In an era with the most incredible technology, knowledge, economic development and financial resources we believe that poverty is a moral outrage.
Poverty is not solely an economic issue, but rather a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a lack of both income and the basic capabilities for people to be able to live in dignity.
Some facts
In Australia, 13.6% of the population, or 3.24 million people, live below the poverty line. This includes 17.7% of all children in Australia (about 800 000 children under the age of 15). More than one in eight adults and one in six children live below the poverty line in Australia.
In the United States, 11.8% of the population, or 38.1 million people, live in poverty.
In India, 4% of the population or 53 million, live in extreme poverty on less than $2AUS a day. These people have limited or no access to social benefits or services.
Possibly, the country presently most impacted by poverty is Nigeria, with an overall population is about 191 million, the rate of extreme poverty is much higher – 44% are estimated to live in poverty.
Experts have identified that the eradication of poverty is possible
The World Bank projects that it is possible to end extreme poverty by 2030. However, this would take a heroic effort. Globally the number of people in poverty will have to decrease by 50 million each year. That is the equivalent of about a million people each week for the next 15 years.
Surely, this is our moral imperative.
The heroic efforts of Project Help India
Thanks to your support, our teams in Kotdwara, Bijnor and now in Punjab are working incredibly hard to help the poorest of the poor. We do this by responding to people’s immediate needs such as hunger, and perhaps even more importantly through our holistic programs These programs don’t just provide a healthy meal but aim to get to the root of the cause bringing generational impact and long-lasting change.
As well as a healthy meal we provide dignity and hope for the future.
Just in these past 7 days, Project Help India has…
Educated and fed 450 children
For the United Nations ‘International Day of the Girl Child on 11th October, we raised awareness of the needs of girls and young women. Forty girls, aged 13 to 19 years attended a special seminar which focussed on the importance of them each receiving an education. This seminar was attended by local dignitaries, members of the police including Deputy Superintendant Mr Anil Joshi, and received attention in the local newspaper. See BLOG below.
We provided educational awareness through our World Food Day program on 16th October. See videos here and BLOG below.
We had some fun …celebrating Neelam’s Birthday. He honour Neelam, for her remarkable efforts teaching the children at our Bagnala Village Centre. Neelam has an inspiring story which shows how with courage and determination, the vicious cycle of poverty can be broken. We will share her story with you soon.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POVERTY
The World Poverty Clock provides a very interesting interactive website that helps you to look at poverty data that has been adjusted to include the impact of COVID-19. If you are a data geek, we highly recommend that you check this out.