Got The Poverty Cycle? “Create a meme.” Create a meme about poverty? While attempting to do so, I feared the insensitive and offensive manner to which the meme could potentially have caused. Perhaps this mindset is based off the idea that most memes are poking fun at a subject. As I started to ponder my options , I needed something to stand out. Something meme like, which could hint at popular culture, yet use a serious enough tone to get my point across of some serious issues lurking in poverty’s cycle. One of the biggest reasons why people remain poor is because they often never received a quality education and did not gain the skills or knowledge to find a decent job. Most of the position which are available do not provide health care and do not pay enough for their workforce to afford it. Due to programs like Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the percentage of people in America insured has increased, however, while most can’t afford to purchase coverage independently, the assistance of government funded programs like Medicaid grow exponentially. While other government programs such as, food stamps, are provided to those eligible, the number of supermarkets with fresh produce and healthier options in low income areas (even lower availability in low income areas of color) is much lower compared to those of wealthier areas. It’s circumstances like these which we must keep in mind when debating poverty. Fig 1: Got Education?
Froelich, Amanda. “Medicine Hat, Alberta Becomes First Canadian City To End Homelessness.” Activist Post, Activistpost.com, 11 Oct. 2015, www.activistpost.com/2015/10/medicine-hat-alberta-becomes-first-canadian-city-to-end-homelessness.html. United States, Bureau of the Census. “ How does level of education relate to poverty?” Current Population Survey: Income [and] Poverty [and Health Insurance], United States. Bureau of the Census, 18 Aug. 2014, www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-252.pdf. Fig 2: Got Health Care? Photo Credit: Photojournalist Ingetje Tadros. http://www.smh.com.au/cqstatic/12y5cu/index.html. DeNavas-Walt, Carmen, and Bernadette D Proctor. “Current Population Reports U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. CENSUS BUREAU census. Gov Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014.” United States Census Bureau, Sept. 2015, www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-252.pdf. Fig 3: Got Government Aid? Hyer, Virginia. “21.3 Percent of U.S. Population Participates in Government Assistance Programs Each Month.” United States Census Bureau, United States Census Bureau, 28 May 2015, www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-97.html. Sierra, Gennesis. “Homeless During The Holidays.” The Black Magazine, The Black Magazine, 25 Dec. 2018, theblackmagazine.com/2015/12/25/homeless-during-the-holidays-by-gennesis-sierra-2/. Fig 4: Got Nutrition? Stone, Tom. “Outsiders, Injury & Abuse.” Tomstoneartist.com, tomstoneartist.com/outsiders--injury-abuse/Outsiders_Street_Kids_pt2-9/. Yang, Leslie. “Access to Healthy Food and Why It Matters.” The Food Trust & Policy Link, 2013, thefoodtrust.org/uploads/media_items/access-to-healthy-food.original.pdf. Since researching my semester chosen social justice issue of Poverty, I have already learned quite a lot. My research led me to the existence of CCT programs which are government funded cash rewards offered to those living in poverty in exchange for abiding with specific behaviors such as: enrolling child in public schools, regular medical checkups, better nutrition and vaccinations. While I was able to find some information on results of U.S. based CCT programs, I have had a slightly more difficult time locating results of CCT programs from other countries. Juan Saavedra is a Research Scientist for the National Bureau of Economic Research. In one of his reports, Saavedra states that the number of households below the poverty line dropped 5% after 2 years in Nicaragua and by 3% over 4 years in Colombia after the implantation of CCT programs. Saavedra also states, “The evidence from programs in Mexico and Honduras, however, suggests no discernible impact on the poverty rate among program participants.” While learning that there was a drop in percentage points for these programs and locations, I have yet to find further graphical information on data collected from these programs in countries outside the U.S. While the World Bank is a major investor in CCT programs worldwide, I was lucky enough to come across an overview article on CCT programs which provided said graphs. See Fig 1 below. This information helps me to not only better understand the success rate of CCT programs, but also gives me an idea as to how poverty compares throughout different parts of the world and will lead me to further research. Knowing how successful these programs are is pointless, however, until I learn more about how poverty differs from country to country. While poverty exists everywhere in the world, does this mean there would be one set program which could cure all? Most likely no. But why? Reaching into Sociology, people are different around the globe: thought process differs, problem solving differs, and responsiveness to issue differs. And we have to keep in mind that there are some people whom are more willing to make a change given the proper tools, whereas others may need a different path to climb out of poverty. There is not one poverty. Poverty takes altering forms for different people. If poverty were the same everywhere, then the solution would be just as simple. But unfortunately, that is not the case. We need to research multiple solutions in different places to understand how and where these solutions would work in the future. Fig 1 Poverty: The money wanders. Blaming drinks, drugs, government. “Help them be better!” The Truth: As they fade away, We blame them and nothing else. Claiming, “Help yourself!” Poverty Is Not For the Faint-HeartedHow do we end it?
