Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Poverty

There are many stressors that can affect a child's development but I have chosen to talk about poverty because poverty has affected my parents when they were younger and seems to be affecting us all today. I remember my folks both telling me that they had a rough childhood because they had to live within their means. Both of my parents have admitted that their parents struggled to pay bills and they did not have a lot of money. Living in poverty actually encouraged my parents to want a better life and to go to college so that would not have to worry about not having money to buy food and to put clothes on their backs. My father mentioned how he had to walk miles to go to school but he said it was worth it to get out of poverty. He also stated that he struggled in school and did not have high enough scores to go to college but he thanks God that he had a wonderful advisor who encouraged him to do whatever it takes to go to college. My mothers story is very similar, she came from a small town called Madison Florida. She did not have a strong relationship with her father because he was never married to her mom. She had two sisters who had the same mom but a different father. Her mother struggled to raise her and her sisters by herself and my mom wanted a better life so she was determined to go off to college. Both my parents coped with living in poverty by focusing their attention on getting a better education to get out of poverty. As an adult I struggled with finances and knew I wanted a better life for my children so I received my degree in education. My parents are my role models, my father is a retired computer programmer, and my mother is a retired elementary school principal. They are now living the life they wished they had when they were children because they are traveling around the world. 

South Africa and Poverty

South Africa is rated the 12th most inequitable country on earth. In line with global commitment to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015 in terms of the first Millennium Development Goal (NDG), South Africa has made specific achievements in reducing income poverty and poverty amongst those living under the international rate of less than US$ 1 a day. From April 1994 – March 2004, social grants have been increased from ZAR 10 billion to ZAR 37.1 billion (around US$ 5 billion). During the same period, the Government has been able to provide over 435, 000 homes with electricity, sanitation and safe drinking water. Despite these achievements, the extent of inequality between rich and poor is so 
great that it is impossible to bridge the gap by 2015 with current efforts.

Ozoemena,Rita  Poverty alleviation strategies in South Africa: Creating dignified living for women through social justice and development