Why Disability
and Poverty?
and Poverty?
Why Disability and Poverty?
Disability + poverty crushes children’s lives
Too many children with impairments living in the poorest families and communities – surrounded by disabling barriers – are sick, dying, lonely, neglected, denied education, abused, viewed as a burden, and not able to achieve their God-given potential… And it’s wrong.
1 in 10 kids
worldwide live with disabilities and 80% of them live in developing countries (UN)
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
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. And we believe that God is calling us to help break it.
Children with disabilities are up to
4X
more likely to die before the age of 5 in vulnerable communities (World Bank)
Click arrow to see Precious running.
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!
Only 1 in 10 children
with a disability have access to formal education in developing countries (UNICEF)
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.
Click arrow to see Valdes with his backpack.
Click arrow to see Valdes with his backpack.
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).
Click arrow to see Silvester’s joy.
We are all God’s children
Silvester is a bright boy who lives with cerebral palsy. Some kids mock him because of his disability, but Silvester is confident in who he is.
“This is how God made me,” he says.
Silvester has big dreams for the future, fueled by school and his loving grandma. Because Silvester struggles to control his arms and hands, he’s learned to write using his toes.
And with the help of our rehabilitation partner and supporters like you, Silvester is able to get the physiotherapy support he needs.
