Archive for category: Child Poverty

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The Children of Guinea-Bissau and Poverty

The Children of Guinea-BissauThe small, West African country of Guinea-Bissau, comprised of 88 islands, is home to 1.8 million people. Its beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches, cultural traditions and natural source of mangoes, cashews and papayas attract tourists to its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Yet of the 873,000 children of Guinea-Bissau, 70% are living in poverty. 

Children under 5 years of age account for 291,000 of the population and face the highest risk of malnutrition, stunting and high mortality rates. Child poverty in Guinea-Bissau has a detrimental effect on a child’s future by restricting opportunity. Poverty forces children as young as 5 into work, becoming debt slaves, and into sexual exploitation, with “17% engaging in child labor.”

Health and education challenges in Guinea-Bissau limit opportunities for children due to factors such as poverty, malnutrition and cultural norms. These obstacles hinder a child’s prospects. Efforts to address period poverty are ongoing, including increased pad donations, aiming to make lasting progress in ending this issue.

High Child Mortality Rates

For children under the age of 5, malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia account for 27% of deaths, with death in the first month of infancy accounting for 43%. These diseases pose a greater risk in urban areas where only 35% of children are vaccinated.

Between 2014 and 2019, child mortality rates dropped from 8.9% to 5.1%. The COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental effect on child mortality rates, due largely to health care strikes, lack of vaccinations and essential medicines, which has left them unable to access appropriate medical care. 

Malnutrition

Child poverty in Guinea-Bissau causes wasting, affecting 5% of children under the age of 5, with 28% also having stunted growth.

Limited education around infant feeding and consuming food that is poor in nutrition, alongside preventable illnesses like diarrhea and malaria, have raised the rates of malnutrition. 

For children living in poverty in Guinea-Bissau, 40.6% of children experience stunting, and even for those with a more significant income, stunting still affects 17.8%.

Health and Access to Clean Water

Accessing pediatric care for children under 15 is difficult in Guinea-Bissau due largely to the lack of pediatricians. According to UNICEF, the country has three pediatricians for every 720,000 children, and 66% of the population has to walk at least one hour to a health center. 

In terms of health, inadequate sanitation exacerbates conditions. Approximately 84% of households lack access to soap and water for proper handwashing. In 2019, merely 18% of households could access uncontaminated water, free from fecal bacteria, while just 45% had access to water points. These challenges contribute to public health issues.

Diarrhea is the second-highest cause of death for children under 5. Inadequate access to clean water causes diseases and can lead to infection or even death. 

Children’s health is a priority with Vitamin A supplements and deworming becoming “routine activities of community health workers.”

Supported by UNICEF, the integrated management of acute malnutrition (IMAM) has created training and supplies for adequate treatment. It has opened up 78 healthcare facilities nationwide to treat malnutrition. 

Education

Guinea-Bissau Annual Country Report conducted in 2022 found that “93% of cases of children who had to repeat an educational year in primary school were strongly linked to malnutrition.” 

Guinea-Bissau’s children struggle to gain an adequate education, resulting in a lack of basic skills. Teachers are often under-trained and lack suitable knowledge and resources, resulting in substandard teaching outcomes. 

For children aged between 7-14, 88% do not have basic literacy skills, and 93% are unable to demonstrate numeracy skills, with Guinea-Bissau having “a primary education completion rate of under 30%.”

Positive Steps

The World Food Programme (WFP) is working with the Guinea-Bissau government to tackle the impact of malnutrition. 179,000 children receive hot and nutritious meals. In May 2023, WFP implemented a program to provide vegetable gardens in schools, focusing on children with special needs. The program aims to promote home-grown produce that can be used in schools. 

The WFP provides nutritious meals to children, and alongside the Social Behavior Change and Communication campaign, the organization is tackling cultural views on eating habits and locally sourced food. 

Children in Guinea-Bissau with disabilities face further challenges when accessing education. The Humanity and Inclusion U.K. has been working to make schools more accessible to disabled children, and while its education program ended in March 2022, it is working toward implementing further programs and improvements. 

The children of Guinea-Bissau face difficulties accessing health care, education and getting out of poverty. However, key steps by organizations like UNICEF, WFP and Humanity & Inclusion U.K. are creating opportunities for children to reach their full potential. With continued support and investment, there is hope for the children of Guinea-Bissau to rise above poverty and access better health care and education.

