Gospel for Asia

The goal to end poverty is a lofty one! Globally, around 736 million people are in this group, many of them children. 1 Living in poverty often results in hopelessness, disease, discrimination and, often, early death. Due to the massive amount of people impacted by poverty, world leaders have set a goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030. What does ending poverty mean? The goal has been set to have only 3 percent or less of the world’s population left in poverty. That would be living on less than $1.90 a day. 2 There’s great news in the quest to end poverty! The number of people below the poverty line has dropped since 1990 by nearly 1.1 billion people. 3 This is due to child survival initiatives, school enrollment, and helpful organizations and generous people around the world. We’re not finished in our goal to eliminate poverty though. At GFA World we recognize that 1 in 10 people still live in poverty. GFA World supports national workers serving as the hands and feet of Christ...

It’s a question that has been asked for generations—what causes poverty and what can be done about it? The definition of extreme poverty is earning less than $1.90 per day. Globally, around 736 million people are in this group, many of them children. 1 So, what can we do? It’s already being done and it is extremely successful. We can’t let down our efforts! It’s important to identify the main causes of poverty and then work hard to build bridges of hope. What causes poverty? Here are four main causes: When people lack necessities like clean water, safe shelter, food and medical care, they are likely to be in poverty. Lacking one or more of these four raises the risk of falling below the poverty line. When almost 3 billion people have no access to toilets and almost 1 billion lack clean drinking water, they are fighting the odds. When 2.7 million newborns die within their first month of life, we know that medical care is not readily accessible to mothers. 2 Second, a lack of education ...

The bridges out of poverty connect the causes of poverty with the solutions. There are numerous causes of poverty, but we have selected four of the most prevalent: lack of basic necessities, lack of educational training, lack of income-producing skills or available jobs, and lack of disaster-relief resources. Each cause of poverty has been extensively studied by numerous organizations, and the proven bridges out of poverty have been identified and tested. “Since 1990, nearly 1.1 billion people have lifted themselves out of extreme poverty.” -  Taking on Inequality: Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2016 . The World Bank. What a wonderful statistic! We’re grateful that God has used GFA World to help create solutions to poverty in Asia and Africa, providing lasting change for numerous communities. Will you join us as we seek to continue building these valuable bridges? GFA World is committed to helping communities that struggle with poverty build a bridge to lasting relief and true econo...

There are many causes of poverty, which makes the alleviation of poverty a very complex issue. While the basic definition of extreme poverty is earning less than $1.90 a day, 1 we understand that the economic definition is only a portion of the equation. There is also spiritual poverty, educational poverty, generational poverty to name just a few. The World Bank estimates that nearly 10 percent of the world’s population lives in poverty. What causes poverty? While a list of root causes of poverty would be long, here are four elements we’ve identified: Lack of Basic Necessities A lack of basic necessities, such as shelter, clean water, nutritious food and medical care, perpetuates the cycle of poverty. When people lack these basic necessities, poverty is often the result, and it becomes a significant factor in their daily lives. As an example, let’s consider a family without clean drinking water. They may have to walk miles to access clean water, which takes valuable time away from th...

Hopelessness defines the generational poverty mindset. When a child sees their father and mother living in poverty, and their parents before them also lived in poverty, it is hard to see a different path. It becomes easy for that child to see poverty as part of his or her identity. To break that mindset, several things can help: Provide Opportunities Poverty often steals the opportunities that help people grow and develop—like education, cultural experiences, social interactions, and so on. When those opportunities are given, a person’s mindset begins to change. They can see past their circumstances toward hope for the future. Teach Skills When income-generating skills are introduced and learned, people in poverty begin to see a way to financial freedom and a way to provide regularly for their families. For example, when a woman learns sewing skills, she now has a skill to make clothes for her family. She can also use her skills to make items to sell at the local market, providing an i...

