On 17^th October 2021, the world will commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP). This year’s theme is: Building Forward Together – Ending Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People and our Planet. As with each year, at Arigatou International – End Child Poverty, this day is often an opportunity for us to promote awareness, build advocacy and take action to address child poverty. This is anchored on our broader ‘Together We Can End Child Poverty worldwide’ campaign.

This year, the IDEP 2021 theme reminds us to Build Forward Together. The theme highlights efforts by communities to build resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the intergenerational persistence of extreme poverty, and responding to the global challenge of climate change as well as realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Building forward means that no one is left behind, and also that people living in poverty, especially children, are actively encouraged and supported to be in the front, engaging in informed and meaningful participation in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives. These decisions and meaningful participation should and must involve urgent actions to combat the climate crisis.

Indeed, ending extreme poverty requires us to build forward together, not only to cut down on the number of the ‘new poor’ brought about by the effects of the pandemic, but also to bring to an end the endemic structural disadvantages and inequalities that have resulted in extreme poverty. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 has raised a myriad of unprecedented challenges in the lives of children. From being away from school, their parents and caregivers affected by loss of livelihoods, and many families facing inadequate access to quality healthcare, children have borne the brunt of this pandemic, pushing many more into deeper poverty.

We at Arigatou International – End Child Poverty, thus invite you to commemorate with us the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, on the 17^th of October by:

• Promoting awareness about child poverty and how to tackle it, through online messaging, public forums, media campaigns, and other such events.
• Leading advocacy and lobbying efforts that call decision makers and policy influencers to task, so that child poverty is addressed as a priority concern at all levels of society.
• Taking action within your community to respond to the immediate needs of children, including providing resources for children’s education, nutrition, health, ending violence against children, and safeguarding their overall wellbeing and rights.

I invite each one of you to take action, whether big or small, towards building a society where children’s rights and wellbeing are assured. Every child has the right to survival, protection, participation and development. Children deserve a society that cares and nurtures them for a better future.

Together, our collective actions will make a difference in the lives of all children worldwide.

With best wishes and for all children,

Fred Nyabera,
Director, Arigatou International – End Child Poverty.