Saturday, May 25, 2013

Getting to know your international contacts

Unfortunately I have not had any response back from my international contacts. I decided to do the alternate activity by going into the website  www.childhoodpoverty.org  and searching on a specific country about poverty and their insights.
I decided to read about the country of Kyrgystan where up to the year 1991 has been part of the Soviet Union. They gain their independence and added many policies, changes, laws which ultimately affected its population specially children. A high percentage of  their population earn their living through agriculture and farming. Another insight about poverty on Kyrgystan is with the rise of poverty children are being affected with malnourishment and lack of health services. About 24 percent of children are working some type of job at long hours. In addition, children living on the streets have risen whom are targeted for prostitution or trafficking. Intergenerational poverty has become also a concern. Although there are many policies and organizations working towards this epidemic, there is much work to do (C.H.I.P., n.d.)

After reading about this country, I became so much aware of how poverty targets so many lives around the globe in many different ways. When I think about poverty, I think about no food, no shelter, no running water, very limited basic needs to survive and it makes me think to myself for example, in my country if you have no food or resources then you are on your own, there is no food banks to go and get at least three day supply, there is no emergency shelters where you can go at least for a night most likely you will sleep on the streets,  etc. When you learn more about poverty and how it can manifest in many different ways and affect so many people,  makes a person appreciate so much more everything they have and sadly enough many are never happy and grateful for it.

“Poverty is the worst form of violence.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

C.H.I.P.  (n.d.). Chip national activities. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?
action=chipactivities-nat#17

3 comments:

  1. Hi Ana, I found your post very informative. It seems poverty overwhelms many parts of the world. One has to wonder about why the most innocent of the societies have to be the most impacted. I agree we must be more appreciative of what we have and hopefully the new awareness we will have all gained will move us to make more of a difference. I often think that at my age it might be nice to just stay home and enjoy some of my hobbies, but over the years I have developed a huge passion and need to do more for the children in the world. Sitting home sewing and gardening is not an option for me as yet. That is why this degree is such an important aspect of our professional lives, with it hopefully will come more credibility as well as an advanced awareness about what needs to be done and a clearer path in mind to achieve it. Once again I found your post very informative. Cindy Ferguson

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  2. Hello Ana,
    Your blog provide useful information about the country of Kyrgystan. It is sad to read that because of poverty the children are malnourished and they have a lack of health services. It is important to read and know how poverty affects children and families all over the world. Therefore,various communities need to make the people aware of the different programs and organizations that will help children and families who live in poverty.

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  3. Wow, that was some frightening information. To think these children not only have to worry about living in poverty but also have to be concerned about human trafficking and prostitution is very frightening. I am also amazed when I think that these countries don't even have the resources that we are able to provide in the US, such as food banks and supplemental food programs. Even though we have work to do here this does make me feel like we have at least laid the ground work.

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