The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17 2017
Theme: “Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies”. It looks at how the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be useful to end child poverty. Together with you, we can take action to end child poverty worldwide and build better world for all children.
The International Day for the Eradication of 82 Poverty (IDEP) is a global awareness event marked every year on 17 October. It is a day of reflection, advocacy and action against poverty. This day can be strategic to mobilize action on behalf of children and rally people of faith, civil society, child welfare organizations and governments, to intensify the fight against Child Poverty An estimated 1 billion children live in poverty, globally – that is 1 out of every 2 children in the whole world. This poverty robs children of their future, their health, education, security and overall well-being. Together, our voices, our giving and our actions during the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP), can draw attention to this problem and help solve it. Together, we can end Child Poverty worldwide and build a better world for children.
Take Action: How can you take part in The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) 17 October, annually? Here are 10 simple ideas to help you and your faith community take part in the next IDEP:
1. Tell Your Story
Share Your Story with Arigatou International — End Child Poverty and other local organisations working towards addressing and eradicating Child Poverty. Many organisations would benefit and learn from the information that you share. You too will gain new ideas and build the potential for further partnership.
2. Spiritual Observance or Faith-Inspired Observance
Organize spiritual observance or Faith-inspired observance during the month of October and more specifically on 17 October – to raise awareness regarding child poverty. According to your faith or religious tradition, organize spiritual or faith-inspired observance, faith-based teachings, sermons, meditation, inspirational messages and prayers for children affected by poverty.
3. Advocate and Lobby
- Ask children from your community what poverty means to them and how they would end it. Ensure to ask for consent from their parent(s) or guardian(s) beforehand send these responses to your leaders, together with a call to end child poverty
- Write an advocacy letter/message and send it to decision-makers and leaders in your community
- Meet the key decision makers, religious leaders, members of parliament, local government, senators and other political leaders – within your community and lobby (ask) them to take action to end child poverty
4. Give
- Give useful resources – such as foodstuff, clothing, shoes, books, learning material, medical kits – towards helping children affected by poverty and their families. Remember to ask the family or community what they require, before giving
- Give a money donation to a local organization-serving children affected by poverty. This could be your local faith community, children’s home, a host-centre for children living as refugees, a school, or other such institutions
- Organize a fund-raising event towards ending child poverty in your community. Ensure to follow the necessary legal and ethical procedures
- Volunteer your time to visit or serve children affected by poverty
- Engage in any other humanitarian activity that is relevant to ending child poverty in your community
5. Work with Youth and Children
- Partner with the school(s) in your community to organize and host an activity around the theme, “Together We Can End Child Poverty Worldwide”. Invite the students, teachers and parents to your event
- Partner with children or youth organisations such as sports clubs, scouts and peace clubs, to take action for children affected by poverty
- Work with young people from your faith community to develop and implement ideas that can help eradicate child poverty
6. Organize a Cultural Event
- Conduct a cultural event with and for children – such as a concert, sports, dance, music, games, acting, photography, making or watching a film, taking part in a walk and creating artwork
- In your event, communicate the message, “Together We Can End Child Poverty Worldwide”
- When planning the event, involve and work with children, as much as possible
7. Organize a Roundtable / Workshop / Discussion on child poverty
- Organize panel discussions involving leaders, partners and other stakeholders
- Conduct a skills training workshop for care-givers/ parents/guardians
8. Use conventional Mass Media
Work with the conventional media channels, including TV, newspaper and radio, to communicate on the need to End Child Poverty and the work you are doing. Highlight the theme, “Together We Can End Child Poverty Worldwide”.
- Write an article or opinion piece for your local newspaper
- Organize a TV or radio interview / Take part in a TV or radio show
- Ask the newspaper/ TV/ Radio station to run a special feature on child poverty in your community
- Post a fact sheet on Child Poverty in your community/country on your organization’s website or blog
9. Spread the word on Social Media
- Use all your available social media channels to communicate about Child Poverty and what you are doing to eradicate it
- Organise a social media campaign during the month of October – and especially on 17 October – to raise awareness on child poverty and positive ways to address child poverty
10. Ask others to join you
Approach partners in your community – local businesses, Nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs), other civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, schools – and ask for their involvement and support. Encourage their participation by explaining how their collaboration will increase their visibility, give them an opportunity to support a good cause, as well as enhance their goodwill in the community.
End Child Poverty has a global online map that shows the various activities International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) carried out by faith actors and organisations across the globe. You too can add your event to the map by sending your activity information. You can also check out the map to borrow different ideas for your next event. The map is available on the End Child Poverty website.
