Poverty

Poverty is a significant issue of social justice throughout the world. It is a lack of basic human rights and needs, including access to clean water, nutritional food, clothing, shelter and education.  Out of the 2.2 billion children in the world, one billion live in poverty, 640 million are without shelter, 400 million are without clean water, and 270 million are without access to basic health services.

Absolute poverty is complete destitution, whereas relative poverty means having a lower income or less access to human necessities in comparison to others within one's own society.  Both types of poverty are sickening to those of us who have so much by comparison.  The answers aren't simple: often throwing money at a situation is not the answer.  The education of women and girls has proven to be extremely successful in helping to fight poverty.  AND, allowing women to have more control in the household's finances, even though many patriarchal cultures do not allow for this, is key to the overall success.

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Kolkata is the new name for Calcutta, a city in north-west India.

It is one of the largest and poorest cities in the world.

It is the last city in India with man-pulled rickshaws.

During the summer it is unbearably hot.

During the monsoon season, the rain floods the streets.

It’s noisy, cluttered, and chaotic.

Preyrona is the Bengali word for "Inspiration" Preyrona is a one-room school in the Dakshindari slum of Kolkata. Reena Das and her son, Ashit Sur opened the school to give the poorest children an opportunity for a better life. It serves 60 children ranging in age from 4 to 14 years.