International Children's Day: Standing Against Poverty, Safeguarding Tomorrow, Promoting Involvement
Berlin - International Children's Day on June 1st serves as a calls-to-action for the Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD), urging decision-makers to take decisive steps to ensure every child and young person in Germany has a fair chance at a self-determined life. As Michaela Engelmeier, SoVD board chair, states, "It's crucial to address structural improvements, not just provide temporary solutions."
Unfortunately, more than 2 million children in Germany face the harsh realities of poverty, which hampers their educational opportunities, social participation, and overall health. The SoVD ardently believes that these numbers, which should spark public outrage, must encourage every individual to take action. Engelmeier argues, "Child poverty is not an inevitable fate but a result of political blunders. Change is possible, and it starts with committed action."
The association proposes three viable solutions to alleviate child poverty:
- Simplifying Benefits: The current system, riddled with bureaucratic hurdles, excludes many families from receiving necessary support. To rectify this, SoVD advocates for bundling existing benefits into a single, transparent package. Additionally, benefits must be easily accessible via digital means and automatically paid out, freeing families from cumbersome application processes.
- Lowering Voting Age: The SoVD argues that the voting age should be lowered to 16 to promote the political participation of young people. Engelmeier believes that "young people are vital contributors to society and must have a say in matters that affect them."
- Promoting Media Literacy: In preparation for the digital world, the SoVD champions the introduction of a separate school subject called media competence into upper schools. This subject aims to provide students with digital self-determination, data protection, and responsible information handling skills. It's not just about technical knowledge; it's about fostering a comprehensive understanding of digital life.
The SoVD reiterates its commitment to children's rights, calling for their central role in society and politics every day, not just on International Children's Day. With their recommendations in place, Germany can stem the tide of child poverty and create a better future for its youngest citizens.
Press contact:SoVD - Social Association Germany e.V.Press OfficePeter-Michael ZernechelPress spokesman (i.V.)Stralauer Straße 63 | 10179 BerlinTel. 030 72 62 22-333E-Mail: [email protected]: Socialverband Deutschland (SoVD), transmitted by news aktuell
In implementing the SoVD's recommendations, streamlining existing programs, simplifying application processes, and boosting transparency can help ensure that families receive the necessary support. Lowering the voting age, providing relevant educational programs, organizing engagement initiatives, focusing on economic support, education, and skill development, and strengthening social services can further contribute in the fight against child poverty, creating a more equitable future for children and young people in Germany.
- The SoVD advocates for policy changes to combat child poverty, calling for simplifying benefits, lowering the voting age, and promoting media literacy as viable solutions in education-and-self-development and policy-and-legislation.
- Michaela Engelmeier, SoVD board chair, emphasizes the importance of addressing structural issues in combating child poverty, stating that it's not an inevitable fate but a result of political blunders that require learning and committed action.
- The SoVD proposes that education on media competence should be introduced in upper schools as part of general-news and learning, equipping students with digital self-determination and responsible information handling skills to ensure their success in a rapidly changing world.
