Poverty in South Sudan is among the worst in the world. More than 70% of the population is on or below the poverty line, and only around 30% of the population is literate. This intense poverty is a result of national fragility, prolonged conflict, economic collapse and the inability of the government to provide for its citizens. More than two-thirds of the South Sudanese people need to rely on humanitarian aid for their survival. And though the amount of aid sent to South Sudan is an inspiring metric, things will not change without stronger efforts. And efforts won’t be strengthened unless the people of the world band together in support of poverty eradication.
Poverty Simulations
Now, Poverty Simulations are taking effect all across the U.S. and are enlightening the general public to the candid realities of poverty. Poverty simulations are simulations that imitate what real people in poverty go through. They are garnering more and more support for poverty relief efforts across the globe by educating the public
Poverty simulations are the exact thing that is necessary to help increase support for South Sudan. Most people know about poverty, but few truly understand it. Understanding poverty in South Sudan more deeply is now possible with poverty simulations.
What it is Like to Live in South Sudan
South Sudan is the world’s newest country, having gained independence from Sudan in 2011, less than two decades ago. This youth comes with significant struggles for the population. First of all, the population of the nation is very young. More than 70% of the population is below 18 years old. The young, inexperienced government of the country has struggled since its birth to provide for its people and manage conflict. This has led to a nation overrun by food insecurity and division.
There are few large towns in South Sudan, and most people live in compact, makeshift houses in very small villages. In some regions, people do not even use money for transactions; instead, farming and harvesting are the main sources of sustenance. Sources of aid, like schools, churches and social services, are near nonexistent. Civil conflict is rampant as well. Daily violence often prevents people from going about their daily lives
This level of poverty can be difficult to comprehend, but there is now an accessible way to begin understanding what it’s like on a deeper level.
What are Poverty Simulations and How do They Work?
Poverty simulations are group activities mostly for schools, nonprofit workers, nurses or other individuals who may encounter poverty in their field of work. They aim to help people who live in developed countries, like the U.S., understand and sympathize with people who live in extreme poverty. The activities themselves are comparable to role-play games.
Jason Morrow, an internist and an ethics professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, was responsible for running a poverty simulation for his medical students to help them empathize with patients who are living in poverty. According to Morrow, “The (poverty) simulation is an immersive experience where students play a role within a family.” “In the exercise, they have to survive and try to thrive with low income and limited resources.”
Individuals are put into groups or families, and each is assigned a particular role. The individual must perform that role as best they can. Resources are also set throughout the setting of the simulation, like social services, the grocery store, the church, and others, where the participants can go for help and amenities. However, the participants can not always receive exactly what they need to thrive. Often, they’re turned away from the help they need; this mirrors the reality that most people in poverty face.
Morrow claims that poverty simulations bestow participants with an understanding of poverty beyond just reading about it: “It’s one thing to read about how poverty strains cognition. It’s another thing to spend two hours running from one side of the room to the other so you can try to pay your utility bills, not get evicted, and make sure your child has some sort of supervision.”
These simulations are extremely valuable for understanding any kind of economic struggle, but this fictional poverty doesn’t even come close to some of the things that people in South Sudan go through. Many live a life without money altogether. They must grow their own food and trade for resources. However, that does not mean poverty simulations don’t help people sympathize with the struggle for wellness. On a fundamental level, all who live in poverty go through a similar mental strain of not knowing how they will make it to tomorrow.
Hope for the Future of South Sudan
With a better understanding of South Sudan’s immense hardships, it’s also important to understand that hope is still there. There are organizations working hard in and around South Sudan to bring relief to those suffering from extreme poverty. Here are a few examples:
Global Care has partnered with the Diocese of Wau to put more than 50 students through educational training to become teachers for the children of South Sudan. Global Care has also established several other schools in the region, which have helped hundreds of children receive an education who would not otherwise have received it.
