Meet Sanu. Sanu lives in a rural community on the outskirts of Mahankal, Nepal. She’s a widow, and at 65 years old, she has 15 family members to support. Sanu used to wake up early every day to haul a bucket of water across Nepal’s steep hills to her home. Her large family had been surviving with just one bucket of water each day for decades.
In this day and age of substantial resources, including in the state of Utah, it’s unthinkable that anyone must live without potable, safe water access. But unfortunately, Sanu’s story is common around the world.
According to the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index published in 2023, over 1 billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty across 110 countries. These people often lack clean water, nutritious food, access to healthcare and education, and more. World Bank Group’s 2024 Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report found that “almost 700 million people (8.5 percent of the global population) live in extreme poverty, on less than $2.15 per day.” It’s overwhelming to realize that many people worldwide don’t have enough money to feed their families or send their children to school.
Can anything be done? The answer is yes, and it starts with awareness.
A day to help eradicate poverty
World Poverty Day is observed annually on October 17. Also known as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, its origins go back to 1987 when over 100,000 people gathered in Paris to honor victims of poverty, hunger and violence. They declared that poverty is a violation of human rights and unveiled a memorial stone to mark the occasion.
Today, the United Nations (UN) leads the efforts to commemorate this day in collaboration with those living in poverty and the civil organizations, philanthropies, local governments and partners working with them. It’s an opportunity for underserved populations to speak out about daily struggles and raise awareness and understanding. All of this aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals — a universal call to action for a better world — particularly goal No. 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
“... As human beings, our well-being is linked to each other,” the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals website states. “Growing inequality is detrimental to economic growth and undermines social cohesion, increasing political and social tensions and, in some circumstances, driving instability and conflicts.”
Utah’s efforts for social impact
Utah believes in global citizenship. Our state is widely recognized for its deep-rooted value of service, its advocacy for cultural exchange, and its pursuit of international business innovations that drive economic prosperity. In both the professional and personal sense, there are countless examples of Utahns striving for expanded perspectives that make the world a better place.
That’s why World Poverty Day is the perfect opportunity to take things one step further and drive global impact just a little bit deeper. So, where do you start? Here are a few ways you can participate:
Educate yourself on sustainable poverty alleviation approaches. Poverty is complex, and it’s enmeshed in the world’s biggest issues. That also means efforts to reduce it can have cascading benefits. The philosophies of Dr. James B. Mayfield, a leading expert in international development and a former professor at the University of Utah, emphasize the importance of working with and through rural communities for sustainability and scalability.
In his book, “Extreme Poverty Eliminated,” Mayfield writes, “Communities that have learned to eliminate extreme poverty through their own efforts are now much more able to mobilize some of their own resources through processes of leveraging, networking, and partnership building … Eliminating poverty from rural villages can only be truly realized if villagers are enabled to participate constructively in the decisions which shape their lives.”
Collaborate with organizations that help those in extreme poverty. This can include nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as well as corporations that prioritize corporate social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) not only positively contributes to society, but also strengthens a company’s reputation and generates long-term business success.
For example, Orem, Utah-based ChampionX company US Synthetic has been internalizing the power of its company mission to “engineer good” and “improve lives” from the beginning. In its CSR program, the company provides employees the opportunity to contribute a small percentage of their paycheck toward global humanitarian efforts. Over the years, those simple contributions — which are matched by the company — have raised over $700,000. US Synthetic is a shining example of how a business can lift and serve others, regardless of sector, industry or profit margins.
Advocate for the most vulnerable members of society. You can do this by promoting dialogue and empathy. Start by learning the stories of those who live in devastating poverty. Truly see them. Take advantage of responsible opportunities to travel, connect and participate in intercultural exchange.
“It represents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard,” the UN’s Report of the Secretary General states regarding World Poverty Day.
Advocacy can also mean donating time or means. Utah is consistently ranked the most charitable state in the country. Donating to a cause is one way that those who have the resources can share with those who don’t have the same privileges.
Let’s get back to our friend Sanu. Sanu lived in multi-generational extreme poverty, and this had always been a part of her life. However, in 2022, Sanu worked closely with CHOICE Humanitarian, an organization focused on providing resources, tools and training for people just like her all around the world to build paths out of poverty. In Sanu’s rural community, water tanks and pumps were installed, and she fervently contributed labor that brought a meter-connected tap stand to her yard. Instead of one bucket of water a day hauled from far away, water now flows from a spigot a few yards from her door.
“I never imagined someone would listen to our plight,” Sanu shared. “Finally, our long-suffering has come to an end. It’s a great blessing to each one of us.”
Solutions to poverty exist, and there are many ways that Utah residents, philanthropists and business leaders can make an impact on poverty eradication. Our fellow global citizens deserve to be seen and have basic needs met, but most of all, to be empowered. Their potential is powerful and many times untapped. Just like Sanu, once those tools, training and resources are accessible, their potential can be unleashed. Join the movement for global good on October 17 and let World Poverty Day be your chance to make a difference.