Living in poverty is by far one of the worst human conditions imagineable. Children living in poverty is shocking and shameful for our world, our society in which people-adults-live, eat, work, are happy, healthy and prosperous. We must each take our responsibility seriously and take action to end childhood poverty now!
I am currently researching the effects of poverty in America and around the world. I have met some professionals in other parts of the world an am discussing current trends and issues in early childhood education.
“There is a mix of social classes where the centre is located. The child care centre is in the basement of a Toronto community housing building. This is subsidized housing for the poor. However, across the street, there are nice condos and working class families and other professionals. Many new immigrants, lots of Chinese new professionals.
“Child care is expensive in Toronto so, the government has a subsidy system for those who cannot afford the fees. 100% of my clients are subsidized. Some pay more than others and most don't pay a cent. I do not have access to that info so we don't know how much each family pays.
“We provide 4 nutritional meals per day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and late snack. Our menus are designed by a nutritionist and all meals are prepared on site. We only serve whole wheat pasta and breads, brown rice, and locally grown fresh produce. We don't give them juice or colas, only water and milk. Most children come with no breakfast in the morning.
“Some children go to school, Jr. and Sr. KG. We walk them to our local school, about 15 minutes every day. We don't qualify for a bus. Some children do not have proper shoes or outer wear.
“Evidence of poverty is seen on a daily basis. Children not properly dressed for winter, no extra clothes in their cubbies, poor hygiene, no diapers, eating unhealthy snacks from home; poor oral health; parents with low income, low education or none; some signs of neglect; many young children in the family despite of the income being low and mom gets pregnant again and again; many single mothers, many unemployed parents.
“Does poverty touch me personally? Yes, of course because I struggle providing the best care we can in a community that is hard to serve with limited resources. We don't have enough spaces for the huge demand for child care in the area and many children have to stay with neighbours so that parents can go to school or work for a minimum wage. Some clients are violent or aggressive, some are rude to me, some come late to pick up their children and ignore you (we don't charge a late fee); some abuse the system and take advantage of what they receive. Some clients have mental health issues and it's difficult to work with them.
Our centre is inclusive and we have children with special needs integrated with the typical kids. The children with special needs usually wait for a long time for services, therapies, equipment, materials, etc.
“In Toronto we have a universal health care system. All children have access to free health care and some medicines. Some medications are not covered and parents need to buy them on their own. This can be quite expensive.
“I am not sure of what the children get at school, may be a snack at mid morning, a fruit or something. Lunches have to be provided by the parents. Some schools provide a hot lunch with a minimal contribution from parents, $5 p/month or so.
“Some families receive help from the Salvation Army, Goodwill, local churches, or other organizations like this. They may get groceries, clothes, food vouchers, etc. In order to qualify for this, families need to apply for social assistance and wait for services.”
“Child care is expensive in Toronto so, the government has a subsidy system for those who cannot afford the fees. 100% of my clients are subsidized. Some pay more than others and most don't pay a cent. I do not have access to that info so we don't know how much each family pays.
“We provide 4 nutritional meals per day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and late snack. Our menus are designed by a nutritionist and all meals are prepared on site. We only serve whole wheat pasta and breads, brown rice, and locally grown fresh produce. We don't give them juice or colas, only water and milk. Most children come with no breakfast in the morning.
“Some children go to school, Jr. and Sr. KG. We walk them to our local school, about 15 minutes every day. We don't qualify for a bus. Some children do not have proper shoes or outer wear.
“Evidence of poverty is seen on a daily basis. Children not properly dressed for winter, no extra clothes in their cubbies, poor hygiene, no diapers, eating unhealthy snacks from home; poor oral health; parents with low income, low education or none; some signs of neglect; many young children in the family despite of the income being low and mom gets pregnant again and again; many single mothers, many unemployed parents.
“Does poverty touch me personally? Yes, of course because I struggle providing the best care we can in a community that is hard to serve with limited resources. We don't have enough spaces for the huge demand for child care in the area and many children have to stay with neighbours so that parents can go to school or work for a minimum wage. Some clients are violent or aggressive, some are rude to me, some come late to pick up their children and ignore you (we don't charge a late fee); some abuse the system and take advantage of what they receive. Some clients have mental health issues and it's difficult to work with them.
Our centre is inclusive and we have children with special needs integrated with the typical kids. The children with special needs usually wait for a long time for services, therapies, equipment, materials, etc.
“In Toronto we have a universal health care system. All children have access to free health care and some medicines. Some medications are not covered and parents need to buy them on their own. This can be quite expensive.
“I am not sure of what the children get at school, may be a snack at mid morning, a fruit or something. Lunches have to be provided by the parents. Some schools provide a hot lunch with a minimal contribution from parents, $5 p/month or so.
“Some families receive help from the Salvation Army, Goodwill, local churches, or other organizations like this. They may get groceries, clothes, food vouchers, etc. In order to qualify for this, families need to apply for social assistance and wait for services.”
“Actually no.”
“Poverty denies opportunities to people of all ages. Lost opportunities in childhood cannot always be regained later - childhood is a one-off window of opportunity and development. Poverty experienced by children, even over short periods, can affect the rest of their lives. Malnutrition in early childhood, for example, can lead to life-long learning difficulties and poor health.
“Today's poor children are all too often tomorrow's poor parents. Poverty can be passed on from generation to generation affecting the long-term health, wellbeing and productivity of families and of society as a whole. Tackling childhood poverty is therefore critical for eradicating poverty and injustice world-wide.
“The international community has committed itself to meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. This includes halving poverty rates, cutting by two-thirds the deaths of children under five and ensuring that all children in the world complete at least primary education. Already progress is slower than is needed - only substantial policy and action.
To prioritise, not to ghettoise children
“Children in poverty are often seen as one of many disadvantaged groups, all competing for resources, or they are characterised as children with special needs such as street children, orphans, or child workers. In partner countries and through its global programme of work, CHIP focuses on and draws attention to the ways in which poverty affects large numbers of urban and rural children, not only particularly disadvantaged groups such as street children or child-headed households. The CHIP programme emphasises the importance of preventing poverty in the particularly vulnerable first years of life thereby reducing the chance of poverty persisting over an individual’s life course or through the generations. The materials on this website all take this broad, intergenerational view of childhood poverty.”
You can find information on poverty and ways you can help by going to any of the following webistes:
The Children’s Defense Fund. http://www.childrensdefense.org/
National Center for Children in Poverty. http://www.nccp.org/
Insittute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness http://www.icphusa.org/
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). http://www.unicef.org/
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