What we do
Poverty – the need
Nearly half the world – 2.7 billion people – lives in poverty, struggling to survive on less than US$2 a day.* That’s less money than we would spend on a cup of coffee or a chocolate bar.
Essentially, this means that 2.7 billion people around the world struggle to afford even the most basic of food and everyday items. Poverty means they are unable to afford clean water, proper shelter and clothing. They go without transport, medical attention and schooling. Instead, they face disease and a future filled with uncertainty.
Poverty – how we help
Opportunity International Australia exists to give people living in poverty opportunities to transform their lives. We do this with small loans (microfinance) that help them start a business, earn an income and provide for their families. To find out more about what we do to solve poverty, please click here.
Poverty – the facts
- Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished, almost two-thirds of whom reside in Asia and the Pacific.
- 2.6 billion people around the world do not have access to toilets, latrines or basic sanitation, causing fatal illnesses that could easily be prevented.
- 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. Instead, they are forced to drink, cook with and wash in contaminated water sources every day.
- Every 3.6 seconds, someone in the world dies from starvation. The majority are children under five years old.
- 90% of starvation deaths happen where food is plentiful, but people simply can not afford to buy it. War, disaster and famine account for only 10% of all starvation deaths.
- Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
- 800 million people go to bed hungry every night, 300 million are children.
- 1.6 billion people – a quarter of humanity – live without electricity.
- An Australian parking meter makes more money in one hour than 2.7 billion people make in one day.
Opportunity International Australia believes a world without extreme poverty is possible. Join us as we work to help end poverty in the lives of millions of people living in poverty in India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Sources: www.un.org, www.globalissues.org, www.unmillenniumproject.org
* This figure is based on purchasing power parity (PPP). PPP is the exchange rate that equates the price of a basket of goods in two countries and is often very different from the current market exchange rate. PPP suggests that US$1 should buy the same quantity of goods and services, regardless of fluctuating exchange rates. This is helpful when comparing living standards in different countries.
(Sources: http://www.economist.com/research/Economics/alphabetic.cfm?term=purchasingpowerparity#purchasingpowerparity, http://economics.about.com/od/economicsglossary/g/ppp.htm)