15+. do something REAL.
For most of us, childhood is a carefree, happy time in our lives. But unfortunately, the children living in the third world countries spend the majority of their childhood struggling to survive, without much hope for a future. These children face incredible odds. Of the 57 million people worldwide who died last year, 10.5 million of them were children of less than five years old. Around 98 percent of these children were from third world countries. Most of them died from treatable illnesses, such as pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and malnutrition. So here we are, two average girls who have whatever they need, whatever they want and have never been short of anything. Yet here we are, ready to prove to the world that no matter who you are, your voice will be heard.
So, what is 15+?
15+ is an a group of people basically trying to help save the world, starting with such things as poverty, HIV/AIDS and child labour.
We started 15+ to try and gain support, to see just how many people out there are just as outraged with these issues as we are, and have so far been astonished with the results.
Why do we need your help?
By adding 15+ you are doing more than you think. You are saying that you want to but an end to all this suffering and chaos. You are saying that you want to help save the world. By joining 15+, you are spreading new rays of hope to the darkest places of the world.
Facts and Figures
• Every day, almost 16,000 children die from
hunger-related causes. That’s one child every five seconds. • Worldwide, more than billion people currently live below the international poverty line, earning less than $1 per day
• Undernourishment negatively affects people’s health, productivity, sense of hope and overall well-being. Lack of food can stunt growth, slow down thinking, sap energy, hinder fetal development and contribute to mental retardation.
• The constant search for food takes up valuable time and energy of people in third world countries, allowing less time for work and earning income
• Pregnant women, new mothers who breastfeed their babies and children are among the most at risk of undernourishment
• In 2005, about 10.1 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. Almost all of these occurred in developing countries, ¾ of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the two regions that also suffer from the highest rates of hunger and malnutrition
• Most deaths in third world countries are not just because of outright starvation, but also to the diseases that move in on vulnerable children whose bodies have been weakened by hunger
• Every year more than 20 million low-birth weight babies are born in developing countries. These babies risk dying at infancy, while those who survive often suffer lifelong physical and cognitive disabilities
• Because the majority of those falling sick with AIDS are young adults who normally harvest crops, food production has dropped dramatically in countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates
• In half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa, per capita economic growth is estimated to be falling between 0.5 and 1.2 perfect each year as a direct result of AIDS.
• 854 million people across the world are hungry, up from 852 million a year ago. That’s 2 million more in the space of one year.
• Adults affected with HIV/AIDS also leave behind children and elderly relatives, who have little means to provide for themselves. In 2003, 12 million children were newly orphaned in southern Africa, a number expected to rise to 18 million in 2010.
• There are 2.2 billion children in this world. I billion of them live in poverty.
• An estimated 200 billion children live in the streets
• For the price of one missile a school full of hungry children could eat lunch everyday for 5 years
• At least 10,000 child labourers are working in Bidi factories in Barisal division
• Most child labourers are between eight and twelve, but in official records of the factories there is no existence of child labourers, they are shown as ‘assistants’
Does this scare you? Cause it should. Help us to put a stop to this. Let these people srurvive past childhood. Let them live for the first time. Help us to change their lives.
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