Poverty Solutions

Finding poverty solutions is more important than ever.

For the last 25 years leading up to the pandemic, global poverty had declined steadily and significantly. But COVID-19, changing weather patterns and conflict has reversed that trend. Extreme poverty increased more from 2019 to 2020 than at any other time since the World Bank started tracking global poverty.[1]

The economic fallout from these issues could increase global poverty by as many as a half a billion people—8% of the world’s population. This is in addition to the 10% of the population, or well over 700 million, who already live on less than $1.90 a day.[2]

Even before the pandemic, extreme poverty rates went from dropping an average of 1 percentage point a year from 1990 to 2015 to less than half a percentage point annually between 2015 and 2017.[3]

Violent conflict, which affects more than 40% of people living in poverty, has increased, ruining people’s livelihood, homes and natural resources. It has also discouraged development and investment.[4]

It is estimated that changing weather patterns will drive 68 million to 135 million more people into poverty by 2030.[5] Those hit hardest live in the already impoverished countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Changing weather patterns result in higher food prices, worse health and natural disasters like devastating floods.[6]

How does poverty affect society? Poverty destroys wherever it can; it affects every aspect of life, not just for the individual or their family, but for their communities and beyond. Poverty cripples. Once caught in it, it can be extremely hard to ever shake loose. The cycle continues to spin, pulling in future generations and completely changing what these communities will look like in the coming years.

“The immediate highest priorities everywhere must be saving lives and restoring livelihoods,” say those at The World Bank, adding that food support, digital connectivity and preventative measures against COVID are urgently needed. Though the solutions to poverty seem like a constant uphill battle, there is plenty of hope. “Reversing even a massive reversal of fortune, such as we are seeing with COVID-19, is possible,”[7] The World Bank stated.

It added that the world has overcome great adversity in the past and will once again succeed. But, to address these crises, “the world must commit urgently to work together for resilient recovery and ensure no stone is left unturned to help millions …”[8]

GFA World has been working on solutions to extreme poverty for decades.

During that time, it has transformed hundreds of thousands of lives with Jesus Wells that provide clean water to entire villages; outdoor toilets for sanitation; education for adults and children; and income-producing gifts, like farm animals, sewing machines and fishing nets.


Here are just some ways we’re finding poverty solutions:

Supporting children

Devastating effects of poverty begin in the womb when mothers can’t afford to eat enough. Malnutrition leads to low birth weight, cognitive deficiencies and other physical problems that can impair children for a lifetime.

One out of five children live in extreme poverty. Deprivation in children’s early years has impacts that can last a lifetime.[9]

GFA intervenes in children’s lives, supporting a quality education, providing nutritious food and free medical care. We also teach them proper hygiene.

Our child sponsorship program provides tutoring to help children excel in school so they can set their sights on pursuing a career. They learn to socialize through sports and recreational opportunities and participate in cultural songs and dances. They also experience the importance of being an integral part of their community as they serve their neighborhoods on Community Day and learn about societal concerns like tuberculosis, AIDS, illiteracy and child labor.

Supporting adults

Breaking poverty and providing solutions to the cycle of poverty involves providing more opportunities and support to both children and adults.

GFA’s literacy programs teach adults basic skills they need to not only care for their children but also themselves. We teach adults how to read, write and do basic math so that they can buy food at the market without being cheated, read essential medical information, help their children with homework and obtain better jobs.

GFA’s income-generating gifts allow families to sell their products in the marketplace. For example, families can sell offspring and products like milk and eggs from their gift of a farm animal. After learning how to sew from GFA’s vocational training classes and receiving a free sewing machine, they can become tailors and sell clothes. With gifted fishing nets, they can catch enough fish to feed their family and have extra to sell for income.

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