Poverty is the lack of basic necessities that all human beings must have: food and water, shelter, education, medical care, security, etc. A multi-dimensional issue, poverty exceeds all social, economic, and political boundaries. As such, efforts to alleviate poverty must be informed of a variety of different factors.

4.4 billion people live in developing countries.

Three-fifths lack basic sanitationOf these

Almost one third have no access to clean water

A quarter do not have adequate housing

A fifth have no access to modern health services

Trade Third world countries lose out through unfair trade agreements, lack of technology and investment, and rapidly changing prices for their goods. Causes of third world poverty

Work and globalisation Better communications and transport have led to a globalised economy. Companies look for low-cost countries to invest in. This can mean that, though there are jobs, they are low-paid. War or conflict When a country is at war (including civil war) basic services like education are disrupted. People leave their homes as refugees. Crops are destroyed.

Debt Third world countries have to pay interest on their debts. This means they cannot afford to spend enough on basic services like health and education; nor on things like transport or communications that might attract investment. Land If you have land you can grow your own food. But many people in the Third World have had their land taken over by large businesses, often to grow crops for export.

HealthAffordable or free health care is necessary for development. In poor countries the percentage of children who die under the age of five is much higher than in rich countries. HIV/AIDS is having a devastating effect on the Third World.

Food and education Affordable, secure food supplies are vital. Malnutrition causes severe health problems, and can also affect education. Without education it is difficult to escape from poverty. This becomes a vicious circle people who live in poverty cannot afford to send their children to school. Gender When we measure poverty we find differences between the level experienced by men or boys, and women or girls. Women may be disadvantaged through lack of access to education; in some countries they are not allowed to own or inherit land; they are less well paid than men.

Day in the life of a Kenyan child Hello! My name is Irene Kagunda. I am ten years old. I live in a town called Soweto, in Kenya. Kenya is in Africa. My townCome and visit my town. Our houses in Soweto are small and very close together. Most have no water or electricity. Many people use paraffin (a kind of oil) to make lamps so that they can see in the evenings.

My familyThere are three children. I am the youngest. My mum is called Joyce. She runs a kiosk (a small shop) that sells paraffin and other household goods. CAFODs partners in Soweto gave mum a loan to help her to sell more things in her shop. Now she can afford to buy better food and clothes for me. She can afford to buy me school books too.

My schoolI go to Riverine Primary School. There are 170 children at the school. My classroom is bright and happy. It has an iron roof with a skylight to let the sunshine in. The classroom walls are decorated with the letters of the alphabet and with colourful paintings of animals and transport. We sit on wooden benches. I go to school in the afternoons. There are not enough schools in Soweto for all the children to attend school for the whole day. School FeesMy school fees are 4500 Kenya shillings (about 30) a term. The teaching is free, but the building, caretaker, books, uniform, and paper all have to be paid for.

This is how I spend my dayIts 2km to school and I walk there every day with my auntie. We get lunch at school usually sukumawiki and ugali (greens and maize-meal porridge). Maths is my best subject. I like my teacher Miss Wanjiku. She helps us with things we dont understand. Going to school will help me learn things. After that I want to be a nurse. I get home at about 5pm and do my homework for an hour. Then I help my mum with washing the pots and pans. Sometimes I go out to play. I like skipping. When we skip we sing a song called superstyle which means that while youre skipping someone calls out a style and you have to do it for example, you have to put your hands behind your head. If I dont go out to play I help my mum in the shop. I sell paraffin when she has to do other things.

Poverty! what is that?Poverty doesn't know your age, or the colour of your skin, hedoesn't even care about the poor state that you're in.He doesn't want to know, if you're hungry, or you're cold, he justkeeps calm and quiet, while head bent you hold.Many who have met him? are still with him today, not throughtheir own choices, but by him not giving way.Desperately needing clothes or shoes, so into purse you peer, you'llhave to wait another week, or visit charities you fear.He knows you've little money, and this he never defends, he knowsyou'll have to borrow, from loan sharks, or from friendsHe doesn't even blink an eye, when you're worse off than before, heswears, that it's your own fault, you must have known the score.

The amount of money the UK spendsOn chocolate each year could make Africa NOT live in poverty