Romanian children and adolescents speak out on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
“It all started with a short movie that our priest presented to us in religion class. I never thought that such poverty could exist in today’s world. Having shelter, a warm bed, clothes, food and proper conditions for learning are basic human rights. I learned that the images were from Africa where more than half of the population lives in extreme poverty”, wrote Ionela Ganea, a 14-year-old girl from the rural community of Costuleni in Iasi County.
Yet extreme poverty is also present in Romania –especially for the Roma who make up the largest and poorest minority group in Europe. Romania has the highest infant mortality ratio among European Union countries with 23.73 deaths /1,000 live births in 2008, according to the CIA world factbook. For the Roma population, this ratio is four times higher than the national ratio, which means that more than 80 Roma babies out of 1,000 died last year alone.
I never thought that such poverty could exist in today’s world “I hope that this day – October 17, the day that we celebrate the fight for the eradication of poverty – will remind those who live in rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to this fight. Let’s give people back their dignity and fight for a world without poverty and injustice”, continued Ionela Ganea in her essay called “S.O.S. Poverty!”
In Constanta County in southeast Romania, some 900 high school students received informational flyers from World Vision volunteers and had the opportunity to discuss and learn more about poverty and the ways that it is still affecting billions of children and adults around the planet.
In Cluj, in the country’s northwest, World Vision joined forces with the Institute for Action, Learning and Research in the United Nations’ “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now” Campaign. The campaign featured school workshops, a solidarity march, a live conference that gave participants a chance to share thoughts with a refugee group in Burma (Myanmar) and a “Stand Up” moment that took place in Cluj city’s Peace Square.
-Ends-
United Nations General Assembly decided on December 22nd 1992 to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. During the ‘90s, the UN has offered much attention to this matter – eradication of poverty being the commune theme of several UN conferences and of the two high level reunions regarding social development that took place in 1995 and 2000. In 1995, the General Assembly decided that 1997-2006 will be the First UN Decade for ending poverty. Each year, on October 17th, NGOs around the world invite countries to dedicate the day to presenting and promoting concrete actions for the eradication of poverty.
Yet extreme poverty is also present in Romania –especially for the Roma who make up the largest and poorest minority group in Europe. Romania has the highest infant mortality ratio among European Union countries with 23.73 deaths /1,000 live births in 2008, according to the CIA world factbook. For the Roma population, this ratio is four times higher than the national ratio, which means that more than 80 Roma babies out of 1,000 died last year alone.
I never thought that such poverty could exist in today’s world “I hope that this day – October 17, the day that we celebrate the fight for the eradication of poverty – will remind those who live in rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to this fight. Let’s give people back their dignity and fight for a world without poverty and injustice”, continued Ionela Ganea in her essay called “S.O.S. Poverty!”
In Constanta County in southeast Romania, some 900 high school students received informational flyers from World Vision volunteers and had the opportunity to discuss and learn more about poverty and the ways that it is still affecting billions of children and adults around the planet.
In Cluj, in the country’s northwest, World Vision joined forces with the Institute for Action, Learning and Research in the United Nations’ “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now” Campaign. The campaign featured school workshops, a solidarity march, a live conference that gave participants a chance to share thoughts with a refugee group in Burma (Myanmar) and a “Stand Up” moment that took place in Cluj city’s Peace Square.
-Ends-
United Nations General Assembly decided on December 22nd 1992 to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. During the ‘90s, the UN has offered much attention to this matter – eradication of poverty being the commune theme of several UN conferences and of the two high level reunions regarding social development that took place in 1995 and 2000. In 1995, the General Assembly decided that 1997-2006 will be the First UN Decade for ending poverty. Each year, on October 17th, NGOs around the world invite countries to dedicate the day to presenting and promoting concrete actions for the eradication of poverty.
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