The United Nations has an ongoing peacekeeping operation in South Sudan. It has established camps to protect civilians from conflict and stationed officials around the country to respond to violent incidents, according to CFR.
Hopeland has partnered with Medair to manufacture and distribute shelter kits in South Sudan to communities affected by severe flooding. Shelter kits are packages made from recycled materials that can be used to create makeshift shelters to shield from harsh weather conditions.
South Sudan has some of the worst poverty rates in the world, but if developed countries are consistently sympathizing more and more with poverty thanks to poverty simulations, then support for relief efforts in South Sudan will remain strong and grow even stronger.
– Lucas Cain
Lucas is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
HIV/AIDS in Mali: ARCAD Santé PLUS Makes Care Accessible
A Crisis of Access and Awareness
Approximately 62% of Malians living with HIV/AIDS know their status. Among those who test positive in Mali, 56% are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with 48% on ART achieving viral load suppression. It helps people living with HIV/AIDS stay healthy, live longer and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
On February 28th, the U.S. decided to suspend funding to FHI360, a global nonprofit organization that is based in North Carolina. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Office and the Executive Secretary of the High National Council for the Fight against AIDS organized this meeting and made this decision. To this, the Malian government went on to distribute 120 million CFA francs ($212,000) to associations to help them continue their activities and reduce the drawbacks of the suspension.
ARCAD Santé PLUS: A Community-Focused Response
ARCAD Santé PLUS is an NGO founded in 1994 in Bamako. Led by Dr. Aliou Sylla, ARCAD Santé PLUS (formerly ARCAD-SIDA) focuses on community resilience and access to health, providing technical support, community research and advocacy. This is particularly for people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable populations.
The services they offer include prevention and care initiatives, including capacity building for community leaders on sexual health and rights. ARCAD Santé PLUS seeks to bring communities together to identify and address their health needs, contributing to a world free of HIV/AIDS.
The organization runs CESAC, otherwise known as the Centre for Listening, Care, Activities and Advice. It originated in 1996 which was Mali’s first dedicated HIV clinic. It receives support from the Global Fund which ARCAD Santé PLUS leads. HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care and programs specifically for children, adolescent girls and women are some of the health services they provide.
More specifically, ARCAD Santé PLUS’ clinics provide prevention kits and PrEP, testing for HIV/AIDS, treatment of opportunistic infections, initiation and monitoring of ARVs, community-based ARV distribution, self-support groups, harm reduction, research and advocacy.
A Major Step Forward in 2024
In March 2024, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund), the government of Mali, ARCAD Santé PLUS and Plan International Mali signed three new €102 worth of grants. These grants support the fight against AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) and strengthening health systems over the 2024-2026 period.
About 96,600 people will receive HIV/AIDS and TB treatment through grants by 2026 to prevent significant numbers of new HIV/AIDS infections, including mother-to-child transmission.
The grants will also be used to improve testing coverage and success rates, focused on decentralized care for drug-resistant TB between 2023 to 2025. This will scale up prevention activities for hard-to-reach populations and strengthen the capacity of community-focused organizations.
Progress Is Possible
Naturally, the path to ending HIV/AIDS in Mali is not without obstacles. Funding disruptions, conflict and persistent stigma continue to challenge the national response. However, organizations like ARCAD Santé PLUS reflect that community-focused, patient-centered care can make a meaningful difference despite these difficult circumstances. ARCAD Santé PLUS is proof that continued investment in local solutions can fight against HIV/AIDS in Mali.
– Joy Kohol
Photo: Unsplash
Lady Health Workers Treat Postpartum Depression in Pakistan
The Weight of Poverty for Pakistani Women
Poverty shapes everyday life for a large share of Pakistan’s population. The World Bank estimates that about 22.5% of Pakistanis lived below the national poverty line in fiscal year 2025, down from 25.3% the year before, with the September 2025 Pakistan Poverty, Equity and Resilience Assessment warning that earlier gains have been eroded by COVID-19, inflation, the 2022 floods and macroeconomic stress. Roughly 61% of the population lives in rural areas where formal mental health services are almost entirely absent. Poverty affects women differently than men.