Numerous communities in Asia and Africa have been fighting poverty for generations, so examples of generational poverty are everywhere. Today, let me introduce you to Daya. When we first met Daya, she was begging with her grandmother, trying to find a generous soul to give her food. We asked for Daya’s story and she broke down in tears. Daya had been abandoned by her parents, a victim of generational poverty. Her grandmother stepped in to care for her. Now, with no income, they beg. That day, Daya was invited to join the Bridge of Hope center in her community. It is wedged between the railway station and a slum. Even in this center, Daya was the poorest one there. She had never been taught hygiene and had dirty clothes. The center stepped into action to protect Daya from the perils of the slum where she lives. Out there, she encountered abuse and exploitation. At the center, she was encircled with hope and love. The center staff taught Daya how to bathe and bought her new clothes. They...

When considering a generational poverty definition, it is important to understand the complexity of the issue. Understanding the basic definition as a family living in poverty for more than two generations is a beginning, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many factors to consider when discussing this issue. It is important to remember that it is impossible for those living in poverty to simply will themselves out of poverty. The barriers keeping someone in poverty need to be identified and bridges built to help the person find relief. Lack of resources has a big role in generational poverty. GFA creates a bridge by identifying individuals and families who need help and then stepping into action to help. We provide food, clean water, medical care, and more to those who need it most. Education is often kept from the neediest children. Sometimes this is simply because the parents cannot afford supplies and uniforms. GFA can help! Old mindsets are another issue that causes g...

What is generational poverty? It’s a treacherous cycle that goes on for generations. When poverty continues for more than two generations in the same family, this cycle has been initiated. Those who grow up in poverty are more likely to bring poverty into their adulthood. Their parents typically don’t have the resources to help them succeed educationally, and often parents struggle to meet their children’s daily needs. Unless something happens to interrupt the cycle and effects of generational poverty, it will persist as a generational poverty mindset . Here’s more information on a generational poverty definition . When families are equipped with educational opportunities, effective skills, resources and a new mindset, they can break this cycle. Here are four proven ways to break this cycle of poverty: Providing Education When children and teens are denied educational opportunities, there is an avalanche of negative impacts. Why are they missing school? There are numerous reasons, but ...

Child marriages have been common throughout history. For much of history, especially before the industrial revolution, girls were wed right after puberty. Men, however, were wed at an older age since they were expected to be able to support a family. When they had accumulated enough financial resources, they often married an adolescent girl. In ancient times and medieval societies, children were married even before puberty. When studying the history of child marriage, it is essential to remember that life expectancy was much shorter in the past, so child marriages provided valuable years for reproduction. In the 20th century, women began receiving a more consistent education and entering the workforce. Life expectancy improved and the culture around child marriage began to fade. Over time, public acceptance of the practice began to be questioned. In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This outlawed the forced marriage of children. In 2012, the first Internat...

In each community where GFA World works, we share the mission of ending child marriage. We work in some of Asia’s poorest communities, and in parts of Africa. We help provide these communities with positive alternatives that help people break the cycle of poverty. In developed and stable communities, girls can go to school, eat nutritious food, enjoy their culture and discover hobbies. In communities that are struggling with poverty, however, girls struggle to survive. They often face abuse, discrimination and neglect, and sometimes child marriage. GFA World offers numerous programs to help alleviate poverty in these communities, which reduces the likelihood that a child will be forced into marriage. Some include the following: Poverty Alleviation – When the basic needs of people are met, there is more time for education. When a family is gifted an income-generating gift such as a farm animal, they have food to eat and something to sell in the market. With poverty alleviation, they are...

Child marriage is a violation of human rights. Here is a brief look at child marriage statistics and the resulting impact: A 2018 UNICEF report states that, at the time, there were 650 million child brides worldwide. This number includes girls 18 and under who were already married and adult women who married in childhood. 1 UNICEF also estimates that 45 percent of women in South Asia aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18, while a fifth were married before the age of 15. 2 According to the United Nations, 37,000 girls under the age of 18 are married each day. 3 According to the International Women’s Health Coalition, girls under 15 years old are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s. They also face a higher risk of pregnancy-related injuries, such as obstetric fistula. 4 The highest instances of child marriage happen in the following countries: Niger, Central African Republic, Chad, Bangladesh, Mali, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Guinea and ...

