Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone and I'm your teacher today for RE for this lesson on tackling poverty and its causes.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain the causes of poverty and different responses to addressing them.

Some key words for today are cause, Christian Aid and Liberation Theology.

A cause is a factor or condition that leads to or contributes to something.

Christian Aid is a Christian charity founded in 1945, that tackles poverty, injustice and inequality through aid and advocacy and Liberation Theology is a Christian movement developed by Latin American Roman Catholics, which interprets Jesus teachings as a call to defend the oppress and seeks to address poverty and social injustice.

Our lesson today, we'll have two parts.

We'll be looking at the causes of poverty and at tackling the causes of poverty.

So let's get on with looking at the causes of poverty.

Andeep, Sophia, Lucas and Aisha are discussing the causes of poverty.

Andeep says, "Extreme weather events can leave communities without food or any income." Sophia says, "Sometimes people work long hours and earn very little or they can't find work." Lucas says, "Corrupt leaders can ruin economies, making the basics unaffordable." Aisha says, "War destroys homes, jobs and schools, leaving families without an income or education." Poverty has many causes.

Economic factors such as unemployment and low wages, inflation, debt and poor governance.

Social inequality, so that might be the gender pay gap, discrimination, limited education or unfair land ownership and crisis and instability, so things like war and conflict, displacement, environmental disasters or climate change.

Let's check your understanding.

Which category does the following example of poverty belong to? Discrimination leads to unequal treatment, making it harder for some people to get jobs or earn the same wages.

Is it A, economic factors, B, social inequality or C, crisis and instability? Take a moment to think about your answer, pause if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check.

Well done.

If you put B, social inequality, discrimination falls into that category.

Here is an example of someone living in poverty.

Maria, a single mother struggles with low wages from her minimum wage job, which barely covers the rising cost of living due to inflation.

Despite working long hours, she faces financial strain, as government policies fail to provide sufficient support and local corruption mismanages resources.

Maria feels trapped into cycle of poverty that seems impossible to escape.

What is the cause of poverty in this example? If you're able to turn and talk to someone nearby, please do or you can pause and talk to me.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

You might have said something about economic factors, such as her job does not pay enough to cope with rising prices and there are not enough benefits for low income workers or that public money is misused.

Can you think of any real examples where economic factors cause poverty? Again, pause, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can and then return to the lesson when you're ready.

Examples that you may have heard of are workers in Bangladesh's garment industry, who are paid very low wages, while big brands profit from their labour or in places like Zimbabwe.

Sometimes hyperinflation has made the basic necessities unaffordable for many.

Here's another example of someone living in poverty.

Carlos, a young man from a disadvantaged background faces limited access to quality education due to his family's financial struggles.

As a result, he's unable to secure well-paying jobs.

On top of that, he experiences discrimination at work because of his ethnicity, which further limits his opportunities for advancement.

These barriers leave Carlos with few choices, trapping him in a cycle of poverty.

So what is the cause of poverty in this example? Take a moment to have a think or to turn and talk to someone nearby or you can talk to me, pause and come back when you're ready to move on.

So you might have noticed, social inequality is a theme in this example, he has limited access to quality schooling and that reduces his job opportunities.

Without good qualifications, he cannot find while paying jobs and bias at work makes it harder for him to advance.

Can you think of any real examples where social inequality causes poverty? Pause for a moment, have a think, chat to someone nearby if you can and then come back to see some possible examples.

Perhaps you've heard of the story of many women in India working in low paying jobs and earning significantly less than men for the same work and the Rohingya and ethnic minority in Myanmar face severe discrimination leading to poverty, lack of rights and displacement.

Let's have a look at another example.

Layla, a mother of two, who lived in a small village that was destroyed by war.

She fled with her children and ended up in a refugee camp where she struggled to find stable work.

In addition, climate change brought frequent floods to her new community, damaging crops and making it even harder to survive.

This left Layla and her family stuck in poverty, with little chance of rebuilding their lives.

So what is the cause of poverty in this example? Again, pause and turn and talk to someone nearby if you're able and then return when you're ready to move on.

This is an example of crisis and instability.

War has forced her to leave her home.

She's living in a refugee camp and so can't find work and then frequent floods are damaging her crops, therefore lessening her chance of survival.

So can you think of any real examples where crisis and instability causes poverty? Again, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can or you can talk to me and return when you're ready to see some examples that you might have thought of.

Perhaps you've heard of Hurricane Katrina, which caused widespread destruction in New Orleans, displacing many people or the Syrian conflict, which was worsened by severe drought that contributed to food shortages and displaced farmers.

Let's check your understanding.

What are the missing words? Many women earn less than men for the same work due to the, pay gap.

The destruction of homes and jobs due to war, can force people into, camps and severe, cause food shortages and hunger.

Take a moment to think about what words might fill those spaces.

Pause the video if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put the gender pay gap, refugee camps and severe droughts.

For task A, the causes of poverty, I'd like you to explain how one factor from each of the categories below causes poverty.

