In the Pacific island nation of Fiji, 44.3% of its approximate 900,000 residents live in rural areas, where access to opportunity is struggling to keep up with economic growth. According to government metrics, every third Fijian is poor. However, recent developments in kava cultivation are helping villagers escape poverty. Kava, locally known as yaqona, is an indigenous crop that people have customarily used to make a ceremonial beverage for traditional gatherings and celebrations. It contains chemicals called kavalactones, which create feelings of calmness and euphoria in those drinking it. In recent years, these qualities have encouraged the drink’s recreational consumption both in Fiji and abroad. Given the drink’s recent boost in demand, kava cultivation in Fiji has come to provide financial stability for thousands of workers within the industry.
Historical Background
Currently, more than 21,000 Fijian farmers produce at least 4,000 tons of kava per year. For some rural communities, kava cultivation is an indispensable source of income. On the island of Kadavu, for example, four out of five households harvest or farm kava. In that area alone, as many as 8,000 inhabitants rely on kava production to feed their families. Their trust has been paying off thus far: in 2016, Cyclone Winston ravaged much of the country’s infrastructure and destroyed multiple kava plantations, radically decreasing its market supply. However, in the cataclysm’s aftermath, kava prices registered steep growth, convincing many farmers that kava cultivation was more profitable than Fiji’s other major agricultural export – sugar.
Economic Successes
The kava industry generated an equivalent of $151 million in 2017, and domestic sales were responsible for the overwhelming majority of kava consumption. Besides serving kava beverages in bars, the private sector is pioneering kava anti-anxiety medicines and kava nurseries, where farmers can buy seeds to start their own plantations. These initiatives are directly involving rural populations in their business operations. For instance, South Pacific Elixirs, a company maintaining kava quality, has contracted 70 farmers on the island of Ovalau. In fact, 80% of the kava found in Fiji’s urban areas where bars, pharmaceutical firms and exporters naturally operate originates on such remote islands as the aforementioned Kadavu and Ovalau. Such connections between rural communities and domestic distributors are helpful since they enable farmers to access the market.
Although export only represented 8% of the kava revenue, its volume increased by 126% and its value saw an upsurge of 98% between 2013 and 2017. Fiji exports to Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and the United States, marketing the crop as much to the Fijian diaspora as to foreign consumers. One may find kava in American pharmacies, department stores and cafes. Its consumption is widespread in San Diego, Austin, Texas and particularly in Southeast Florida—St. Petersburg, Florida alone boasts eight kava bars. The drink from this plant appeals to local consumers as an alternative to alcohol allowing them to relax without the harmful effects of hangovers.
As kava farming does not presuppose extensive education, it attracts not only the established farmers but also the unemployed rural youths. In 2019, the national youth unemployment rate stood at almost 15%, and eradicating rural poverty cannot occur without addressing this high rate of joblessness. Stories of farmers investing their earnings in housing and critical infrastructures, like solar lights and water tanks, have underscored kava’s role in combating rural poverty in Fiji. Income from kava has also empowered some to operate local grocery stores and send their children to school. Statistically, one hectare of kava generates a gross income of more than $94,000 within a five-year cultivation period.
Is Kava Cultivation Sustainable?
Despite its economic benefits, kava cultivation in Fiji has encountered skepticism. Farmers will have to respond to the rising demand, which has the potential to pose serious challenges. Given that kava takes between two and three years to mature, early harvesting can lead to crop failure and wasted resources. Furthermore, extensive production risks exhausting fertile volcanic lands to the long-term detriment of Fiji’s rural communities. The crop’s production is also vulnerable to natural catastrophes that may hamper commercial links between suppliers and distributors.
However, Fijian authorities are working to ensure that kava cultivation is sustainable. The Yaqona Taskforce hosts training events for village farmers, in which government officials not only teach superior farming and storage techniques but also discuss marketing opportunities. The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA+) Program, supported by New Zealand and Australia, is complementing these initiatives by conducting surveys across Fiji to monitor genetic variation within kava crops as well as the production methods used in different villages. In addition to verifying that the plants are healthy, PHAMA+ ensures that farmers are maximizing yields and selling value-added goods from processed kava rather than its roots. By helping farmers meet high standards, PHAMA+ contributes to the expansion of the industry’s export which has the potential to generate an extra $2.5 million for Fiji’s kava sector this year alone.
Kava cultivation in Fiji is eradicating rural poverty by integrating rural farmers into the economy and establishing ties between villages, pharmaceutical companies and recreational industries throughout the nation. With state and external backing, the kava industry has the power to precipitate poverty reduction in rural Fiji.
