Goals for the Children (02:12)

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In 2000, the largest gathering of world leaders in the history of the world focused on designing goals aimed at making the world more humane, safe, clean and educated. Fifteen years later, children of the 21st century show their living conditions.

Anglong Pi, Cambodia: 3:20 am (02:24)

Twelve year old Sorvin in Cambodia scavenges for food waste from a dump to feed her family's pigs at three in the morning, a job she has been performing for three years. She finds it easy and does not complain.

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: 7:26 am (03:10)

In the Central African city of Goma, more than two million children have been killed by war and poverty since year 2000, despite the city being a rich source of minerals used to supply the biggest computer companies in the world. Daily survival is a challenge to the residents like eight year old David, who sells cakes in the streets and is often cheated or robbed.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras: 12:53 am (03:32)

San Pedro, Honduras has the highest murder rate of all the cities in the world. Gang violence is constant. Funeral parlor employees like 15 year old Darwin make their livings off of people killed via gang violence.

Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty (01:25)

Fifteen years after the goal United Nations set a goal to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty, 90 million children under the age of five remain undernourished and underweight. Though the number has been halved since the goal was set, children's lives are still colossally affected by where they are born.

East Porterville, California (03:37)

More billionaires live in California than any other American state, but at the same time, more children live in poverty in California than any other state. Eleven year old Noemie has no running water and has to fetch buckets of water in 100 degree, drought weather.

Anlong Pi, Cambodia: 10:30 am (03:18)

Sovin turns the food she collected into porridge for the animals to eat. The family depends on money they earn by raising and selling pigs, though they only end up with one British pound per day to live off of. Sovin is illiterate and does not attend school, so she is unsure of her future. The second millennium development goal is to ensure the education of primary school aged children universally, but at this time, 57 million primary school aged children are unable to attend school, often because they are forced to work to feed their families.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras: 8:41 am (03:58)

Darwin's work schedule requires working for 24 hours straight before resting for the next 24. He shares his earnings with his family on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula, an area controlled by a violent gang. He was a stellar student but had to drop out to work despite his dream of attending university.

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: 8:57 pm (02:19)

When he is not selling cakes, David plays cards inside, as playing outside is unsafe. He sleeps with many abandoned children. He remembers his parents fighting every day, which drove him to run away and sleep in the streets, eventually leading him to a home for other children in his situation.

Anglong Pi, Cambodia: 2:57 am (03:14)

After hours of waiting, the garbage trucks have still not arrived, so Sovin waits as the temperature climbs. Her little brothers go to school, but she does not; her family cannot afford to send them all, so the boys are sent out of practicality. In 2000, two thirds of illiterate people were girls and women; in 2015, the number has not changed.

Anglong Pi, Cambodia: 10:15 am (03:01)

After seven hours, the garbage trucks finally arrive, but very little has been found today. The family's pig goes into labor that day, a difficult birth.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras: 8:41 am (03:25)

Following the murder, the funeral company Darwin works for receives the body from the police. Darwin is assisting in preparing the corpse for the first time. He dreams of being an engineer one day and starting his own business.

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: 6:03 am (03:24)

David is warned not to lose the cakes because the money he earns will feed the house he lives in, which operates like a collective. He rents a bike for a few minutes with his profit. The third millennium goal is to reduce child mortality.

Failed Millennium Development Goals (03:55)

World leaders set a goal to reduce child mortality, which was not accomplished because of lack of clean water and basic medical care. A goal was also set to improve maternal health, reducing the death rate by 50%, not the goal of 75%. Midwives would save the lives of many of these women. The goal set regarding HIV/AIDS has seen exceptional success.

East Porterville, California: 9:19 am (01:55)

Noemie and her family have been living without running water for two years. Noemie says her mother suffers from Lupus, which means she has to avoid sunlight. They use buckets and buckets of water to start their air conditioning on 105 degree days.

Anglong Pi, Cambodia: 9:42 am (02:51)

Twenty four hours after Sovin's family pig delivered her first piglet, the rest of the litter has not been born. The piglets are needed to support the family, and will die if they are not delivered soon.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability (01:52)

The seventh millennium development goal was a complete failure: global carbon dioxide emissions have climbed by almost ten billion metric tons in 15 years.

Hopes for a Fairer World (02:56)

Noemie's family used to have thriving farm animals, but they had to be given away because of the lack of water. Noemie says she has to be grateful for what she does have. The richest countries of the world could eradicate the worst of the problems of the worlds by donating to the poorer countries, but they do not.

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: 9:52 am (02:05)

David has saved money to buy a bike. He tries to bargain with the salesperson but he needs $50 more. He continues to save his money.

Funeral Overseers (03:14)

In the four months Darwin has worked as an undertaker, he has attended 70 funerals. Darwin wishes he could change the world and make the neighborhoods safer.

Credits: Millennium Goals (00:38)

Credits: Millennium Goals