The categories to choose from are economic factors unemployment and low wages, debt and inflation, government policies and corruption, social inequality, so lack of education and discrimination, crisis and instability, conflict or war, natural disasters and climate change.

For each of the factors you choose from the categories, I'd like you to try and provide a specific example and then for that example, within that factor, explain how it traps people in poverty.

So take your time, pause the video and come back when you are ready to see what you could have written for each factor.

So let's see what you could have said.

For economic factors, you might have said in countries with informal economists, workers such as those in Bangladesh's garment industry work long hours for very low wages that often don't cover basic living expenses.

Despite the high demand for their labour, these workers remain trapped in poverty.

While large companies profit, contributing to widespread poverty in many regions.

For two, social inequality, you may have used lack of education as an example.

In countries like South Sudan, ongoing conflict has severely disrupted education, leaving many children without access to schooling.

Without education, young people struggle to find well-paying jobs, limiting their ability to escape poverty and improve their future prospects and for three crisis and instability.

The example of conflict and war.

Conflict like the Syrian Civil War displaces millions, destroys infrastructure and leaves many in extreme poverty.

People lose their homes, jobs and access to essential services, deepening poverty and extending hardship for years.

So you may have picked very different examples from mine, but well done if you've managed with each of them to show how it traps people in a cycle of poverty.

Let's move on to the second part of our lesson, tackling the causes of poverty.

Some Christians believe the Bible suggests God has a preferential option for the poor.

The need to address poverty and its causes is a common theme in the Bible.

For example, Jesus declared, "The spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor" in Luke 4:18.

Who does this suggest Jesus was particularly concerned about? Take a moment, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can or you can pause and talk to me and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Well, it suggests that Jesus message is especially for those living in poverty.

Niamh, Fergus, Charlie and Tamara are explaining what their churches have to say about tackling the causes of poverty.

Niamh says, "Catholic Social Teaching emphasises the preferential option for the poor, calling for structural change to address inequality." Charlie says, "Tearfund, which is an evangelical organisation, promotes sustainable development alongside Christian mission work." Tamara says, "Quakers have a long history of social justice activism, advocating for fair trade, debt relief and ethical investment to combat poverty." What do Christians agree on in their approach to tackling poverty? Is it A, the causes of poverty such as inequality and unfair trade need to be addressed? B, charity work alone is sufficient to address poverty.

C, economic growth is the only way to end poverty or D, poverty can be eradicated by providing immediate material aid.

So take a moment to think of your answer, pause if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you chose A.

So Christians do agree that the causes of poverty need to be addressed In the 1960s, in Latin America, many countries were ruled by dictators, workers were exploited and there was a large gap between the rich and the poor.

Catholic priests and theologians inspired by the teachings of Jesus on helping the poor and oppressed believe the church should not only offer spiritual guidance, but also actively challenge the unjust systems that caused suffering.

This led to the development of Liberation Theology, which called for social, economic and political change to empower the poor and create a more just society.

Jun is talking to Jason, who is a Catholic priest about how Liberation Theology influences him.

Jun asks, "How does Liberation Theology inspire you?" Jason replies, "I try to follow the example of Oscar Romero, a priest who put Liberation Theology into practise.

He spoke out against injustice and highlighted the importance of education and healthcare in El Salvador.

Whilst the situation here in the UK is different, I too try to speak up for those living in poverty." How does education help tackle the causes of poverty? Take some time to talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me, pause the video and come back when you're ready to move on.

Jen asks, "What do you do to tackle the causes of poverty?" Jason replies, "At church, we provide meals and overnight accommodation for the homeless.

We also partner with a local food bank and run financial literacy workshops.

In my role as a local priest, I raise awareness of issues such as low or unfair wages.

I advocate for better social housing by working with local councils and charities and I regularly hold community meetings where local people could voice their concerns." Why might Jason think it is to give local people the chance to voice their concerns? Pause the video, take a moment to turn and talk to someone nearby or talk to me and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Liberation Theology focuses on addressing the causes of poverty, by advocating for social and economic justice.

Take a moment to think about your answer, but also to think about why you have come to that choice.

Pause if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put true, but why is it true? While Liberation Theology emphasises the need to tackle the root causes of poverty such as unjust social and economic systems, it advocates for justice, equality and empowerment for the poor and depressed, calling for structural changes that benefit these groups.

Christian Aid was founded in 1945 by British and Irish churches.

In 2023 and 2024, it funded 410 projects across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, affecting the lives of 19.

3 million people.

Christian Aid aims to eradicate poverty and its causes by advocating for climate policies that protect vulnerable communities, challenging discrimination based on gender, race and economic status, supporting economic justice through fair trade and debt relief and providing emergency relief and supporting development projects.

Izzy is talking to Fiona about her work as a volunteer speaker for Christian Aid.

"Why did you choose Christian Aid rather than another charity?" Asked Izzy.

Fiona responds, "I chose Christian Aid because it focuses on tackling the causes of poverty rather than just addressing its effects by providing emergency relief.

Christian Aid works for change by challenging injustice and supporting long-term development projects such as schools.