– Dan Mikhaylov
Photo: Flickr
Kava Cultivation in Fiji and Rural Poverty
In the Pacific island nation of Fiji, 44.3% of its approximate 900,000 residents live in rural areas, where access to opportunity is struggling to keep up with economic growth. According to government metrics, every third Fijian is poor. However, recent developments in kava cultivation are helping villagers escape poverty. Kava, locally known as yaqona, is an indigenous crop that people have customarily used to make a ceremonial beverage for traditional gatherings and celebrations. It contains chemicals called kavalactones, which create feelings of calmness and euphoria in those drinking it. In recent years, these qualities have encouraged the drink’s recreational consumption both in Fiji and abroad. Given the drink’s recent boost in demand, kava cultivation in Fiji has come to provide financial stability for thousands of workers within the industry.
Historical Background
Currently, more than 21,000 Fijian farmers produce at least 4,000 tons of kava per year. For some rural communities, kava cultivation is an indispensable source of income. On the island of Kadavu, for example, four out of five households harvest or farm kava. In that area alone, as many as 8,000 inhabitants rely on kava production to feed their families. Their trust has been paying off thus far: in 2016, Cyclone Winston ravaged much of the country’s infrastructure and destroyed multiple kava plantations, radically decreasing its market supply. However, in the cataclysm’s aftermath, kava prices registered steep growth, convincing many farmers that kava cultivation was more profitable than Fiji’s other major agricultural export – sugar.
Economic Successes
The kava industry generated an equivalent of $151 million in 2017, and domestic sales were responsible for the overwhelming majority of kava consumption. Besides serving kava beverages in bars, the private sector is pioneering kava anti-anxiety medicines and kava nurseries, where farmers can buy seeds to start their own plantations. These initiatives are directly involving rural populations in their business operations. For instance, South Pacific Elixirs, a company maintaining kava quality, has contracted 70 farmers on the island of Ovalau. In fact, 80% of the kava found in Fiji’s urban areas where bars, pharmaceutical firms and exporters naturally operate originates on such remote islands as the aforementioned Kadavu and Ovalau. Such connections between rural communities and domestic distributors are helpful since they enable farmers to access the market.
Although export only represented 8% of the kava revenue, its volume increased by 126% and its value saw an upsurge of 98% between 2013 and 2017. Fiji exports to Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and the United States, marketing the crop as much to the Fijian diaspora as to foreign consumers. One may find kava in American pharmacies, department stores and cafes. Its consumption is widespread in San Diego, Austin, Texas and particularly in Southeast Florida—St. Petersburg, Florida alone boasts eight kava bars. The drink from this plant appeals to local consumers as an alternative to alcohol allowing them to relax without the harmful effects of hangovers.
As kava farming does not presuppose extensive education, it attracts not only the established farmers but also the unemployed rural youths. In 2019, the national youth unemployment rate stood at almost 15%, and eradicating rural poverty cannot occur without addressing this high rate of joblessness. Stories of farmers investing their earnings in housing and critical infrastructures, like solar lights and water tanks, have underscored kava’s role in combating rural poverty in Fiji. Income from kava has also empowered some to operate local grocery stores and send their children to school. Statistically, one hectare of kava generates a gross income of more than $94,000 within a five-year cultivation period.
Is Kava Cultivation Sustainable?
Despite its economic benefits, kava cultivation in Fiji has encountered skepticism. Farmers will have to respond to the rising demand, which has the potential to pose serious challenges. Given that kava takes between two and three years to mature, early harvesting can lead to crop failure and wasted resources. Furthermore, extensive production risks exhausting fertile volcanic lands to the long-term detriment of Fiji’s rural communities. The crop’s production is also vulnerable to natural catastrophes that may hamper commercial links between suppliers and distributors.
However, Fijian authorities are working to ensure that kava cultivation is sustainable. The Yaqona Taskforce hosts training events for village farmers, in which government officials not only teach superior farming and storage techniques but also discuss marketing opportunities. The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA+) Program, supported by New Zealand and Australia, is complementing these initiatives by conducting surveys across Fiji to monitor genetic variation within kava crops as well as the production methods used in different villages. In addition to verifying that the plants are healthy, PHAMA+ ensures that farmers are maximizing yields and selling value-added goods from processed kava rather than its roots. By helping farmers meet high standards, PHAMA+ contributes to the expansion of the industry’s export which has the potential to generate an extra $2.5 million for Fiji’s kava sector this year alone.
