We Asked Kids in Poverty To Define These Words

Children learn new words and their meanings daily. Some kids can understand words completely differently depending on their contexts and experiences. Poverty, specifically, can drastically change the meaning of words like “happiness” or “wealth.”

On the other hand, some words and the feelings they describe are experienced quite similarly throughout the world because almost every human knows the value of a friendship or the pain of a hurt heart.

We asked children from four different countries and cultures to define some important words from their own perspectives. As participants in Compassion’s program, these children have caring adults in their lives — tutors, pastors, sponsors and parents — who help give meaning to words like “hope” and “love.”

Here are the children’s definitions.

TANZANIA

What does “confidence” (ujasiri in Swahili) mean?

“Confidence is someone with strength and honesty.”

— Jovine, 10

What does “compassion”” (huruma) mean?

“Compassion is giving someone food or helping them get work.”

— Shaphaty, 10

What does “peace” (amani) mean?

“Peace is having calmness and joy.”

— Dorcas, 10

What does “hate” (chuki) mean?

“Hate is not liking someone.”

— Josephat, 10

What does “the center” (kitou) mean?

“The center is a place where children are placed for learning to reach their dreams.”

— Faith, 11

THE PHILIPPINES

What does “family” (pamilya in Tagalog) mean?

“Family is my mother, father, sisters and brothers. We live together. We eat together.”

— Kiven, 7

What does “friend” (higala) mean?

“A friend is someone I enjoy playing with. A friend for me is someone to make me happy, help me and fight for me.”

— Arjon, 6

What does “the future” (kaugmaon) mean?

“Future is happiness. Tomorrow I will pray to be happy and then play with my friends.”

— Jhea, 8

What does “resilience” (kaling-on in Tagalog) mean?

“To me, resilience is about facing our problems. Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Thank you.”

— Althea, 8

What does “dreams” (pangandoy) mean?

“Dreams for me is about being a teacher because I want to be a teacher someday.”

— Jingkie, 8

BRAZIL

What does “strength” (força in Portuguese) mean?

“Strength is what God gives me to overcome evil.”

— Lucan, 8

What does “abundance” (abundância) mean?

“Abundance is not just about wealth and money. Abundance is about having love and Jesus in our hearts.”

— Emanuelly, 12

What does “happiness” (felicidade) mean?

“Happiness is having a friend to play with.”

— Davi, 11

What does “sadness” (tristeza-on) mean?

“Sadness is when there is no food in the pantry.”

— Maria, 7

What does “poverty” (pobreza) mean?

“Poverty is not having God because he is the owner of all silver and gold.”

— Arthur, 11

NICARAGUA

What does “love” (amor in Spanish) mean?

“Love is a beautiful feeling that God left among the people so that they love and respect each other.”

— Ian, 8

What does “success” (éxito) mean?

“Success is about achieving personal goals and becoming who you want to be in the future.”

— Daniel, 8

What does “hunger” (hambre) mean?

“For me, hunger is when our stomach hurts and it’s empty.”

— Natalie, 11

What does “church” (iglesia) mean?

“Church does not refer to a building but to the people who accept the gift of Christ’s salvation and who follow his teachings.”

— Fanny, 12

What does “protection ” (protección) mean?

“Protection means being in a house that’s safe and not talking to strangers.”

— Angel, 7