Music is a universal and abiding pastime for a reason. It is much more than an added pleasure; many agree that it has the power to transform lives. In 1975, Venezuelan Dr. José Antonio Abreu observed that music can dramatically change the lives of impoverished children. He founded El Sistema, a music education program that […]
Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease that is particularly threatening to young children. Infection occurs when people come in contact with water infested with parasitic larvae that penetrate the skin. Once inside the body, the larvae develop into adult worms that nest in human blood vessels. The female parasites lay eggs, some of which become trapped […]
The 3D printing approach, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method of creating three-dimensional objects by building up layers of material based on a computer-generated design or blueprint. Unlike traditional production processes that involve cutting or subtracting material from a larger piece, 3D printing, therefore, adds material, resulting in less waste. To print an […]
Tucked in the bottom corner of Southeast Asia, Singapore is presenting a hopeful solution to addressing global poverty. Once known for its widespread slums and poverty, 80% of its population were squatting in unsafe conditions and makeshift homes. Now, 50 years later, 80% of the population has access to safe and secure public housing in […]
Sweden has often been ranked among the nations with the highest rates of quality of life and overall happiness. In addition to its stellar system of care and initiatives, the country is ripe with luscious natural landscapes and green spaces, providing its citizens with a pure, accessible, cost-free way to de-stress. These qualities work alongside […]
More than 5 million Syrian people fled their homes to neighboring countries, such as Lebanon and Jordan, due to mass displacement in the wake of conflict. Many of these refugees are older people with different health issues who seek assistance. Despite the best efforts of the humanitarian response, some elderly Syrian refugees’ health is neglected […]
Gender-based violence (GBV) in Puerto Rico is endemic. In fact, in 2021, public officials responded to swelling rates of GBV during the pandemic by declaring a “state of emergency.” Governor Pedro Pierluisi condemned the long-standing machismo and discrimination behind this “social evil” and the “lack of action” in addressing it. The declaration came after the Puerto Rico […]
North Korea, a highly centralized totalitarian state with a population of nearly 25 million people, is a country that constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Over the past few decades, the country’s economy has faced significant challenges, including a scarcity of resources, international sanctions and self-imposed isolation. From 2012 to […]
For the past eight years, the civil war between the Saudi-led military coalition and Houthi rebels has plagued Yemen. More than half of the Yemeni population is below the poverty line, and women are most vulnerable with a 26.1% unemployment rate compared to the 12.3% of men. This ongoing conflict severely affects Yemeni citizens and […]
A lack of access to air conditioning, heating or refrigeration paints a picture of what energy poverty looks like for vulnerable populations. People in this category lack modern and renewable energy sources to help meet everyday needs. This is especially true for those in rural or hard-to-reach areas in Malaysia. This has called attention to […]
