Poverty in Asia

Poverty in Asia is a formidable issue. The World Bank states that 766 million people were living in poverty in 2013.1 Forty percent of those 766 million people live in Asia.2 That equates to 306 million people who are fighting to survive on less than $2 (USD) a day, which is the current poverty rate in southeast Asia.

In distinct contrast, the booming technology and industry sectors in this area of the world make the regional economy one of the largest in the world. The World Bank is tracking South and Southeast Asia as the world’s fastest-growing region. Unfortunately, the prosperous side of these regions has not reached its poorest citizens. “Hundreds of millions more live slightly above the poverty line, more than 200 million live in slums, and about 500 million go without electricity,” reports the World Bank.3



Why are the poverty numbers so high in this region of the world? Why do so many people struggle with poverty in Asia?
Here are three considerations, followed by how GFA World is providing ways to reduce poverty in the world:

The Impact of Education in Asia

When children are not educated, poverty continues generation after generation. There are 218 million children worldwide who must work to support their families, leaving little to no time for education.4 This endangers their development as well as their health and safety.

The number of out-of-school children in South Asia constitutes “a formidable challenge,” says the International Labour Organization (ILO). It estimates that more than 25 million children ages 7 to 14 do not attend school in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries in the region.5

How does GFA World help in overcoming poverty in South Asia nations?

GFA World understands that education is a major key in ending the poverty epidemic. Our educational programs are focused on two factors: 1) keeping children in school and 2) literacy programs for adults.

First, GFA’s Child Sponsorship Program encourages children to stay in school by helping to alleviate stress on the finances of the family. In areas where it is a barrier to education, families and communities can be provided with assistance against malnutrition, which provides relief for a family that is trying to scrape together enough food for each person in the family. Families can also also be provided with hygiene supplies and other household items. Children are less likely to be taken out of school and forced to work when families and communities receive this assistance. Through GFA’s program, children learn they have value and purpose. They are taught how to dream and hope for a better future. Children may also learn income-generating skills to help their families once they graduate. They may also be provided with medical check-ups. Since its inception, 139,000 children have been helped through GFA’s child sponsorship program.

GFA also has literacy programs for adults and has seen phenomenal results for both men and women. When adults learn to read, they are able to read warning labels, road signs, contracts and more. Literacy provides far more employment options since the man or woman now has an essential skill needed in the workforce. In 2020 alone, 25,000 women learned how to read and write through GFA and it’s field partners.


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