Emergency at home

Child poverty affects 28.9% of children and adolescents in Spain

Child poverty is more than just a lack of money. It goes far beyond the absence of housing or food. In addition to the lack of essential services, poverty also means limited opportunities and a vulnerable emotional environment. On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we aim to dispel common misconceptions about child poverty and explain how we work to ensure every child grows up with dignity and a future.

One in ten children worldwide grows up without the protection and care they need. Eradicating child poverty is not just about providing financial resources; it is about guaranteeing equal opportunities for the most vulnerable children.

“Poverty is just a lack of money”

Childhood can be affected by multiple dimensions of poverty: education, health, nutrition, housing, family environment, and social participation. A child may have food and shelter, but if they cannot access quality education, the internet, or spaces to learn, play, and interact with peers, they are experiencing a form of poverty that limits their development opportunities.

“Child poverty only exists in developing countries”

Although we often associate child poverty with developing countries, it exists everywhere, including in Spain. It knows no borders; it is a global challenge that requires local, sustained, and solidarity-based policies.

According to data from the Plataforma de la Infancia, child poverty affects 28.9% of children and adolescents in our country, and the rates are even higher among Roma and single-parent families.

“Children don’t realize their situation”

The emotional impact of living in poverty is often underestimated. Imagine living with daily uncertainty, instability, or the inability to participate in social life like your peers. This leaves a mark on children’s mental health, causing stress, anxiety, feelings of inferiority, and social isolation. Moreover, when families must focus on economic survival, emotional bonds often weaken, reducing the home’s capacity for supportive relationships.

“Poverty is inherited and the cycle cannot be broken”

While poverty can be passed from one generation to the next, it is not an inevitable fate. Early access to education, family support, and job opportunities can completely change the course of a child’s life. When a child receives educational support, learns social skills, and grows up in a protective environment, their chances of breaking the cycle of poverty increase dramatically.

At SOS Children’s Villages, we witness this every day, supporting young people who, through our family strengthening and youth emancipation programs, have been able to continue their studies, gain employment, and build an independent future.

“Child poverty is only the families’ responsibility”

This belief ignores the structural causes of poverty: unemployment, inequality, inaccessible housing, educational gaps, and inadequate public services. Blaming families only increases stigma. In reality, many families make enormous efforts to provide a better life for their children but face social and economic barriers that are impossible to overcome without external support.

“Poverty can be solved with one-time aid”

Financial assistance or donations are essential in urgent situations but do not address the structural causes of poverty. Without ongoing support, families may fall back into vulnerability.

For this reason, SOS Children’s Villages implements long-term programs focused on education, autonomy, and family strengthening.

“Eradicating it is only the task of NGOs”

NGOs play a crucial role, but we cannot do it alone. Eradicating child poverty requires partnerships between public institutions, businesses, schools, and citizens. At SOS Children’s Villages, we collaborate with various stakeholders to promote policies that protect children’s rights and strengthen the social fabric.