As citizens of our respective countries, most of us lead a prosperous life. We have houses, air-conditioning, and access to fresh water. Most of us are accustomed to a life of pleasure and comfort.
Many do not know the true meaning of poverty and the underlying effects it has on people. Most people think of poverty as simply being poor or not making much money. Real poverty is trying to survive without the most basic resources such as food, water, or shelter.
In developing countries such as Africa, poverty is a critical issue. Many children are affected by poverty. Can you imagine being a child with no bed of your own, no toys, and not even a proper place to call home? Life for African child stricken with poverty is a constant struggle.
According to Care.org, poverty puts children at risk for sexual exploitation, human trafficking, child labor, and early marriage [1]. Worldwide, 168 million children age 5-14 were already engaged in child labor, with 85 million of them working in hazardous conditions as of a decade ago [1]. To help support their families or to escape poverty, children are being sent to work as early as the age of 5.
One of the most important parts of being a child is the experience childhood. Poverty is depriving innocent children of that childhood. Instead of frolicking and enjoying their precious time as a child, they have toil in the sun to earn money so they can help support their families. The dangerous working conditions they are put through often have a high mortality rate.
A proper education is something every child should have so they can be successful in their life, but 17 million school-age children in Africa will never attend school [2]. If children are not attending school, they are not likely to acquire the basic skills needed to live productive lives. For those lucky enough to attend primary school, many children don’t seem to be learning very much [3]. Poverty causes a lack of proper resources which can restrain a child’s ability to learn. Additionally, due to the fact that many people are so poor, they cannot afford to send their children to school because they barely have enough money to survive.
The United Nations have estimated that approximately 26 million Africans in poverty have an increased chance of contracting AIDs and HIV, and various other diseases such as malaria, cholera, and polio [4]. Children are particularly vulnerable to malaria, diarrheal diseases, respiratory tract infections, and strokes. [5]. Due to impoverished conditions and the lack of proper medical resources, curable diseases often lead to death. With the proper sanitation and equipment, many children could have lived healthy lives and they could have survived to accomplish great things
Here at Develop Africa, we try to lessen the burden of poverty on children in Africa. Imagine that wonderful feeling when you have the knowledge that you are enriching a child’s life and ensuring them a better future. By donating or raising awareness for Develop Africa, you are not only helping out family but you are giving a child a prospect of the future.
By: Anirudh Vaiyapuri
References:
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1. Dfava. “Facts About Children and Poverty.” CARE, 22 Jan. 2014,
http://www.care.org/work/poverty/child-poverty/facts
2. Fleet, Justin W. van. “Africa’s Education Crisis: In School But Not Learning.” Brookings, Brookings, 10 Aug. 2017, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2012/09/17/africas-education-crisis-in-school-but-not-learning/
3. Devarajan, Shanta. “Africa's Learning Crisis.” AfricaCan End Poverty, 17 Sept. 2012,
http://blogs.worldbank.org/africacan/africa-s-learning-crisis
4. Beaubien, Jason. “AIDS, Other Diseases Create Poverty Trap in Africa.” NPR, NPR, 12 Oct. 2006
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6247813
5. FACTSHEET: The Leading Causes of Death in Africa in 2012.” Africa Check,
https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-the-leading-causes-of-death-in-africa/
