Children are the Future

     “You don't seem to realize that a poor person who is unhappy is in a better position than a rich person who is unhappy. Because the poor person has hope. He thinks money would help” (Kerr, 2015).

     If I can recall, I was in elementary and I know my parents did not have much to give me as a child, but their love, a home, food and clothes on my back. I was fine. I had a friend, who had very little, wore the same clothes every day and seemed like she never bathe. I took it upon myself to bring some of my clothes from home and give it to her. She was so excited and happy that she got a new outfit. This made me feel good as a person, even though I knew my parents were pulling ends to make bills meet.

     The United States rank the bottom of the pack of wealthy nations on a measure of child poverty, according to a new report from UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Fund). Nearly one third of United States children live in households with an income below 60 percent of the national median income (about $31,000 annually) in 2008. Since 2008 children living in poverty has actually increased 2 percentage. Overall, 24.2 million United States children were living in poverty since 2012, reflecting an increase of 1.7 million children since 2008 (Ingraham, 2014).

https://www.google.com/searchq=children+in+poverty&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=YABsVc_EOsjgoASQ9YKQBQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=children+in+poverty+graphs+in+United+States

     Children who experience food insecurity may be at higher risk for behavioral issues and social difficulties, such as having a greater risk of truancy and school tardiness. They can also experience increases in a range of behavior problems including: fighting, hyperactivity, aggression, anxiety, mood swings, and bullying (Feeding America, 2015).

     There are 17.9 million children under the age of 18 in Thailand. Even though the situation has been improving for children in recent decades, some continue to face difficulties. UNICEF estimates that around one million children live in vulnerable conditions in Thailand. These include those who live in poverty, have lost parental care, have a disability or are forced to live on the streets. There was an estimated number 290,000 children who have been left without parental care due to HIV/AIDS. Migrant children, as well as the ones in poverty or those who have run away from their families or dropped out of school are most at risk of being involved in the worst forms of work labor.  They suffer from serious abuse, including physical confinement at the hands of employers (SOS Children’s Villages International, 2013).

Feeding America. (2015). "Child Development" . Retrieved from

http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/child-hunger/child development.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/?referrer=http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/child-hunger/child-development.html

Ingraham, Christopher. (2014). "Child Poverty in the U.S is Among the Worst in the Developed World".  Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/29/child-poverty-in-the-u-s-is-among-the-worst-in-the-developed-world/

Kerr, Jean. (2015). Best Quotes about Poverty and Poor. Retrieved

fom http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-and-famous-poverty-and-the-poor-quotes/reference

SOS Children’s Villages International. (2013). General Information about Thailand. Retrieved from http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/where-we-help/asia/thailand