Gospel for Asia

There is a strong link between poverty and education. Education, which is one of the top ways to achieve financial stability, 1 can empower a person to rise out of poverty. But the effects of poverty on education present a formidable obstacle to achieving this feat. Those from poor households are five times more likely to be among the more than 250 million children worldwide who are out of school. 2 This statistic can result from many reasons, but most of them stem from poverty. Impoverished families, especially in developing countries, often simply cannot afford to send their children to school. If they are among the 736 million people living below the poverty line, making $1.90 a day or less, 3 it may take every bit of that income just to feed their families. Even if tuition is free, related expenses such as school supplies may be unfeasible. Parents in such situations may feel compelled to keep children out of school so they can work. They may fear the loss of any family income...

Education is commonly cited as a key to overcoming poverty, but what about the converse? How does poverty affect education? The answer is multi-faceted. Consider the following: According to UNICEF, “children who grow up impoverished often lack the food, sanitation, shelter, health care and education they need to survive and thrive.” 1 It’s estimated 258 million children do not attend school. Most, if not all, of the reasons stem from poverty. 2 Children who grow up in poverty “often experience life as a series of volatile situations over which neither they nor their caregivers have any control. Thus, they fail to develop a conception of themselves as free individuals capable of making choices and acting on them to shape their lives, instead reacting to crises that are only magnified by their poor ability to plan ahead or reflect.” 3 Approximately 736 million people worldwide live below the poverty line, earning $1.90 a day or less. 4 The focus for these families is often just to survi...

When it comes to impediments in obtaining an education, poverty is a chief culprit. Poverty encumbers education in various ways When parents are poor, a scarcity mindset may compel them to focus on immediate needs, such as food and shelter, at the expense of long-term benefits like education. If families struggle to meet even basic needs, they can’t afford extra expenses such as school supplies. Particularly in developing countries, impoverished parents may need children to contribute to the family income. Taboras, a father of nine, was hesitant to send his children to school. Their family earned a living picking through garbage heaps in Asia for sellable items, the only way they had to sustain themselves. He reasoned that sending his children to school would take away wages the family needed for survival, not realizing that an education would offer them avenues out of poverty. 1 In severe cases, parents may unintentionally neglect their children’s personal care to pursue work, driven ...

For many impoverished children around the world, poverty and education are inextricably linked. Education offers an avenue out of poverty, but poverty often presents obstinate barriers to obtaining an education. Below we unpack many of the effects of poverty on education : It’s estimated 260 million children do not attend school. 1 Many, if not all, of the reasons for this truancy stem from poverty. In 39 out of 99 countries, more than half of the poorest children have not completed primary school. 2 Parents’ lack of education is a dominant predictor of whether one generation will pass cyclical poverty on to the next. 3 There are 781 million illiterate adults, with illiteracy most prevalent in developing regions such as South Asia and Africa. 4 If a parent can’t read, he or she can’t read warning labels or help children with their schoolwork. Uneducated themselves, parents may neglect to prioritize their children’s education. They may not recognize its importance, or they may simply ...

At GFA World, we understand the effects of poverty on education, and we are working hard to help individual families. The connection between poverty and education is a vicious cycle and it takes a concerted effort to break that cycle. When people are poor, they often can’t afford education, and without education, they can’t get a better job. It often takes an outside person or organization to break into that cycle. GFA’s child sponsorship program relieves the financial burden on struggling families in parts of Asia and Africa through community-wide solutions against poverty. Vijul’s family is a great example of how this program has helped hundreds of communities. Meet Vijul, a boy in South Asia. When his dad got sick with a kidney condition and couldn’t work anymore, Vijul dropped out of school because his mother couldn’t pay for the school fees. Vijul wanted to learn but knew it would be hard for his parents to pay for the necessary expenses. One day, GFA workers heard about Vijul and...

