Children’s Views on Poverty and Environmental Risks: Lessons for Ecological Social Work and Ecological Citizenship

Climate change has a disproportionate effect on people who are socially and economically excluded and live in degraded environments. Children’s current and future well-being are the hardest hit. However, children need not necessarily be passive victims: They have agency to engage meaningfully and contribute sustainable solutions. This research draws on a qualitative study with five children who were purposefully selected to share their views on poverty and environmental risks through photo-voicing and one-on-one interviews. The aim was to draw lessons from children’s experiences of poverty and environmental risks to inform ecological social work and citizenship. The data were analysed according to themes. The findings indicate that children understand the multidimensional nature of poverty and its interrelatedness with environmental risks. Furthermore, they have an environmentally oriented attitude towards being responsible citizens for themselves and the community. They proposed strategies to engage in action that can contribute to sustainable development. The study concludes that children’s participation can and should play a significant role in informing ecological social work. Furthermore, developing ecological citizenship is fundamental for social work to contribute to a new eco-social world with a sustainable approach to the environment and justice for all.