homeless shelters in your own community to see what donations they are in need of (such as blankets, food, personal hygiene products, etc.) and give accordingly.
It’s important to remember that any act of advocacy, awareness or action—however big or small—toward this issue, will make a difference.
Above all else, let’s work to ensure that when we encounter someone experiencing poverty, that we treat them with the respect, dignity and compassion they deserve …
“Self Service” (2014) by Julian Lennon is available for purchase as a limited edition Archival Photographic Print. Visit Artsy for pricing and additional details. A portion of the sale proceeds of this print will benefit TWFF.
To become a member of The Pulse, which is The White Feather Foundation’s monthly donor program that supports Education & Health projects, start here.
Thank you for snapping me back into the practical steps needed to help move humanity and focus on some of our greatest challenges. It is so easy to become overwhelmed by current events and world issues. Thank you this was quite helpful.
Your gift is writing and communicating in such a genuine and authentic way. This picture tells a thousands stories. Thank you for this information and links, on how to contribute and make a difference in people’s lives. We need more like you, and I truly mean that. Much love ♥️