– Isabel R. Burnside
Photo: Flickr

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The Ways Leaders Work Towards Solving Child Poverty in Uruguay

Child Poverty

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), COVID-19 heavily impacted Uruguay, causing delays in addressing poverty-related issues such as education and access to health care. The government has initiated programs to compensate for the lost time, especially for children’s issues.

According to a 2022 report by Prensa Latina, 22.5% of Uruguayan children under age six live in poverty. This figure is twice the estimated rate of the general population, which is 10.7%. Humanium reports significant numbers of children have been rendered homeless or are living in slums without access to basic amenities such as clean drinking water or electricity. Many are exposed to hazardous conditions, including gang violence and child labor. Here is information about what some are doing to address child poverty in Uruguay.

A Right to Education

According to UNICEF, Uruguay has implemented the Educational Transformation program to enhance access to and quality of education. This program reduced the disparity between children of different economic backgrounds. The reform enabled educators to gain more complete training, placing qualified teachers in economically disadvantaged areas. 

Furthermore, the Digital Bridges for Educational Equity initiative facilitated learning on digital platforms, which helps overcome barriers to classroom access, including providing children with the necessary technology for it. The agenda facilitated various initiatives geared towards enhancing education at all grade levels. These include an English curriculum for secondary school students, a literacy promotion campaign and an online learning platform called Plataforma de Lengua, which offers Spanish language and literature content.

Household Income 

Numerous factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and unemployment rates, have contributed to child poverty in Uruguay. The United Nations University (UNU) reports that poverty increased 2.8% in 2020 alone. To address this issue, the Uruguayan government introduced the Asignaciones Familiares (AFAM) program in 2021, which provided unemployment insurance to those who lost their jobs. This enabled them to receive subsidies from the government to help them cope with the economic downturn, which decreased poverty by 1.6%. The AFAM program has been instrumental in mitigating the impact of unemployment on child poverty in Uruguay.

The Psychological Impact

UNU reports on the significance of the psychological ramifications of poverty on children. Children in poverty-stricken families experience feelings of shame and mental health issues, leading to disenfranchisement from attending school. This removal from the stability of an educational environment increases psychological stress, reduces future employment options and leaves children vulnerable to predation.

In response, Uruguay developed an app called GURÍ, which facilitates communication between teachers and parents, actively engaging parents in their child’s education and allowing for proper supervision of the issues they face. The efficacy of any program designed to mitigate cognitive biases in children and alter their perceptions of school is contingent upon the parents’ active engagement with the program. While governments may provide support, parents must facilitate the process for the scheme to be effective. Uruguay hopes to continue engaging parents and increasing school attendance.

Housing

The Uruguayan government increased urban housing for rural citizens, who often lack access to essential services. The United Postal Union supports the government’s efforts to address this issue by implementing an ‘addressing’ system. This system aims to transfer individuals to urban areas or provide them with accessible infrastructure in rural regions.

The Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEuy) is a database that allocates and catalogs addresses for residents, making them eligible for support in urban areas. This strategy connects people of all economic classes, regardless of financial status, which helps increase children’s access to educational and medical support. By leveraging this system, the government is working towards bridging the gap between urban and rural areas and ensuring all citizens have access to essential services.

Conclusion

These examples illustrate Uruguay’s significant strides towards ending child poverty. The fortitude and perseverance of Uruguayans who face adversity are inspiring. With the backing of their government and the international community, substantial progress can provide children with optimal opportunities to realize their aspirations and lead healthy lives.

– Jordan Cunningham
Photo: Flickr

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Ending the Cycle of Child Poverty in Singapore Through Education

Child Poverty in SingaporeThe Republic of Singapore, a tropical island and city in Southeast Asia centered around the Malay peninsula, suffers from high rates of child poverty. Here are some facts about child poverty in Singapore and what some are doing to address it.

The Cycle of Poverty

Education is a key factor in overcoming child poverty. Children from low-income families are more likely to struggle to match their peers. In Singapore, 3% of school-age children are not proficient in reading.

