Discussion Guide for

“Beat
Poverty”
After viewing “Beat Poverty,” use this guide to research what it would take to reduce poverty,
reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach
out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.

Research
» M o r e t h a n 1 billion people do not get enough to eat.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, 2009

» “ T h e r e i s more than enough food in the world, yet today, more than
one billion people are hungry. This is unacceptable….Ever more people are denied the
food they need because prices are stubbornly high, because their purchasing power
has fallen due to the economic crisis, or because rains have failed and reserve stocks of
grain have been eaten.”
Source: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, November 16, 2009

» Ev e ry 2 2 seconds a child under the age of 5 dies from illnesses attributed
to poor hygiene practices, unsafe drinking-water supplies and inadequate access to
sanitation. Source: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children, 2008; UNICEF, The
State of the World’s Children, 2009

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» S ta n d a r d antiretroviral therapy (ART ) does not cure HIV and AIDS,
but it can suppress the virus, stop its progression, and improve patients’ quality of
life. ART is most effective when patients are prescribed a combination of at least three
antiretroviral drugs. The World Health Organization reports that “about 33 million
people are now living with HIV, of whom more than 30 million live in low- and
middle-income countries. The WHO estimates that at least 9.7 million of these people
are in need of ART. As of the end of 2008, however, only 4 million people had access
to ART in low- and middle-income countries.”
Source: World Health Organization, “Antiretroviral Therapy,”

» Ne a r ly 3 million people were receiving antiretroviral treatment in low-

and middle-income countries at the end of 2007. This represents 31 percent of the
estimated need and a 45 percent improvement over 2006.
Source: UNAIDS, Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2008

Reflect
R e v i e w t h e i n f or mation presented in the video: Every month…

»

North American teens spend $155 on clothes, junk food, DVDs, and other

»
disposable-income purchases.

»
World leaders spend $1 trillion on war, weapons, and military training.

»
We grow enough food for each person on earth to have 4.3 lbs a day.

»
We manufacture drugs to treat various diseases, including HIV and AIDS.
What were your thoughts or reactions when you heard this?

Hav e y o u e v e r been confronted with a situation in which you had plenty

and someone else had little or nothing? Describe the situation. What did you do? Now that you
have watched this video, would you respond differently in such a situation?

Ima g i n e y o u a r e living without food, healthcare, education, and/or safe water.

What resources would you need most to start improving the lives of your family and neighbors?

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Recall
“ T h e Un i t e d Nations says that by 2015, we could … cut poverty in half. For the
poor to have food, healthcare, education, and safe water would cost only $150 billion a year.”

A c c o r d i n g t o the video, this is the first time in history when we’ve got what it
takes to reduce poverty. What do we have that wasn’t available years ago?

If w e h av e t h e resources, why are more than 1 billion people going to bed hungry
every night, and only 30 percent of people affected by HIV and AIDS in the developing world
getting the antiretroviral drugs they need?

W h y a n d h o w do one country’s financial decisions, government

policies, and consumer behavior (that is, what people buy) affect people across the globe?

Ho w w o u l d t h e world need to change the way it spends money in order

to reduce poverty? Do you think governments and people are willing to change? Why or
why not?

Respond
Is i t s u f f i c i e n t for co mm unities to simply have enough food and medicine to
survive the next day, or is it more complicated? What does a community need to stop the
cycle of poverty?

T h e r e a r e ma n y different opinions about the right way to assist an impoverished

community. Where should aid money come from? How should programs like schools, medical
care, and water systems be started, and who should run them? (Locals? Foreign humanitarian
aid organizations? Local government officials?)

C h a l l e n g e y o u rself individually or as a group to use your cash to fight

poverty. Chose an luxury item you will not purchase this month (coffee, junk food, media,
etc.). Every time you would normally buy that item, record the amount you would have
spent. At the end of the month, total up the money you chose not to spend and donate it
to a reputable humanitarian organization. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com for more
information about donating to specific causes.

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Reach Out
Consider making a difference in the following ways:

» Pr ay d a i ly for those who are living in poverty and suffering from
hunger and disease. Pray that God will strengthen and provide for them.

» B e c o m e i nfor med. Learn about issues such as HIV and AIDS, hunger, clean
water, and government spending by visiting Web sites like www.unicef.org and
www.un.org.

» B e c o m e a n advocate. Write to your members of Congress, get involved in

media to promote awareness, and join organizations that focus on issues associated
with poverty. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on ‘programs and events”
to start now.

» S p o n s o r a child through World V ision for about a dollar a day.

You’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics, such as clean
water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts can make a world of
difference for one child by allowing him or her to focus on more than just whether the
next meal will come. You may also choose to sponsor a HopeChild in an AIDS-affected
country. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com.

Reach Out
» “ ‘F o r I wa s hungry and you gave me so m ething to eat, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison
and you came to visit me.’” — Matthew 25:35-36

» A n d w h atever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. —Colossians 3:17

» [ A r i g h t e ous man] … does not co mmit robbery but gives his food to
the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. —Ezekiel 18:7

» O n e ma n gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but
comes to poverty. —Proverbs 11:24

» Le t t h em give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his
wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good
things. —Psalm 107:8-9

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Rely
Pray that:

» Y o u a s a n individual and a group, along with charitable organizations,

legislators, and government leaders, can find effective ways to distribute food,
medicine, and other existing resources to people in need.

» Do c t o r s , dentists, teachers, far mers, policy makers, and others

working among the poor will be strengthened and provided with resources to continue
their work and see lasting change.

» Go d w i l l equip leaders in communities affected by poverty.

The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other
cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to
reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we
are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an
error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within,
please contact World Vision Resources.

Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., P.O. Box 9716, Mail Stop 321, Federal Way, WA 98063-
9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.

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 About World Vision
W o r l d V i s i o n is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated
to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide
to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and
injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves
alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s
unconditional love for all people.

We envision a world where each child experiences “fullness of life”

as described in John 10:10. We know this can be achieved only by
addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way.
World Vision is unique in bringing 60 years of experience in three key
areas to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term
development, and advocacy. We bring our skills across many areas of
expertise to each community where we work, enabling us to support
children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

About World Vision Resources

E n d i n g g l o b a l poverty and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on
human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision.

World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty,
inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources
to make a difference in the world.

For more information about our

resources, contact:
World Vision Resources
Mail Stop 321
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
Fax: 253-815-3340
wvresources@worldvision.org

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