Hello Colleagues!
I chose the podcast alternative assignment. The podcast I listened to was by a man named Meridas Eka Yora. Although I have not heard anything back from him, I would like to share what I have learned from listening to the podcast. Mr. Yora is the founder and director of an institution called Fajar Hiayah for Islamic Education. He is also the director of the Yayasan Fajar Hidayah Foundation. In 2004, a devastating and catastrophic earthquake and a tsunami killed over 200 Indonesians and left over 500,000 of them homeless. Because of this disaster, many children became orphans. To help the orphans, Mr. Yora developed three boarding schools. He provided the children with shelter, food, and clothing. He even assisted them with physical and mental health care. Mr. Yora had a goal to make sure every child received education, regardless of the circumstances. He did not allow homelessness or poverty effect the education of the children. I applaud him for his actions. After reading additional information about Meridas Eka Yora, I found out that he has established several other schools in which thousands of students are enrolled. What Mr. Yora has accomplished is remarkable. He took matters into his own hands and came up with solutions to help children who needed help. His story will have an everlasting effect in my life. Mr. Yora is an outstanding individual for all he has done for the children in Indonesia. I have learned that there are people in this world who will go out of their way to help people in need of assistance, no matter the situation.
I have learned a few insights from studying and reading about poverty in India from the website of the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. I learned that India is home to the majority of poor people in South Asia (Child Poverty Research and Policy Center, n.d.). I was not aware of this fact. I also learned that life is very hard for many of India’s young children, especially females. Many children are malnourished and are not in school because they are too busy working. This saddened me. I read that India has the largest number of working children in the world (Child Poverty Research and Policy Centre, n.d.). After all of the horrible things that occur in India, I found out that India has anti-poverty programs that are run by the central government. The largest program is targeted for young children. The name of the program is the Integrated Child Development Services Program (ICDS). I was glad to hear that there is a program over there that supports young children.
Resources
World Forum
Foundation Radio. (2013). http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/world-forum-radio/
Since India is listed as one of the top poverish countries in that part of the world, why do you think that is the case? Do you think we as professionals can do more to focus on this area? Since poverty is a generational trait, can there be a stop to ?
ReplyDeleteGood questions. I personally think it is due to tradition and their ways of doing things. I am not certain, but those are my guesses. I will definitely try to get in touch with Mr. Yora so he can possibly answer these questions for us.
DeleteThanks
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your info.
ReplyDeleteEven more than 50 years after independence from almost two centuries of British rule, large scale poverty remains the most shameful blot on the face of India. The main causes of poverty are illiteracy and a population growth rate by far exceeding the economic growth rate. Eradication of poverty in India can only be a long-term goal. Poverty alleviation is expected to make better progress in the next 50 years than in the past, as a trickle-down effect of the growing middle class. Increasing stress on education, reservation of seats in government jobs and the increasing empowerment of women and the economically weaker sections of society, are also expected to contribute to the alleviation of poverty.
Thank you for sharing this with me! Very informational.
DeleteProviding these children with the basic necessities was an amazing thing that Mr. Yora did. But, the fact that he recognized that they also needed physical and health care is even more amazing. Many people don't realize that disasters take a tremendous mental and physical toll on people, especially children. I'm glad he did.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. I admire Mr. Yora for everything he has done and is currently doing for those children. I agree with you that many people do not realize that disasters have an impact on people mentally. Thanks!
DeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your shared information regarding Mr. Yora and his generous efforts on behalf of the poor and underprivileged orphans in India. In 2004 the natural disaster which left so many children homeless and with out family also left many others homeless. It is very heart warming to hear of someone so unselfish and caring that they took on such a project as Mr. Yora did. I saw you mention some other agencies which assist the poor children in India. Are there any programs to assist the people out of poverty so that their children do not have to work? You mentioned that India has the largest number of children working in the world. It is so sad to think that these children don't even get to enjoy their childhood. I am very grateful for our child labor laws here in the U.S., and that children, even if they are poor, have a better chance of breaking out of the cycle of poverty than many others in other countries.
I am so disappointed that you have not heard back from Mr. Yora yet because I would like to get to know more about him. For many years I have had a burden to create the same type of boarding school for homeless children and families. I am curious as to where he got the funding for such a large project. He is truly an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIt is great to hear of the wonderful job Mr yora is doing for the children of Indonesia. Just recently, my colleague from work returned from India. She related to us the adverse poverty that families are experiencing in that country. She said that many persons are qualified but, cannot find a job. She spoke of the slums and the beggers on the street, most of whom are children. When I read your post I was able to connect to what was shared with me before.Poverty has touched every aspect of the globe. Do you believe that poverty can be fully eradicated?