Children who struggle to stay in school due to unmet financial needs have a higher risk of remaining in poverty, continuing a cycle when they have children of their own. Children who struggle with poverty are at risk of failing to achieve the core competencies necessary for growth and development. To combat this, Singapore offers financial assistance to families whose children are at risk of leaving school in order to help financially contribute to the household.

Attending libraries assists families that cannot afford to buy toys or books that are necessary to reach developmental milestones. Libraries can provide access to all educational tools. The benefits of children doing extra reading outside of school hours have been found to increase their inspiration and vocabulary skills. In Singapore, families with an annual income of around $60,000 per year struggle with obtaining educational materials for childhood learning and development.

Government initiatives toward encouraging access to education are important to end the cycle of child poverty in Singapore. Having parents who finish secondary education has been shown to increase a child’s vocabulary skills significantly—children of educated parents have an average range of 600 vocabulary words by age 3, compared to 250 words for children of uneducated parents.

Children’s Rights in Singapore

The Children’s Ordinance originated in 1927 to ensure that all children were safe from any type of poverty. In 1946, the Social Welfare Department began to raise awareness of social issues, including child poverty. The Social Welfare Department assists individuals and families struggling with finding health care, employment and affordable food. 

In 1950, efforts to protect children from neglect and abuse through community activities and youth sports leagues became the Children and Young Persons Act, giving children increased legal protection. In 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child combined children’s legal access to health care, education and social services.

Education Resources

Originating in 2000, the I Can Read campaign supports literacy from home. Children enhance their language skills through an online platform that is geared to provide a school-like setting.

The nonprofit organization Kidstart supports families during the early stages of childhood development, serving children under 6 years old. Its aim is to build stronger relationships between children and parents and empower children to discover more about their communities.

My Home School supports international schooling, with a curriculum based on the Charlotte Mason method, providing in-home education to children from Kindergarten to Secondary 4.

Overcoming the Cycle of Poverty

Education is an important factor in overcoming poverty. A great resource to help fight poverty is FreeRice. It donates grains of rice to the World Food Programme for every question that participants answer correctly.

– Paige Couture
Photo: Flickr

Child Poverty in Slovakia

Minorities within Slovakia, such as the Roma population, are still facing daily struggles with poverty. Child poverty in Slovakia is evident, and children face several issues, such as abuse, lack of education and a lack of access to health care. Many children face harsh living conditions without running water, sewer systems and electricity. It is often seen that their development is harmed due to the lack of proper nutrition. The population of children in Slovakia is 1.2 million, and 19.7% are impoverished.

School in Slovakia

Although many Slovakian children do have access to schools, it is apparent that minority groups do not have the same access to education throughout the country. Often, these children of minority groups are sent to mentally handicapped schools. However, they are not seen to have symptoms of any mental or learning disabilities, therefore severely damaging their opportunity for psychological development. Reports by Eurochild show that there is a high number of high school dropouts in the Roma minority population.

Child Abuse in Slovakia

There is a significant issue with child abuse within Slovakia. For every 100,000 children, one will die of abuse. Many parents still consider abuse as a disciplinary tool. Despite significant efforts to prevent child trafficking by the Slovak government, trafficking is still a prominent problem. There are significantly low conviction rates for those caught committing crimes involving sex trafficking, and very few serve jail time after these prosecutions. 

Child Health Care in Slovakia

There is also a significant struggle for rural and minority populations to access health care. Due to a poor public transportation system, complications occur when trying to reach hospitals. There is a 9% death rate for infants and a 10% death rate for children over the age of 5. Slovakia currently struggles with a shortage of doctors, restricting many children from vitally needed care. Slovakia has some of the highest death rates from preventable mortalities within the EU. 

Child Labor in Slovakia

Although child labor is banned within Slovakia, it is still an issue. It is often seen through begging or sending young children to ask for money. Traffickers often force Roma children with disabilities to beg on the streets throughout Western Europe. Many labor traffickers exploit Slovak children in foreign countries in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Labor effects mainly target young boys and men to carry out physically demanding tasks. Young girls are more vulnerable to domestic labor, such as cleaning or working in restaurants or massage parlors.