When should we put our foot down? Should “sanctuary” only be attainable in a church? Can we not petition for protection of others? When Eve bit the apple did she end humanity or open its doors? Does our existence permit the persecution of one another? Do we not walk by, filled with shame, yet eager for the moment to end? Does the sight not cause heartache within us? Can we not offer a kind smile or wave, even when we have nothing material to give? How do we support without causing reliance? Why does depending on another translate to weakness? Is strength solely dependent on success? Could our vision of success be compromised? When we trip, do we fall-- or get kicked down? Is poverty the tormentor or are we? Pictured: Catching up with my dear friend, Chris Pratt Chris Pratt (Friend): Hey, how’s your research on poverty going? Me: Great! I’ve actually found some really interesting points of view. Chris Pratt (Friend): Oh really? Like what? Me: Well, more than 2 dozen developing countries like Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and Turkey have implemented CCT programs. Actually I happen to have a picture with me, check it out! Chris Pratt (Friend): What’s a CCT program? Me: It’s really interesting actually. A CCT program, aka Conditional Cash Transfer, is a cash reward system governments use to help those living in poverty. Instead of simply aiding people with affordable housing, a CCT program offers affordable housing in return for families to enroll their children in schools and/or taking them to health clinics regularly. Chris Pratt (Friend): What do these government’s hope to gain from the programs? Me: Well for one it’s not only governments that provide the aid (Image below), but by helping both adult and youth generations, the government hopes to combat current poverty while diminishing future poverty. Two birds, one stone. Map current from 2001-2012 Chris Pratt (Friend): That would be amazing if the programs accomplished what they set out to do, but how successful are they? Me: That part is interesting because according to this one article I found from worldbank.org, the CCT program by the name of Progresa, which started in 1997 and 300,000 households in Mexico was so successful that the new CCT program, Oportunidades, contains 5 million households. The increase of households was due to successful evaluations by researchers. And the same thing happened in both Brazil and Columbia! Chris Pratt (Friend): Not to be rude, just curious, if these programs are so successful then how come other countries haven’t adopted them as well? Me: Well just like any program, people are skeptical. Programs like these usually come at a high cost so governments are typically wary of implanting them until they have hard proof of extreme success. For example, take a look at this table I found (Image below). Keep in mind this table was from 2010, but it should still give you a good idea. The government of Uruguay contributes 40% of their GDP to CCT program spending. Until these programs can produce staggering numbers, which some believe they already do, other countries will continue to follow their current implemented programs. And it probably doesn’t help that it would cost a lot of money to end current programs and move into new ones. Chris Pratt (Friend): Hm, I’ve never even heard of CCT programs. That’s really interesting. Glad we met up for coffee! Me: Me too! Chris Pratt (Friend): Maybe next time we could go out to eat and see a movie? Me: I’d love to Chris. Chris Pratt (Friend): Great! I’ll call you later to make a date and maybe you could share more of your research so far. It’s so nice to meet someone I can talk to about serious issues in the world. I think I may be falling for you. Me: Oh Chris, I feel the same! Works Cited
http://go.worldbank.org/K38KR408E0 http://go.worldbank.org/TJG0ACU690 Tolio, Pete. “Conditional cash transfers: Taking stock and looking ahead”. April 16, 2012. devex.com, https://www.devex.com/news/conditional-cash-transfers-taking-stock-and-looking-ahead-77999 It was mid-afternoon and we had just finished our lunch, which was the same each day while working at Rancho De Suis Ninos, an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. Beans, rice and tortillas. The beans differed than the American version. My pallet was not used to such bland Mexican food, however, consuming them in their native country filled the beans with more than desired flavor-- culture. The rice had a slight tomato aroma and the tortillas were a basic corn, similar to what is sold in the U.S. Although it wasn’t the most exciting meal, it filled your belly for the long day of construction ahead on the new daycare. Each day after lunch, our crew made the hike up to the one room school house which sat overlooking a rocky and barren view. We sang songs in Spanish and played tag--more like chase the Americans. I specifically remember a time I was pushing a young girl on a swing. As her momentum dragged, she would call out, “Push Americano! Push!” It caught me off guard, but ultimately made me chuckle. Poverty typically refers to the diminished state of something, whether it be poor health or poor social skills, but on the ranch it meant, “Hope for a better future”. “Shhh.” The puppet show was about to begin. A full cast of homemade felt puppets resembling mankind appeared behind the cardboard cutout. I sat along the back wall, sitting crisscross applesauce on the dust covered concrete. The dirt there was more like a sandy dust and coated everything in sight. My failed attempt to follow the storyline was made apparent when all the children laughed aloud without me. Next to me was a young boy. I turned to gaze at his expression, observing his enjoyment in the show. He seemed passive, more interested in sticking his tongue out at me. He finished with a goofy grin, proud of his inability to be easily entertained like the others. I couldn’t help but encourage his behavior as he tapped into a nostalgic competitiveness in me. I proceeded to return the favor. He giggled. Throughout the show, he and I continued attempt after attempt to outdo the other. Soon, our tongue talents grew physical on his half. By the end of the puppet show, I was curled up on the ground while he stood over me, playfully punching. During the remainder of the week, I spotted Diego around the ranch, and each time I would call out his name and point at