No Child Left Behind: The Impact of Wealth on Children's Survival and Choices

2. Wealth often gives people more choice. Many children in the world live in poverty and do not have access to the basic things they need to survive and grow up healthy. These children live in both ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ countries.

3. I can name some of the basic things which people need in order to survive. I can tell you about some situations in which people who have more of these basic things have greater choice, an easier life and a better chance of survival.

4. Each year 2 million children die on the day they are born 2 million more die in their first month of life 10 children under the age of 5 die every minute of every day from hunger 200 million children under 5 do not have access to basic health care 26000 children under 5 die every day, mostly from preventable or treatable illnesses such as diarrhea or measles That’s the equivalent of the 2004 tsunami happening every 40 days, killing only children

5. Severe poverty - living on less than 50p per day Slightly less severe poverty - living on approximately £1 per day • yellow = 1 • orange = 2 • red=3 • blue=6 • green = 10 General poverty Average income UK family - £36 per day Rich/wealthy

6. Caroline is a 13 year old girl from northern Uganda. She lives with her aunt in a camp for people who have been forced to leave their homes because of fighting in the local area. The people who live in the camp have to fetch water from up the hill. Caroline only has one meal a day, and she eats this when she gets home from school in the evening. Caroline and her best friend Scovia go to primary school outside the camp. The school offers only a basic education; not many families can afford to send their children to secondary school. Caroline’s home has no mosquito nets and Caroline herself suffers bouts of malaria. She says “The last time I suffered from malaria I was dizzy and felt cold. I went to hospital in town and took medicine.” Source - Oxfam Cool Planet. Reproduced with kind permission.

7. Jumeli is 11 and lives in Aceh, Indonesia. She used to live in a village, but her house was destroyed by the tsunami and she now lives in a camp for people who lost their homes. Her family has to share their tent with six other families. “It’s much harder living in a tent than living in a house,” Jumeli says. “It gets very hot, and when it rains water comes in and there’s lots of mud outside.” “My father, mother, younger brother, older sister, and my grandmother are all living in our part of the tent,” she explains. “We have two rooms – my father and brothers sleep in one, and my mother, grandmother, sister and I sleep in the other. We have to go out to the toilet and to fetch water.” I’m in Grade Five at school. My favourite subject is science. I don’t like maths. I’d like to be a teacher when I grow up. I know some words in English – ‘What’s your name?’ ‘My name is Jumeli Yanti’. ‘How are you?’” Source - Oxfam Cool Planet. Reproduced with kind permission.

8. Marcos is 13 and he lives in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. 3 years ago he left home because his mother couldn’t afford to keep him. Since then he has lived on the streets, like hundreds of other children. Sometimes he makes money by selling things or cleaning cars. Sometimes he begs from tourists. Marcos often goes hungry. Marcos has missed a lot of school but he goes to catch up when he can. From time to time the police beat the children up and clear them off the streets. Murder is common and dead children are sometimes just left in the gutter. Marcos is a member of an organisation that helps children to get together and improve their lives. Marcos helps other children to understand their rights and helps street children to go back to live with their families. Children in Brazil (not Marcos) by Paulo Sacramento Flickr

9. Daniel is 12. Like nearly 4 million children in the UK Daniel regularly goes without some of the things he needs, such as three meals a day or adequate clothing. He lives with his mum, dad and two sisters in a house with two bedrooms. His mum and dad have one room, his sisters share the other and he sleeps on a sofabed in the living room. His parents both work but they struggle to find the money each day to pay for everything the family needs such as food, heating, toys, clothes, electricity and transport. Daniel knows that his mum buys her clothes second hand so that she can afford to dress Daniel and his sisters smartly for school. Daniel’s friends often ask him to go to their houses for tea or a snack but he is afraid to accept as he knows that his family could not afford to return the invitation. Daniel works hard at school but he is often hungry, cold or tired and he struggles to achieve well. (Not Daniel) Michael Sarver Flickr

10. Janet is 13 and she lives with her mum, little sister and two pet rabbits in a large, comfortable house. Janet’s mum runs her own business and earns enough money to pay for everything that the family needs as well as extra ‘luxuries’ such as holidays abroad, big birthday parties, tennis lessons and lovely clothes. Janet’s mum works from home. She likes to cook and every evening the family sits down together for a nice meal. They like to talk about their day and after dinner Mum gives the girls any help they need with their homework. (Not Janet) e 3000 Flickr