Poverty Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Poverty - Coursework Example Impacts of Poverty on Individuals Poverty has significantly impacted the lives and properties of individuals in developing countries like Africa. Poverty in Africa has led to the increase of child labor since most children lack basic commodities in their homes. They resort to child labor because a majority of them are actually the breadwinners in their families as the parents are incapable of providing for them or their siblings. Child labor has no moral dignity because children who are underage are employed by employers who exploit and abuse them because of their lack of knowledge and inability to find other venues to earn a living (Blackden & Wodon, 2006, p.137). Poverty in Africa has also led to unemployment of individuals leading to a decline in the living standards. Lack of jobs within most of African countries has witnessed sufferings of many families as they are forced to work for minimal wages which are below the standard living. Lack of unemployment affects the lives of indi viduals as they resort to vices and criminal activities like robbery, prostitution, drug smuggling and human trafficking to earn a living and take care of themselves and their families (Brinkerhoff, 2008, p. 17). Unemployment in Africa has earned the title of the most unsafe place in the world, and also the title of the continent with the highest number of human trafficking. Human trafficking occurs to willing and unwilling girls since most are poor, jobless single mothers who are promised well paying jobs abroad only to find out the harsh realities of the said jobs. Unfortunately, because of poverty many people are aware of human trafficking but still risk the lives by gambling that they could miss a rare opportunity. Poverty in Africa is also associated with various plagues like substance and alcohol abuse, lack of water, food and social amenities like hospitals, school and infrastructure causing a rise in diseases and security among others. Poverty is escalates depression and str ess levels; thus, most poor individuals seek solace in alcohol consumption or substance abuse to forget about their worries or relieve the stress. The effects of alcohol on an individual can not be underestimated because it gives an individual a false judgment of situation or a position. The end results are increase in accidents and crime within the society, and the country as a whole. Substance abuse is also harmful to individuals as it destroys their health leading to deaths and disabilities among the addicts. Alcohol and substance abuse also leads to lack of responsibility of parents who in turn do not provide food, shelter, clothing, medication and education to their families. Water and food related diseases are common with the poor because they are not in a position to lead healthy life styles. In most cases, the poor are associated to diseases caused by lack of nutrients in the body like malnutrition. These diseases when not treated lead to deaths of citizens living in differe nt parts of the countries found in Africa (Jamison, 2006, p. 339). Poverty in Africa has also led to the migration of individuals into different countries. Lack of unemployment, which is associated to poverty, has caused many individuals living in Africa to flee from their counties with the intent of seeking employment in their asylum countries (Crush & Frayne, 2010, p. 54). Migration in Africa