Kava cultivation in Fiji is eradicating rural poverty by integrating rural farmers into the economy and establishing ties between villages, pharmaceutical companies and recreational industries throughout the nation. With state and external backing, the kava industry has the power to precipitate poverty reduction in rural Fiji.
– Dan Mikhaylov
Photo: Flickr
Reducing STD Transmission in India
India, officially known as the Republic of India, is a country in Southern Asia. It is the second-most populous country in the world, after China. Around 6% of the adult population in India are diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) each year. With a population size as great as India’s — a 6% rate of infection amounts to more than 30 million infected people. These figures demonstrate why reducing STD transmission rates in India is such a large undertaking.
STD Rates and Poverty
In Jharkhand, an Indian state, over 1.5 million women are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. In impoverished areas, male and female sex workers are most at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. In a screening of 336 female sex workers, 9.7% were positive for N. gonorrhoeae, 23.2% were chlamydia-positive and 5.9% had trichomoniasis. In another screening for men, of 150 participants, around 46% tested positive for HIV.
HIV and AIDS
India has the third-largest rate of HIV contraction in the world. As of 2017, around 2.1 million citizens in India received the diagnosis of HIV. Statistics show that HIV prevalence was higher in men (0.25%) than women (0.19%) in 2017. The main reason for this is because of men having sex with other men. They are more prone to HIV since most men reportedly do not use protection during intercourse. However, the percentage of citizens with HIV has dropped drastically since 2001. The spread of sexually transmitted diseases has been slowing down since the last decade. From 2010 to 2017, new infections decreased by 27% and AIDS-related deaths decreased by around 56%. By 2017, 79% of those living with HIV were aware of it, and about 71% were on antiretroviral treatment.
Chlamydia and Syphilis
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis. Every year in India, there are more than 1 million cases of chlamydia reported. Typically, people cannot feel any symptoms and it can be quickly treated with antibiotics. However, if it is not treated timely — it may lead to serious health problems. This STI may affect female fertility or cause ectopic pregnancies.
Syphilis is an STD that starts as a painless sore and spreads through contact via genitals, rectum or mouth. In 2014, around 16,797 men and 16,105 women reportedly contracted syphilis in India. Yet in 2015, around 16,128 men and 13,878 women were reportedly infected with the STD. This promising trend in statistics shows a roughly 9% decrease in cases in just the last decade.
India’s Solutions to Reducing STD Transmission
To start, the country’s main strategy involves a counseling and multidisciplinary approach. Almost 25% of those diagnosed with an STD are unaware of it. India is making the availability of counseling more prevalent within communities. Counseling will have a positive impact because professionals will help citizens become aware of their health situation by explaining the treatment options, along with the consequences.
Testing and Antiviral Therapy (ART) are further initiatives that India promotes for reducing STD transmission. Every five years, India provides universal HIV testing to the general population. The country also gives an annual screening for high-risk individuals. This system helps detect individuals who have contracted HIV at an early stage. ART is available readily to citizens. This program enhances the outcomes for those with HIV and decreases transmission rates within the community.
Hope for the Continued Trend
Overall, although India still has large numbers of citizens living with an STD, the government is creating initiatives to resolve this problem. There has been much progress, as shown by the major decrease in HIV transmissions within the last decade. As the government implements more counseling and ART programs, more individuals will become aware of their situation and the rate of transmission will hopefully continue to decrease.
– Megan Ha
Photo: Flickr
An Introduction to Hunger in Latvia
The Current State in Numbers
Latvia is the third poorest country in the European Union. Moreover, roughly 22.5% of the population lives below the poverty line. With an average household size of 2.4 individuals, Latvian families may struggle, as the median household income is $9,337. Although the cost of living in Latvia is 30% lower than in the U.S., the cost of living, transportation and other necessities do not always leave enough room for families to purchase food. The ones who suffer the most from food insecurity include young children and senior adults.
Although hunger has remained an ongoing problem in Latvia for years as a result of World War I, the country has made incredible efforts to fight it. From 2000 to 2015, there was a 59% decrease in hunger, with an average shift from 8.3 in 2000 to 3.4 in 2015. According to the Global Hunger Index, Latvia’s hunger level is low because of 21st-century initiatives to combat malnourishment, which brought the rate of stunted children to less than 0.5%.
