Due to still not hearing from any of the international
professionals yet. I even attempted to contact new ones and still no responses
so I browsed Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s page: http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/ .
This page was interesting because it focuses on childhood
poverty in Kyrgyzstan, which is located on the continent of Asia. It has
meaning promising areas to read about but there were three insights that caught
my attention. One was how the children’s health development was affected due to
poverty. Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (2004) notes that health
and nutrition trends have been deteriorating quickly each year. The water and
living conditions are terrible and results in children developing diseases and
cannot afford health care, as well as, inadequate areas for people to lay their
heads” (p. 25-27).
Another insight is they classify children into different
groups, from working to street children to migrant and disabled children. It
goes deeper in detail about each group. CHIP (2004) discusses how working
children may turn to trading objects or prostituting but return home. Street
children live away from their parents, due to abuse or hungry. Migrant children,
who have a high school degree, but still suffer and poor. Last category is the
disabled children that are limited to what jobs they are able to complete, thus
leaving them let out (pp. 33-39).
There are many other insights but the last one I will
discuss and very important is education. CHIP (2004) focuses on how poverty
issues force children to forget their education because they are unable to
focus on it (pp. 28-33). A lot of the issues or trends discussed in this
article are the same issues or trends most children are faced with no matter
where they live -if they are living in poverty.
A side note is about the site that I have been following
called Save the Children, which is a current issue broadcasted on their website.
It shows hero stories from the Oklahoma Tornado Survival, during that tragic
ordeal one year later.
References
Childhood Poverty
Research and Policy Centre. (2004). Childhood
Poverty in Kyrgyzstan. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://www.r4d.dfid.gov.uk/pdf/outputs/childhoodpoverty/chip_report_1_(english).pdf
Save the
Children. (2014). Hanging on so tight. Retrieved
May 22, 2014, from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm
Nakita,
ReplyDeleteWhen I get hungry I get an attitude and a headache, I cannot imagine not having food consumption for days or months at a time; unfortunately many of our children are facing this issue. No child should ever suffer from the lack of food. Poverty is devastating.
Children’s Defense Fund (2012) stated “More than 16.1 million children in America are poor, but they live in working families. A disproportionate number are Black and Latino. Poor children lag behind their peers in many ways beyond income: They are less healthy, trail in emotional and intellectual development, and are less likely to graduate from high school” (para.1). If we want our children to have a bright future, we as educators and policymakers must seek a way to end hunger and poverty worldwide.
Reference:
Children's Defense Fund. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy-priorities/ending-child-poverty/
Hi! Nakita, Thank you for sharing the poverty situation and its affect in Kyrgyzstan. When reading your post, i recalled similar situations from my own country, Nepal, India, where the poverty level is very similar to Krygystan. It is very heartbreaking to see children suffering and just to realize how our world is divided into different economic levels. There are children with everything, and in some part, children without even a proper food to eat. I am glad that there are many national and international non-profit organizations that help these children and families living in poverty. Thank you again for sharing your learning experiences...it is great to know poverty level in every part of the world.
ReplyDeleteNakita,
ReplyDeleteI like a quote by Confucius that says: "In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of" Confucius' I really do believe that it is shameful for any nation;s children to be born, raised and live in poverty all or most of their lives. This is truly eye opening and an awareness lesson for me. It is not that we do not know about the poverty all around us, it is because many have become desensitized about others and their needs, and is so focused on themselves. Gone are most of the communities that used to care about neighbors and the children, seeing that they were fed and clothed at least. We as educators really do have to be more proactive on issues that affect children because they are truly tomorrow's leaders.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/poverty.html#1Mkw2rjJJ5sKTJLu.99
Hi Nakita,
ReplyDeleteI also had trouble making a contact, so I too searched Chip, Childhood Poverty Centre. Although the cities and countries are different, isn't it fascinating how the idea of so much poverty is in each country. I often wonder how could it get to this when so many people have so much and other have so little.
You discussed disabled children in your blog. I never thought about this before. When a family has a child with developmental concerns it is extremely hard to face all the adversity. I can only image the extreme challenges of having a child with a disability and living in poverty. This is why the community needs to play a vital role in children's lives.
ReplyDelete