The recent economic crisis and social changes have increased poverty and social exclusion. Society is now less cohesive and less fair.
For example, how many people do you know who are unemployed? Or having problems finding housing or accessing basic services like food, water or electricity?
These are some of the situations of clear social disadvantages that sadly occur in our immediate environment and are defined by these two words: “social exclusion”, which is the result of a dynamic process of accumulation and combination of various disadvantage factors, linked to various aspects of life, which may include the following parameters:
- Economical condition: poverty
- Work: unemployment, job insecurity
- Residential: lack of access to a home, homelessness
- Training: insufficient training level, illiteracy
- Social and sanitary condition: disability, disease, fragile old age
- Relational: lack of family and community networks
People suffering from social exclusion are much more likely to feel marginalized and inferior; and they are more likely to suffer psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and disorientation; as well as physical problems related to malnutrition, health problems and life expectancy, among others.