In many low-income households, women carry the majority of unpaid caregiving and domestic work, have less independent income and less decision-making power over health spending and are more likely to be excluded from formal employment. Pakistan’s female labor force participation rate stood at around 24% in 2024, one of the lowest in South Asia. For a new mother struggling with untreated depression, the consequences ripple outward: lost wages, weaker bonds with a newborn, poorer infant nutrition and a tighter intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.
Postpartum Depression in Pakistan
Depression during and after pregnancy is one of the most common complications of childbirth and its effects reach beyond the mother. Research has linked maternal depression to pre-term birth, child under-nutrition and stunting, creating consequences that pass from one generation to the next. For families already living in poverty, the burden compounds. A mother struggling silently may find it harder to care for her infant, maintain household income or seek health services.
The stigma around mental illness deepens the problem. In a country where mental health care is concentrated in cities and where talking about depression often carries shame, rural and low-income women are the least likely to receive support and the most likely to be told their symptoms are simply part of motherhood.
Therapy Without Therapists
The response is the Thinking Healthy Program, a structured psychological intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy and designed specifically for delivery by nonspecialists. It was developed in Pakistan by Professor Atif Rahman and colleagues and tested in a landmark cluster randomized controlled trial published in The Lancet in 2008. That trial, conducted with community health workers in rural Rawalpindi, roughly halved the risk of perinatal depression among mothers and improved infant health outcomes. The results drew international attention.
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Thinking Healthy manual and recommended the approach for treating perinatal depression in low-resource settings worldwide. The model has since been adapted across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The program works because it does not depend on scarce specialists. Community health workers are trained to help mothers recognize negative thinking patterns, build supportive routines and strengthen family support, during the same home visits they already make for maternal and child health.
Building on the Lady Health Worker Network
In Pakistan, that delivery network already exists. The Lady Health Worker Program, launched in 1994, employs more than 100,000 women who provide primary health care to communities across the country, with a focus on maternal and child health in rural areas. Each worker is recruited from the community she serves, which helps build the trust that mental health support requires. A 2025 study in the Journal of Global Health confirmed that contact with Lady Health Workers during pregnancy and after birth is associated with stronger uptake of maternal and child health services. That existing relationship makes the workforce a natural vehicle for the Thinking Healthy Program.
Researchers have also tested versions delivered by trained peer volunteers from the community rather than government health workers. Indeed, a 2025 trial published in Nature Medicine, conducted in rural Rawalpindi, found that technology-assisted peer-delivered Thinking Healthy was as effective as the standard WHO version in sustaining remission of perinatal depression, offering a way to extend care where health workers are stretched thin. The work is led by the Human Development Research Foundation, an Islamabad-based research organization. Challenges remain. A 2024 analysis found that Lady Health Worker coverage in Sindh province reached only 43% of the population, with wide district-level gaps. Expanding mental health care depends on first strengthening and sustaining the network that delivers it.
Looking Ahead
Postpartum depression in Pakistan remains widespread and under-treated and no single program will resolve it. Yet the Thinking Healthy Program shows that effective care does not require a psychiatrist in every village. By training community health workers and peers to deliver evidence-based therapy, Pakistan has built a model that is both affordable and proven. With sustained investment in the Lady Health Worker network, treatment for postpartum depression can become a route out of a hidden cycle of poverty for the rural and low-income mothers who need it most.
– Amna Al Harrazi
Photo: Flickr
Gender Pay Gap for Roma Women in North Macedonia
Due to a combination of rationed socio-economic rights and a discriminatory job market, Roma women are hence bound to a “vicious cycle of poverty.” In fact, the World Bank (2024) reports that 87% of the total Roma population in North Macedonia live in material deprivation, with women suffering the most severe impacts. Compounded by a staggering 81% NEET rate (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) among young Roma women aged 18-24, the depth of the pay disparity compared to both men and non-Roma women is a significant challenge that demands targeted intervention.