Food Insecurity and Hunger
Several initiatives have been launched to help decrease food insecurity within Latvia. Between 2006 and 2015, a European Union program called Food Distribution for the Most Deprived Persons of the Community worked with the Latvian Red Cross to distribute food packages for individuals in need. According to a Transmango National Report on Food and Nutrition Security in 2015, there were 448 distribution centers throughout Latvia.
Besides this EU-sponsored program, NGOs and other charitable organizations such as the Samaritan Association of Latvia have worked to combat hunger in Latvia. One initiative of this organization is Paēdušai Latvija, which has provided 600-650 parcels of nutritious foods and staple products for Latvian families in need, especially in the winter months.
Lastly, the government of Latvia submitted the Child Guarantee National Action Plan as its EU program to ensure the rights of its children. In addition to commitments in education, health care, housing and financial benefits for families, the plan continues a pledge to give free milk, fruit and vegetables to school-age children to promote a nutritious diet.
The Future of Hunger in Latvia
The programs in existence have proven successful, as the rate of hunger in Latvia has plateaued at a very low level. Despite this, it is comforting to know that those Latvians who are living in poverty are cared for by government initiatives and international organizations fighting for a future where not a single Latvian goes hungry.
– Caitlin Calfo and Cole Zickwolff
Photo: Pixabay
Updated: November 21, 2024
North Macedonia: A Land of Potential
Historical Disputes & Political Corruption
Skopje shares a long-standing history with the bordering country of Bulgaria and celebrates the same national heroes as well. Bulgaria, a current EU member, seeks to compromise on these issues before North Macedonia is allowed to enter the EU, claiming, “… [Bulgaria] has been piling pressure on Skopje for concessions with regard to what the two sides now call ‘shared history.”’
Since the Social Democratic Party’s majority win, the leftist party known as Levica promises to fight against the recognition of Kosovo and new trade agreements with Greece. Levica is asserting pressure on the majority party with claims of political corruption and embezzlement from former leader Nikola Gruevski. However, new laws adopted as preconditions to enter the EU include a crackdown on corrupt politicians and practices — ensuring that public prosecution and ethical legislation will remain protected in government spaces. Albanians represent the second largest ethnic group in North Macedonia but lack proper representation in government. Although the Democratic Union for Integration is largely Albanian, this ethnic population holds little power in parliament but great influence in public spaces as a majority vote.
North Macedonia Joins NATO
The goal of the Social Democratic Union Party, broadly speaking, is to improve the lives of citizens in North Macedonia. The party aims to achieve this through new agreements and membership with NATO. With their induction in late March 2020, the flag of North Macedonia now sways high in Mons, Belgium and Norfolk, Virginia — two Allied Command Headquarters. Jens Stolenberg, Secretary-General stated, “North Macedonia is now part of the NATO family, a family of thirty nations and almost one billion people. A family based on the certainty that, no matter what challenges we face, we are all stronger and safer together.”
The Peace Corps in North Macedonia
International relations in North Macedonia continue to improve through a partnership with the Peace Corps. Since 2015, the population living on less than $5.50 per day has reduced by 8%. As a result of foreign investment through educational programs, improved housing infrastructure and healthcare — only 4% of North Macedonia’s population live on less than $1.90 per day.
Grant writing, funding from the E.U. and other independent organizations act as a liaison when government funding is not provided to rural towns. Through the Peace Corps, Northern Macedonians have the opportunity to learn English and engage in community-building activities. Some of these activities include business administration skills and special events, geared towards learning. The Peace Corps is not only interested in providing relief but also space for communities to incentivize growth and opportunity — with the ultimate goal being increasing education and employment rates.
The Macedonia Country Fund is another example of a Peace Corps initiative that supports sustainable projects for Northern Macedonia. “These projects focus on youth, education, community development, and people with disabilities.” Through partnership initiatives and foreign support, North Macedonia seems to be headed on an upward trajectory.
– Natalie Williams
Photo: Flickr
CATCH Technology for Virus Discovery
CATCH Technology for Virus Discovery
First developed in 2019 by scientists at the Broad Institute, CATCH provides scientists with an efficient new way to detect and code viruses. In scientific terms, CATCH stands for Compact Aggregation of Targets for Comprehensive Hybridization. CATCH is a computational method that allows scientists and users to design probes that then catch genetic material for all viruses known to humans. This tool is particularly helpful for viruses like Zika, which is very difficult to see in clinical samples. CATCH is able to very accurately and quickly detect even viruses that occur in low abundance in clinical samples. Due to these abilities, CATCH could play a key role in future disease prevention and treatment.
