Poverty – Around the World and at Home: Poverty – Around the World and at Home Alex, John, Fayaz, Evan, and Jeremy Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School Okotoks, Alberta, Canada December 9, 2005


Poverty: Poverty “A condition where a person does not have sufficient economic and other resources to live with dignity, choices and power, which support full participation in society.”


Poverty is…: Poverty is… Hunger Lack of shelter Not having a job Fear of the future Living one day at a time Being sick and not being able to see a doctor Not being able to go to school and not knowing how to read Losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water POWERLESSNESS, lack of REPRESENTATION, lack of FREEDOM and CHOICES


Global Poverty – Facts: Global Poverty – Facts Half the world – nearly three billion people – live on less than two dollars a day. 1.2 billion live on less than one dollar a day. 1.3 billion have no access to clean water. 3 billion have no access to sanitation. 2 billion have no access to electricity. The world’s 3 richest people have wealth greater than the combined Gross Domestic Product (the value of all goods and services) of the world’s 48 poorest nations. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. 1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5.


Global Poverty Map: Global Poverty Map


What is the face of poverty?: What is the face of poverty? Hopelessness Despair Powerless Illiterate Lack of freedom Powerless Emptiness Hungry & Malnourished Sick Fearful Unclean Hard


Poverty in Calgary: Poverty in Calgary 160,000 Calgarians live in poverty


Calgary – Some Startling Facts: Calgary – Some Startling Facts 12.5 Percentage of Calgary residences living in poverty 11.7 Percentage of children living under the poverty line 30.4 Percentage of female lone-parent families living in poverty 16.4 Percentage of seniors living in poverty 38.3 Percentage of single persons living in poverty


Calgary – Some More Facts: Calgary – Some More Facts One-third of the persons with disabilities in Calgary are poor. Have a 13% greater chance of living in poverty as compared to all other people. One-third of all Aboriginal persons in Calgary are poor. Two times more likely than non-Aboriginals. Close to 60% of all immigrants in Calgary are poor. 18% that immigrated before 1986 and 42% immigrated after 1986.


The Need is So Great: The Need is So Great 11,545 Number of persons receiving Income Support (IS) benefits, Jan-June 2005 (monthly average) 11,325 Number of persons receiving Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) benefits, Jan-June 2005 in Calgary (monthly average) 52,156 Total number of persons receiving food hampers from the Calgary Inter-faith Food Bank, Jan-Jun 2005 (includes repeat visits) 20,842 Total number of food hampers distributed by the Food Bank, Jan-Jun 2005 1.414 Average number of persons per night staying in emergency homeless shelters in Calgary, Jan-June 2005 $400 Approximate amount per month that a single individual receives based on current welfare rates


Where do we fit in on the issue of poverty?: Where do we fit in on the issue of poverty? Poverty is everybody’s issue On our streets Food Bank donations Media brings global poverty home Unicef/Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes Putting up a fight Donating food, toys, and other goods Donate time and money Donate clothing Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes Giving people a chance


Fighting Poverty: Fighting Poverty “The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.” Martin Luther King, Jr.


Fighting Poverty Globally: Fighting Poverty Globally Support the “Make Poverty History” Campaign– Wear a White Band Educate others about poverty Sponsor a child Support Operation Eyesight Support Global Literacy Efforts – UNESCO Engage in Responsible Consumption Organize a White Band event


Fighting Poverty – Locally: Fighting Poverty – Locally STS Monthly “White Band” Days - “Buy-a-Ride” Day - Sock Day - “Buy-a-Meal” Day - Hat/Mitt Day - Shoe/Clothing Day - Food Bank Day - Toothpaste/Toothbrush Day - Walk-a-Mile (or More) Day - Card or Board Game Day - Help Make a Sandwich for a Kid Day


What else can I do?: What else can I do? Buy extra groceries Donate part of your allowance Buy “Street Talk” Volunteer Encourage a family charity project


Steps to Take: Steps to Take Give respect to the poor and homeless Go on a fact finding mission and learn about poverty Pick one or two do-able projects that sound interesting to you or that utilize your skills Get involved! Share what you learn Encourage others to join in


Multi-Service Organizations: Multi-Service Organizations Calgary Drop-In Centre The Salvation Army Mustard Seed Street Ministry CUPS Community Health Centre Alex Community Health Centre The United Way


Food: Food Community Kitchen Calgary Interfaith Food Bank Feed the Hungry Program Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids Food Not Bombs Calgary


Housing/Shelter: Housing/Shelter Habitat for Humanity Inn From the Cold Calhome Properties/Calgary Housing Authority Housing Registry Network


Recreation: Recreation The Children’s Reserve Fund The City of Calgary Fee Assistance Program All Income Music Project


Legal Services: Legal Services Calgary Legal Guidance Dial-A-Law Legal Aid Society of Alberta


Financial Services: Financial Services The Low-Income Banking Project Learn$ave


The Fight Against Poverty: The Fight Against Poverty It’s up to YOU!


Citations: Citations “12 tips for teens on how to help the poor and needy”. Online. Accessed: November 27, 2005. Available: http://www.soundvision.com/Info/poor/teentips.asp.   “Causes of Poverty”. Online. Accessed: December 4, 2005. Available: http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Poverty.asp. “Community Kitchen Program of Calgary”. Online. Accessed: December 3, 2005. Available: http://www.communitykitchenprogram.com/.   Cook, Derek. “on Being Without, in the Land of Plenty”. Perspectives. Fall 2005, pp. 1,10.   “CUPS”. Online. Accessed: November 28, 2005. Available: http://www.cupshealthcentre.com/streettalk/.   “The Feed the Hungry Program”. Online. Accessed: November 28, 2005. Available: http://www.rcdiocese-calgary.ab.ca/feedthehungry/.   “Food Not Bombs Calgary”. Online. Accessed: November 29, 2005. Available: http://www.foodnotbombs.tk/.


Citations: Citations “Frequently Asked Questions 2005”. Online. Accessed: November 29, 2005. Available: http://www.calgaryunitedway.org/pdfs/FAQ%202005%20-%20email%20version.pdf.   “Global Poverty Report”. Online. Accessed: December 5, 2005. Available: http://www.adb.org/documents/reports/global_poverty/2000/G8_2000.pdf.   Hanson, Sara. “Responsible consumption”. Online. Accessed: November 30, 2005. Available: http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/7137.   “How We Help”. Online. Accessed: November 27, 2005. Available: http://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/main/index.php.   “Make Poverty History”. Online. Accessed: November 28, 2005. Available: http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/e/take-action/calendar-10-2005.html.   “One step from the street”. Online. Accessed: November 27, 2005. Available: http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2005/0324/cover.htm.   “Our History”. Online. Accessed: December 7, 2005. Available: http://www.sts.ab.ca/sts_history.asp.  


Citations: Citations “ Persons in low income, after tax, by prevalence in percent”. Online. Accessed: December 8, 2005. Available: http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/famil19a.htm?sdi=low%20income.   “Perspectives”. Online. Accessed: November 27, 2005. Available: http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/community_strategies/perspectives_fall_05.pdf.   “Poverty”. Online. Accessed: November 27, 2005. Available: http://www.mcca-ed.org/article_prints/shared_pages/poverty_print.htm   “Poverty”. Online. Accessed: November 30, 2005. Available: http://www.solcomhouse.com/poverty.htm.   “The Salvation Army – Services”. Online. Accessed: December 2, 2005. Available: http://ab.salvationarmy.ca/services/services_main.html.   “Society of Calgary – Community Resources”. Online. Accessed: November 28, 2005. Available: http://www.elizabethfry.ab.ca/calgary/calcomfr.htm.