While the overall landscape of pay parity does not entertain a ‘quick fix’, dedicated programs and organizations are beginning to turn the tide. By focusing on formalizing labor and providing specialized entrepreneurship tools, the following three initiatives are creating a new blueprint to reduce the gender pay gap for Roma women in North Macedonia.
1. The Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI)
The Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI) acts as a cornerstone for economic mobility by bridging the gap between “informal potential and formal enterprise” for marginalized groups. The initiative successfully lays the foundations for Roma people to build sustainable career portfolios through three primary objectives:
By taking a bottom-up approach, REDI has established a supportive framework through which Roma people and women are able to build their own opportunities. Within the first 6 months alone, REDI was able to map 140 Roma entrepreneurs and 273 unemployed Roma individuals.
2. ROMANSE
The ROMANSE (Social Entrepreneurship for Young Roma Women) project is a specialized initiative that the European Union funded. Established in April 2024 and set to run through March 2027, the project is a collaborative effort between the Roma Resource Centre and the Women’s Rights Initiative of Shuto Orizari in North Macedonia, alongside international partners from Greece and Belgium. The program aims to tackle the ‘double discrimination’ of gender and ethnicity by promoting social entrepreneurship to subsequently enable the integration of Roma women into society and the economic sphere. In order to fulfil this objective, ROMANSE utilizes several key strategies:
To date, the project has already initiated focus groups and digital training modules to ensure that young Roma women have the resources to secure equal-pay positions in the modern labor market. By focusing on sustainable business models rather than just temporary aid, the program is ensuring a long-term reduction in the wage gap for North Macedonia’s most vulnerable group.
3. The World Bank: Investing in the ‘Care Economy’
The Government of North Macedonia, with support from the World Bank, has restructured how care is valued in North Macedonia through its Social Services Improvement Project (SSIP). This initiative tackles the gender wage gap at its roots by formalizing historically unpaid domestic and caring roles into professional, stable career paths. The SSIP established a contracting model that combines “public resources with private expertise” that offers home-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. Since 2021, the project has achieved significant measurable results for marginalized groups:
Looking Ahead
Although there is still a long way to go to close the gender pay gap for Roma women, the efforts made by these programs demonstrate a clear path forward. By dismantling the barriers to formal employment, these programs are ensuring the integration of Roma women into economic society as well as laying the crucial foundation for future financial independence.
The transition into the formal workforce offers far-reaching social benefits that extend beyond a paycheck. Stable, registered employment provides Roma women with increased security through personal pension contributions and the freedom that comes with financial autonomy. By utilizing a bottom-up approach, these development schemes do more than offer immediate relief; they actively dismantle the cycle of generational poverty. As education and employment rates rise among Roma women, the positive effects directly manifest in the next generation. Supported by a mother earning a steady, fair wage, young girls are no longer forced to enter the labor market prematurely or marry early as a means of survival. Instead, reducing the gender pay gap for Roma women safeguards their futures, paving the way for a generation of empowered young women, ultimately strengthening the economic fabric of the entire country.
– Jessica Daly
Photo: Unsplash
How Motorcycle Ambulances in Uganda Are Saving Lives
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio was estimated at 284 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. Many maternal deaths occur because women are unable to reach health facilities quickly during complications. By providing emergency transportation in remote areas, motorcycle ambulances help address one of the most common barriers to care and improve access to skilled medical assistance when it is needed most.
A Lifeline for Rural Communities
Unlike traditional ambulances, motorcycle ambulances can travel on narrow dirt roads and rough terrain that larger vehicles often cannot access. These vehicles typically consist of a motorcycle attached to a covered trailer designed to transport patients safely to health facilities. The need for better transportation is especially important in rural Uganda, where distance and transportation costs often prevent families from seeking timely medical care. In some communities, people previously relied on walking, bicycles or private motorcycles to reach clinics, even during emergencies. Motorcycle ambulances in Uganda thus provide a faster alternative.
