GECC 3
THE CONTEMPORARY
WORLD
WITH PEACE
EDUCATION
BSIS 1A
Members of Group 2:
Balunso, Christel Anne Joy B.
Barammeda, Lei Gian
Ms. Angelyn B. Polvoreza
Sinforoso, Ericka
Instructor
Balaguer, Clarica
Bibon, Micheal
Bejo, Justine
About Poverty
Poverty is a widespread issue affecting millions globally, resulting in inadequate
access to basic needs such as food, clean water, healthcare, and education. It
arises from complex factors including economic inequality, lack of job
opportunities, and political instability. Environmental challenges, like natural
disasters and climate change, can also worsen conditions by destroying homes
and livelihoods. The effects of poverty are far-reaching, influencing health, social
mobility, and economic stability. There are different types of poverty, including
absolute poverty, where individuals struggle to meet basic survival needs, and
relative poverty, where people have significantly lower standards of living
compared to others in their society. Generational poverty persists across family
lines, while cyclical poverty can arise due to economic downturns or crises. These
variations highlight how poverty is not just an issue of financial hardship but an
ongoing societal challenge that requires targeted intervention and systemic
change. Efforts to combat poverty include government policies, education
programs, economic reforms, and international aid. Initiatives like the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1) aim to eradicate extreme poverty
worldwide. Organizations and communities work toward improving access to
education and healthcare, creating job opportunities, and promoting sustainable
development. Addressing poverty requires collective action, innovative solutions,
and long-term commitment to create a more equitable world.
Furthermore, Poverty is a complex issue that affects individuals and communities
worldwide, limiting access to essential resources like food, clean water,
healthcare, and education. It is often caused by economic inequality, lack of job
opportunities, political instability, and environmental factors such as natural
disasters and climate change. According to the World Bank, South Sudan has the
highest poverty rate at 82.3%, highlighting how poverty is concentrated in certain
regions. Additionally, nearly 1 billion children live in poverty, lacking access to
education, housing, nutrition, and healthcare.
There are different types of poverty, including absolute poverty, where individuals
struggle to meet basic survival needs, and relative poverty, where people have
significantly lower living standards compared to others in their society. Cyclical
poverty occurs due to economic downturns, while generational poverty persists
across family lines. Poverty is not just about financial hardship it also impacts
health, education, and social mobility. For example, food insecurity affects nearly
1 billion people, leading to malnutrition and long-term health issues.
Efforts to combat poverty include government policies, education programs,
economic reforms, and international aid. The United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG 1) aim to eradicate extreme poverty worldwide.
Organizations and communities work toward improving access to education and
healthcare, creating job opportunities, and promoting sustainable development.
Addressing poverty requires collective action, innovative solutions, and long-term
commitment to create a more equitable world. If you're interested in specific case
studies or strategies for poverty alleviation, I can provide more insights!
The Causes Of Poverty
Poverty is a complex issue with multiple interconnected causes that vary by
region and context. It's not simply a lack of money, but often a lack of resources
and opportunities to meet basic needs and live a flourishing life. It's important to
remember that these causes are often intertwined, creating a vicious cycle where
one factor exacerbates others. Addressing poverty effectively requires a
comprehensive and multi-faceted approach that tackles these root causes
simultaneously.
1. Economic Factors:
Unemployment and Underemployment: A lack of decent-paying jobs or
insufficient work hours is a primary driver of poverty, preventing individuals and
households from earning enough to meet basic needs.
Low Wages and Economic Injustice: Even when employed, many people earn
wages that are insufficient to escape poverty, often due to exploitative labor
practices, lack of minimum wage laws, or weak worker protections. Unequal
distribution of wealth and resources exacerbates this.
Lack of Access to Financial Services: Limited access to credit, capital, banking,
and insurance disproportionately affects the poor, hindering their ability to
invest in education, businesses, or cope with emergencies.
High Cost of Living: Rising costs of essential goods and services like housing,
food, and healthcare can push individuals and families into poverty, even if they
have some income.