Looking Ahead

Although Slovakia is still battling with child poverty, the country is taking strides to counteract its struggles and better the lives of many Slovak children. The government initiated a trafficking prevention scheme, conducting public awareness campaigns about the signs of trafficking. It also issued a prevention scheme for child labor in which all worker recruitment companies were forced to register with the government, therefore limiting child exploitation. The Slovak government aims to create 170 new GP jobs between 2022 and 2026, therefore increasing the accessibility of health care.

–Elle Chipperfield 

Photo: Flickr

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Child Poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Child Poverty in Bosnia and HerzegovinaChildren within Bosnia and Herzegovina are some of the most vulnerable in Europe as years of occupation and civil war have left a fractured society. The unraveling of the state of Yugoslavia meant leaders using Serbian ethno-nationalism rose to power across the region. After years of conflict and the ethnic cleansing of Bosniak Muslim men and women, the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement was signed. While it did mean a physical end to the conflict, the country struggled to pull itself out of the dark shadow of war.

Not only did the socio-economic conditions of post-war Bosnia make development difficult, the country’s high exposure to floods, landslides, earthquakes and wildfires posed serious problems. Twenty percent of Bosnia is susceptible to floods, which can severely impact infrastructure and leave thousands homeless.

The Rise of Child Poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina 

According to UNICEF, almost all children under the age of four are deprived of at least one dimension of multidimensional poverty. Child poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina is rising at alarming rates. In 2011, 30.6% of children lived in poverty, compared to 23.4% of the total population. The right to education is not standardized within the country, and due to the practical division of the nation, there are numerous cases of discrimination against students based on their origin.

The Impact of Child Poverty on Education

 The lack of education perpetuates a vicious cycle of child poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the intergenerational poverty transfer is a stark reminder of the need to improve education provisions for all children within the country. Children, adolescents and the rural population are the most affected by poverty within the country and children of ethnic minorities, including the Romani, face increased adversity due to heightened discrimination. 

Romani Communities and Poverty

During the war, Romani families had to leave their homes and rarely recovered their houses. Even today, much of the Roma community lives in incredibly harsh conditions and often in extreme poverty. Generally, the education levels for Romani children, and girls in particular, are weak. A report from the European Commission in 2020 found that ethnic discrimination against the Roma community is evident in the provision of services like housing, health care, education and employment. Numerous children are victims of trafficking, mainly young girls and adolescents, who are targets of prostitution rings. These networks kidnap or, less often, pay the parents to take advantage of young girls in Bosnia, in the Balkans region and throughout Europe. However, work by the government and NGOs within the country is being maintained to prevent child trafficking.

 Government Support for Poverty

The government implemented the 2020-2023 national strategy, and the State Coordinator produced an annual progress report and coordinated meetings with international organizations and local NGOs. The government has continuously funded these NGOs as they have begun to increasingly involve law enforcement and social workers in potential cases of child trafficking. In cooperation with NGO-run shelters, the government provided accommodation, psycho-social support, medical assistance, food and hygiene and legal assistance.

The government is making strides in eliminating the worst forms of child labor in the country. The Council of Ministers approved the National Action Plan for the Social Inclusion of Roma, which aims to improve education access for Roma children. In addition, the Anti-Trafficking Strike Force expanded its membership to include representatives from outside agencies.

World Vision and UNICEF Assisting with Child Rights 

World Vision is another organization that aims to improve child rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It works to improve overall coordination and collaborative action between the government and civil society, as well as improve efforts to remove all barriers present in children’s lives within the country. Its goal is to amplify the voices of young people in the state, which, in turn, empowers them to seek change.

UNICEF is another critical player as their public information campaigns regarding improving child education and early health care reached more than 1.6 million people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they educated 2,294 parents about the importance of child immunizations and worked on air pollution programs through youth activism to encourage discussions with local authorities about preventing respiratory illnesses seen in children.

The work of developmental organizations within Bosnia and Herzegovina is vital in ensuring increased provisions to reduce child poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

– Maryam Rana
Photo: Flickr

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Child Hunger in the Central African Republic

Child Food PovertyThe Central African Republic, a landlocked nation in sub-Saharan Africa, is bordered to the south by the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, to the west by Cameroon, and to the north by Chad and South Sudan. Founded as an independent nation after a period of French colonial rule in 1960, the Central African Republic was saturated with various structural challenges dating from before and during colonial administration. The product of this history and several ongoing conflicts, as well as poverty from decades of relative economic and land mismanagement, have resulted in the Central African Republic failing to overcome among the highest poverty rates globally. Land and natural resource mismanagement has, in particular, rendered the nation’s most vulnerable populations, especially children, vulnerable to food insecurity. There are four primary causes of this child hunger.