Helping Mothers Reach Care
One of the greatest benefits of motorcycle ambulances is improved access to maternal health services. Research conducted among women in eastern Uganda found that nearly half of the surveyed mothers had used motorcycle ambulances to reach health facilities for delivery and emergency care. Health workers report that these ambulances help women arrive at clinics faster, reducing delays that can lead to serious pregnancy and childbirth complications. Increased access to health facilities also encourages more women to give birth under the supervision of trained medical professionals rather than at home. This improves outcomes for both mothers and newborns and helps reduce preventable deaths.
A Cost-Effective Solution
Motorcycle ambulances are significantly less expensive to purchase and maintain than conventional ambulances. Their affordability allows local governments, health organizations and community programs to operate them in areas with limited resources.
According to Africannews, motorcycle ambulances have become an important tool for connecting isolated villages to health centers. Their ability to navigate difficult roads means patients can receive treatment sooner, even during the rainy season when travel becomes more challenging. The success of motorcycle ambulances in Uganda demonstrates how low-cost innovations can address major barriers to health care access.
Expanding Access to Health Care
The success of motorcycle ambulance programs has attracted support from international organizations focused on maternal and child health. Similar programs supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have demonstrated how innovative transportation solutions can strengthen rural health systems and increase access to life-saving services.
Motorcycle ambulances also help transport sick children and emergency patients who require urgent care. By reducing travel times, they increase the likelihood that patients receive treatment before their conditions become life-threatening.
Looking Ahead
Motorcycle ambulances in Uganda show how a simple innovation can create meaningful change. By overcoming transportation barriers, these vehicles help patients receive treatment sooner and improve access to essential health services. As motorcycle ambulances in Uganda continue to expand, they are proving that practical and affordable solutions can save lives. For many families living far from hospitals, they are more than a means of transportation—they are a pathway to healthier futures and stronger communities.
– Masa Qasim
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Supporting Poor Families in Brazil: The Criança Feliz Program
UNICEF reports that about 32 million children are in vulnerable situations. These include lack of education, child labor, living in poor conditions or lack of water and food. IBGE also reported that Brazil’s poverty rate fell to 23.1% in 2024, while extreme poverty fell to 3.5%. These improvements show progress, but the number of people still affected by poverty remains high.
The Criança Feliz Program
The Criança Feliz Program, also known as Primeira Infância no SUAS/Criança Feliz, is one response to early childhood poverty in Brazil. The program uses home visits to support families registered in Cadastro Único, Brazil’s registry for low-income families. During these visits, trained workers guide families on child development, family care and access to public services. The program focuses on pregnant women, young children and children with disabilities in vulnerable families. Its goal is not only to provide information, but also to strengthen family and community bonds. By working directly inside the home, Criança Feliz helps caregivers understand how everyday actions, such as talking, playing, reading and responsive care, can support a child’s development.
Connecting Families to Services
Criança Feliz connects families to Brazil’s broader social protection system. Instead of treating childhood poverty as a single problem, the program links families to services related to social assistance, health care, education, culture, human rights and child protection. This is significant because poor families in Brazil often face multiple challenges simultaneously.
In 2025, Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance announced that Criança Feliz would be part of the country’s social protection network through the Social Assistance Reference Centers (CRAS) and the Family Protection and Comprehensive Care Service (PAIF). CRAS centers serve as local entry points to programs and social assistance, while PAIF works directly with families to prevent and respond to vulnerable situations. This change makes the program more accessible for public services.
Impact of the Program
Criança Feliz has reached families on a large scale. According to Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, the program surpassed 57 million home visits in 2021 and brought child care information to families in more than 3,028 municipalities. Another government update reported that the program had accompanied 1.5 million families, including 1.4 million children and 374,000 pregnant women.