him. I only ever received a smirk and poked out from his lips, a tongue. A few days later, I walked into the chapel. A massive cold concrete block, resembling a Costco wholesale warehouse where I picked out Diego in a sea of energetic boys. Again, our playtime quickly grew physical, having a chair hurled at me. Although he was clowning around, I was stunned. Should I attempt to express that this action was not proper behavior? Would he understand with the language barrier? I got down on my knees to try, but received a slap across the face instead. Such a small child and such a large stinging sensation on my cheek. If this were my own child, my reaction would have been far different, but this child possessed very little, and I could not be the one to tear him down further. I later spoke with one of the ranch workers who informed me that many of the children came from abusive families. Apparently, physical acts may have been the only way they have ever been taught to communicate. My heart continued to go out to Diego. My love for him grew with each beating. According to Unicef.org, protector of children’s rights worldwide, “Children represent almost half of all people living in extreme poverty although they make up roughly a third of the world’s population.” Unicef also stated that as of 2015 there were 140 million orphaned children worldwide and that 15.1 million have lost both parents, meaning most have a surviving parent. While 95% of all orphans are over the age of 5 (Unicef), and as of 2009 there were approximately 1.6 million orphans from newborns to 18 years of age in Mexico. At the end of my time at the ranch, I located information on how to sponsor Diego. While the U.S. government has a system in place to accommodate and keep track of orphans, Mexico does not. Once a child is deemed an orphan by the Mexican government, they no longer receive any aid and are sent off to these privately owned orphanages, many of which survive off of the sponsorship of their children and volunteer groups. Saying goodbye was heartbreaking as it felt utterly permanent, but his memory never said, “Adios!” Works Cited Anicca W-Fowler - http://lovelifehope.com/about/ https://www.unicef.org/eca/media_28546.html https://www.unicef.org/media/media_45279.html https://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Mexico_ChildPovertyandDisparitiesReport(1).pdf
After finding this map of poverty on worldmapper.org, I cannot say I found the information surprising. While looking at the bar graph in the lower right corner you can see that Africa reigns in as the most poverty stricken part of the world. Next is Southeast Asia followed by the Middle East and then South America. After Eastern Europe, poverty rates decrease further in North America, then Western Europe and with the lowest poverty rates…Japan. Now Japan’s placement in the poverty cycle did surprise me at first glance. Although they are a very small country, an island which takes 6 hours to drive across in its entirety, I found it rather astonishing. When you break it down, however, their vehicle market alone is a dominating factor throughout the world which includes: Nissan, Subaru, Honda, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Isuzu and Toyota. Japan is also an electronic giant with internationally known companies like Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba and Nintendo. Personally, I feel my education has helped me better understand the distribution of poverty throughout the world, but has also helped me dissect why and how the map above was formed. I’m sure people from different backgrounds and education than myself may have believed this map indifferently. Knowing the geographical differences in poverty helps create awareness and provides a better picture of how certain parts of the world survive.
Write down five statements from your research, then write some commentary that responds to, or challenges, or embroiders upon, or adds to, or offers a bit of relevant information that's missing--or any other kind of commentary--for each statement. 1) "If we're delivering very state-of-the-art, high-quality early education, that can have an impact," Dow says. "But we might be able to amplify that if we're also stabilizing and improving the economic well-being of the household in which children are developing."
2) “This approach—serving children and their parents in a coordinated manner—has been tried before. In the 1990s, a number of two-generation programs were piloted around the country, but most evaluations found virtually no long-term effects for parents or their children.”
3) "The No. 1 thing that we think is necessary is articulating and being accountable for outcomes for both children and parents," says Lori Severens, the assistant director for leadership and design of the Ascend Initiative. "Before, too many efforts focused on children, for example, and only provided referrals for parents, and vice versa, instead of thinking about what can we do to really help the entire family."
4) “The approximately 90 families at Warren Village, who undergo an extensive application process, live virtually rent-free, paying as little as $25 a month for a one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartment. In exchange for the cheap housing, they are required to either work or attend school full-time, to participate in monthly life-skills classes, and to abide by the facility's rules and regulations.” (In Denver’s Cheesman Park)
5) “When families first move into Warren Village, on-site case managers, known as family advocates, help parents develop a long-term career or educational plan. Once families are settled, family advocates serve as coaches and cheerleaders, encouraging families to remember their goals and helping with everything from registering at the local community college, to applying for financial aid or scholarships, to accessing mental-health services.”
Source: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Two Generations at a Time Dwyer Gunn-(Illustration: Brickley)-(Illustration: Dupré) - https://psmag.com/magazine/breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty |
AuthorAnne is 25 years old and originally from the Bay Area, California, but grew up in the small charming town of Horseheads, just south of the Finger Lakes Wine Country in Upstate New York. Archives
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