Poverty is often defined in terms of income – less than US$1.25 a day, for example. However, this is only part of the story – the consequences of poverty include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Poverty exists in all countries. In some countries, the lower an individual’s socioeconomic position, the worse their health. 836 million people live in extreme poverty. This is a global phenomenon seen in low, middle and high-income countries.

What can you do as a peacemaker? You can help by digging deeper and thinking about the reasons people in your community are facing poverty. Is it because of the lack of jobs? Do they have equal access to food, shelter, and other basic necessities? Do many people drop out of school? Pick one area you want to work on and create a project to address it using a peacemaking lens.

Organizations Working in this Area:

• OxFam
• Global Citizen

Resources:

• Worl Health Organization

Related Sustainable Development Goals: