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https://theconversation.com/we-asked-children-how-they-experienced-poverty-here-are-6-changes-needed-now-180567>
"An eight-year-old boy is often hungry, but knows if he tells his mum, she will
eat less herself and go hungry. He hates the thought, so he stays quiet.
An 11-year-old girl knows once rent is paid, there is almost nothing left over,
so she tries not to ask for too much. She never takes school excursion notes
home in case the cost is too much.
A 10-year-old boy’s dad has been angry since he was injured at work; he can no
longer support his family, and awaits compensation. It makes this boy feel sad,
but he understands and tries not to add to his dad’s stress.
This is how children have described their experiences of poverty in research I
have done over several years.
Children have also told us relationships are essential. They talk about the
importance of family, the strength of community, and people helping one
another.
These help buffer children from the effects of poverty – but none can address
its structural drivers, or the ways systems fail many people.
Decades after then prime minister Bob Hawke declared that by 1990, “no
Australian child will live in poverty”, the problem remains very real in
Australia.
So what is that experience like for children, and what needs to be done?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
