Shaping a Response to Poverty: A Conceptual Overview and Implications for Responding to Children Living in Poverty

by Thomas Feeny and Jo Byden
Posted on 09-05-2009	Translate this page

This document is the third in a series by the Christian Children's Fun (CCF), and seeks to summarize and integrate the findings of the first two publications. It also underlines some of the implications of these findings for the CCF. The results of the study show that children experience poverty differently from their parents and other adults and, contrary to popular belief, are sensitive to their situation from an early age. It is clear that as they get older, weight must be given to understanding their experience, perspectives, solutions and contributions as well as of adults.

Another important lesson from the study was that the impact of poverty on children is better understood in terms of living in adversity. Adversity should be understood comprehensively beyond material needs, to include psychosocial stress, stigmatization, enduring social marginalization and violence. Finally, it became clear throughout the study that, in most parts of the world, childhood is a period of social and economic responsibility where children are effective agents contributing to family well-being. This is a vital source of self esteem and motivation for many children.

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