Theordore Dalrymple , (1999) Today, no one seriously expects to go hungry in England or to live without running water or medical care or even TV. Poverty has been redefined in industrial countries, so that anyone at the lower end of the income distribution is poor ex officio, as it were—poor by virtue of having less than the rich. And of course by this logic, the only way of eliminating poverty is by an egalitarian redistribution of wealth—even if the society as a whole were to become poorer as a result.
Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money.[1] Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live in absolute poverty today. Relative poverty refers to lacking a usual or socially acceptable level of resources or income as compared with others within a society or country.[1]
Research has found that there is a high risk of educational underachievement for children who are from low-income housing circumstances. This often is a process that begins in primary school for some less fortunate children. Instruction in the US educational system, as well as in most other countries, tends to be geared towards those students who come from more advantaged backgrounds. As a result, these children are at a higher risk than other children for retention in their grade, special placements during the school's hours and even not completing their high school education.[49] There are indeed many explanations for why students tend to drop out of school.. Additionally, poor children are much more likely to suffer from hunger, fatigue, irritability, headaches, ear infections, flu, and colds.[50] These illnesses could potentially restrict a child or student's focus and concentration.
Over the years there has been a reduction in poverty levels because of organisations like Programm Against Malnutrition. PAM is a local umbrella Non-Governmental Organisation working with more than 100 NGOs. As an umbrella organisation, PAM is working closely with the Zambian Government, Donors and local International Organisations. PAM has developed to be one of the leading accountable and efficient NGO on the Zambian Food Security Network.
References
Theodore Dalrymple, City Journal Spring,1990
Wikipedia.org/wiki.poverty
Share4dev.info/kb/organization.view
It is truly sad that some children and even adults do not get the proper nutrition that they need each day. I have a few kids in my classroom who live in unforunate circumstances and I know that the breakfast and lunch that they receive at school is basically it for them for the day.
ReplyDeletePoverty is a sad situation for families to face. I remember when my mother divorced my father, we wnet without quite a bit of things. But managed to make it through all the hard times. Infortunately today there is more poverty in the world. With all the wasteful spending going on in the governments no one should be hungry or homeless in any country.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!!
You shared many solid points in your blog. I totally agree that children who live in poverty have an increased chance of struggling in school. I believe that parents or caretakers faced with poverty issues struggle just to keep their family fed and clothed and do not have the energy, education, etc to help children focus on school work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!