5.2 Rights and Resources

Emotional and physical well-being can have a great impact on one's quality of life. What we eat and how long we sleep have a great effect on how we feel. Of course, access to different types of shelter and certain food groups can affect one's quality of life. A healthy diet can help prevent malnutrition and many diseases. For adults, a well-balanced diet should include fruits (fruits), legumes (légumineuses), nuts (noix), and whole grains (céréales complètes). Sometimes, though, development and access to resources can cause issues in people's access to clean, healthy food and water.

Within the first two years of life, optimal nutrition can foster healthy growth (croissance saine) and can also improve cognitive development (développement cognitif). Optimal nutrition as an infant can also help reduce the risks of becoming overweight (en surpoids) and/or obese (obèse) as an adult. In general, obesity rates in Francophone countries tend to be lower than the global average, but the rates are increasing over time. Factors that can contribute to obesity rates include a lack of access to healthy food, low levels of physical activity, and cultural attitudes towards body size.

Beyond basic differences like food and shelter, quality of life expands outwards to greater causes such as a country's economy or its consideration for citizens' rights. France generally has a strong record on human rights (les droits de l'homme), and is considered a leader in promoting and protecting human rights within the international community. However, the human rights situation in other Francophone countries varies widely. Some countries, such as Canada and Switzerland, also have strong records on human rights, while others, such as Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have significant human rights issues. This obviously contributes to differences in quality of life between citizens of all nations as both the economy and civil rights of citizens are impaired or not fully realized.

Economic differences between countries of varying development can also cause detriments to certain aspects of life quality. Evidently, lack of resources or funding for citizens in certain countries can create gaps in nutritional quality, economic support, and even things like shelter and job availability.

How does access to education and healthcare affect the quality of life for individuals and communities?

How do economic factors, such as employment and income, impact the quality of life?

How do environmental factors, such as access to clean water and air, affect the quality of life? How does development contribute to these environmental factors?

What can be done to improve the quality of life for marginalized or disadvantaged groups within a community?

How does the availability of public services, such as transportation and housing, impact the quality of life? How does the economy influence these services?

How do personal relationships and social support networks contribute to the quality of life? How do these relationships differ in different communities?

Le système éducatif - education system

École maternelle - nursery school

École élémentaire (ou primaire) - elementary (or primary) school

Collège - middle school

Lycée - high school

Université - university

Les Grandes Écoles - France's most selective higher ed institutions

Emploi du temps - schedule

Activité parascolaire - after-school activity

Système de notation - grading system