Economic Inequality: Systemic issues like discrimination and unequal access to
opportunities lead to wealth being concentrated in the hands of a few, while
many struggle to get by.
2. Social and Human Capital Factors:
Lack of Education: Limited access to quality education and skill gaps prevents
individuals from securing well-paying jobs and upward mobility, perpetuating a
cycle of poverty across generations.
Inaccessible Healthcare: Poor health, lack of access to affordable medical care,
and chronic illnesses can lead to significant financial burdens, reduce
productivity, and prevent individuals from working.
Discrimination and Social Exclusion: Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity,
race, religion, disability, or other factors creates disparities in opportunities,
access to resources, and outcomes, reinforcing poverty among marginalized
communities.
Gender Inequality: Women are often at a higher risk of poverty due to less
access to paid employment, lower wages, limited land ownership, and societal
barriers.
Food Insecurity and Malnutrition: Hunger and lack of nutritious food are both
causes and consequences of poverty, leading to health issues, reduced cognitive
function, and diminished ability to work or attend school.
Lack of Clean Water and Sanitation: Limited access to safe drinking water and
proper sanitation facilities leads to illness, consumes time (especially for women
and girls who fetch water), and hinders overall well-being and productivity.
Intergenerational Poverty: Poverty can be passed down through families due to
limited access to quality education, healthcare, and opportunities, trapping
subsequent generations in similar circumstances.
3. Political and Institutional Factors:
Poor Governance and Corruption: Weak institutions, lack of rule of law, and
widespread corruption can divert resources, hinder economic growth,
discourage entrepreneurship, and prevent people from accessing basic services.
Conflict and War: Armed conflicts, violence, and political instability destroy
infrastructure, displace populations, disrupt livelihoods, and create
humanitarian crises, plunging communities into poverty.
Ineffective Government Policies: Lack of comprehensive social welfare
programs, inadequate social safety nets, and policies that do not address the
root causes of poverty can perpetuate it.
Lack of Infrastructure: Poor infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water
systems, and telecommunications, limits economic opportunities, access to
essential services, and connectivity for communities, especially in rural areas.
4. Environmental Factors:
Climate Change and Natural Disasters: Increasing frequency and intensity of
natural disasters (floods, droughts, storms) and the long-term impacts of
climate change (e.g., affecting agricultural yields) disproportionately affect
impoverished communities, destroying livelihoods, displacing people, and
exacerbating food insecurity.
Environmental Degradation: Deforestation, pollution, and depletion of natural
resources can reduce agricultural productivity, lead to health issues, and deprive
communities of essential goods and income sources.
Geographic Isolation: Remote or marginalized regions may lack essential
infrastructure and connectivity to markets and resources, making it difficult for
residents to escape poverty.
The Impact of Poverty to People & To the Planet
Poverty is not a number or statistic it's people living real-life struggles on a daily
basis. Just imagine waking up every morning not knowing if you would have food
to eat, safe water to drink, or a place to sleep. This is the reality for many. When
one doesn't have a lot, just being healthy is a struggle. Disease and stress take
their toll, and medicine is an unattainable fantasy. Children from poor families
have to drop out of school not because they do not wish to educate themselves,
but because their families require assistance or they cannot pay the fees. Without
a diploma, their future is shrouded, and poverty can perpetuate itself from
generation to generation. And on top of that, poverty can make individuals feel
invisible excluded from the conversations that define their communities and their
own lives.
Poverty not only burdens individuals it burdens our planet, as well. When
subsistence is tied to the resources of nature, individuals might have no other
option but to fell trees for fuel, cultivate the land relentlessly, or hunt animals
merely to feed themselves. These actions, necessity's offspring, can hurt the
environment deforestation, soil degradation, and cleaner water in shorter supply.
