World Day of Social Justice quiz: Test your knowledge
Inequality disproportionately affects the vast majority of people living in poverty, especially women and girls and marginalized groups. For the first time in decades, extreme poverty and income inequality are on the rise. Take our quiz to test what you know about extreme poverty.
BY YASMIN MCGOUGH
Ending poverty is the first of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals. For almost 25 years, extreme poverty was steadily declining. But in 2020, extreme poverty rose worldwide for the first time in over 20 years as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the forces of conflict and climate change, which were already slowing progress in efforts to reduce poverty. The World Bank estimates that in the past two years, almost 100 million more people were forced into extreme poverty, peaking at over 730 million people in 2020.
World Day of Social Justice is celebrated every year on February 20th to promote efforts to tackle poverty, gender equality, human rights, and highlight the potential and needs of millions of people affected by extreme poverty.
Take our quiz to learn more about how we can work together to overcome social injustice and end poverty for good.
How many people around the world live in extreme poverty?
People living in extreme poverty face deprivations such as limited access to food, clean drinking water, healthcare, education, and income.
How much does an individual need to earn to be considered living in extreme poverty?
Twenty percent of Bangladesh’s population live below the global poverty line of less than $1.90 a day. This number is expected to have risen by 14% because of COVID-19.
True or false: gender norms are a significant factor that drives and perpetuates extreme poverty.
Gender norms are social norms that define acceptable behavior and actions for women and men in society. Unfortunately, girls and women are more vulnerable to poverty and exploitation because of systemic inequalities, which are often perpetuated by gender norms, and limit their abilities to attend school, work, and participate in social activities.
True or false: Children are more than twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty.
According to a study by the World Bank and UNICEF, extreme poverty disproportionately affects children. An important pathway to helping children escape the poverty trap is through early childhood education. BRAC’s play-based early childhood development interventions, called “Play Labs,” aim to ensure that all children are equally ready to benefit from school once they begin.
How many households in Bangladesh have developed sustainable livelihoods and created a pathway out of extreme poverty through BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative?
In Bangladesh, BRAC’s flagship Graduation program has reached more than nine million people in 2.1 million households, ‘graduating’ 95 percent of participants out of extreme poverty.
Which of these elements are key to BRAC’s Graduation approach, which helps families break the cycle of extreme poverty?
BRAC’s Graduation program in Bangladesh enables people to break the cycle of extreme poverty through a holistic, integrated approach. Participants receive financial support; livestock, equipment, or seed capital to start a business; training in business management and life and business skills; and comprehensive mentorship for two years, enabling participants to build confidence and reach their full potential.
Which of the following is a root cause and key driver of extreme poverty?
All of the above. BRAC’s holistic approach to fighting poverty directly addresses its root causes. Our integrated, community-led programs meet people’s basic needs and empower them with the knowledge, tools, skills, and hope they need to succeed. Part of BRAC’s mission is to expand the scope of existing social protection systems to include the provision of services to people living in extreme poverty and other marginalized groups. Unfortunately, many existing social protection programs and policies do not serve the world’s most vulnerable.
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Yasmin McGough is Communications intern at BRAC USA.