Poverty drastically impacts education, just as education drastically impacts poverty. People living in poverty are often limited to menial and low-paying jobs, which in turn makes education difficult to afford. How does poverty affect education? Here are some ways: Education is not a top priority For many who live in poverty, education is not a priority. The parents may not have received an education, so they place very little value on learning. They may not understand the way education can help bring their family out of poverty. They may feel that the jobs available to locals do not require an education. There is no time for school Parents may need their children to work or beg in order to feed everyone in the family. There simply isn’t time to do that and go to school. Other children have the task of walking long distances to gather water, leaving no time for school. It is too expensive Some families cannot afford school or the necessary uniforms and supplies. Marriage can pre-empt a...

Education poverty is often detrimental to an individual, family, and community. Here’s an example of its impact and how this type of poverty cycle can be broken. Kasni had never set foot in school. In fact, the thought of sending her to school hadn’t even occurred to her mom, Dayita. As the sole provider for her family, Dayita simply worried about getting enough food to feed her children. In their home in south Asia, there were no dreams beyond survival. Dayita spent her days gathering firewood in the forest and selling it at the market. This resulted in very little income, but it was all she knew to do. She was illiterate, so job opportunities were limited. When families switched to kerosene stoves, fewer people bought wood in the market, which further impacted Dayita’s ability to provide for her family. Since Dayita didn’t receive an education, she didn’t understand the need for her children to learn. While Dayita worked, Kasni looked after her younger siblings. They would roam aroun...

Poverty and education—they perpetuate one another. People who live in poverty often can’t afford education. People who aren’t educated don’t have a way out of poverty. “Today more than ever, education remains the key to escaping poverty, while poverty remains the biggest obstacle to education.” – Kristina Birdsong, a writer for Scientific Learning 1 How does poverty affect education? Many people who live in poverty understand that education would help them, but it is outside of their reach. Their focus is on feeding their family and surviving. If you ask their children what they dream of becoming when they get older, they may just stare back, unsure what you mean. In their minds, there is no hope for breaking the cycle of poverty. Unless something or someone intervenes, the child will grow up and raise their children the same way as their parents before them. This education poverty can be self perpetuating. One of the most effective ways to break into the cycle of poverty is through e...

Child labor around the world remains a thorny problem that is difficult to solve in one fell swoop, as nice as that would be. As long as there is extreme poverty, there will likely be child labor, as the two are inexorably linked. Right now, it is estimated that 10 percent of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 a day. [1] Thus, the mission to end child labor must include the eradication of poverty worldwide as well. GFA World’s ministry is part of the solution for both goals, seeking to break the cycle of poverty within families so children can go to school instead of working. Through practical solutions, such as its child sponsorship program, GFA World impacts children, families and entire communities with Christ’s love. Jenya, for example, lived on a tea plantation with her grandparents while her parents lived 30 miles away on another plantation. Jenya longed for their monthly visit, which always ended too soon. [2] These tea families were p...

Answering the question “Is child labor illegal?” is unfortunately a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. While many countries have laws and ordinances against using child laborers, it is sometimes difficult to regularly enforce those rules; it takes money and resources that many nations can’t spare. From 2000 to 2016, the number of kids forced to work was trending downwards, falling by 94 million children in that time, but that progress has now stalled for the first time in 20 years. [1] The United Nations proposed in its targets for countries to take immediate action against child labor and end it in all forms by 2025. [2] This would seem to indicate that the terrible practice will be over in the next few years; however, certain companies are hesitant in doing their part to meet this goal and the edicts of their countries. Children are the least expensive laborers, as they have little to no bargaining power and are easily manipulated. [3] Employing children minimizes cost,...