Child marriage is a substantial issue in many parts of the world. In 2018, a UNICEF report estimated there were 650 million child brides worldwide. That statistic includes girls under the age of 18 who were already married and adult women who married in childhood. 1 Getting married as a child subjects girls to mental and physical danger. Often, child brides are raped and abused, and they often give birth in their early teenage years. Since many of these girls suffer from malnutrition, the stress of childbirth threatens their lives and the lives of their babies. Girls who give birth at a young age can face a host of complications, including miscarriage, obstetric fistula—and death. 2 “Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death in young women aged 15–19. Young girls who marry later and delay pregnancy beyond their adolescence have more chances to stay healthier, to better their education and build a better life for themselves and their families.” 3 - Dr. Fla...

There are numerous negative effects of child labor, which impacts nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. Almost half of these children are involved in hazardous work and experience hazardous consequences, endangering their health and development. 1 Here are some of the negative effects they experience: Delays in cognitive development. Education gives a child the opportunity to advance their cognitive development. Children need consistent play and interactions with their peers to develop the ability to learn, explore and reason. They often learn how to talk to each other and make thoughtful decisions at school. When kids are forced to work, this development is hindered. Risk of injury and illness. Children in child labor are often in hazardous work environments. For example, children who work in agriculture encounter pesticides and other chemicals, and children who work in factories can be injured by machinery. The International Labor Organization estimates 2.78 million work-related deaths...

The emotional effects of child labor can be long-lasting in a child’s life as they grow into adulthood. Often, children involved in child labor experience depression and isolation because they are denied the cognitive development that naturally happens through play and time with peers. Children in child labor also have minimal or no time with family, which also plays into isolation and depression. Dangerous working conditions often associated with child labor also impact a child emotionally. When a child struggles with illness or injury, it may cause the child to fall into depression or grief. It is also mentally challenging for children to perform physical tasks that aren’t designed for children or are too advanced for them. Additionally, children in child labor frequently suffer from malnutrition, which impacts their mental health. Trafficking and slave labor is also emotionally traumatizing for children. When freedom is taken from a child, there are many psychological effects, such ...

The causes and effects of child labor are disheartening. It is a complex issue with real children and real parents involved in very difficult decisions. The leading causes of child labor include the following: Poverty The most prevalent cause of child labor is poverty. When families cannot survive at their current income levels, they see child labor as a solution to their problem. Often, parents are promised by employers that their children will receive an education, three meals a day and a good wage. Since most parents want these things for their children, they agree to send their child or children to work. In reality, the working conditions are often atrocious and the pay is typically meager. Natural Disasters Droughts, famines, earthquakes and other natural disasters create instability that disturbs an area’s economy. Sometimes, as a result of these disasters, children are orphaned and forced into working situations that are hazardous as they attempt to provide for themselves or the...

The effects of child labor are vast and often have lifelong impacts. When a child is forced to work instead of going to school, they are deprived of more than just education. Here are some negative effects of child labor : Stunted Development While childhood is a formative time of development, this development is often stunted for those in child labor. Cognitive development—their ability to learn, explore and reason—is hindered as well as relational development. When kids are in school, they learn to interact with their peers and develop friendships. When children are put in the workforce, this relational development often does not happen. Many of the children involved in child labor were born into poverty and have no way of escaping to a better life. They are not qualified or equipped for other jobs. Therefore, the poverty cycle continues. Physical Injury Children in labor industries are often seriously injured or they do not correctly develop physically. The International Labor Organ...

What does this compassion look like? Here’s how the Bible describes helping the poor: The Bible clearly teaches that our love toward the poor should include action. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”1 John 3:17 The Bible teaches that God is an advocate for the poor or oppressed. “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.”Psalm 72:12-14 The Bible clearly teaches that God uses us to help the poor. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitalit...

Jesus helping the poor is something we see mentioned numerous times in the Bible. Jesus Himself lived as a poor man—He didn’t have a home or a place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). His followers were financially poor as well, having given up everything to follow Him. They placed their full trust in Jesus to provide whatever they needed. Let’s look at some prime examples of when Jesus spoke of the poor: Jesus brought Good News to the poor. In speaking to John the Baptist’s disciples, Jesus answered their question about whether He is the Messiah: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me” Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus said the poor and outcasts are invited into the kingdom of heaven. He used the illustration of a banquet, telling the host that he should invite those who cannot ...

