"The 17th October is about seeing what is outside of your own world. It about listening to people, not telling them what they should do and what’s best for them.

Parents want nothing but the best for their children and the same goes the other way round. Parents need to be with their children, not separated from them.

If you are forced to live with so little money its so difficult sometimes to provide the basics. Not having enough money is very worrying – we can see it in the faces of the parents on the high street who look like they are struggling. People turn a blind eye to families and others in difficulty. But that person might be crying out for help. Often people don’t get the help they need. It should be our job to try to help them.

Poverty prevents people having their rights. It stops you from having a normal life.
People find it very hard to cope on benefits. Unemployed men feel very bad because they are unable to provide. The whole family suffers and men start to blame themselves. We shouldn’t be blamed being poor."

Patricia, London, 17th Oct 2005

"Many times over the years the doors have been slammed in our faces. Because of the anger inside of me I want to shout and break these doors down, but getting angry doesn’t work, you have to bide your time, and just wait until these doors open, and eventually people will get round and listen to us. We need a world that will listen.

I’m no superhero, I’m not going to save the world, I’m just one person who longs to be heard. We have voices but we seem not to be heard. I have wishes and dreams but nothing comes true for me so I don’t ask.

Everybody remembers Christmas but nobody remembers October 17th International Day for the eradication of poverty. It’s a day that should be remembered for all people in the world, through the hard times and the suffering, for all people suffering at the moment.

Everybody remembers Christmas but not the 17th October. Why does it have to be only people living in poverty that remember the 17th October? We need to get the message across to other people, it’s a time to start moving, to get in touch with Governments and the UN and the European Parliament. It’s a day to remember something, and we must remember for those who have suffered and died in the past. We need people on our side to fight for people in poverty, for the people of Europe and all the world."

Malcolm, London, 17th Oct 2005