Civil War

Following several military coups and continued ethnic tension dating from the nineteenth century culminated in a civil war beginning in the 1990s. Over the past twenty years, the nation has transitioned back to constitutional democracy since a final pro-democracy military coup in 2003 brought a new constitution and various multi-party elections. However, civil wars remain prominent, with several rebel organizations still active in the country’s north. Following these conflicts, the central government’s institutions, based in the Central African Republic’s historic metropolitan center, Bangui, have been substantially weakened, limiting the ability of public institutions to provide essential social services reliably. Additionally, recent post-election violence has added to this deprivation.

Economic Activity and Supply

Though many ceasefires have kept military tensions from worsening, rebel militias remain in control of large swathes of the nation, hampering economic output in all sectors, including agriculture. This dynamic has worsened poverty due to an absence of employment opportunities; 75% of the Central African Republic’s population is impoverished, statistically among the highest globally. This, coupled with a 35% reduction in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, has led to most households losing purchasing power, with recent reports indicating 65% to 75% of household income is allocated towards food.

The Most Vulnerable Demographics

High socioeconomic inequality most impacts women and young children in rural regions of the country, partially the result of longstanding inequality of land ownership common in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, rural families depending on subsistence or localized agriculture, already strained by circumstance, were often most impacted by the depredation of civil war. This has most substantially affected children among the youth population of the Central African Republic. Currently, the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, estimates that 40% of children under five years of age are suffering from malnutrition, while 30% suffer from malnutrition; rates are considered an “emergency threshold.” This growing number of malnourished children has prompted fears that already limited access to social services, such as education, will be exacerbated. This has rendered international food aid fundamental to preventing backsliding, in particular related to children. Currently, the World Food Program provides 36,000 children under 5 years of age with fortified meals as part of the initiative to improve nutrition, vaccination rates and health training.

International Efforts

Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, immediate impacts on Ukrainian grain exports, on which sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly dependent, especially nations that rely on food imports, such as the Central African Republic. Increased costs for food imports, of importance due to structurally low domestic productivity, are overextending residents in the world’s poorest nations, including the Central African Republic. 

This development has been especially pronounced among already impoverished children, with child malnutrition increasing at high rates; since 2020, severe acute malnutrition among children under five years of age has increased by 25%. This has acted to reverse decades of efforts by international aid organizations, ranging from the International Monetary Fund, UNICEF, and prominent national donors, to counter the precarious situation for children and other vulnerable demographics, such as women in rural areas, with investments to improve security and resources. 

Before recent setbacks, child hunger in the Central African Republic was relatively lower than its neighboring countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with most large families obtaining direct and widespread international aid. In 2017 alone, UNICEF programs aided 850,000 in the Central African Republic through initiatives such as the WASH, a series of centers nationwide providing safe drinking water educational and health care services.

In conclusion, while international aid has proven integral to improving the impoverished circumstances in the Central African Republic, child hunger remains an ongoing and worsening crisis as the scale of deprivation among children is exacerbated by external factors, such as the war in Ukraine. As a result, organizations such as the IMF and individual nations are evaluating ways to encourage reform and expand programs. However, though a consensus remains, both are contingent on continued funding for the international programs that have prevented more significant crises from emerging.

– Cormac Sullivan
Photo: Flickr

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5 Facts About Child Poverty in Kosovo

Child Poverty in KosovoKosovo, a small country in southeastern Europe, declared itself independent on February 17, 2008, after experiencing ethnic violence and forced displacement in the late 1990s. The United States (U.S.) officially recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state on February 18. This marked a significant development in Kosovo’s history after a challenging period. However, only around 100 United Nations (U.N.) member states recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state.

Kosovo remains one of the poorest countries in Europe, with an estimated 23% of the population living in poverty. The country struggles with widespread corruption and a low employment rate, with the unemployment rate in Kosovo predicted to reach 22% by the end of 2023.

