Poverty across the globe

My attempts at an E.C. Professional from anywhere else but here have thus failed... 

I watched a video on the World Forum Foundation website called “Syrian Refugee Children Speak Out” http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/syrian-refugee-children-speak-out/

It broke my heart! I must admit, I keep up on current events locally and somewhat nationally, but on a Global scale I do not make the time.  It is an excuse, but with work, keeping up with my now 18 month old son, working on homework for my courses, and now being 12 weeks pregnant – I don’t have the energy!

This story from April 2013, made me cry. These innocent children and their families are fleeing war but seem relatively adjusted to their new life even though they have nothing.  It is winter where they fled to in Lebanon – you can see mountains in the background and these children are lucky to have on long sleeve shirts.  When I think of the children in poverty that I work with, they usually have adequate warm clothing…

I have not had luck in responses with professionals so I am also reviewing the site:

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/ and the country China

China’s estimated population in 2001 was 1.27 billion.  Reports indicated that only 5% of people in China lived below the poverty line.   That sounds great as our percentages are well above that - BUT considering the population size, 4.2 million children living in China are in absolute poverty.  That is just children; leaving about 60 other million people below the poverty line.  That number astonishes me!

China does not have free education and therefore poor families cannot afford the basic education fees. (I thought all countries had some sort of public education; boy am I feeling naïve today!)

Organizations like CCHIP are working on educating parents, retraining them for the workforce, removing cost barriers to education, advocating for health systems to cover children in poverty in all areas (some were denied health care based on location). 

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=chipactivities-nat#16

From this research, I have gleaned that poverty does not look the same across the globe.  It definitely makes me count my blessings and want to pay it forward anyway I can – and the easiest way is through my voice in education.  My families are experiencing single family incomes with multiple children.  They probably get some kind of government assistance (WIC, food stamps etc).  None are homeless, but it is becoming winter in Northern Michigan and many are worried about winter heating costs and travel.  All children in my program have a winter coat and most have hats, gloves, snow pants, and boots.  The things they face: hunger, heat, paying bills are on a different level than the children of China.  My children (in preschool and in the elementary school) receive a free education with 3 free meals a day (breakfast, lunch, snack).  They are warm and educated for 7 hours a day, plus more if they ride the bus.  My children have an advantage in poverty just by living in the U.S. versus China.