4.1        Statistics

• 1 in 10 Singaporeans are unable to meet basic needs in the form of food, clothing, shelter and other essential expenditures.²⁵
• 1 in 3 elderly Singaporeans are not eating right (2011)²⁶
• More than 23,000 children are malnourished in Singapore (2008)²⁷

4.2        The Challenge

Food poverty is more than the struggle to put food on the table, it is also associated with the inability to obtain healthy, nutritious food. Not only do poor diets affect daily productivity and routines, in the long run, they often lead to illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.

The Food Bank Singapore, one of the many VWOs tackling hunger issues, reported that 70,000 food rations and 800,000 meals are required monthly for their member beneficiaries²⁸.

4.3        The Opportunity

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings” ~ Nelson Mandela

Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing our generation – but it is possible. Globally, more than 800 million people are living on less than US$1.90 (S$2.60) a day. They are unable to meet basic needs, many lacking access to adequate, nutritious food, clean drinking water and sanitation.

“While rapid economic growth countries such as China and India has lifted millions out of poverty, the progress is uneven. Women are disproportionately more likely to live in poverty than men due to unequal access to paid work, education and property. Progress has also been limited in other regions, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which account for 80 percent of the global total of those living in extreme poverty. This rate is expected to rise due to new threats brought on by climate change, conflict and food insecurity.”²

Resources

²⁵Estimation derived from (2012). Key Household Income Trends. Singapore: Department of Statistics Singapore. Retrieved from Singaporeans Against Poverty: sgagainstpoverty.org

²⁶Zengkun, F. (14 Jul, 2011). 1 in 3 elderly Singaporeans not eating right. Retrieved from The Straits TImes: http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/News/Pages/Elderly-Singaporeans-not-eating-right.aspx

²⁷Ibid

²⁸The Need for Food Banking in Singapore. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Food Bank Singapore: http://foodbank.sg/index.php/banking-differently/the-need-for-food-banking-in-singapore

4.4       Resources

• Stop Human Trafficking!
• Poverty No More (Season 2) – Additional Resources
• Poverty No More (Season 1) – Additional Resources

4.5        Past Projects

• Fika Swedish Café & Bistro
• The Boon Fund
• The Cuff Road Project