Poverty in Kosovo has a big impact on children, mainly because many Kosovans had to leave their homes during the Kosovo War and couldn’t go back. The education system is also not doing well. Just 41% of kids in Kosovo have good reading skills, and only 42% are strong in math. For children from minority groups like Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, the numbers are even lower—18% in reading and 13% in math. This makes it harder for them to succeed in the future.

The nation’s struggle to join the European Union (EU), mainly because of the Serbian deadlock, significantly contributes to its ongoing issue of high child poverty rates. This situation has lasting effects on the well-being of children in the country.

5 Important Facts About the Issue of Child Poverty in Kosovo

  1. Poverty disproportionately affects children in Kosovo: Not only does poverty disproportionately affect Kosovan children, but particularly children from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, or those who have disabilities or live in rural areas. Moreover, children in Kosovo account for half of those benefitting from social assistance.
  2. Only a fraction of Kosovo’s GDP goes toward social protection:  The country spends 8.5% of its GDP on social protection, compared to an average of 28% in the wider EU. Therefore, access to health care, education and other social services remains limited for its children, exacerbating the issue of child poverty in Kosovo.
  3. Child begging: Child begging is a significant concern in Kosovo, notably affecting Romany children and serving as a major sign of child poverty. In the initial half of 2023, authorities intervened and recorded 41 cases of child begging, potentially setting a new yearly record. The prevalence of this issue highlights ongoing challenges related to child poverty in Kosovo.
  4. High child mortality rate: Child mortality rates are a concern, especially in certain communities where the numbers are higher. For example, in Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, the child mortality rate is eight times higher than the EU average. There are also differences in health services, with only 38% of children under 2 fully immunized in these communities, compared to 73% in the general population (UNICEF 2021).
  5. Active Charities: Several charities work tirelessly to alleviate child poverty in Kosovo. Actions for Mother and Children (AMC) stands out as a crucial player, dedicated to supporting Kosovo’s mothers and children facing poverty since 2009. AMC takes a dual approach: advocating for improved health care for mothers and children and raising funds to provide essential life-saving equipment and medications. Notably, its Women’s Health Resource Center program, launched in 2014, has been instrumental. This initiative educates and supports women throughout pregnancy, delivery and the early postpartum period, impacting at least 10,000 pregnant women and their partners since January 2014.

Looking to the Future

As Kosovo looks to the EU for guidance on its future, charities like AMC are tackling child poverty. This work is vital as the country navigates its path, waiting to see what its European future holds.

– Eleanor Lomas
Photo: Flickr

Efforts to Address Child Poverty in Slovenia

Child Poverty in SloveniaChild poverty is one of the most pressing issues that humanity faces. Children who do not have access to essential human needs like a stable food source or access to medical care have a far greater chance of disease and death than a child with access to those fundamental rights. Although it has made significant strides in the last decade in reducing child poverty and providing health care to its people, roughly 10.5% of children born in Slovenia are born into poverty, according to the World Bank. Fortunately, strategies are in place to alleviate the poverty rate among children in Slovenia.

Government Initiatives to Address Child Poverty in Slovenia

In 2021 each member of the European Union vowed to implement initiatives that would drive down the rate of poverty among its citizens. Slovenia, like every other EU nation, came up with its own strategies to help alleviate the child poverty rate in their country. Despite the significant number of people in Slovenia and Europe who have access to good health care, a stable food source and places to live, the EU still values Child Poverty as a pressing issue that must be eliminated.

One of the initiatives taken by the Slovenian government is implementing more accessible health services for children who may not otherwise have access to them. In particular, there has been a steady effort since 2018 to make mental health care a priority among Slovenian youth. Studies show that 50% of mental health disorders develop by age 15 in teenagers. By the age of 25, that number has increased to 75%. With the implementation of a National Mental Health Program, Slovenia hopes to build 25 mental health centers by 2028. Nineteen of these have already been constructed. The plan underscores suicide prevention and the prevention of all mental illness in children as a critical component of their overall strategy to fight child poverty in Slovenia.

Another initiative that aims to help curtail child poverty in Slovenia is the availability of beds specifically for marginalized groups who are left homeless due to forces outside their control. All in all, 1,280 beds are available to those who need them most. These houses give people a place to live when they otherwise would have been turned away for a litany of reasons. Whether they come from an abusive household or came to Slovenia from another country, this program aims to temporarily resolve housing issues and help children have one less thing to worry about.

