Whilst urban poverty is highly visible and well documented, social exclusion in rural areas is rarely captured in official statistical data because of the dispersal of poor rural households and their often close proximity to affluence.
The invisibility and isolation stemming from rural poverty is compounded by a lack of understanding and collectivity around social exclusion in rural areas. Neighbours often do not share the same experiences and poor rural households have little or no means to join forces in order to campaign for a better future.
"Poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."
Nelson Mandela, speech in Trafalgar Square, London, 2005.