Advantages of CATCH
Impact of CATCH in Africa
In a study by researchers Hayden Metsky and Katie Siddle, data gathered using CATCH helped discover that the ZIka virus was present in several regions, months before scientists could detect it.
At the time of the Lassa outbreak in Nigeria in 2018, the Lassa virus was difficult to sequence and hard to detect. The researchers proved that by using CATCH, content of the samples of the 2018 Lassa virus could be rescued. This means that the Lassa virus will be more easily detectable.
The above results warrant the use of CATCH technology for virus discovery and for future outbreaks. The CATCH tool can be used to provide low-cost disease surveillance and the information required to control outbreaks. In the very depths of a viral pandemic like COVID-19, the CATCH tool creates hope for the future of global health.
– Lucia Kenig-Ziesler
Photo: Flickr
Microfinance for Poverty Reduction
Commercial banks often find themselves unable to provide financial services in rural areas. Poor credit histories, limited manpower, customers illiteracy and accommodation problems of the staff limit commercial bank operation. Microfinance is a simplistic tool to remedy this issue. It is the provision of small loans to the impoverished to help those who otherwise do not have access to traditional banking services to engage in or establish an income-generating activity. Microfinance has been a renowned initiative for poverty reduction as well as economic and social development for over 30 years.
Microfinance Models
The concept for microfinance was propounded by Mohammad Yunus, who subsequently founded the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh to provide credit facilities to the poor and boost their entrepreneurial potential. Since then, microfinance has taken a range of forms.
These forms include non-governmental organizations, credit unions, cooperatives, associations, community banking, Self Help Groups, ROSCAs, small businesses and village banking models.
The Dark Side of Microfinance
In terms of poverty reduction, two key questions have emerged: first, to what extent has microfinance contributed to creating a long-lasting and permanent difference to help households escape poverty? Second, to what extent do microfinance programs reach the worst off, “chronic poor” and not just the “transient poor.”
The total number of microcredit borrowers has magnified exponentially from less than 20 million in the 1970s to over 211 million in 2013. There are undeniable success stories regarding the transformative effect of microfinance on individuals and households. But until recently, there has been very little research that shows the impact of microfinance in a way that demonstrates causality.
In their book “Finance Against Poverty” (1996), David Hulme and Paul Mosley were first to criticize microfinance. They suggested that microfinance helps those above the poverty line more than those below the poverty line. In some instances, they found that microcredit makes life for those at the base of the pyramid even worse. Some argue microfinance contributes to creating debt traps for the poor whereby they sink into the vicious cycle of repayment of loans, and due to increasing interest rates, they are never able to escape.
An unprecedented consequence of microfinancing is the increase in organ trafficking, especially in Bangladesh. When borrowers are unable to repay their debt, traffickers pressure them into selling their organs. In most cases, these borrowers are uneducated about the implications of their actions. In other cases, debtors go as far as to take their own lives.
The Silver Lining
However, despite its shortcomings, microfinance has hardly been a failure in the case of poverty reduction. Rather than seeing it as a poverty panacea, microfinancing is more aptly a means of expanding opportunities for the disadvantaged.
Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of microfinancing is empowerment. Empowerment is at the center of human progress. Microfinance is helping the world reach the first Millennium Development Goal: eradicating poverty and hunger. It is also helping reach the MGD 3 to promote gender equality and empower women.
For example, Self Help Groups are a popular microfinance model in India, particularly among rural women. These groups provide a platform to act on a variety of social issues such as health, nutrition, domestic violence, etc. During the pandemic, the SHGs were incredibly useful in distributing masks and sanitizer to meet shortages and running community kitchens.
Financial Diaries of people living on $2 or less per day have shown that microcredit helps many families make critical purchases that they could not otherwise afford during times of scarcity.
No single aspect of development, be it microfinance, health or education, can work towards poverty reduction. The amalgamation of all different facets, when targeted to the poor at the grassroots level, is a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and puts the world on the path to an egalitarian society.
– Riddhi Bhattacharya
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trypanosomiasis in the Central African Republic
Trypanosomiasis, a parasitic infection that is transmittable to humans through bites from the tsetse fly, is an illness common only among those living in sub-Saharan Africa. People living in rural areas and those who depend on agriculture, hunting or fishing for their food are most exposed to the infection. Poverty, war and failed healthcare systems can contribute to the spread of trypanosomiasis. Proper diagnosis requires a skilled staff and early treatment can help prevent the infection from worsening. The Central African Republic (CAR) has the highest number of cases of the disease in the world. Trypanosomiasis in the Central African Republic is a pressing health issue, which demands sustained funding for treatment and medical training.
