In the wake of World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty, it’s time to offer you a brief summary of the various celebrations that took place on every continent. At the Forum, we think it’s important to highlight your celebrations, actions and commemorations on October 17. As you know, the interactive map of events has been designed to be a platform that lists solidarity initiatives against poverty around the world, facilitating collaboration and citizen mobilization. What’s more, the items on our map to date only represent events that you have informed us about by e-mail, that we have learned about through independent research, or that have been added independently and directly by visitors to our website.
A reminder to the spirit of the October 17 Day
“The Day aims to develop mutual understanding, solidarity and shared responsibility between people and groups from different backgrounds, in collaboration with people experiencing poverty… Preparation for the celebration of the Day should be an ongoing process, throughout the year.”
(Extract from the international charter October 17)
“To enable every citizen, participating individually or through an organization, to mark their solidarity and renew their commitment to unite in a common struggle, through a meaningful gesture in the culture of their country, while respecting the spirit of the Day.”
(Extract from the international charter October 17)
This day aims to raise public awareness of poverty and social exclusion, highlighting the dignity of people living in poverty and denouncing inequalities. The event encourages dialogue between people affected by poverty and society, and calls for concrete action to combat extreme poverty. Demonstrations, events and activities are organized around the world to promote solidarity and collective commitment. With its emphasis on listening and respect, this day aims to change the way people look at poverty, and to encourage political and social change. It’s an important opportunity to remember that everyone deserves dignity and respect, regardless of their socio-economic situation.
Your events on different continents
- Africa (32)
Africa is the second continent with the highest number of events this year, with a total of 31 items. October 17 was celebrated by the International October 17 Committee in Dakar, through a round table discussion on the importance of access to legal existence, in particular access to a birth certificate for every child, ideally from the moment of delivery. No fewer than 267 people registered for this global online round table, while as many as 133 were present online on October 17.
In Nigeria, the NextFootballStars Foundation organized a Charity Cup for children. The aim of the event was to raise awareness of youth empowerment through soccer.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Abbé MANGO Foundation (FAMA asbl) brought its members together to mark October 17, and also to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a massacre orchestrated in the town of Mwenga.
On October 17, Rwanda’s Association pour la promotion des jumelages et de l’amitié entre les peuples (APROJUMAP) celebrated three major events: World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty, APROJUMAP’s 20th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the Education for Global Citizenship and Solidarity Program (ECMS) through Move with Africa. The event featured testimonials from people who have taken part in the program, dances and sharing.
Reunion Island and Mauritius have 6 events on our map. Two local solidarity food tray were organized on Reunion Island, one by the Lions Club Port Reunion and the other in partnership with the island’s Centre Communal d’Action Sociale (CCAS) and Centre Hospitalier Ouest Réunion (CHOR). In Mauritius, a commemoration at Rose Hill took the form of a discussion on the theme of social and institutional mistreatment, with testimonies of real-life experiences, a reading of Strophes à la gloire du Quart Monde, as well as sketches, songs and dances proposed by the various Tapori children’s groups, and to finish, a convivial time around a meal.
- Central America (3)
Our map shows a total of 3 events in Central America, Guatemala and Honduras. The ATD Fourth World team in Honduras programmed an event with the participation of allies, friends and activists of the movement in the country, including ceremonial acts, speeches by activists and artistic presentations.
In Guatemala City, the October 17 Guatemala Committee and the Advocacy Commission of the ATD Fourth World team in Guatemala organized an event involving the exchange of the Peace Rose by a young woman from the Puerta de Esperanza Association, Petronila Algua Chacaj. From October 17 to 18, in celebration of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty, the youth of ATD Fourth World in Guatemala organized an event open to all, to celebrate the inauguration of their mural.
- North America (12)
This year, the same number of events (12) were registered in North and South America, for a total of 24 in both regions.
In Canada, 10 October 17th celebrations were added this year, including one in Fredericton. The New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice, in partnership with other organizations, organized a march against poverty.
The Collectif de travail et d’action contre la pauvreté invited us to a “5 à 7 ‘ La pauvreté à Lévis, ça l’existe : soyons solidaires !’, during which a free community meal, speeches on poverty issues and an open mic were organized.
In Quebec City, the Collectif de lutte et d’action contre la pauvreté and the Regroupement d’éducation populaire en action communautaire de Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches fought poverty by demonstrating to demand an income and a roof over their heads that would allow them to live in dignity.
In the U.S., the town of White Plains, New York, this year offered an engaging and interactive educational event to learn more about poverty in Westchester County, the challenges of food insecurity and financial trauma for children, and what the community can do locally to help move toward security and justice for all.
Like every year, October 17 is celebrated by the United Nations in New York. The event brought together activists from the United States and abroad to speak out on this year’s theme: “ Ending social and institutional abuse: Acting together for just, peaceful and inclusive societies ”.
- South America (12)
As part of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we invited you to Peru to discover the study “Poverty in Peru: challenges and opportunities for reversing regional post-pandemic setbacks”, drawn up by the IPE and the World Bank. In Paraguay, the focus was on education in the fight against poverty. Indeed, the Club Escuela Solidaria proposed a gathering on October 20 to discuss the cause of all ills, economic needs, insalubrity, unemployment, pollution, violence and insecurity through the prism of education and its importance.
In Bolivia, a painting exhibition was made available to the public on October 26 by the ATD Fourth World team in Bolivia and the association Action pour l’éducation active. ATD Fourth World’s street library in El Alto offered activities for children, during which stories inspired by the life of Joseph Wresinski (founder of the ATD Fourth World Movement) were shared in the form of a tale.
