Why Help People in Poverty in Other Countries When People Need Help Here?
Our time and resources are finite, yet there seems to be infinite need. We want to be kind to people in poverty and we want to do it wisely. Here are a few things to consider as you struggle through this question for yourself.
Continue Reading ›What Poverty Tourism Gets Wrong
Is poverty tourism just a harmless way to gain insight into what it’s like to live in poverty? Sidney Muisyo explains the underlying and deeply flawed messages that slum tours are based on and can further ingrain in us. He also explains how you can visit an impoverished community in a way that is mutually honoring and beneficial.
Continue Reading ›Tough Questions: “How Did You End Up Living in Poverty?”
The causes of poverty vary widely. Poverty can be purely geographical: Simply where you are born can dictate so much about your life.
But although poverty is often passed down for generations, the plunge to life below the poverty line can also be blind-siding. These families share their experiences of being born into poverty or ending up there because of changing circumstances.
Tough Questions: “Are People Who Live in Poverty Lazy?”
Hear how parents of five children in Compassion’s program responded to this tough question people ask about poverty. For them, the hurtful myth that they are poor because they are lazy couldn’t be further from the truth.
Why Periods Are No Longer a Red Light
For millions of girls around the world, menstruation brings shame, confusion and stigma. Discover how girls in Brazil, Honduras, Sri Lanka and Togo are finding education and empowerment with Compassion’s support.
5 Tough Questions About Poverty, Answered
Why do parents keep having children if they can’t afford to support them? Why don’t they get a different job, or work harder, if they need more money?
We put difficult but common questions like these to five brave parents of children are in Compassion’s program. In vulnerably sharing their experiences, they hope to break the stigma of and reveal the truth about living in poverty.
From Hunger to Hope: A Brave Girl Named Norah
Norah’s mother, a hairdresser, and her father, a soldier in the Rwandan army, worked hard to provide for their daughter. But when war and genocide tore through Rwanda in 1994, it also ripped a hole straight through Norah’s heart.
What Is Daily Life Like for Kenya’s Girls?
These girls are like any girls, anywhere. They love to learn and play and have big dreams. However, like more than one-third of Kenyans, they live below the poverty line, and they face confronting challenges. With the support of Compassion’s local church partners, these girls have the care they need to rise above their circumstances with determination and hope.
Suffering in Silence: The Menstruation Taboo
In many impoverished communities, menstruation is a stigmatized issue shrouded in silence, secrecy and shame. Here are just three personal and societal aspects of life that are restricted when menstruation becomes unmentionable.
Jakarta, Indonesia: 9 Photos From One of the World’s Most Populous Cities
Indonesia is the fourth-most populous country in the world, with over 275 million people. The Indonesian archipelago consists of over 17,000 islands — but of primary political, social and economic importance to the country is the island of Java. It is home to more than half of Indonesia’s population and is one of the most densely populated places on earth.
17 Gorgeous Photos of Gardens Around the World
In these photos of gardens around the world, you’ll see more than just plants. In these gardens are vegetables — but also opportunities. Fruits are flourishing — and so are small businesses started by families living in poverty. A fledgling sprout peeking up from the soil can signify a whole new future for a child. Because people in poverty who can grow successful gardens have not only a source of nutritious food, but also a source of income.
Children’s Birthdays Are a Big Deal — and Not Just for Kids
Kids sure do love their birthdays. As I write this, my wife and I are in the midst of planning a birthday party for our two sons. They are turning 9 and 7. Their birthdays are within two weeks of each other, and since they are so close in age, they share many of the same friends. So, we’re able to do a bit of a two-for-one deal.
11 Remarkable Photos of “Tiny Homes” in the Developing World
The tiny house movement that’s sweeping North America is actually nothing new. People have always found peace in the simplicity of tiny homes. Here are some remarkable photos of tiny homes from communities where we work in the developing world.