About the Infection
Also known as human African sleeping sickness, trypanosomiasis is most prevalent in the 36 sub-Saharan African countries, including the CAR. There are two types of trypanosomiasis. Depending on which parasite causes the disease, an infected individual could have Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense or Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (the more common of the two). If an individual becomes sick with the latter, symptoms can go unnoticed for months or years before the infection begins to affect their central nervous system. Symptoms include fever, headaches, confusion, poor coordination and irregular sleep patterns. Transmission of trypanosomiasis can occur from mother to child, a tsetse fly bite or sexual contact with an infected person.
If trypanosomiasis goes untreated, an individual can experience worsening symptoms and can eventually enter a coma — hence the infection’s nickname (sleeping sickness). People in the CAR are especially susceptible to contracting the disease from doing agricultural work. Much of the population of the CAR lives in rural areas, depending heavily on subsistence farming to survive. More than 55% of the nation’s GDP stems from agriculture and 80% of the workforce is in the farming industry. Since citizens are dependent on farming and hunting for their food, they are at a higher risk of exposure to the tsetse fly and thus, have an increased rate of contracting trypanosomiasis.
Treating Trypanosomiasis
Infected individuals’ symptoms often go unnoticed or untreated. The CAR’s political climate, high poverty rate and lack of proper healthcare centers all facilitate the spreading and worsening of the infection. As of 2018, more than 71% of the population lived below the world’s poverty level, meaning that medical staff and treatment were inaccessible to most citizens living with trypanosomiasis in the Central African Republic. The country is also recovering from the violence of late 2013, which left many hospitals and offices ransacked or closed. Due to these various factors, citizens suffering from trypanosomiasis in the Central African Republic have few options for testing and medication.
There is one well-known medication that can treat the disease, called nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT). Though NECT can significantly help patients with trypanosomiasis, the treatment includes multiple injections and close monitoring of the symptoms — both of which are usually unavailable or difficult to follow through to completion.
The Good News
However, with combined efforts from the government and other organizations, more patients suffering from the illness are receiving treatment. With help from the World Health Organization (WHO), CAR’s government is monitoring the cases and number of deaths from trypanosomiasis and working to provide more clinics, healthcare professionals and medication. The WHO and CAR’s health sectors aim to eliminate transmission of the disease by 2030. With only 997 cases and 164 deaths reported in 2018 (the lowest number in the 80-year battle with the disease), the CAR is on track to reach this goal partially due to consistent outside aid.
One notable international organization, Médecins San Frontières, mobilizes doctors and nurses throughout the CAR to provide free diagnoses and medication for those who have trypanosomiasis. Citizens are made aware of the free medical care and the organization can screen thousands of patients.
Over the next few years, help from organizations like the WHO and Médecins San Frontières can lead to adequate testing and medication for citizens with trypanosomiasis in the Central African Republic. It is imperative that organizations and countries in a position to help — contribute trained medical staff, funding and medicine to aid in the CAR’s fight against trypanosomiasis.
– Danielle Kuzel
Photo: Flickr
Uplifting Women Through Economic Empowerment in India
India is located in South Asia and has a population of about 1.3 billion people. The country is mostly known for its agricultural work, multiple languages and cultural communities. Also, India has been a part of the U.N. since its creation in 1945. Currently, the country is attempting to grow its economy and reach the technological level of first world countries. Yet, among many issues that India needs to recognize is gender and class inequalities within its workforce. One solution is uplifting women through economic empowerment.
The Legacy of India’s Caste System
In India, caste and ethnic background still play a major role in the workplace — which can lead to people remaining stuck in underprivileged communities. Many believe that women may be educated but should nevertheless, remain housewives after marriage. Recently, many women have married, subsequently left their jobs and then attempted to return to work after many years of absence. Saundarya Rajesh, who holds a doctorate in Women’s Workforce Participation and hails from Chennai, recognized that there were not many women in white-collar jobs and that class differences were preventing women’s acceptance, when restarting their careers. Rajesh herself was a second-career woman in a white-collar job, who felt the pressure to choose between work and family. Her experiences led to her beginning Avtar I-Win in 2005, with the aim of helping women in similar situations to her own.
