The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is held annually on October 17. On this day, we show our concerns for the hardships faced by people living in poverty, give them a voice to express their worries, and remind them that it is they themselves who must fight against poverty.
The power of education in overcoming poverty
People living in poverty face negative attitudes; they are stigmatised, discriminated against, and judged, for example, by their appearance, accent, and address (or lack thereof). They are often blamed for their situation and treated with disrespect.
The United Nations, in its statement for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2024, stated that poverty persists even in highly developed countries.
Often, people in poverty find their interactions with institutions to be characterised by judgment, subjugation, compliance, and control.
“People feel rejected, inadequate, or humiliated. When trying to move out of poverty, they cannot access or are denied the support they need from the very institutions mandated to enable or empower them.
“In some parts of the world, institutional maltreatment of families living in poverty is a cause for concern, as the attitudes and practices of government service providers make parents feel inadequate or ashamed of their situation and fearful of having their children removed.
“A meaningful understanding of poverty and how the different forms of violence and dominance interact with each other and impact people in poverty is critical,” said the statement.
Elaborating, the United Nations noted that people experiencing poverty face severely constrained, difficult choices and have no voice in decisions made by authorities.
Living in poverty means being ignored, excluded, and exploited, experiencing intense physical, mental, and emotional suffering — feeling insecure, fearful, and desperate.
Given the deeply entrenched discriminatory attitudes and practices, people also feel hopeless and disempowered.
“Daily experiences of injustice and dehumanisation undermine self-esteem, destroy personal agency, and deny people their dignity and the chance to escape poverty.
“Social and institutional maltreatment is a catastrophic loss of human potential to society,” the statement stressed.
Powerful tool to end poverty
Poverty is the number one reason why millions of children are out of school. Yet education is one of the most powerful tools to combat poverty.
Education helps break the cycle of poverty by giving individuals the skills and knowledge needed to secure better jobs and earn higher incomes.
A lack of education, on the other hand, can trap people in low-wage jobs with limited upward mobility.
At a societal level, education contributes to economic development. When more people are educated, they contribute more effectively to the workforce, driving innovation and productivity, which in turn can lift communities and nations out of poverty.
Education also leads to better health outcomes, as individuals with higher levels of education tend to make healthier lifestyle choices, access healthcare more effectively, and better understand nutrition and hygiene. This reduces healthcare costs and improves their quality of life.
Poverty often limits access to quality education. In poorer communities, schools are frequently underfunded, leading to a lack of resources and lower educational outcomes.
This perpetuates inequality, as children from low-income families are less likely to complete their education and more likely to remain in poverty.
Moreover, education empowers individuals by providing them with critical thinking skills, civic awareness, and the confidence to challenge injustice.
This empowerment can lead to greater participation in social and political processes that address poverty.
Education is the key to success
Sarawak Tribune spoke with successful Bumiputera businessman Zaifulbahtiar Bujang to learn more about his views on education and how it can truly equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to raise their standard of living.
This 44-year-old man claimed that although he was raised in a comfortable household, it does not mean that he should be at ease, as he also aspires to achieve success through hard work, just like his parents did.
“Being raised in a home that I considered to be ideal, my parents emphasised the value of education for my siblings and me.
“In my opinion, changing our way of life requires education.
“Education will help us operate more logically and comprehend our place in the world, improving our quality of life.
“I dare say that having access to a good education has helped to shape who I am today — it has equipped me with the knowledge and abilities to run a business more methodically, including in the areas of finance, time management, human resource management, and self-discipline.
“Apart from the formal education I received from all my classes, I also realised that all the co-curricular activities I participated in at school and college helped me build self-confidence and improve my leadership skills,” he said.
This food and beverage industry businessman continued by expressing his gratitude and luck at having had both parents provide him with a good education, in contrast to other teenagers his age who had to forgo their schooling to make ends meet due to their families’ financial situations.
He pointed out that he frequently encounters this problem these days, with numerous adolescents who need to be in school asking to work at his restaurant.
“The majority of them come from low-income backgrounds and struggle with financial issues.
“Apart from providing them with employment opportunities to raise their families’ standard of living, I often encourage and counsel them to complete their education in order to at least earn the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, given that their working hours begin late in the afternoon.
“At the same time, I also like to give them the opportunity to learn and understand the ins and outs of the food and beverage business,” he said.
Zaifulbahtiar went on to explain that even though his mother, a trader, had exposed him to the ins and outs of business since he was a young child, he viewed this as a benefit that allowed him to continue learning more about the industry.
He asserted that his current level of achievement cannot be attributed to anything other than the efforts of his parents, who placed a high value on their children’s education in addition to sustenance from the Almighty.
“If Allah wills for it to happen, insyaAllah, it will happen,” he said.
Despite having graduated in information technology, he claimed that this background has been beneficial for him as a businessman, allowing him to use his graphic design expertise to create eye-catching marketing materials and develop an accounting system for his restaurant.
Additionally, he viewed education as a powerful tool to increase his exposure to business concepts and market patterns, as the nature of his work demands sensitivity to the current needs of his clients.
Ending our conversation, Zaifulbahtiar, who is also the owner of Area24, offered advice to today’s youth: never stop learning and gaining knowledge.
“If you are not interested in learning in a classroom, look for skill-building opportunities that can provide you with income or guarantee employment to raise your standard of living,” he said.
Above all, achieving success and breaking the cycle of poverty depend heavily on education.
It provides not only the practical tools to earn a living but also the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complex social and economic systems that often perpetuate poverty.
