TLA-2 (2)

Knowledge and Philosophical Foundation of the Social Work Profession
Jose Maria College Foundation Inc.
POVERTY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN’S WORLDVIEW
A DEVELOPMENTRAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING AND ADDESSING
CHILD POVERTY
Jemuel L. Lumakwas
Bachelor of science in social work
Sheryl Anne R. Dumaloglog
December 14, 2024

Abstract
This paper discusses the perceptions of Filipino preschool children regarding poverty,
particularly in terms of their perceptions of poor people and solutions for them. The
study's findings indicate that children are able to identify deprivation but generally
suggest short-term, direct solutions based on observations of what their parents do.
The significance of this study is in the light of the child's rights and participation in
decisions related to social issues, such as poverty. The understanding of how
children perceive poverty can give us insight into their potential role in the
eradication of poverty and building sustainable communities. This study feeds into
social development discourse in the light of exploring further diversity in the views of
children from different social backgrounds that can inform more inclusive strategies
of poverty alleviation.
Introduction
Poverty can be better understood through income-based measures; for
example, the United Nations had used the subsistence minimum approach in its
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). However, as opposed to the MDGs, who defined poverty as those living on
less than $1.25 a day, the SDGs raised it to $1.90 a day. However, scholars say that
income is not a good indicator of poverty because it does not capture the overall
deprivations, which range from health to lack of basic social services. These are
among the things found in the works of Minujin et al. in 2006 and Todaro & Smith in
2009. The Copenhagen World Summit in 1995 provided a broader definition of
poverty as extreme deprivation of basic human needs in terms of food, water,
sanitation, shelter, health, education, and information. In fact, despite the broad
acknowledgement of these multidimensional factors, research on poverty focuses
much more on adult views about how children perceive and are influenced by
poverty (Hakovirta & Kallio, 2016). Given the Philippines's ratification of the UNCRC,
there is an obligation to protect children's rights, thus actively involving them in
tackling society's issues, including poverty.
To fill this gap, the current paper will investigate preschool-aged Filipino
children's perceptions of poverty as perceived in their understanding of the people
living in it and what they think ought to be done to change this. Because poverty has
direct and multifaceted effects on child development (Minujin et al., 2006), this study
should also be able to enrich general discourses about the participation of the child
in the alleviation process for poverty, especially children, while underlining
sustainable social development efforts.

Body
Child poverty is an alarming phenomenon around the world. Newhouse,
Bacerra, and Evans (2016) emphasized that children are at more risks of deprivation
due to poverty compared to adults and their rates are higher amongst young children
and those residing in the poverty lines and rural areas. According to a 2013 estimate,
it is approximately 385 million children residing in households whose income is
below US $1.90 a day. Poor health affects mostly the children who are significantly
more vulnerable to the ramifications of poverty, such as malnutrition, lack of
education, and exposure to dangerous living conditions (UN General Assembly,
2006). This child poverty in the Philippines may appear even be compounded of
incomes only that need access to other essential service, including education,
medical assistance, cleanliness, and hygiene (CWC, 2011).
These are similar deprivations that poor Filipino children experience, which have
been described by Gordon et al. (2003). These include poor nutrition, poor housing,
and poor access to education. Such deprivation will have long-term effects on their
physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The Philippine National Statistics Office
(NSCB, 2013) reports that millions of Filipino children live in households struggling to
meet basic needs, with many experiencing shelter deprivation, lack of electricity, and
limited access to education due to economic constraints (Reyes et al., 2014). Child
labor, for example, according to Caragay, Adaro, and Rolle (2016), is prevalent in
some areas, wherein children work in agriculture in support of their family's survival
and endure harsh conditions that add to their deprivation.

