Poverty in Africa What does poverty mean to you?

Poverty in AfricaPoverty in Africa

What does poverty mean to you?

Poverty is…Poverty is…

the state or condition of having little or no the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; of being poor;

deficiency of necessary or desirable deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients, qualities, etc.: poverty of the soil. ingredients, qualities, etc.: poverty of the soil.

As a result of As a result of Poverty…Poverty…

……A child dies every three A child dies every three seconds from AIDS and seconds from AIDS and extreme poverty, often extreme poverty, often before their fifth birthday.before their fifth birthday.

……Every year six million Every year six million children die from children die from malnutrition before their malnutrition before their fifth birthday. fifth birthday.

……More than 50 percent of More than 50 percent of Africans suffer from water-Africans suffer from water-related diseases such as related diseases such as cholera and infant diarrhea. cholera and infant diarrhea.


……more than 12 million more than 12 million children have HIV/AIDS.children have HIV/AIDS.

……200,000 child slaves are sold 200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. slaves in West Africa alone.

……About 120,000 African About 120,000 African children are participating in children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. young as 7 years old.


……One in six African children dies One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. these deaths could be prevented.

… … In sub-Saharan Africa, measles In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. little as $1 per child.

… … Between 12 and 14 million Between 12 and 14 million African children have been African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. orphaned by HIV/AIDS.


……Nearly 2 million children Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV under 14 years old are HIV positive. positive.

……64% of children in Sub-64% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. adequate sanitation.

… … Only 57% of African Only 57% of African children are enrolled in children are enrolled in primary education, and one primary education, and one in three of those does not in three of those does not complete school. complete school.

Why do Some Why do Some Africans go Hungry?Africans go Hungry?

Why do Some Africans Why do Some Africans go Hungry?go Hungry?

Is it because there is not enough food in the Is it because there is not enough food in the world?world? No, experts agree that more than enough food is No, experts agree that more than enough food is

produced to feed everyone.produced to feed everyone. Is it because of droughts and natural disasters?Is it because of droughts and natural disasters?

No, these things do hurt but Africa has been No, these things do hurt but Africa has been dealing with these issues for centuries and have dealing with these issues for centuries and have never had this amount of hunger.never had this amount of hunger.

Why do Africans go Why do Africans go Hungry?Hungry?

Hunger is largely a Hunger is largely a problem created problem created by people! Poverty by people! Poverty and this outcome and this outcome of hunger is a of hunger is a social problem social problem which could be which could be solved by people!solved by people!


7 reasons7 reasons1.1. Population GrowthPopulation Growth2.2. Land distributionLand distribution3.3. Government PoliciesGovernment Policies4.4. Poor TransportationPoor Transportation5.5. Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems6.6. DebtDebt7.7. WarWar


Population GrowthPopulation Growth Africa has the highest Africa has the highest

birth rate in the world.birth rate in the world. But overpopulation is But overpopulation is

not the cause of hunger, not the cause of hunger, it is the result of it is the result of hunger.hunger.

Studies show that when Studies show that when people have enough to people have enough to eat and are financially eat and are financially secure they have fewer secure they have fewer children.children.


Land distributionLand distribution Subsistence farmers are losing their land to Subsistence farmers are losing their land to

large corporations and wealthy landowners.large corporations and wealthy landowners. These groups grow cash crops that are not These groups grow cash crops that are not

grown for local consumption but for sale grown for local consumption but for sale abroad.abroad.

The subsistence farmers who have lost their The subsistence farmers who have lost their farms now work as low-wage workers on the farms now work as low-wage workers on the same farms they once owned.same farms they once owned.

Why do Some Africans go Why do Some Africans go Hungry?Hungry?

Government PoliciesGovernment Policies Government policies Government policies

that favor selling food that favor selling food abroad. abroad.

This means most farm This means most farm loans and assistance go loans and assistance go to large farms that to large farms that export their produce.export their produce.


Poor Transportation & TechnologyPoor Transportation & Technology In rural Africa most In rural Africa most

roads are either in need roads are either in need of repair or nonexistent.of repair or nonexistent.

Due to poor food Due to poor food storage technology an storage technology an estimated 40% of all estimated 40% of all crops are ruined by rot, crops are ruined by rot, rodents, or insects.rodents, or insects.


Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

Desertification: deterioration of land by natural forces Desertification: deterioration of land by natural forces or human activity until it is no longer able to be or human activity until it is no longer able to be farmed. farmed. Example: Land is overgrazed or farmed and is ruinedExample: Land is overgrazed or farmed and is ruined


DebtDebt Africa has borrowed Africa has borrowed

millions dollars to buy millions dollars to buy food and fund food and fund development.development.

Money raised from Money raised from exporting goods is used exporting goods is used to pay off debt and not to pay off debt and not reinvested back into the reinvested back into the country.country.


WarWar Civil wars in Sudan and Somalia hurt food Civil wars in Sudan and Somalia hurt food

production and distribution.production and distribution. UN estimates about half of all food shipments UN estimates about half of all food shipments

never reach the hungry.never reach the hungry. Many of these conflicts are a result of Many of these conflicts are a result of

colonialism-Europeans drew boundaries colonialism-Europeans drew boundaries without regard for religious, ethnic, or without regard for religious, ethnic, or linguistic groupings. linguistic groupings.

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Poverty in Africa What does poverty mean to you?