Poverty

Poverty is increasingly a feminine social disease. According to the International Labor Organisation of the United Nations, women who globally represent 50 per cent of the world's population, do two thirds of the world's paid and unpaid work. They only earn 10 per cent of the money in the world and own one percent of the world's property.

Feminine poverty is related to four key factors:

• Global deterioration in the economy
• Migration from rural to urban areas due to environmental degradation and declining soil fertility resulting in hunger
• Global conflict resulting in refugee movements, most of whom are women and children
• Widespread female head of household status - a risk factor since women do not make as much money as men.

The poverty cycle tightens for women who have limited education, limited job opportunities and responsibility for the upbringing of children without sufficient resources.

Keep Girls Safe Project

A sad reality in Thailand is the trafficking of humans and child prostitution. Young girls coerced into the sex industry often unknowingly and as young as 9, face a horrific and often short life. Parents have been known to sell their daughters to pimps from the cities.

This program is entirely funded by private donations which identifies 'at risk' girls in our project areas, and ensures they attend school regularly, and are monitored by our project staff to ensure they do not get sent away, never to be seen again.

The Seventh-day Adventist Women Ministries in the South Pacific is supporting the 'Keep Girls Safe Project', run by ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) Thailand to help victims of poverty. Contact the Women's Ministries department to find out more or to obtain a DVD that gives an overview of the project.

Resources

Centrelink
If you are in Australia and are having financial difficulties you can contact Centrelink for assistance. Visit their website http://www.centrelink.gov.au/
and click on the 'Individual' link to view services offered.

Govt.nz
If you are in New Zealand, visit http://www.govt.nz/services/content.php?id=764 to view the social and welfare services offered.