Local NGOs
Save the Children
The problem
We often think about poverty affecting only very poor countries but even in Northern Ireland (which is part of wealthy Western Europe) poverty is an issue.
A headline from the Belfast Telegraph in September 2015 read:
101,000 children living in poverty as income of Northern Ireland families falls
The article outlines how many families in Northern Ireland are living in poverty and unable to find money for essential items. It profiles a family whose income was so low that they couldn鈥檛 afford a washing machine.
The NGO
The Save the Children Fund has been working in Northern Ireland for over 60 years and helps children who are affected by poverty.
Its aim is to ensure all children in Northern Ireland have the practical essentials they need and the chance to succeed at school.
The action
The Eat, Sleep, Learn, Play! programme provides essential household items, such as beds, cookers, washing machines and pushchairs to families with young children living on a low income. It has awarded over 3,600 grants to families, helping nearly 7,700 children in Northern Ireland.
This is an example of how NGOs act directly by providing food, clothes, shelter, equipment or medicine in areas that are in most need.