Sharing Web Resources

The website that I chose was The Global Fund for Children. The information that seemed relevant to me was what I read about poverty and its effects on children and their families. Poverty is a serious problem in the area that I live in and many of the children in my classroom are living in poverty. Poverty can have a negative effect on children’s brain development and their lives.

The article that I read states “The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) describes poverty in Lebanon as a serious situation requiring more attention, in spite of some commendable improvement in the last decade. UNDP estimates that 8 percent of the Lebanese population lives in extreme poverty, meaning that almost 300,000 individuals in Lebanon are unable to meet their basic survival needs. Furthermore, approximately 28.5 percent of the population is below the upper poverty line, which is about $4 per capita per day. There are also huge disparities in poverty demographics, with a heavy concentration of poverty in certain regions and increased poverty in urban areas, especially around large cities like Beirut. Many families make a meager living through begging or temporary manual labor, but the sporadic nature of this income limits their ability to plan ahead or save, increasing their vulnerability when faced with difficult life situations. Child labor is also common, as children are required to supplement the income of their families. Children work as beggars, as sellers of various items on the streets, and as manual laborers in various sectors” (The Global Fund for Children, 2014). This information opened my eyes to the many children that I see on the streets trying to make money to help their families. Sometimes when we see children on the streets doing illegal things, they are doing it to make a living for themselves and their families.

This website does not contain any information that could add to my understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, and politicians support the early childhood field. I searched and searched but could not find anything. I did find out that this organization has many grantees to help support them. These grantees serve many of the world’s most vulnerable children.

The insight that I have gained is that many urban and rural areas are affected with poverty. Living in these areas can lead to decreased support for education. In this case, children who are living in these areas and in poverty will more than likely attend schools that have poor facilities and fewer resources.

The Global Fund for Children. (2014). Voices from Hay al-Gharbeh. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from https://www.globalfundforchildren.org/voices-from-hay-al-gharbeh/