- Asia (12)
The October 17 events on the Asian continent were spread across Pakistan, India, Laos, Thailand and even the island of Taiwan. In Lahore, a demonstration organized by the Pakistani national branch of the World March of Women took place in front of a Lahore press organization. Its aim was to highlight the harmful effects of the economic measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Pakistan’s sovereignty and its working-class citizens.
We took the decision to feature on our map the initiative of a 31-year-old named S. Govind Chandra in India, who decided to go on a sponsored walk to campaign for compliance with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 1 of the UN Agenda 2030: Eradicate poverty in all its forms, everywhere in the world. It encourages everyone to donate up to 1% of their monthly salary to lift at least one person out of poverty. In a series of walks of around 40 kilometers, he plans to visit as many of the UN’s 193 member countries as possible in six and a half years (December 31, 2030). His long walk is due to end back at the Abdul Kalam Memorial.
As part of this important day, on October 17, 2024, the Tetso College student group in association with the Tetso Evangelical Union organized a donation drive in support of a local orphanage, Little Miracle Home, located in the village of Chekiye (India).
- Caraibes (5)
In the Caribbean, in Saint-Martin, the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty, organized by the Association laïque pour l’éducation, la formation, la prévention et l’autonomie, was punctuated by various activities such as a domino tournament, karaoke, a barbecue and a shared meal.
In Puisé, Haiti, the local ATD Fourth World team presented a play on the theme of October 17, bringing together adults and children.
- Europe( 178)
This year, many of you celebrated October 17, particularly on the European continent. More than half of the European events took place in France, with the traditional gathering on the Place of the Trocadéro in Paris, for example. As in previous years, the Overcoming poverty – France collective organized a day to raise awareness of institutional and social abuse, with stands, shows and testimonials.
On October 16, the town of Loudéac in Bretagne organized a day of solidarity and sharing through its “Faites de la solidarité” event, which took place in four stages, offering a multitude of opportunities for encounters and exchanges.
In the United Kingdom (10), the Bevan Foundation is taking part in Anti-Poverty Week, in which numerous associations across England and Wales are taking part, without any reference to October 17. From October 14 to 20, an awareness-raising campaign in the form of a webinar and various interventions highlighted aspects of poverty and provided an opportunity for people and organizations to come together to call for action to end it.
In Scotland, from October 9 to 14, the Aberdeen-based Station House Media Unit dedicated its IN FOCUS podcasts to the Challenge Poverty Week organized by the Alliance Against Poverty, covering a range of poverty-related topics.
In the Republic of Ireland (7), the National Women’s Council of Ireland contributed to World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty by screening the film “She Rises Up”, which reveals the explosive implications of women’s economic participation, following radically different women from Sri Lanka, Peru and Senegal as they struggle to create businesses that provide employment opportunities for women, while contributing to poverty reduction in their communities.
German friends (and German speakers everywhere), help us do (much) better next year!
One of these celebrations was a free gathering in Naila, in cooperation with Evangelischen Erwachsenenbildung Hof-Naila (Protestant Adult Education Hof-Naila ), around the theme for the year 2024.
In Dortmund, the Kana-Kerngruppe, Gast-Haus,Wärmebus and Bodo e.V. invited people to a spontaneous meet-up to draw attention to the plight of the homeless. This was followed on October 17 by speeches by Professor Dr. Dierk Borstel of Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, and a shared meal.
In Spain and the Canary Islands (17), several events were observed. In Barcelona, Huelva en Red por la Cooperación and its partners prepared a program, from October 14 to 18, around the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty and its themes. The program included a round table and meetings, bringing together professionals, students and people involved in cooperation.
In Madrid, a lunch was organized by the ATD Fourth World team, accompanied by a dialogue with Yolaine Couder (founder of the ATD Fourth World Movement in Spain with her husband, the late Bruno Couder) followed by the collective viewing of the webinar “I was born. I exist. Add me to the list” which took place in parallel in Dakar (Senegal).
Other events were celebrated in other European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Poland and Italy, to our knowledge.
- Oceania (6)
In Oceania, we have counted 6 events so far; 5 in Australia and one in Fiji.
On October 16, in Launceston, the Tasmanian branch of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the City of Launceston, in collaboration with the local branch of the Salvation Army, as well as Launceston City Mission, Launceston Benevolent Society, Uniting Tasmania and Shekinah House offered an evening dedicated to the stories of people experiencing poverty and homelessness. The evening began with a video screening of a series of interviews with community members affected by low incomes, the cost of living and the difficulties faced by people experiencing homelessness. The evening closed with a screening of Canadian director Gail Maurice’s 2022 film “Rosie”. Also in Australia, Anti-Poverty Week was observed, again over a longer period, from September 30 to October 19.
Conclusion
This year, teams all over the world made admirable use of the tools made available to them by the Forum and its partners. As a result, we’ve seen some wonderful variations of our international poster emerging all over the place, and we’re very proud of them. It’s always important to use the same basic poster, with variations, to reinforce our message. This was the case this year.
The overall impact of World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty initiatives is considerable, testifying to a strong collective commitment against poverty. This year, we recorded a record number of events added to the map, illustrating the growing commitment of communities around the world. These events are not just symbolic manifestations, but concrete actions aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing citizens for lasting change.
We intend to continue adding events to our map until November 17 (one month after October 17). In a few months’ time, a global report will be published bringing together all the events, meetings and initiatives that took place as part of World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty in 2024. This report will highlight the successes achieved thanks to the commitment of local and international players.
We invite you to explore our interactive map to discover ongoing projects and support initiatives near you that touch you. Don’t hesitate to send us your reports of events or actions, accompanied by photos, to enrich this collective dynamic. Together, we can fight poverty and build a fairer future.