In urban areas where there is a high population density, poverty translates to
living in close quarters without sanitation or facilities for the disposal of waste,
which fouls the air and water used by all. Unfortunately, the individuals who
contribute least to global warming are usually the ones most severely affected by
it by suffering from floods, droughts, and storms without the resources to rebuild.
Poverty has profound and far-reaching impacts on both people and the planet,
creating a complex web of challenges that often reinforce each other.
Impact of Poverty on People:
The human cost of poverty is immense, affecting every aspect of an individual's
life and perpetuating cycles of hardship across generations.
Health and Well-being:
* Malnutrition and Hunger: Poverty often leads to food insecurity, resulting in
malnutrition, stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased
susceptibility to diseases, especially in children.
* Limited Healthcare Access: The poor often lack access to affordable and
quality healthcare, leading to higher rates of preventable illnesses, untreated
chronic conditions, and higher mortality rates.
* Mental Health Issues: The chronic stress of financial insecurity, lack of
opportunities, and daily struggles can lead to increased rates of depression,
anxiety, and other mental health problems.
* Reduced Life Expectancy: Poorer populations consistently have lower life
expectancies due to the cumulative effects of poor health, inadequate nutrition,
and exposure to environmental hazards.
Education and Opportunity:
* Lack of Educational Access: Children from impoverished families often have
limited access to quality education, leading to lower literacy rates, fewer skills,
and reduced future employment opportunities.
* Child Labor: Desperate economic circumstances can force children into labor
instead of school, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
* Limited Social Mobility: Poverty significantly restricts social mobility, making it
difficult for individuals to escape the economic circumstances they were born
into.
Social and Community Impacts:
* Increased Crime and Violence: Economic desperation can contribute to higher
crime rates and social unrest in impoverished communities.
* Homelessness and Inadequate Housing: Poverty can lead to unstable housing
situations, overcrowding, and homelessness, impacting safety, health, and well-
being.
* Social Exclusion and Discrimination: Poor individuals and communities often
face social exclusion, stigma, and discrimination, further limiting their
opportunities and participation in society.
* Family Instability: Financial stress can strain family relationships, leading to
increased domestic violence, parental conflict, and family breakdown.
* Vulnerability and Resilience:
* Increased Vulnerability to Shocks: The poor are highly vulnerable to economic
shocks (like job loss), natural disasters, and health crises, as they lack the financial
safety nets and resources to cope.
* Reduced Resilience: Chronic poverty erodes an individual's and a community's
capacity to adapt and recover from adversity.
Impact of Poverty on the Planet:
The relationship between poverty and environmental degradation is complex and
often a vicious cycle, where environmental decline exacerbates poverty, and
poverty, in turn, can contribute to environmental problems.
Resource Depletion and Degradation:
* Deforestation: Impoverished communities often rely on natural resources for
survival. This can lead to unsustainable practices like cutting down forests for
fuelwood, charcoal, or to clear land for agriculture, resulting in deforestation and
habitat loss.
* Soil Degradation: Without access to sustainable farming techniques or
resources, poor farmers may over-cultivate land, leading to soil erosion, nutrient
depletion, and desertification.
* Water Scarcity and Pollution: Lack of access to clean water and sanitation can
lead to the pollution of water sources. Additionally, unsustainable water use for
agriculture or domestic purposes in impoverished areas can exacerbate water
scarcity.
* Overfishing and Overhunting: Communities dependent on local ecosystems for
food may engage in unsustainable fishing or hunting practices, leading to
depletion of fish stocks and wildlife populations.
Pollution:
* Air Pollution: Reliance on traditional cooking methods (like burning wood or
charcoal) and lack of access to clean energy sources contribute to indoor and
outdoor air pollution, with serious health consequences.
* Waste Management Issues: Impoverished areas often lack proper waste
management systems, leading to open dumping, burning of waste, and pollution
of land and water.
Increased Vulnerability to Climate Change:
* Disproportionate Impact: Poor communities, especially those reliant on
agriculture or living in vulnerable areas, are often disproportionately affected by
climate change impacts like droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. They
have fewer resources to adapt or recover.
