Many children face problems related to attitude and socio-emotional development. Such problems may occur when children face stressor in their routine. In several developing countries poverty is a threat to the well-being of children. It is also a limitation of development opportunities. Poverty is defined as the state of having little or no money and few or no material possession. However, poverty takes a more complex aspect when related to children development; it is a set of conditions and events that are unfavorable that entrap and accumulate.
Children who live in such extreme conditions, often seek paid activities, which can put them in vulnerable positions, leading to child exploitation. In the poor areas of brazil, it is common to see children dropping of school to seek work. They also face lack of sanitation; serious, often lethal, diseases; hunger, which leads to malnutrition, etc. Poverty has serious consequences on a wide range of development indicators. For instance, poverty causes a higher infant mortality, poor educational performance and greater difficulty in accessing the work market.
In 2011, the Brazilian government stated that there are over 16,2 million people in extreme poverty situation. These people live with less than U$35 per month. One in every 10 Brazilians are part of this statistic. (Bonis, n.d.)
The Federal Government developed a plan to fight poverty. This plan aims to increase and improve access to public services, such as health, education and social assistance. It aims to reach 1.2 million families of the poorest areas. Which, in my opinion is just a fraction of what needs to be done to really fight porverty and increase the quality of life of those in greater need.
References:
Bonis, G. (n.d). Carta Capital. Economia: O Brasil tem 16,2 milhões na pobreza extrema. Retrieved September 29, 2012 from
http://www.cartacapital.com.br/economia/brasil-tem-162-milhoes-na-pobreza-extrema/
CEDE (n.d). Centro de Estudos Sobre Desigualdade e Desenvolvimento: Infância e Pobreza no Brasil. Retrieved September 29, 2012 from http://www.proac.uff.br/cede/infancia-e-pobreza-no-brasil
What could be a boring life for you, is a new life for him.
Francisco Cordeiro, 5 years ago.
ActionAid: Win poverty is possible. Together.
what a powerful commentary you make about poverty and the affects it has on people of Brazil. I guess when we discuss development of children, we talk about things like interaction and the benefits of parents taking part in their children's lives and activities. However, for many parents of Brazil, just meeting the basic needs of their children is very hard. I do not think that the parenting issues we discuss in the United States is even relavant to people living in poverty. I think we talk about things that parents can control where as the people of Brazil have no control over the development of their children. How can children's brains develop with not enough food and how can they develop socially when they experience so many hardships in their daily lives.
ReplyDeleteDear Mary Jo,
DeleteYour comments are so true, I agree entirely. I guess my post gives another perspective on the develolment of children, sometimes here people struggle to meet the very basic needs. Thank you for the follow up.
I read somewhere that poverty robs childhood... what do you think?
It makes me sad that all of the world still has a poverty problem. Its even worse knowing that young children can't get the education they need because they have to work and help the families. When I read about other countries I think OMG and get tears in my eyes thinking about all the children that are suffering. Then I sit and think I'm lucky to live in the US and all my problems seem to go away.
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