Why Poverty?

How much is a child’s fate determined by the circumstances and location of its birth? Accepted wisdom has it that much of what happens within 24 hours of a child’s birth dictates that child’s chances of survival and likelihood of health and ability to thrive in the long-term.

In China, education is considered the only way out of poverty. But as the nation’s higher education system has largely been privatized by for-profit companies, the future for millions of students is bleak.

Africa produces 10 percent less food than it did in 1960. With the rise of monoculture farming and globalized food production, the landscape of the continent is shifting and threatening its ability to feed itself. In Mali, an American plan for a vast sugar cane operation on the banks of the Niger River threatens small-scale native rice farmers who have fed their communities for generations.

Animating Poverty Through the Ages

In an age of global trade, multinational corporations motivated by maximizing profit often end up working against the interests of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

Is the Cult of Celebrity a Form of Currency?

Why do a billion people still live in poverty worldwide, and what can be done to change this? Why Poverty? uses documentary film to get people talking about this critical problem, its causes, and its solutions. These eight films are co-productions of ITVS and STEPS International, and are part of a global cross-media project aimed at raising awareness of poverty in America and around the world.