Food Aid for Children in Slovenia

In 2021, 20.14% of all the people in Slovenia who required food aid were children 15 years and younger. The “Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived” is one such program that deals with this exact issue. In 2019 the EU conducted a mid-term evaluation of what their FEAD program had done since 2014. They had assisted over 1.2 million people with aid for food, clothing and other essentials.  Thirty percent of the recipients of aid were children. That equates to close to 360,00 children who received aid from this program in the years of 2014-2017. This program’s goal is “to eliminate the most severe forms of poverty by providing non-financial assistance to the most deprived in the form of food” and to “eliminate the most severe forms of poverty by providing non-financial assistance to the most deprived.” As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional food was made available via the EU, giving the commission more money to get this program off the ground. All these goals that the Slovenian Government has put forward aim to reduce child poverty by the year 2030.

Final Thoughts

Despite the vast majority of people in Slovenia having access to necessities, there is still a minority that needs assistance from their government. Whether through housing provided until they find their footing, mental health facilities designed to help diagnose and treat mental illness in children, or food aid programs that make it so people don’t have to worry about their next meal. The Slovenian government has shown that it is ready and committed to ending child poverty in Slovenia.

– Calder Miller
Photo: Flickr

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Child Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean

Child Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean
In the last three years, children moving through migration routes in Latin America and the Caribbean have reached a record-breaking number. Not only has the number increased, but the age range of these children has gotten even younger. The child migration journeys in Latin America and the Caribbean pose various challenges. 

Comparing the Numbers

The proportion of children in the migrant population for this region in 2019 was 19%; in 2023, the number stands at 25%. Around the world, children currently account for 13% of the migrant population, showing that child migration in Latin America and the Caribbean is higher than the global proportion. In addition, the age group of these child migrants is becoming increasingly younger, with around 69-91% of all the child migrants below the age of 11 years old. Many of these children need to leave their homes due to gang violence, poverty and climate change/natural disaster events, but the journey through Latin America and the Caribbean is only putting their lives at greater risk.

Impacts of These Migration Journeys

There are three major routes that the children are taking: the Darién jungle between Colombia and Panama, the Chile-Peru border point and at points in northern Central America and Mexico. The Darién jungle is an extremely popular route yet one of the most dangerous walks on earth; not only do the children walk through the whole forest, but the area is also roadless and includes many mountains. Similarly, migrating through the Chile-Peru border, northern Central America and Mexico involves crossing rivers, highways and railway lines. 

Children traveling these routes face significant risks. These dangers include injuries, diseases, human trafficking, abuse and separation from their families. In 2022, the number of children who died or went missing while migrating through this area reached an eight-year high, with at least 92 documented deaths. Many migrants are originating from distant regions, such as Asia and Africa, further increasing the likelihood of family separation, injuries and fatalities.

Other consequences the children face are not receiving education, protection and health care when they reach their destination. According to UNICEF, an assessment completed in 2022 revealed that “24% of Venezuelan children in Colombia aged 6 to 11 — and nearly 40% aged 12 to 17 — did not attend school.” It has also become evident that there are a lot of Haitian migrant families who cannot receive legal identification, limiting their opportunities for social benefits, health care and efficient housing.  

Ongoing Action

There are two organizations that are actively addressing the child migration crisis: UNICEF and Save the Children. UNICEF has been operating in these regions to provide critical support and protection to affected people. Despite its ongoing efforts for the past several months, UNICEF currently faces a funding shortfall of approximately $32.5 million since August 2023. Meeting these funding requirements is crucial as it would enable UNICEF to provide additional support for safe migration, establish organized migration pathways, protect children from violence during their journeys and ensure access to essential aid.

Save the Children operates in various countries, including Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, to improve living conditions. The organization directly assists children and women, addressing some of the factors that lead people to leave their homes. Recognizing the importance of education for child migrants, Save the Children is actively working to enhance the educational systems in these nations. In Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala, the organization has implemented peacebuilding initiatives in schools and provided training to students and teachers to create safe, violence-free learning environments.

Additionally, in South American countries, the organization supplies school kits and educational programs, ensuring that children can access education while on the move or during their stay in host communities.