The program’s impact should be explained carefully. A randomized study of Criança Feliz in 30 Brazilian municipalities did not find clear improvements in child development outcomes under routine conditions. However, researchers also found implementation problems, including low coverage, management challenges and differences in visit quality. This means the program’s reach is large, but its long-term success depends on stronger implementation and consistent visit quality.
Organizations and Partners Supporting the Program
Although Criança Feliz is a federal program, several organizations and partners have helped strengthen its model. The Bernard van Leer Foundation reported that the program’s home visitors use technical material based on the Care for Child Development method developed by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These materials help guide visits around child development and family care.
The program has also involved support from groups such as UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, PAHO, WHO and the Bernard van Leer Foundation. These partners have supported technical material, training methods, monitoring and evaluation. Their role shows how partnerships can help public programs improve services for poor families in Brazil.
Why Support in Early Childhood Makes a Difference
Early childhood support matters because poverty can affect children’s development before they enter school. The World Bank states that millions of young children do not reach their full potential because of poor nutrition, limited early stimulation and learning and exposure to poverty and stress. These early disadvantages can affect health, education and future income. For that reason, programs like Criança Feliz focus on the first years of life. Home visits can help caregivers support children’s growth while also connecting families to services they may not know how to access. When early childhood programs work well, they can help reduce the long-term effects of poverty by supporting children before disadvantages become harder to reverse.
Conclusion
Criança Feliz shows how Brazil is trying to support children by supporting families first. The program does not solve poverty alone and research shows that implementation quality still matters. However, its large reach, home-visiting model and connection to Brazil’s social protection system make it an important effort for helping poor families in Brazil. By focusing on early childhood, family support and access to services, Criança Feliz offers a practical way to address poverty before it shapes a child’s future.
– Mateo Alcocer
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Understanding Poverty in South Sudan with Poverty Simulations
Poverty Simulations
Now, Poverty Simulations are taking effect all across the U.S. and are enlightening the general public to the candid realities of poverty. Poverty simulations are simulations that imitate what real people in poverty go through. They are garnering more and more support for poverty relief efforts across the globe by educating the public
Poverty simulations are the exact thing that is necessary to help increase support for South Sudan. Most people know about poverty, but few truly understand it. Understanding poverty in South Sudan more deeply is now possible with poverty simulations.
What it is Like to Live in South Sudan
South Sudan is the world’s newest country, having gained independence from Sudan in 2011, less than two decades ago. This youth comes with significant struggles for the population. First of all, the population of the nation is very young. More than 70% of the population is below 18 years old. The young, inexperienced government of the country has struggled since its birth to provide for its people and manage conflict. This has led to a nation overrun by food insecurity and division.
There are few large towns in South Sudan, and most people live in compact, makeshift houses in very small villages. In some regions, people do not even use money for transactions; instead, farming and harvesting are the main sources of sustenance. Sources of aid, like schools, churches and social services, are near nonexistent. Civil conflict is rampant as well. Daily violence often prevents people from going about their daily lives
This level of poverty can be difficult to comprehend, but there is now an accessible way to begin understanding what it’s like on a deeper level.
What are Poverty Simulations and How do They Work?
Poverty simulations are group activities mostly for schools, nonprofit workers, nurses or other individuals who may encounter poverty in their field of work. They aim to help people who live in developed countries, like the U.S., understand and sympathize with people who live in extreme poverty. The activities themselves are comparable to role-play games.
Jason Morrow, an internist and an ethics professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, was responsible for running a poverty simulation for his medical students to help them empathize with patients who are living in poverty. According to Morrow, “The (poverty) simulation is an immersive experience where students play a role within a family.” “In the exercise, they have to survive and try to thrive with low income and limited resources.”