Most people are familiar with the historical practice of child labor; today, it unfortunately remains a prevalent issue around the globe. Among the 160 million children trapped in child labor, 97 million are boys and 63 million are girls. About 71 percent of those child workers are employed in agriculture, which includes fishing, forestry, livestock, herding, and both subsistence and commercial farming. Other services comprise 17 percent of child laborers, and the industrial sector, like mining, about 12 percent. [1] The areas most impacted by child labor are Asia and Africa. Some of the worst-affected countries are Bangladesh, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Pakistan and Somalia. [2] An article published in Fortune magazine details 15-year-old Lukasa’s story. He lives in a mud-brick home with his family in southern DRC, and he mines cobalt, a major factor in DRC’s economy. The poor nation produces 65 percent of the world’s cobalt supply, which is vital for u...

Child labor remains a pervasive issue worldwide, despite the perception that it is outdated, particularly in countries like the United States and other developed nations. Globally, a staggering 160 million children are currently engaged in labor today. [1] Child labor, as defined by the International Labour Organization, involves work that deprives children of their rightful childhood, stunts their potential and dignity, and poses risks to their physical and mental development. [2] It is disheartening to note that almost half of the children trapped in child labor today , approximately 79 million, are involved in hazardous occupations. While this problem predominantly affects 15–17-year-olds, it is alarming that a significant portion, roughly a quarter, involves children under the age of 12. [3] These distressing statistics underscore the substantial number of children who are unable to attend school regularly or who have dropped out entirely due to their labor obligations. The occur...

Overcoming obstacles to girls’ education is crucial in a world plagued by oppression. Something as simple as a nourishing meal can improve their daily lives as malnutrition hinders cognitive development [1] and makes education challenging. Sadly, females account for 60 percent of the world’s undernourished population. [2] Access to clean water is another significant barrier affecting girls’ safety and health globally. Contaminated water sources harbor diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and leptospirosis, placing girls at great risk. [3] Recognizing the urgency of this issue, Christian agencies like GFA World, driven by their commitment to share God’s love with those in need, embraces the profound impact that access to clean water can have on girls’ lives. As Randall Mains, the agency’s development strategist, poignantly states, “Sometimes showing God’s love starts with a cup of clean water.” Since 1979, GFA World has been responding to this need in two ways: drilling wells at ...

Girls’ education empowerment is a powerful tool to escape poverty, but many poor families are unable to consider it due to the constant struggle for survival. Unfortunately, when education opportunities arise, girls are often overlooked as their contributions at home are deemed indispensable. As a result, they remain trapped in a cycle of inequality. [1] [2] GFA World , a nonprofit organization, is committed to empowering underprivileged children, including thousands of girls, across Asia and Africa through their Child Sponsorship program. This program provides free education, a comprehensive curriculum, practical skills, social integration, moral values, and emphasizes the importance of character development. Additionally, children benefit from regular provision of free meals and access to medical care. GFA World works closely with girls’ families, demonstrating the value of education and gaining their commitment as partners. Through a holistic approach, the entire family benefits, an...

Life at home for girls in impoverished families can be challenging, but unfortunately, the wider world exposes them to the distressing reality of girls’ exploitation. When they venture into towns and cities, they become vulnerable to various forms of abuse, including bonded servitude and sexual predation. Trapped in a cycle of poverty, some families in Asia resort to borrowing money for survival, only to fall victim to coercion by lenders who exploit them for labor in order to repay their debts. Tragically, these debts are rarely fully settled, perpetuating generations of families living in bondage. This cruel system, reminiscent of modern-day slavery, affects hundreds of thousands of individuals, both male and female, including girls, who endure laborious conditions in mines, mills, factories, farms, and brick kilns across South Asia and other regions. [1] The prostitution trade takes the concept of modern slavery to an even more sinister level. Instead of experiencing the joys of chi...

In the annals of world history, the relentless pattern of the strong preying upon the weak and vulnerable remains an unfortunate reality. Among the most vulnerable are women, who often bear the brunt of exploitation due to their comparatively lesser physical strength. Their marginalized status in numerous societies further exposes them to oppression and victimization. However, within this context, one segment of society stands out as exceptionally susceptible to unimaginable abuse: girls. [1] Beyond their inherent physical vulnerability, empowering girls across the globe becomes paramount in ensuring their rights and protection, particularly in traditional cultures where they often find themselves positioned at the lowest rungs of the social hierarchy. [2] As children, girls tend to exhibit trust and obedience during their formative years, rendering them even more susceptible to the harmful impact of girls’ exploitation and abuse. A Life of Hardship Obstacles to girls’ education inte...

