Education as the great equalizer, part II

June 14, 2010

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Inadequate information and lack of education and employment opportunities are a central factor in causing and maintaining people in poverty in rich cities too.

It has been widely demonstrated that illiteracy and lack of education results in obtaining few employment opportunities, especially for women. It happens in poor countries, of course, but we can see the same happening in rich countries too.

Even in developed countries, unemployment rates may be high. It isn't necessary to say that when people do not have work, they can't earn money to support themselves. Higher levels of unemployment lead great deals of people to poverty and indignity. To work on one's own or to have a job brings dignity and self-worth as well as an income.

Carol Bellamy, who was UNICEF Executive Director from 1995 to 2005 said: "No country has ever emerged from poverty without giving priority to education. And if education is the escape door from poverty, then girls' education is the key to that door."

Although specific programs to combat urban poverty must be designed locally, considering each city is unique and problems vary district by district, for sure the same affirmation expressed by Carol Bellamy has to work to face poverty in our cities, too.

On April 21, 2009, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaking at an event that examined the city's efforts to fight poverty said: "in times like these we should definitely not continue to do the same old things in the same old ways."

It was demonstrated that New York City is definitely not using the same old solutions, and the results obtained can be a valuable model for other urban areas struggling with poverty across the country.

For instance, in 2006 Bloomberg implemented the Center for Economic Opportunity. CEO is a large-scale and innovative project designed to combat the problems of poverty in New York City. Particularly it targets young adults, the working poor, and children.

CEO's performed successful efforts in the education field. These efforts included helping individuals who were already working in the medical field follow a career at &#&nursing schools&#& becoming certified nurses, making college schedules more realistic for working adults, and ensuring that income tax credits go to those who are eligible.

The good results and success obtained involve American Federal Government which has also a central role to play in encouraging and replicating local initiatives and innovations to reduce poverty such as CEO.