There is a myriad of ways you can donate to the poor. That means there is a way for each person, taking into account your personality and passions. Consider your options and find a way to donate that creates excitement in your heart! Consider volunteering. Consider volunteering your time at organizations in your local community, such as food pantries, homeless services, thrift stores, soup kitchens and other organizations that help those less fortunate. Find a program that matches your hobby. For example, if you are passionate about music, consider supporting a music program designed for low-income students. If you enjoy sports, search out a sports program at a community center near you. These programs are often in need of volunteers and financial support. Meet a specific need. For example, if you have a friend who is struggling financially, pay your friend’s car or rent payment. If you’re not able to donate the entire amount, help with the grocery bill or buy their child’s school supp...

When you begin helping the poor, you are providing for someone in a tangible and potentially lifesaving way. Some of the poorest people in the world live in South Asia and Africa. Consider these options for how to help the poor and needy that are available through GFA World in parts of Asia and Africa: Give an income-generating gift Gifts can help people acquire a new income-generation source. For example, when you gift chickens to a family, they will have eggs to sell at the market and eggs to eat. They can also raise more chickens to increase their flocks. When you gift a cow or goat, the family can sell milk from those animals. Sitara has had a hard life. Twenty years ago, her husband had to stop working due to mental health problems. Then, two of her sons passed away. She had nowhere to turn and no idea how to provide for her family’s needs. Then someone gave her a very special gift—a goat! “When I received the goat, I leapt with joy,” Sitara said. “I shared with all my neighbors …...

You may understand that child labor is bad, but you may ask, “How does child labor affect the child? Are there lasting impacts that follow that child into adulthood?” Here are a few answers: Cognitive development is hindered. During childhood, kids obtain the ability to learn, explore and reason. They begin to understand communication and how they interact with people. Children develop the skills to make thoughtful decisions. Without regular and consistent educational opportunities, this development is hindered. Relational development is hindered. As children interact with their peers, they develop relational skills that impact their teen and adult years. They learn how to develop friendships and gain interpersonal skills. Without education, this relational development is difficult to obtain. Click here , to read more about this article. Click here , to read more blogs in Gospel for Asia.Org

When children are forced to work, it becomes apparent how child labor affects education. Because of child labor, a child’s ability to attend school is hindered or may become completely impossible. This may be due to long work hours or that school is prohibited by the employer. Some jobs are seasonal due to a crop’s harvesting schedule or another seasonal element, so children can attend school during the off-season. However, this is still problematic since laboring children fall behind their peers and miss important educational development during their seasonal work. Education is essential. Education helps a child’s development.Children learn to process information, make decisions, communicate with their peers and develop other cognitive skills in school. Without regular and consistent educational opportunities, this development is hindered. Child labor also causes children to be overly tired, which impedes learning. When children attend school regularly, they have adults looking out fo...

It may be a common term, but what does child labor mean? What are the markers of child labor? The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines child labor as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” 1 Not all child labor is negative though. The ILO recognizes that tasks like chores around the house are just fine: “Assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays” can “contribute to children’s development” “provide them with skills and experience, and help prepare them to be productive members of society during their adult life.” 2 These activities are not considered child labor. Children ages 5 to 11 comprise up to half of all forced child labor. More than 134 million children involved in forced labor are in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Though these are just estimates. It’s difficult to accurately count these numbers because child...

Around the world, 152 million children are involved in forced child labor, 1 but why is child labor bad? Even the definition of child labor gives us a clue. It is defined as work that “deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” 2 How does child labor impact children negatively? The definition itself details several reasons: Children in child labor are deprived of their childhood. Play, interaction with others and education are formative to a child’s development. Child labor interferes with these basic steps. For example, play is crucial to child development because it is through play that children develop emotional and physical skills. Through play, they learn how to process the world. Child labor prevents such activities. Child labor robs children of their potential. Education plays a large part in a child’s development. Without education, children rarely reach their potential. With regular attenda...