Avtar I-Win Empowers Women
The first step for Avtar I-Win was connecting women with job opportunities — helping showcase their resumes or launch their careers. Rajesh wanted the corporate workforce to create or allocate jobs for women — many of these jobs only men held. The Avtar I-Win group has completed 15,000 successful placements and the group continues to place women in new careers. The group’s main goal is to uplift women through economic empowerment in India. As the program grew, the organization cultivated a counseling service with a focus on life decisions and career development, called WINSIGHT. The service, run by qualified experts, provides a way for women to gain mentorship themselves and grow into mentors for other Avtar women.
With the growth of the organization, Rajesh and her board have added new aspects to their organization — always seeking to instill career intentionality and independence in girls, from a young age. With this mindset, girls can make their way out of poverty, forced marriages and sexual and domestic abuse — eventually increasing the corporate talent pool of India. Seeing the success and positive impact of Avtar I-Win, Rajesh began Avtar Human Capital Trust (AHCT) in 2008, which is a charitable not-for-profit organization.
Reaching Women in Poverty
Rajesh and her team noticed that even though they helped women restart their careers; education and financial barriers prevented them from reaching all women. Headquartered in Chennai, AHCT addresses gender inequality across the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry — providing financial help for women and students in underprivileged communities. By doing so, AHCT allows women to focus on preparing and aspiring for professional careers.
With the support of companies willing to hire more women, AHCT and Avtar I-Win have launched programs such as Project Puthri and FLEXI Careers in India. Project Puthri focuses on helping girls from a young age, so they can graduate with the purpose of attaining corporate jobs. The organization’s current goal is to help 10,000 girls per year across Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The board believes that with more women contributing to India’s GDP, the country will become more prosperous and communities will rise out of poverty. FLEXI Careers supports this mission through diversity and inclusion consulting. The organization focuses on an array of services to make the corporate world an inclusive workplace for women from underprivileged communities.
Female Empowerment and the Future
Saundaraya Rajesh founded her organization on helping and believing in women from communities of poverty. Yet, she understood that women needed assistance in obtaining careers for which many (especially family-oriented women in poverty) experienced great barriers to entry. Along with other pioneers in workplace inclusivity, Rajesh is uplifting women through economic empowerment in India — introducing programs on technology, economic empowerment, health and hygiene education for women who need extra support to succeed in the corporate world.
– Sumeet Waraich
Photo: Pxhere
The Rising Problem of Homelessness in Cyprus
Homelessness in Cyprus is increasingly becoming a problem, or at least, many are just now recognizing it as a problem. Thousands of families are unable to afford the high rents and loan installments. Furthermore, asylum-seekers from a number of countries such as Syria, Cameroon, Somalia and Iraq are unable to find housing. However, the Ministry of Labor claimed in 2019 that “there isn’t a single person living on the street, not one homeless person exists.”
The leaders of Cyprus claim that the economy has spectacularly recovered from a 2012 to 2013 economic crisis in which the second-largest bank shut down and the largest, the Bank of Cyprus, had to seize deposits from savers in a bid. The government bailed out the economy, and Cyprus was able to repay the emergency liquidity assurance and regain the trust of its people. While it is true that Cyprus has made a remarkable recovery, the country cannot continue to ignore its housing problem.
Although the government has generally failed to recognize and take action against the problem of homelessness in Cyprus, here is some information regarding how Cypriots are coming together to make a difference.
Housing for All
Created in 2019, an alliance called Housing for All unites 20 social organizations together to fix the housing problem. It put forward demands and proposals to address the issue of homelessness across the European Union.
SXEDiA Shelter
A new center for the homeless opened on July 15, 2020, in Limassol called SXEDiA. The center, led by Nicos Nicolaides, teamed up with the Labor Ministry and provides shelter and support. The center’s goal is for homeless people to gain skills to re-enter the workforce. It also works to help the homeless strengthen support networks and find housing. Cyprus’ lack of data on the homeless population fuels the problem, so the group will also collect and monitor data. This is one of the first temporary accommodation centers in Cyprus.
UNHCR
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is advocating for Cyprus’ homeless, specifically the refugees. The Cyprus Refugee Law guarantees asylum-seekers immediate access to housing and social assistance after applying. However, the system currently fails to deliver on these promises. One problem is the time it takes to receive these applications, leaving many homeless and without money for long periods of time. The Kofinu Reception Center is no longer admitting single asylum-seekers, further exacerbating the problem.
