According to the World Bank, almost 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty. This means they exist on less than US$1.25 per day-that's less than $US1.25 to cover food, clothing, shelter, education, health care-all of life's expenses. Wherever you live in the world ... it's simply not enough.

Every day, over 24,000 children under the age of five die from mostly preventable and treatable causes, such as diarrhoea, malaria, measles, pneumonia and HIV/AIDS. They don't die for a lack of knowledge or science-we know how to prevent thousands of these children from dying each day-we simply need to put our knowledge into action. It's not up to philanthropists, non-government organisations, religions, governments or individuals alone: this will take all of our efforts, working together. This is your invitation to play a part.

In 1990, 12.5 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday. Today that figure has dropped to 8.8 million, which means 3.7 million more children survive beyond five. That's great progress! But far too many children still die needlessly, and many who survive do not develop in a healthy manner.

We want to see 5 MILLION MORE children alive-and thriving-every year, by 2015.

This is the message of Millennium Development Goal no. 4 that aims to reduce child mortality.

TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW!

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Sign Micah Challenge's 5th Birthday e-card
Commit to supporting a Compassion Child Survival Program for $20 per month
Sponsor a child under 5 and give them a great chance to thrive

We've put together a range of resources and Action Guides so you can respond to this challenge. Please use the links below to download them, and of course don't forget to log your Action.

	Learn about child mortality and the Millennium Development Goals with our Fact Sheets, and download the report 5 Million More: What Will it Take on Millenium Development Goal #4.
	Speak Up to your local MP and pastor, give a presentation or a sermon in your church or small group. Put up these posters and hand out postcards about the campaign.
	Take Action by running a Micah Challenge 5th Birthday Party, organising a letter writing initiative in your children's ministry or sharing the campaign with a small group bible study.
	Create art that advocates: check out Compassion's Blue Easel initiative.
	Support a child under 5 through Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program or Child Survival Program.
	Volunteer in your church's children's ministry, at someone's 5th Birthday Party or for a church presentation.
	Pray for the children who struggle each day using our prayer guide, and join us on Saturday August 7 for a National Day of Prayer to Reduce Child Mortality.

If you need us to mail the resources to you, please contact us at can@compassion.com.au