* Reinforcing Poverty: Climate change impacts can destroy livelihoods,
infrastructure, and homes, pushing more people into poverty or deepening
existing poverty.
Loss of Biodiversity:
* As natural habitats are degraded and resources depleted due to poverty-driven
activities, it leads to a loss of biodiversity, impacting ecosystem health and the
services they provide.
It's crucial to understand that while poverty can drive environmental degradation,
it's not the poor who are solely responsible. Systemic issues like unequal resource
distribution, lack of governance, unsustainable consumption patterns in wealthier
nations, and historical injustices also play a significant role. Solutions to poverty
and environmental degradation must be integrated and address both human
well-being and ecological sustainability.
As a result, poverty isn't only a human issue it's an environmental issue, as well.
That's why we must combat poverty more than merely fulfilling basic needs. It
requires investing in education, healthcare, clean power, and infrastructure
actions that elevate people while safeguarding the planet, as well. When we end
the cycle of poverty, we make the world more just and radiant for all today and
for generations to come. Together, we can create a future in which people and
the planet prosper together.
Potential Solutions
The term "poverty of potential" refers to a condition whereby people or groups cannot actualize their
complete potential because they are held back by institutional constraints like inadequate education,
absence of access to healthcare, social injustice, or economic deprivation. It needs a multi-faceted
solution.
-Education Reform
Universal coverage for quality education from early childhood to higher education.
Invest in teacher capacity-building, infrastructure, and cutting-edge curricula that foster critical thinking
and creativity.
Offer mentorship, career guidance, and scholarships to disadvantaged students.
-Healthcare Access
Provide universal and affordable healthcare, including mental health.Promote early intervention and
treatment of preventable diseases and malnutrition that hamper cognitive and physical
development.Urge community health education.
-Economic Empowerment
Provide microfinance, vocational training, and entrepreneurship assistance.Create employment
opportunities from local investment and infrastructure projects.Enforce fair labor and workers' rights to
alleviate working poverty.
-Early Childhood Development
Increase early childhood education and nutrition programs.Support family support services and parental
leave.Underline brain development and emotional health from birth.
-Technology and Digital Access
Close the digital divide with affordable internet and equipment.Teach digital skills and literacy for
tomorrow's jobs.Encourage innovation and access to global markets and online education.
-Policy and Social Justice
Tackle structural discrimination (racial, gender, ableist, etc.).Transform criminal justice mechanisms that
unevenly impact marginalized groups.Enact social protection measures such as universal basic income
(UBI), housing assistance, and nutrition security.
- Community Empowerment
Engage local leaders in crafting context-related solutions.Enhance youth involvement in civic and policy
issues.Support grassroots mobilization and community-led development.
Potential solutions to poverty often involve a multi-pronged approach that addresses both immediate
needs and systemic issues. One crucial aspect is investing in human capital through improved access to
quality education and healthcare. Education equips individuals with the skills necessary to secure better
employment opportunities and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Similarly, accessible
healthcare ensures a healthy workforce and reduces the financial burden of illness, which can be a
significant driver of poverty. Furthermore, fostering inclusive economic growth through support for
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting fair trade practices, and creating an environment
conducive to investment can generate jobs and increase income for a broader segment of the
population.
Another vital component in tackling poverty is strengthening social safety nets and promoting good
governance. This includes implementing effective social protection programs such as conditional cash
transfers, unemployment benefits, and food assistance, which provide a crucial buffer for vulnerable
populations during economic shocks. Moreover, combating corruption, ensuring transparency in public
spending, and establishing robust legal frameworks are essential for creating an equitable society where
resources are distributed fairly and opportunities are accessible to all. Addressing systemic inequalities,
promoting land reform, and empowering marginalized communities through participation in decision-
making processes can further contribute to sustainable poverty reduction by fostering greater equity
and resilience within society.
GLOBAL
CITIZENSHIP
ACTION PLAN
