International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It's one of the UN days which aims to raise awareness and start a conversation about how we can all come together to recognize the root causes of poverty and work together to respect the human rights and dignity of people living in poverty.
This year with the COVID19 pandemic, populations in need have been experiencing even more difficulty accessing the resources they need to survive. The same issues that have plagued these communities in the past are expected to only get worse:
1. Lack of access to clean water and nutritious food.
If you're thinking that being poor means you can't access these things, you would be right. But it's important to remember that access and poverty are linked in a cycle. When you don't have nutritious food that boosts your energy and keeps you healthy, that likely means you won't be able to work or pursue an education in a meaningful way. This would eventually lead to a loss of income which then comes back to not being able to afford healthy food.
Similarly, access to clean water continues to be a huge factor in the root causes of poverty. Oftentimes it's women and children who have to walk for kilometres in hot climates and on difficult terrain to collect water for the families and villages. Doing so takes precious time away from work or education, which then again leads back to a loss of income.
Providing communities with clean sources of water and food ensures that their basic human rights are met and they can focus on improving their lives in meaningful ways.
2. Little or no access to livelihoods
This seems obvious but it continues to be a growing problem in the developing world. Just because someone wants a job or source of income doesn't mean they can just get one. Climate change has been a huge factor in a dwindling agrarian economy in many countries which means there are simply fewer sources of income than there once were for people.
We believe in addressing the root causes of poverty worldwide, which means helping people find a sustainable solution. Our Hope Shops aim to provide people with the tools and resources they need to provide for their families and communities.
3. No access to education
Education is the key to unlocking a child's potential to a world full of possibilities. When you educate a child you're giving them the essential tools they need to lift themselves, their families, and their entire communities out of poverty. Education is at the heart of what we do and when you sponsor an orphan, you're ensuring a brighter future for their tomorrow.
#EndPovertyDay is meant to inspire positive change by calling on all of us to work together to recognize and provide solutions to the root causes of poverty worldwide so that we can realize a future where no one has to be trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty.