Whereas policymaking focuses on adult-centered views on poverty, the more recent
studies indicated that children have an important contribution in understanding
poverty in its widest ramifications. Studies on children's perception of poverty reveal
that as young as preschoolers, children are able to make distinctions between the
rich and the poor, drawing on the perceptions of their families, media, and
community (Ramsey, 1991; Hakovirta & Kallio, 2016). According to Vygotsky, (1978)
children learn cognitively from a combination of interactions with people and direct
experience. Thereby children conceptualize wealth and poverty only when a child
perceives from adults what wealth is as well as the related societal system in it,
whereby society perpetuates views among their members regarding being wealthy
and destitute. More about Bullock's work can be referred (Bullock, 1999).
Despite the limitations of their age and experience, children can add value to social
development and poverty alleviation. Understanding social issues, including poverty,
is increasingly recognized globally in initiatives that promote child participation in
policymaking and community engagement (Lansdown, 2001). In the Philippines, the
inclusion of children in decision-making processes has been shown to improve their
communication skills, self-esteem, and capacity to protect themselves from abuse
(CWC, 2014). However, challenges remain in fully implementing child participation,
as cultural and social norms often prioritize adult authority, and logistical barriers limit
children’s involvement (Bessell, 2009).

CONCLUSION
This paper emphasizes on children's views in the whole discourse of poverty
and its abatement. Filipino children show a level of understanding their concept of
poverty through perceptions of their families and even their communities. By
recognizing them as agents of social progress, we can make for more inclusive
policies and initiatives concerning poverty eradication and enabling a child-friendly,
sustainable habitat. Further research is conducted to analyze the different visions of
children in various socio-economic and cultural contexts. This would ensure that
measures to eradicate poverty are indeed multidimensional and effective. Bringing
children into the efforts thus not only respects their rights but also enables them to
become leaders in the future efforts against poverty. As Vygotsky's theory of
cognitive development goes, the children's ideas regarding poverty have much
consequences about how they can possibly influence social change, now and even
later.

TLA-2 (2)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TLA-2 (2)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

TLA-2 (2)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Knowledge and Philosophical Foundation of the Social Work Profession

Jose Maria College Foundation Inc.

POVERTY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN’S WORLDVIEW

A DEVELOPMENTRAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING AND ADDESSING

Bachelor of science in social work

Sheryl Anne R. Dumaloglog

December 14, 2024

decisions related to social issues, such as poverty. The understanding of how

Poverty can be better understood through income-based measures; for

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals

2009. The Copenhagen World Summit in 1995 provided a broader definition of

poverty as extreme deprivation of basic human needs in terms of food, water,

acknowledgement of these multidimensional factors, research on poverty focuses

there is an obligation to protect children's rights, thus actively involving them in

tackling society's issues, including poverty.

children's perceptions of poverty as perceived in their understanding of the people

in the alleviation process for poverty, especially children, while underlining

sustainable social development efforts.

Child poverty is an alarming phenomenon around the world. Newhouse,

it is approximately 385 million children residing in households whose income is

more vulnerable to the ramifications of poverty, such as malnutrition, lack of

education, and exposure to dangerous living conditions (UN General Assembly,

medical assistance, cleanliness, and hygiene (CWC, 2011).

and endure harsh conditions that add to their deprivation.

studies indicated that children have an important contribution in understanding

poverty in its widest ramifications. Studies on children's perception of poverty reveal

development and poverty alleviation. Understanding social issues, including poverty,

is increasingly recognized globally in initiatives that promote child participation in

policymaking and community engagement (Lansdown, 2001). In the Philippines, the

inclusion of children in decision-making processes has been shown to improve their

communication skills, self-esteem, and capacity to protect themselves from abuse

(CWC, 2014). However, challenges remain in fully implementing child participation,

children’s involvement (Bessell, 2009).

This paper emphasizes on children's views in the whole discourse of poverty

poverty through perceptions of their families and even their communities. By

policies and initiatives concerning poverty eradication and enabling a child-friendly,

sustainable habitat. Further research is conducted to analyze the different visions of

measures to eradicate poverty are indeed multidimensional and effective. Bringing

become leaders in the future efforts against poverty. As Vygotsky's theory of

You might also like