9781422281383

Is Poverty Different in Different Countries?

Jack from Australia and Abu Hameed from Bangladesh, in Asia, are both 11 years old. What do you think their stories tell you about being rich and poor? Jack feels different from the other children in his class. Those children have lots of nice things—clothes, games, com- puters. Jack’s mother buys his clothes from the op shop (a

charity shop), and he uses a com- puter at the local library. His moth- er says not to worry—he is bright and is doing well at school. Still, Jack never invites other children home, and he wishes he had a room of his own. He believes he would not feel so bad if everyone was in the same situation. Abu Hameed belongs to one of the richest families in his village. His father owns ten bighas of land, and has two cows and a plow. His family of six live in a three-room house, made of concrete with a tin roof. They have a radio and electric light, although the electricity supply often fails. His mother collects water from the village well, just like everyone else does. Abu Hameed

The children in almost any public school classroom will come from a wide range of backgrounds, meaning that some will come from much poorer families than others.

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Poverty