Is global poverty solvable?

can we solve the Global Poverty Challenge?

385 million children live in extreme poverty.
2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines.
821 million children, women and men around the world are undernourished.

These facts are staggering and may seem like insurmountable challenges with no resolution.

While the path out of poverty is not an easy one, when you put these issues into perspective, you can see how all of us working together can do our part to break the cycle of poverty for this generation and the next.

PROBLEM: Over 265 million children are currently out of school and 22% of them are of primary school age.


SOLVE: For $39 billion dollars, every child in the world could have access to an education.

PERSPECTIVE:

Americans drop $40 billion dollars annually on lawn care. From leaf blowers to lawn mowers, U.S. consumers spend some serious cash on their landscapes, according to Ted Steinberg, author of “American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn.” For the amount of money spent keeping it green, we could help educate children around the world.

Children International provides education programs, tutoring and resources to help children stay in school and make it to graduation day.

PROBLEM: 3 out of every 10 people live without safe and sanitary drinking water, and 2.4 billion people are without basic sanitation services.


SOLVE: $24 billion dollars could provide safe drinking water and sanitation services to people worldwide.

PERSPECTIVE:

Although there are American communities with unsafe water sources, the U.S. generally has some of the safest and easiest access to clean water on the planet. In fact, 99% of tap water in the U.S. is drinkable. Nonetheless, Americans spend roughly $16 billion every year on bottled water. With that amount of money, we could practically eradicate diseases that still plague impoverished children and communities around the world.

Children International has programs in place to teach children about the benefits of proper sanitation, as well as health initiatives that distribute annual anti-parasite treatments to communities with unsafe drinking water.

PROBLEM: 736 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. That’s 10% of the world’s population.


SOLVE: Eradicating world hunger sustainably by 2030 will require an estimated $267 billion per year — or $160 per person for 15 years.

PERSPECTIVE:

The world spends $109 billion on video games each year — and those numbers are nothing to play around with. For the amount of money we spend staring at our devices, we could provide people the basic services and necessities that we take for granted every day.

Children International empowers children and youth with the education, life skills and career placement training they need to help break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families.

PROBLEM: Nearly 500,000 children die from malaria each year — that is equivalent to one child every minute.


SOLVE: With funds of $90 billion to $120 billion between 2015 and 2040, the world could be free of malaria.

PERSPECTIVE:

On average, Americans go out to lunch twice a week — all that dining out adds up. In the U.S., the average consumer spends about $1,043 per year just going out to lunch. If we opted to brown bag it now and then, we could help others living below the poverty line and suffering from hunger and malnutrition.

Children International provides health care and medications to children in the communities we serve. We believe children struggling with pain or illness will fall behind in school or worse if their health care needs are not met.

PROBLEM: 49 million children under 5 years of age suffer from malnutrition. 17 million are severely malnourished and 149 million are stunted, while 40 million are overweight or obese.


SOLVE: The World Health Organization aims to reduce the number of children who are stunted from malnutrition to less than 5% by 2025. Their plan will cost $50 billion over the next 10 years — averaging out to $5 billion per year — or $8.50 per child.

PERSPECTIVE:

In 2019 alone, Americans spent $95.7 billion on our pets. From gluten-free dog food to designer pet beds, the pet industry grows year over year with new ways to show our affection for our furry friends. With the money we spend pampering our pooches, we could help end hunger for children and families around the world.

Children International has programs in place to address malnutrition and healthy eating. Programs screen children early to identify those who need intervention and provide classes and support to parents.

Small changes add up.

Putting poverty in perspective allows us to see how global problems can be solved when we all do our part. Your sponsorship or gift provides children access to educational, health care and dental programs while also funding empowerment and employment initiatives, and building community centers. Together, we can give children the chance to envision a better future and create lasting change for their communities.

Sponsor a child

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