Children in developing countries overwhelmingly chose education and food over toys and games in a global survey conducted by the ChildFund Alliance, a group that gives voice to children around the world.
A hungry child sits in front of a garbage dump in Hyderabad, India. A survey of children in developing countries found most consider education their priority, followed by food. (Mahesh Kumar/Associated Press)
The global survey included 3,288 children between the ages of 10 and 12 living in more than two dozen developing countries, along with a sample of about 300 living in the U.S. New Zealand and Australia.
When asked what they would do if they were the president of their country, 57 per cent said they would improve education, while 10 per cent said they would help people get food.
One child in Nicaragua responded: “I would give a home to the children who live in the city dump.”
When asked what they needed most, 34 per cent said a better education, 33 per cent said food.
“I need a bed because we are several siblings and I have to share my bed with two of my siblings,” wrote one child from Paraguay in response to the question.
“Notebooks so I can write my school lessons so I can receive a higher rank in my class,” wrote a girl from Indonesia.
Asked about what they feared the most, about a third of children listed animals and insects, while about one in five feared death and disease. War was the top fear of 15 per cent of the children surveyed.
‘I am afraid of starving.’—Child from Kenya
“I am most afraid of being infected in HIV/AIDS through contaminated sharp materials in our village that may lead to diseases,” said a child in Ethiopia.
“I am afraid of starving,” was the response of a child in Kenya.
If they were given one dollar to spend, 45 per cent said they would spend it on food or water, and 19 per cent said clothing. Only 11 per cent said they would spend the money on toys or sports equipment.
“This Christmas these children have shared with Canadians a poignant reminder that an education is the most important gift a child can receive,” said Mark Lukowski, the CEO of the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada, a partner in the ChildFund Alliance.
The survey was conducted through one-on-one interviews with children between July and September. The research was tabulated by Ipsos Observer, a global research firm. The results are considered accurate within 1.7 percentage points 19 times out of 20.