www.whyville.net Jan 15, 2007 Weekly Issue



Bearzroc
Guest Writer

Child Poverty: A Fighting Chance

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To start off, we all need to seriously face the truth. Yeah, we can live our lives all perfect not caring about any other people, and pretend the world is a happy place made out of smiles and wonderfulness, but it's not. Face it once in your life, you might go through this.

Childhood should be a happy time spent playing with friends, enjoying toys, even planning for the first day of school. But children in the real world spend most of their childhood struggling to survive, without much hope for a secure, productive healthy life. Count yourself lucky to have a family and friends.

In 2005 about 10.5 Children under 5 years died last year almost all in developing nations like Bolivia, Africa, Mexico, and Jamaica.

Treatable illnesses, such as pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and malnutrition, become life-threatening when combined with poverty, war, poor sanitation, inadequate health care and insufficient preventive measures. Children living in these conditions don't go to school and can die from a cold.

Economic, social and cultural factors keep some 121 million children, especially girls, from attending school. Faced with difficult choices, parents often take girls out of school to care for younger siblings, help with household chores or work outside the home to contribute to family income. In the world's least developed countries, only 14 percent of secondary school enrollment is female. So would you rather babysit your 3 brothers everyday all day or attend school? These girls don't have much or a choice.

For those who survive childhood, the path to a secure and happy future is still filled with obstacles. Children in developing nations have limited access to education, which limits opportunity and reduces potential.

And to finish off, we all need to put someone else first other than ourselves. World Vision and other organisations put all their income into helping children have a fighting chance. And while you sleep they're worried they might die that night because of AIDS or another horrible disease.

I interviewed two random people I saw at the beach. Their names are Kay8girl and LockeR14. You will notice one feels more strongly than the other about this important issue.

Bearzroc: What are your views on child poverty?
Kay8girl: When I see a child like on the sidewalk alone with its parent, all I think about is how the parent should have thought about what it whas doing before they had a child, so mainly it disgusts me.
LockeR14: I think child poverty is one of America's biggest issues, because children deserve a chance and when living in poverty, they don't get an education, shelter, or even a safe place to sleep at night, and children in poverty have to face the fact that they might not wake up the next morning, and that to me is a huge issue.

Bearzroc: Would you ever sponsor a child? And possibly give them a Fighting Chance? Kay8girl: Maybe, but I don't think I am old enough to, I don't have an income.
LockeR14: Definitely. Sponsering a child in poverty would make a huge impact, so I would even sponsor several. Sponsering a child would let them know that they aren't alone, and somebody cares, and that could save their life.

Bearzroc: If you lived where there was child poverty would you do anything to stop it r help it?
Kay8girl: Again, maybe but it is like one of those times where everyone says they will do something about it but nobody really does.
LockeR14: I would definitely try by starting a fundraiser of some sort, or any other movements that could get people's attention and remind them that there are kids that don't get to eat everyday, and that have no place to sleep at night.

Bearzroc: If you were a child living in poverty what would you do to stay alive?
Kay8girl: I have never thought about it but, I would probably steal food from a restraunt or something, do whatever I can to stay alive. LockeR14: I have no idea, I have never been in that situation so it's hard to say, but I would try to stay positive and remind myself that it's not the end; it's never the end until things are okay, and if things aren't okay, it's not the end.

Bearzroc:Did you ever feel moved by World Vision?
Kay8girl: Sort of. LockeR14: Yes, World Vision has opened my eyes and helped me realize that this world isn't even close to being perfect, and there are kids living on less than a dollar a day, and that I needed to make a difference and sponsor a child. I havn't sponsored one yet, but I definitely will when I get my own bank account!

Bearzroc: Would you travel to Africa and give all you clothes and some food to the Kids?
Kay8girl: I'm sorry but no. I know this sounds rude but people do have they're own problems.
LockeR14: I would definitely get my friends and family to give any clothes or food items they can. I would give children in poverty clothes of mine in a flash, because they need it alot more than I do, knowing that I have a roof over my head, and a refridgerator full of food. I would also try to inspire my friends, family, and school mates to do the same.

So while you're laying down on the couch watching tv, remember when you complain you don't have any clothes, food or shampoo, think of people who actually don't.

Bearzroc signing off.

 

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