Global Challenge #1 – No Poverty

“Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, but an act of justice,”

Background

The global poverty rate being halved since 2000, and despite the trend leading downwards since it seems to be flattening out since 2016. Together, we can challenge poverty, and the economic systems that bread it. Regardless of the world being more prosperous than ever before, inequality and wage disparity is at an all time high. Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity but an act of justice.

Global Poverty Statistics

• 10% of the global population still lives earning less than $1.90 a day, the international poverty line. In the least developed countries, 38% of the population are living below this poverty line.
• Still today nearly half the world’s population lives in poverty, and lack of food and clean water is killing thousands each and every day.
• Solving this challenge is crucial to unlocking enormous amount of human potential, and giving everyone in the world a chance to live a rich, fulfilling life. Prepr is an open education, not for profit organization dedicated to providing the tools, support and guidance to inspire change makers around the world to think globally and take on big challenges.
• Education and social systems are an important piece in tackling this issue. A UNESCO study shows that 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty – a 12% drop in global poverty
• If all students in low income countries left school with basic reading skills, and world poverty would be cut in half if all adults completed secondary school.
• It is also found that for every extra year of education, an individual’s earnings can increase by up to 10%, and every extra year of schooling increases the countries GDP by .37%.
• As of 2018, one out of five adolescents, children, and youth globally are not in any types of school or education program.
• In almost half of the worlds countries, less than one in two youth complete secondary school. Out of school students in upper-secondary schools is higher than lower level school.
• This is due to students leaving school early in order to work and earn an income. For example, 57% of adolescents in Sub Saharan Africa are not in an upper-secondary education, and 49% in Southern Asia.

There is a strong correlation between out of school youth and the income of the country. The lowest income countries also have the highest percentage of out-of-school youth. Furthermore, it is estimated that 56% of primary school students did not reach the minimum proficiency level in reading. Less than one in five countries guarantee 12 years of free and compulsory schooling.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds that every child and adult is entitled to an education, so why is there still such disparity?

As said in UNESCO education report “The equation is simple: education is the most basic insurance against poverty. Education represents opportunity. At all ages, it empowers people with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to shape a better future.”

The Poverty Challenge

Along with UNESCO, Global Partners for Education among many others, Prepr is dedicated to inspiring, educating and connecting students, entrepreneurs, change makers and visioneers to solve global challenges. Using our PIE kit, we outline a strategy for users to come together to solve a common goal. Help change the world, get started with Prepr and PIE today.