However, the UNHCR claims the problem is avoidable. By allowing refugees to work as early as possible, they will become independent of state welfare and also contribute to the development of Cyprus’ economy. The UNHCR pushes for the government to review the current policy on asylum-seekers so that they can ensure a certain standard of living. They also push for assisting asylum-seekers outside of organized centers so they can more easily integrate into society.
Although homelessness in Cyprus does not seem to be a pressing problem due to the “very low rates,” it is much more of a problem than many realize. The limited statistical information hides the issue, but the number of those without housing is rising dramatically. Luckily, various organizations are taking action to ensure that the thousands in need of housing will receive it. Through direct action, Cyprus can solve its homelessness problem.
– Fiona Price
Photo: Flickr
Students Learn Via Radio During Pandemic
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 297 million students in Africa—and 1.29 billion worldwide—have experienced school closures. These schools must quickly produce and distribute distance learning materials, often through online programs and television broadcasts. Students who lack television or internet access are at risk of falling behind. Therefore, many students from impoverished communities are at a disadvantage. However, according to UNESCO, 75% of all households worldwide have radio access. Similarly, nine out of 10 households have radio access in sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks to innovative groups like the Rwanda Education Board, students are able to learn via radio.
State, private and community radio stations have been airing educational broadcasts to make remote learning more accessible during the pandemic. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Ecole, a radio network that the United Nations sponsors, broadcasts educational programs for students in primary and secondary school twice a day. Students are also able to learn via radio in Peru; the “Aprendo en casa” initiative uses multiple platforms, including radio, to teach lessons on math, Spanish, art and other subjects. This article will provide more examples of the radio broadcast programs that have emerged to make learning engaging and equitable during the pandemic.
Literacy and Hygiene in Rwanda
Because of COVID-19 related school closures, 3 million students in Rwanda lack the option to attend school in person. In April 2020, the Rwanda Education Board started to broadcast radio learning programs. These broadcasts air for six hours every weekday and aim to improve literacy among students in primary school. Almost all children in Rwanda attend primary school; however, according to UNICEF, primary students in Rwanda “score too low in numeracy and literacy exams.” High-quality and widely accessible radio broadcasts can prevent students from falling behind on their literacy skills. As a result, students will be prepared to return to school. Additionally, UNICEF has partnered with the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency to broadcast literacy and numeracy classes across the country.
A series of radio dramas have also helped educate Rwandans about the importance of hygiene and how to reduce the spread of diseases like COVID-19. Young people wrote these plays and produced them alongside WaterAid, a nonprofit organization. Each of these plays broadcasted to about one-third of the country’s population, reaching millions of people.
UNICEF Funds Educational Broadcasts in Côte d’Ivoire
In March 2020, UNICEF provided Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of National Education with $70,000 for distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of this contribution, the Ministry introduced free educational radio and television broadcasts as part of its “Mon école à Maison,” or “My School at Home,” program. This program contains resources for students in preschool, primary school and secondary school. Unfortunately, gender inequality and poverty are high in Côte d’Ivoire. Programs like “Mon école à Maison” are ensuring that all students will be able to continue their education.
Rising on Air Initiative Reaches Students in Africa And Beyond
Rising Academy Network aims to improve the quality of schools in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The company is expanding its reach and curating its lessons to engage students during the pandemic. They have created a free resource for distance learning materials called Rising On Air. This distance learning tool shares lessons so millions of students can learn via radio and SMS. Rising On Air also provides a free 20-week program of lesson scripts and pre-recorded audio. These lessons are personalizable to fit educators’ specific goals. Lessons are available for students of all ages; there are programs designed for children aged three to five with a “family-child interaction component.” Rising On Air also offers literacy and numeracy classes for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Furthermore, every lesson begins with a message about health and safety for students and their families.
UNICEF finds that “more than 50% of school-age children” in African countries have the resources to learn via radio. UNICEF also states that radio broadcasts have “an important role to play” in the COVID-19 education response. Rising Academy Network collaborates with organizations across the African continent and beyond. Additionally, Rising Academy Network partners with the governments of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Chad and Guinea.
Conclusion
According to UNICEF, although “marginalized children are more likely to be in homes with fewer learning resources,” radio broadcasts have “the potential to reach almost all children, including the poorest.” Higher education rates directly connect to higher employment rates and reduced income inequality, as well as healthier and more democratic societies. Progress towards ending global poverty is at risk of unraveling. It is critical that students around the world have the opportunity to succeed in school. With the help of radio broadcasts, students in impoverished communities can continue to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic and return to school ready to move forward.
– Rachel Powell
Photo: Flickr