Using the alternative option for this blog assignment, I reviewed the website: Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre's page (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/).
The international community has committed itself to meeting Millennium Development Goals by 2015. These goals include:
*halving poverty rates
*cutting deaths of children by two thirds
*all children will complete at least primary education
I chose to review the imformation provided by this organization about poverty in China. There has been a change in the social securtity system that has put in place a minimum living standard and by 2002 would have covered 23% of poor urban households. However, there are provisions that inhibit families from receiving these funds. A large number are disqualified because they are unregistered migrants or they are disqualified from local administration, as you will see later in the case study of a family in China. There is much concern that this amount is too small to meet people's basic needs. Although there are disadvantages, there have been major strides in poverty. In 2001, 5% of people lived below national poverty line. Rural poverty in 1978 was 250 million and in 2000 rural poverty was decreased to 35 million, a reduction from 30.7% to 3.7%. There still is an enourmous rise in inequality in China from East to West. China has made the transition from a centrally planned to a globalised market economy, helping to reduce chronic pevert and the disadvantaged population. However, as often occurs with change, it has created new forms of vulnerablity and poverty in the forms of needing to restructure state-owned enterprises, loss of 31 million jobs, leaving 14.6 million people without full-time jobs, and increasing unemployment to 12.3%. Many people are migrating to the cities for a better opportunity, causing a massive migration of 120 million people.
The case study of a young boy, Xiao Bo, talks about the Minimum Living Relief Scheme that is to provide families with a minimum income to provide for basic needs. His family orginally made a living on their farm in rural China. However the farm was taken away to urbanize the area. They were given an amount of money for their farm and the father was promised a job in the factory. The factory ended up closing, leaving the father out of a job. The Minimum Living Relief Scheme did not apply for them because they were compensated for their farm. Many jobs require you to be under 30 years old or have a higher education. The parents do without many necessities, such as life threatening medication, but are sure their children receive their education so they have a better future. It amazed me at how the young boy was so mature, understanding, appreciative of what his parents are doing for him. He was able to see the long term goal, in that his education will eventually help his entire family, not only his. Although very disturbing facts and realties, their love for one another and their priorities are commendable.
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/
How old is this little boy? To have your whole family depending on you has got to be tough. I can not imagine the stress that would come along with that! It sounds like China hasn't quite got things figured out either. In my work with Head Start, we see so many children and families that struggle every day. I remember not always having a lot and now that I am a single mom, things have gotten more difficult. Luckily, my children are older and have always had their needs met and there were many years where we had more than enough. Thanks for sharing information about China and the web site.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Amanda!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatly,this issue also goes on around the world. You will be surprised of who is with holding food from themselves to meet the hunger needs of their children. I was so amazed that this family focus was so strong on education. They were willing to risk their lives by denying medicines they need to ensure that there children go to school. Most people in this situation would have their children work and not go to school. This post was very informative and should really cause all early childhood professionals to relaize the importance of doing their job, because someone could be denying themselves living needs to send their child to school. I look at my job alot differently and also I look at my living situation and thank God for it! Thanks for sharing!!!!!
Just last month, the World Bank issued a press release that the first of the Millennium Goals has been met - and five years prior to the estimate! Extreme poverty has shown a reduction over a three-year cycle, as marked by a decline in the developing world of the percentage of people living on less than $1.25 a day, and in the number of poor people.
ReplyDeleteReference. Please see the United Nation's web site at http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/