I come from a third world country where social and economic inequality permeates my surroundings. More often than not, third world countries have large inequalities in living standards, suboptimal education, heightened violence, and lack of access to quality healthcare. Growing up in Panama, I’ve recognized the distinctive problems that affect the lives of people that live in developing nations, especially the lives of children. I feel strongly passionate about eradicating child poverty not only because I acknowledge its horrible and irreversible consequences, but also because I’ve always loved children with all my heart. Since as long as I can remember, I have devoted my life to making children oblivious to suffering by spending time playing with them, teaching them, or simply, making them laugh.

Children are innocent, light-hearted, curious, and vulnerable creatures that we need to protect with everything we have got and at any cost. We should protect them, not only because they are the ones who will lead this world one day, but also because their childhood determines their entire life and what kind of humans they will grow up to be. We should address children’s most urgent needs such as safety, shelter, access to safe water and healthcare, quality education, and every single thing, no matter how gigantic or minuscule, that can create a negative impact in their life.

Child poverty by the numbers

According to UNICEF’s State of the World Children statistics, by the year 2005, there were 2.2 billion children in the world. Out of these 2.2 billion children, 1 billion children lived under the poverty line. In other words, every second child lived under the atrocious conditions of poverty. This report also mentioned that there were 1.9 billion children living in developing nations. Out of these 1.9 billion kids, 1 in 3 did not have adequate shelter, 1 in 5 did not have access to safe water, and 1 in 7 did not have access to health services. This accounts for 640 million, 400 million and 270 million children that didn’t have access to adequate shelter, safe water, and quality health services correspondingly.

What about today?

Since the United Nations' Global Goals were implemented and plans of actions towards ending poverty were built, that number has been decreasing. However, countless children today still face poverty’s consequences on a daily basis. If the world does not act soon towards helping children UNICEF estimated, in their State of The World Children 2016 Report, that by the year 2030, 167 million children will live in extreme poverty, 69 million children under the age 5 will die, and 60 million children of primary school age will not receive an education.

So, who’s helping children?

That’s is my favorite question.

Although helping children is everyone’s duty, here is a list of organizations that are making an impact in their lives.

United Nations Children's Fund

The United Nations Children's Fund, most commonly known as UNICEF, is an international organization run by the United Nations that focuses on providing humanitarian and developmental assistance to children in developing countries. UNICEF works in 190 countries in several areas such as child protection and inclusion, child survival, education, emergencies and humanitarian actions, gender inequality, and most importantly, research and analysis. In terms of child protection and inclusion, UNICEF works with its partners to develop child protection campaigns such as #ENDviolence. This campaign’s goal is to make policymakers enforce laws that protects children from violence, exploitation, and abuse.

In their Annual Report 2017, according to their statistical analysis, they provided treatment for severe acute malnutrition to 3.4 million children in 71 countries. In addition, they responded to 344 humanitarian emergencies and provided access to safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene to 39 million people. Last but not least, they save 3 million lives a year by helping vaccinate almost half of the world children (45%)

Save the Children

Save the Children is another international organization whose mission is to provide children the opportunity to learn, a healthy start in life, and protection from harm. Save the Children spends a great amount of time researching and developing analysis in worldwide social issues affecting children such as preventable illnesses, malnutrition, lack of education, exploitative and hazardous work, child marriage, teenage childbearing, conflict, and violence. According to their data analysis in the year 2016, this organization reached more than 157 million children and worked in 120 countries. They helped give 13.8 million children around the world education with a focus on early learning, boosting literacy and empowering youth. Furthermore, they protected 3.8 million children from harm, held 131 humanitarian emergencies in 59 countries, and launched the Every Last Child campaign and co-hosted their annual Advocacy Summit.

World Vision

Last but not least, a third humanitarian organization that is working towards eradicating child poverty and suffering is World Vision. Although World Vision is a Christian organization, they serve an exceedingly great number of children regardless of their religion, race, or background. They work in transformation development, emergency relief, promotion of justice, spiritual and social transformation and public awareness. In 2017, according to their annual data, this organization helped over 15.4 million disaster survivors and refugees, served 343 communities, provide clean water to 4.6 million people, and transformed the lives of 4 million children through sponsorships.

To sum it up

I truly believe that children are angels, so you and I should always make sure they don’t go through hell.

Let’s volunteer

Let’s raise awareness

Let’s donate dollars

Let’s donate cents

Let’s simply do something.

Trust me, it will make a difference.