Getting to Know International Organizations: Part 1

 

            Poverty is affecting the lives of children all over the world. There are many organizations that are helping and advocating for children that live in poverty. One of the organizations is United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The original name of the organization was United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. The organization was created in 1946 but changed the name in 1953. The organization was created by United Nations. The organization supports the efforts of nations to improve the well-being, education, nourishment, and general welfare of children around the world.

The UNICEF website offers information about the efforts the organization makes to improve the lives of children. The website provides information on the affects of poverty in many different countries. In addition, the website provides those individuals that would like to help with volunteer and donation opportunities. Current stories of poverty affecting children can be located on the website.

From the UNICEF website I have gained more insight on the affects of poverty on children. Daily I am expected to wear a mask to protect me from the Covid-19 pandemic. I find it to be annoying and uncomfortable. However, I never stopped to think about how the Covid-19 pandemic might be affecting children that are living in poverty. According to 1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows The pre-COVID-19 analysis reveals that 356 million children struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa, “The ongoing COVID-19 crisis will continue to disproportionately impact children, women and girls, threatening to reverse hard-won gains towards gender equality.” (United Nations Children’s Fund, 2020). The Covid-19 pandemic has changed people’s economic levels. The change the Covid-19 pandemic has made financially for a lot people will affect the lives of children. It is vital that governments make an effort to provide financial support to families.

Another insight I gained was the number of children that were living in poverty prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to 1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows The pre-COVID-19 analysis reveals that 356 million children struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa, “An estimated 1 in 6 children – or 356 million globally – lived in extreme poverty before the pandemic, and this is set to worsen significantly, according to a new World Bank Group-UNICEF analysis released today.” (UNICEF, 2020). It is sad to know that millions of children are living in extreme poverty.  

A final insight that was provided in the article was the importance of governments finding a long-term solution to help families affected by Covid-19 pandemic. I believe it is especially important that families receive financial help during the pandemic. There needs to be more done to prevent families from living in poverty.

One of the most shocking things I read from this article was the number of children living in poverty in Sub Saharan Africa.  According to 1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows The pre-COVID-19 analysis reveals that 356 million children struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa, “Extreme poverty among children has not fallen as much as it has for adults; a larger share of the global poor were children in 2017, compared with that in 2013. All regions of the world experienced varying levels of decline in extreme poverty among children, apart from Sub-Saharan Africa, which saw a 64 million increase in the absolute number of children struggling to survive on $1.90 a day, from 170 million in 2013 to 234 million in 2017.” (UNICEF,2020). No one should be expected to live off of $1.90 a day. It makes me think about all the money I waste and all the food I waste. More needs to be done in Sub-Saharan to support the needs of children. By not meeting the basic needs of children, children will not have the best opportunity to be successful in life.

I like that the UNICEF website provides opportunities for positive social change. Some of the opportunities UNICEF provides are volunteering and donations. On the website I found an opportunity for youth between the ages of 18 to 25 to be advocates for children as volunteers. The volunteer opportunities take individuals around the world to help children. The website provides individuals to make monthly donations or single donations.

In conclusion, the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting people around the world financially. It is vital that governments around the world help families that are in financially difficulties due to Covid-19. In addition, continue to find ways to help those that were in poverty prior to Covid-19.

 

References

United Nations Children Fund. (2020). 1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows The pre-COVID-19 analysis reveals that 356 million children struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved from: 1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows