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Why Disability
and Poverty?
and Poverty?
Why Disability and Poverty?
Disability and poverty crushes children’s lives
Too many children with impairments living in the poorest families and communities – surrounded by disabling barriers – are neglected, abused, left out of school, viewed as a burden, seen as unemployable as adults… And it’s wrong.
1 in 10 kids
worldwide live with disabilities and the vast majority don’t get the services they need (UNICEF).
Right now, children in desperate need of medical care and support in the poorest communities of the world are being left behind. Too often, these children are overlooked by governments and international development organizations. And each day, kids are dying.
Children living in poverty with disability are too often seen as less valuable, cursed, less than human. They’re hidden away, sometimes out of shame, but more often because parents are trying to keep their kids safe while families struggle to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.
The sad reality is, these beautiful kids are dying of neglect, sickness, abuse and loneliness. Misunderstanding, stigma and exclusion surrounding disability pull entire families into deeper poverty. And deeper poverty makes children more vulnerable to abuse, infection, isolation, malnutrition. It’s a vicious cycle that we’re out to break.
14,000 children
die every day, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. Children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable (UN).
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Every child deserves medical care
When Precious began walking, her mom noticed her daughter’s legs curved out. Precious was young, so her mom thought her legs would straighten over time.
But as she grew, Precious’ legs continued to bow, leaving the four year old struggling to walk. She desperately needed care.
Thanks to a kind friend like you, Precious received the surgery she needed to straighten her legs. Each day she became stronger and stronger, and each step became easier and easier. Now, she’s one of the fastest runners in her class!
9 in 10 children
with a disability never get the chance to go to school (UNESCO).
Every child is worth educating
Valdes was born with knock knees. He needed surgery, but his family simply couldn’t afford medical care.
Millions of children are denied an education because they can’t see, hear, or walk – crushing their dreams, depriving the world of future scientists, teachers and business leaders.
Friends like you gave Valdes the surgery he needed to walk to school without pain and school supplies to learn with his friends.
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Every child is worth educating
Valdes was born with knock knees. He needed surgery, but his family simply couldn’t afford medical care.
Millions of children are denied an education because they can’t see, hear, or walk – crushing their dreams, depriving the world of future scientists, teachers and business leaders.
Friends like you gave Valdes the surgery he needed to walk to school without pain and school supplies to learn with his friends.
Children with disabilities are
3 to 4 times
more likely to experience physical or sexual abuse than children without a disability (UN).
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We are all God’s children
Marie-Louise was born with a cleft lip.
Neighbours said to throw Marie-Louise away, that she was a “mistake”.
Marie-Louise’s mom fought for her daughter, but she had nowhere to turn. Without help, kids like Marie-Louise starve, slowly and painfully.
Someone like you stepped in to not only give Marie-Louise the life-saving care she urgently needed, but also to tell Marie-Louise that she’s not forgotten… not a mistake. Instead she is deeply loved by God.
