Reducing Poverty

As of 2017, 1 billion children live in poverty and 22,000 die annually because of their conditions. Every day, almost 2,000 children die from diseases linked to unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation. More than 100 million children under age 5 are undernourished and underweight, which contributes to 45 percent of all infant deaths.

And behind every statistic is a person. An individual with value and potential, with feelings and aspirations, a person that deserves more than they have been granted. I know because I have seen it; I have looked into the eyes of a starving boy and felt bone much too close to skin on a little girl’s hand. The effects of poverty are all too real and widespread, but actions can be taken to aide in its termination.

Increased access to education would contribute to reducing poverty. An understanding of basic skills such as reading, writing, and simple math will give children more opportunities in life. Some of these opportunities include better employment, better health, and potentially the ability to participate in the political process. Additionally, education can help save lives. It has the potential to prevent maternal and infant mortality by helping women recognize danger signs, seek care and make sure health workers are present at births. Educated women statistically have less children, which increases the likelihood the family will be able to provide for all members. Increased understanding of health and sanitation will help people prevent themselves and their families against illnesses. The most promising thing about increased access to learning, though, is that it can end entire cycles of poverty. Because of the way our economic systems operate, those who are born poor tend to stay poor their whole lives. Through the exploitation of an education system, any individual has the potential to study and work their way out of impoverishment. This will not only have positive impacts on that individual, but also their family as well. Children of educated parents are more likely to become educated themselves. Therefore that one individual who worked their way out of poverty broke the cycle for their whole family.

In Nepal, I will be working to provide impoverished children with a quality education that will be helpful to breaking the cycle of poverty for their families. This is why it is so important for me to be prepared to teach any lesson to the best of my ability because the work I am doing truly has the potential to impact the students lives and possibly even the lives of their children.