Introduction

The hosts discuss poverty and its impact in Canada and globally. They mention that poverty rates in Canada have decreased but are still significant. They also highlight the lack of access to education, particularly for children in third world countries who are forced to work instead of going to school. They express concern about the limited opportunities and potential for these individuals. Welcome to Dimes with Dreams, where we talk about our experiences living in poverty. I'm Kier, and I'll be one of your hosts, and I'm Carmen, your other host. We're going to start off by talking about what poverty really is and how much of the real world goes through it. Some facts about poverty in Canada you may have not known is that the peak stage of poverty was in 2015 with 14.5%. Oh my God. And then recently in 2021, it was 7.4%. That's still a lot. That's still a lot. But it's definitely decreased by half, so we're getting there. And also knowing that education is something not everyone can access, but it's definitely a necessity. There's a large amount globally who are not able to afford it. So do you want to maybe guess how much? Yes, I would love to. I've learned in my equity and social justice class that child labor is normal in third world countries. One in every 10 children is forced to work instead of pursuing an education just so they can help their parents earn money. So many young kids have dreams of becoming nurses, lawyers, police officers. However, these dreams are crushed by their family income. This is unfair and limits the potential of our future. So my guess would be 55%. Very close, but it is 63%. No. So 63% of people 15 years or younger have no schooling or basic education. So I can honestly imagine how hard or difficult it might be for these people to go about their daily lives because they have no idea how to read or write.