Child labor around the world impacts 160 million children. Of that, 63 million are girls and 97 million are boys. [1] The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines this by age and by effects of the work. The age ranges from 5-17 years old. The effects are defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. [2] However, it’s estimated that these numbers are low due to industries finding ways to hide children working when the inspections occur or the authorities come. The ILO’s Labor Inspector Handbook gives examples of the types of work with children that are difficult to get to: "Brick kiln workers and quarry workers Carpenters, helpers and carriers at construction sites Factory workers or helpers producing pottery, glass, metal products, plastic goods, jewelry etc. Factory workers processing food products Traditional carpet and textile weavers whether in groups of households or...

To ask “is child labor illegal” is to open your heart and your mind to the millions of children facing work situations above and beyond what should ever be expected of them. The International Labor Organization defines this type of 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 work that children do falls into this category. Helping around the house or in a family business will not necessarily qualify. The distinction is when it starts to deprive the child in ways that will be difficult to recover, if not permanently hurt them. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs compiled a comprehensive list of countries and industries that use children in labor. [2] Some of the industries include açaí berries, amber, bananas, bricks, carpets and many, many more. A detailed list explores the product’s origins and how children are used in the proc...

The two worst kinds of child labor today are hazardous work and human trafficking. As defined by the International Labor Organization, “Hazardous child labour or hazardous work is the work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.” [1] It goes on to describe human trafficking as including “all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances.” [2] Approximately 79 million children (of the 160 million total) are in some form of dangerous labor situation. [3] That’s 79 million too many. It’s also very likely that this number is far underreported. “In areas where national regulations mandate e...

Child labor around the world is heartbreaking. Families in desperate situations have to make difficult decisions about their family’s welfare, choosing to put their children to work instead of putting them in school. Or the family becomes indentured, and the children have to help pay off the debt. Or a child is stolen by human traffickers. This is the state of child labor today , a problem nowhere near being solved but one with hope on the horizon. Estimates put the number of children ages 5 to 17 actively working at 218 million. [1] If you counted all of them as the population of a country, they would create the world’s fifth largest country. [2] , [3] The International Labor Organization defines this state of children in labor with these characteristics: “Is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children. Interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to...

For those living in wealthy nations, child labor may seem like a bygone problem, but today there are still millions of child laborers, many involved in hazardous work. So where is child labor still happening? About half of child workers, around 72.1 million kids, are in Africa, and there are 62.1 million child workers in Asia and the Pacific. [1] The worst nations in terms of child labor include Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Bangladesh. These kids work in various industries, including agriculture, mines, manufacturing and garment factories. [2] Child labor is more prevalent in the world’s poorest countries, where impoverished families may see no other option for survival. For example, according to a report by the International Labor Organization, 56 percent of brickmakers in Afghanistan are children. One of them was 11-year-old Sima, who worked 13 hours a day, 6 days a week. At the time of the report, she had already been making bricks in the kilns for five ...

When it comes to child labor, statistics run the risk of reducing the problem to a litany of numbers, but it’s important to remember that these numbers represent real children with their own stories. Now, let’s consider some of those statistics. There are about 152 million children considered to be victims of child labor around the world. Almost half of them, 73 million, are employed in hazardous jobs, and up to a fourth of all hazardous labor is done by children under 12 years of age. The industrial sector, including mining, makes up about 12 percent of all child labor. [1] According to one report, an estimated 40 percent of artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are children. Of the more than 50 child miners surveyed and interviewed, 19 percent said they had seen another child die on the mining site, 87 percent said they experience body pain, many had been injured, 67 percent had frequent coughs and several girls reported genital infections from working in wai...