We also promote fair trade and debt relief." So how would building a school help tackle a cause of poverty? Take a moment, pause and turn and talk to someone nearby if you're able to and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Izzy asks, "There are lots of ways to support Christian Aid.

What made you want to be a speaker?" Fiona says, "I believe raising awareness is key to addressing the causes of poverty.

By sharing stories like Christian Aid's sustainable farming work in Ethiopia, I can inspire others to get involved.

Speaking in churches, schools and communities helps people understand the causes of poverty and how supporting Christian Aid can help to tackle them." Why is it important that people understand the causes of poverty? Take some time to think about your answers to that question, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, pause the video and come back When you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding.

What are the missing words? Christian Aid focuses on tackling the, of poverty rather than just addressing its effects.

It works for change by challenging injustice and supporting, development projects.

Pause, take a moment and come back when you're ready to check if your answers were correct.

So well done if you said causes of poverty and long-term development, Brandon, who is a humanist, is explaining how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights supports the need to address the causes of poverty.

Article 25 says, "Everyone has the right to a standard of living, adequate for health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control." Brandon says, "The word standard tells me that normal life should be free from poverty.

The only way to ensure people have an acceptable living standard is to tackle the causes of poverty.

Having security means stability and protection.

The only way to gain security for those living in poverty is by addressing its causes." Laura is talking to Brandon about his job as communications officer for the Fair Trade Foundation.

Laura says, "Why do you work for the Fair Trade Foundation?" And Brandon replies, "As a humanist, I believe everyone has a intrinsic worth and that poverty strips people of their dignity.

The causes of poverty are complex, but we should try to tackle them as this is the only way to break the cycle of poverty.

I work for the Fair Trade Foundation, because unfair trade causes poverty." Why is tackling the causes of poverty important to Brandon? Have a look carefully at what he's written.

Turn and talk to somebody nearby and come back when you're ready to move on.

Laura asks, "How does Fair Trade tackle the causes of poverty?" Brandon replies, "It means that producers receive fair payment for their work, which helps them achieve their right to an adequate standard of living.

They can provide for themselves and invest in their communities.

We can all support fair trade by becoming ethical consumers and only buying products that carry the Fair Trade logo." So why does buying Fair Trade products address one of the causes of poverty? Take a moment, turn and talk to someone if you can, pause the video and come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding.

What word is missing from this section of Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Everyone has the right to a, of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family.

Take a moment, pause if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put standard.

Everyone has the right to a standard of living.

for task B, part one, I'd like you to explain two similar religious beliefs about tackling the causes of poverty.

In your answer, you must refer to one or more religious traditions.

To answer this question, you might want to use the suggestions below.

Point, some Christians, develop, this means.

Point, other Christians and develop, this means.

So we're explaining two similar beliefs from Christianity, that's our example of religion here about tackling the causes of poverty.

Take your time, pause the video and come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

So you could have said, some Christians inspired by Liberation Theology believe in tackling the causes of poverty by speaking out against social injustice.

This means they focus on changing the systems that cause poverty and support initiatives like education and healthcare for the oppressed.

Other Christians support organisations like Christian Aid, which works to address the causes of poverty through development projects, fair trade and debt relief.

This means they help alleviate poverty by promoting long-term solutions and providing practical support and justice for the poor.

Well done if you managed to choose two different examples of how Christians would want to address the causes of poverty.

The part two of our task, here is a full evaluation question.

It is important to tackle the causes of poverty.

Now, in an exam, you might be asked to evaluate the statement and in your answer, you should give reasoned arguments in support of the statement, reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, you should refer to religious arguments, you may refer to non-religious arguments and you should reach a justified conclusion.

Jacob needs some help explaining why a Christian and a humanist would support the statement.

So what I'd like you to do, is add sources of authority and a development to what Jacob has written so far.

So Jacob has said, "A Christian would agree we should tackle the causes of poverty because," and "The importance of this is," and then he's written, "A humanist would agree we should tackle the causes of poverty because," and "The importance of this is." So take your time, pause the video, have a look at his sentence starters and think about how you could develop them in response to this full evaluation question.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, a Christian would agree we should tackle the causes of poverty, because Jesus said he came to proclaim good news to the poor.

The importance of this is that Christians are called to follow Jesus' example and help those most in need, working towards justice and equality.

A humanist would agree we should tackle the causes of poverty, because they believe that a decent standard of living is a basic human right.

The importance of this, is that addressing the causes of poverty helps build a fairer, more just society where people can live with dignity.

So well done if you managed to give a reason for why a Christian and a humanist would both agree that we should tackle the causes of poverty.

In today's lesson, you have learned that poverty is caused by factors such as unemployment, lack of education, discrimination, government corruption, conflict and inflation.

That environmental and global issues, including natural disasters, climate change and worker exploitation contribute to poverty.

Liberation Theology is a Christian movement that prioritises the poor and challenges unjust social structures.

Christian Aid is a charity that works to address the causes of poverty by supporting long-term development projects and challenging injustice.

Humanists might be inspired to address the causes of poverty because they support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We've done a lot of work today, so thank you for all of your efforts on this lesson.