What I’ve learned thus for:
My communicator for this week is Mohamed Megahed; Megahed is a Communication Assistant for UNICEF Egypt.
Megahed and I discussed the issues related to poverty in Egypt.
Egyptians defines poverty as deprivation in multiple dimensions and not only a lack of income or low consumption. Poverty is the result of global economic crisis. Recent economic reforms, social policies and programmers have consequently excluded children as an imperative entity within the budget allocations. As a result of this exclusion, studies show that more than seven million Egyptian children (one in four) live deprived of one or more of their rights to enjoy their childhood and about five million are deprived of appropriate housing conditions to include shelter, water and sanitation. At least 1.6 million who are under the age of five suffer from health and food deprivation.
My new insights and information about issues of poverty.
Even though significant progress has been made to include legislative reform, to minimize poverty in Egypt, there are still millions of Egyptian families living in poverty today and the numbers continues to increase. Megahed (personal communication, March 15, 2011) noted that if something is not done to stop intergenerational transmission of poverty the growth and development of the nation will no longer exist. I must say “I agree with him.” If the policy makers are not concerned with the well-being of the children, then how will they ever be given the opportunity to rise above poverty? I feel that the policy makers need to develop an action plan to reevaluate the budget allocations to include the social protection and well-being of the children. These children make up at least one-third Egyptian’s citizen and if someone doesn’t invest in their future today, to break the cycle of poverty, they just may end up being our poverty stricken parents of tomorrow.
Brenda,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like there are countries all around the world that are suffering with issues of poverty, due to the economic downfalls.
I hate to hear or see children walking around hungry, without food or water. I am glad that you were contacted by someone and that you two are able to talk and discuss the issues at hand.Good luck throughout this course and in the future!
Brenda,
ReplyDeleteYour article really enlightened me to the plight of poverty in Egypt. I did not realize so many children live in such poverty in Egypt or that they were so neglected in funding. It sounds as if you have a great contact.