poverty

Encyclical: Laudato Si’ Pope Francis highlights the link between poverty and our environment. Protecting the planet requires an “integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.” [139]

What is poverty?

POVERTY IS… “Not having the minimum income level to get the necessities of life.” ‘Necessities of life’ means basic things like food, shelter and clean water – anything that is vital to life. “inability of individuals, households, families, or entire communities to attain a minimum and socially accepted standard of living”. - See more at: http://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-what-is-poverty/#sthash.oCn7Z3YU.dpuf Caritas Australia website definition: “Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations 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. Various social groups bear disproportionate burden of poverty.” – United Nations Social Policy and Development Division. The dictionary defines poverty as: “Not having the minimum income level to get the necessities of life.” ‘Necessities of life’ means basic things like food, shelter and clean water – anything that is vital to life. But… …Poverty also means not having the opportunities and choices which open up a future – education, health care and human rights. Poverty is not having enough money to afford basic needs and services and a lack of opportunities and choices to live a tolerable life.

But… …Poverty also means not having the opportunities and choices which open up a future: education, healthcare and human rights. “inability of individuals, households, families, or entire communities to attain a minimum and socially accepted standard of living”. - See more at: http://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-what-is-poverty/#sthash.oCn7Z3YU.dpuf Caritas Australia website definition: “Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations 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. Various social groups bear disproportionate burden of poverty.” – United Nations Social Policy and Development Division. The dictionary defines poverty as: “Not having the minimum income level to get the necessities of life.” ‘Necessities of life’ means basic things like food, shelter and clean water – anything that is vital to life. But… …Poverty also means not having the opportunities and choices which open up a future – education, health care and human rights.

Who is at risk of poverty in Australia? Those with low education attainment Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Households with someone living with a long-term health problem or disability Those aged 65 and over Jobless households Those living in disadvantaged areas

Pope Francis @Pontifex To live charitably means not looking out for our own interests, but carrying the burdens of the weakest and poorest among us.

national Australians living in poverty = Percentage of Australian children living in poverty = 2.55 million (13.9%) 10.9% Percentage of Australians who do not have $500 in savings for an emergency= Source: An estimated four to six per cent (over 1 million people) of our society experiences chronic or persistent poverty or deprivation. http://adminpanel.ceda.com.au/FOLDERS/Service/Files/Documents/26005~CEDAAddressingentrencheddisadvantageinAustraliaApril2015.pdf http://www.childhealthresearch.eu/research/add-knowledge/measuring-child-poverty-new-league-tables-of-child-poverty-in-the-world2019s-rich-countries-report-card-10-published-2012-based-on-2009-data/at_download/file Using the 50 per cent of median income poverty line approach, and after taking into account housing costs, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) found that the threshold for poverty in 2011–12 was a disposable income of less than $400 per week for a single adult and $841 for a couple with two children. This implies that 13.9 per cent of the population (or 2.55 million Australians) had an income below that necessary to acquire a socially accepted standard of living. 17%

Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2014 http://w2. vatican

Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2014 http://w2. vatican

836 million global Population living on less than $1.25 per day = Source: 2015 MDG Report http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/mdg/the-millennium-development-goals-report-2015.html Photo credit: François Therrien

663 million global Number of people without access to clean water = Source: http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Progress_on_Sanitation_and_Drinking_Water_2015_Update_.pdf Photo credit: Sean Sprague

780 million global Number of people without enough food = Source: 2015 MDG Report http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/mdg/the-millennium-development-goals-report-2015.html Photo credit: Caritas Australia

57 million global Children out of school = Source: 2015 MDG Report http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/mdg/the-millennium-development-goals-report-2015.html Photo credit: Peter Saunders

Meeting with Students of Jesuit Schools—Questions & Answers http://www

Meeting with Students of Jesuit Schools—Questions & Answers http://www

Pope Francis @Pontifex 19 Jun 2015 We have to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. #LaudatoSi

Caritas Australia’s response

Country: Malawi continent: Africa

Doney’s story Doney and her family live in a remote village in Malawi. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and many families don’t have enough food to eat. But after working with Caritas Australia and local partner CADECOM, Doney and her community have hope for the future. Doney in her field of maize. Photo credits: Andrew Garrick and Andrew McClymont. MALAWI

Doney and her community learned to use their strengths and now they have new ways of earning money, better ways to access water and grow food. They are also improving their health and learning to read and write so they can create a better future, together. L-R: Doney at the community-built borehole; Doney teaching adult literacy classes; community vision mapping; traditional Malawian dance. Photo credits: A. Garrick and A. McClymont

Country: Australia Asia pacific region

evangeline’s story First Australian Evangeline lives in a remote community that faces many ongoing challenges like a lack of jobs and housing. Evangeline wasn’t sure about her future until three years ago, when she started working at the Djilpin Arts Ghunmarn Culture Centre. Evangeline working in the Arts Centre. Photo credits: Danielle Lyonne. AUSTRALIA

The centre is owned by the community and supported by Caritas Australia. Today Evangeline is flourishing, with new skills and a passion for preserving and sharing her Aboriginal culture. L-R: Artworks displayed and sold in the centre; young people learning to keep their culture alive. Photo credits: Danielle Lyonne. AUSTRALIA

Country: india continent: asia

dhaniram’s story INDIA Dhaniram lives in a village in India that has experienced rejection and poverty for many years. Many people in Dhaniram’s village can’t read and write so until recently, they didn’t know about their rights and the ways the Government could support them. Dhaniram in his village. Photo credits: Filmbooth India. INDIA

Since becoming involved in the Hamara Haq (‘Our Rights’) project supported by Caritas India and Caritas Australia, Dhaniram and his community have learnt about their rights and have been empowered to speak up for themselves. Now, real change is taking place. Dhaniram is teaching his community about their rights and working with authorities to make sure they are upheld. Photo credits: Filmbooth India

CALL TO ACTION What can you do?

Learn What are the causes and consequences of poverty? How does your faith inspire you to act? How can you get involved and support the agencies of the Church?

Pray For all those experiencing and at risk of poverty For our community to work together to combat poverty For our Church to continue to amplify the voice of the poor and marginalised and promote charity and justice

act Raise awareness of poverty with your family, friends and community Have a voice. Participate in advocacy campaigns. Fundraise to support the work of church agencies. Volunteer. Ask about volunteering opportunities with local church agencies. Donate goods in kind such as food and blankets to local agencies.

Additional teaching resources for primary and secondary Poverty Quiz (PowerPoint) Root causes of poverty (PowerPoint) Poverty problems and solutions template (PDF) Lesson activities (Primary) Videos Malawi Brazil Fiji (Primary)