Looking to the Future

As cases of child migration increase in Latin America and the Caribbean, so does the need to protect them. Many children are fleeing violence, natural disasters, poverty and instability, but their journey through Latin America and the Caribbean is perilous. Even upon reaching their destinations, these children and families often face harsh living conditions. While organizations such as UNICEF and Save the Children are actively supporting these children on the ground, there are still thousands of children struggling for survival along these migration routes.

– Jessica Wang
Photo: Flickr

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Unearthing the Challenge: Child Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

Child Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa
In the modern world, few countries suffer as harshly as those in sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to child poverty. Per a 2023 UNICEF-World Bank Report, more than 40% of children in sub-Saharan Africa live below the extreme poverty line, i.e., living on less than $2.15 a day, accounting for more than 70% of the children living in poverty worldwide. 

Despite every effort at the international level, epitomized by the United Nations’ promise to end extreme child poverty by 2030 in their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative, sub-Saharan Africa’s share of the world’s children in poverty rose from 54.8% in 2013 to 71.1% in 2022. The focus of this article is to decipher the key driving factors influencing this crisis, illustrate the extent of the issue and its impact on children in sub-Saharan Africa and discuss the actions taken to stifle it from the ground level up. 

A Multifaceted Conundrum: The Key Factors at Play

Child poverty in this region is not a singular problem but a multifaceted challenge rooted in historical, economic, social and political contexts. The consequences of such have left local communities with limited access to effective means of health care, education and basic services, facilitating an insurmountable cycle of poverty. Corruption, unstable governance and conflict in some regions of sub-Saharan Africa hinder economic development and divert resources away from poverty-alleviation efforts, with the UNICEF report estimating one in three children in conflict-torn states living in extreme poverty compared to one in 10 in non-fragile states. 

High levels of unemployment and underemployment, coupled with a largely informal economy, mean that many families struggle to earn a reliable income. Climate shocks are one of the leading factors for concern, with data suggesting at least 1.85 million children were displaced from their homes by the end of 2022 due to natural disasters, up from only 1 million in 2021. But a primary component fuelling this child poverty crisis in sub-Saharan Africa is rapid population growth and inadequate access to family planning further strains the already limited resources of family households. 

Innocence Lost: The Devastating Consequences of Child Poverty 

The effects of poverty are most damaging for children, hindering their social development and education and potentially their physical, emotional and cognitive well-being. Deprived of sufficient provisions in health care, education and often shelter and dietary needs, the likelihood of a reasonable upbringing is scarce. Limited nutrients can lead to malnutrition and stunted growth. Underdeveloped shelter leads to exposure to environmental hazards and increases the risk of illness. Children subject to poverty will typically see limited career opportunities and be subject to manipulation from criminal groups. This likelihood only further fuels poverty’s perpetual cycle by impeding intellectual development that would otherwise seed the basis for reform and development. 

Hope in Action: A Look Into Poverty Relief Efforts 

Child poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is a multifaceted issue, demanding a versatile approach to relief. Various NGOs, government bodies and IGOs are investing considerable time, resources and work into relief efforts, exemplified by the Irish Government’s Official Development Aid (ODA) initiative that has surmounted more than €1.233 billion in provisions for 2023 — noting a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

There are countless international initiatives pushing to overcome these crises, such as Feed the Future, and spurring economic growth in states such as Malawi, Ethiopia, Kenya and more. In Fiscal Year 2021, “USAID and the U.S. Department of State provided $8.5 billion of assistance to 47 countries and eight regional programs in sub-Saharan Africa.” In addition to this aid, the IMF has reported providing more than $50 billion between 2020 and 2022 while maintaining lending relationships with 21 Sub-Saharan African countries as of March 2023. 

However, despite considerable investment from foreign aid, economic growth is expected to slow to 3.6% — below the global recovery rate. According to an IMF report, foreign aid accounts for just 2.5% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, down from 4% in the early 2000s due to the continued trimming of Western aid budgets. With the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and regular natural disasters causing panic, as seen in Morocco and Libya, conditions are unlikely to improve anytime soon. 

Addressing child poverty is not only a moral imperative but also an investment in a more equitable and prosperous future for societies where every child has the chance to thrive.

– Ruairí Greene
Photo: Flickr