Individuals are put into groups or families, and each is assigned a particular role. The individual must perform that role as best they can. Resources are also set throughout the setting of the simulation, like social services, the grocery store, the church, and others, where the participants can go for help and amenities. However, the participants can not always receive exactly what they need to thrive. Often, they’re turned away from the help they need; this mirrors the reality that most people in poverty face.
Morrow claims that poverty simulations bestow participants with an understanding of poverty beyond just reading about it: “It’s one thing to read about how poverty strains cognition. It’s another thing to spend two hours running from one side of the room to the other so you can try to pay your utility bills, not get evicted, and make sure your child has some sort of supervision.”
These simulations are extremely valuable for understanding any kind of economic struggle, but this fictional poverty doesn’t even come close to some of the things that people in South Sudan go through. Many live a life without money altogether. They must grow their own food and trade for resources. However, that does not mean poverty simulations don’t help people sympathize with the struggle for wellness. On a fundamental level, all who live in poverty go through a similar mental strain of not knowing how they will make it to tomorrow.
Hope for the Future of South Sudan
With a better understanding of South Sudan’s immense hardships, it’s also important to understand that hope is still there. There are organizations working hard in and around South Sudan to bring relief to those suffering from extreme poverty. Here are a few examples:
Global Care has partnered with the Diocese of Wau to put more than 50 students through educational training to become teachers for the children of South Sudan. Global Care has also established several other schools in the region, which have helped hundreds of children receive an education who would not otherwise have received it.
The United Nations has an ongoing peacekeeping operation in South Sudan. It has established camps to protect civilians from conflict and stationed officials around the country to respond to violent incidents, according to CFR.
Hopeland has partnered with Medair to manufacture and distribute shelter kits in South Sudan to communities affected by severe flooding. Shelter kits are packages made from recycled materials that can be used to create makeshift shelters to shield from harsh weather conditions.
South Sudan has some of the worst poverty rates in the world, but if developed countries are consistently sympathizing more and more with poverty thanks to poverty simulations, then support for relief efforts in South Sudan will remain strong and grow even stronger.
– Lucas Cain
Photo: Flickr
Fighting Poverty in Indigenous Communities in Mexico
The Hunger Project
The Hunger Project is an organization that works to help Indigenous and other marginalized communities to gain independence. It works with four main marginal areas in Mexico: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Yucatán, and Mexico City.
Its main goals are getting Indigenous communities to become self-sustaining by having distinct categories that they focus on management and authority, open-mindedness, food sufficiency, uplifting women, and profit.
The organization works with the government to create change in these categories, and they have seen amazing outcomes such as the way that women are viewed favorably in society and the recognition of injustices against women historically. As well as relationships with government authorities recognizing the independence of the people.
The Hunger Project has helped several other organizations that focus on fighting poverty in Indigenous communities in Mexico.
Indigenous Women-Led Food Security System (Citi Foundation) involves men and women from Oaxaca and Chiapas in a teaching operation that helps create long-lasting food supply, distribution and monetary wellbeing for those communities, their loved ones, and other members of the general public.
Eat Well Program (Guzman and Gomez) helps Indigenous communities strengthen their understanding and create food security by providing healthy foods and full meals from within Indigenous lands.
Plant With Purpose
Plant with Purpose focuses similarly to the Hunger Project on Chiapas, Oaxaca, but also Puebla as well. Its goal is to create connections between people and the land by uplifting families through organic agriculture and financial security.
“Healing the land is restoring hope,” the organization states on its website. One of its main goals is to make sure families stay together even when facing poverty. Due to poverty, farmhands often have to leave behind their families in order to still be able to find work to have an income for their families. So, what Plant with Purpose does is make sure that does not have to happen by helping Indigenous farmers to mend their land, boost land conditions, and harvest produce. This helps with economic sustainability and reduces the demand to find work elsewhere.
Its other goal is to restore land and nourish communities. The organization rebuilds land cleanness using recreation learnings from Indigenous insight. “Healthier gardens mean families can grow nutritious food and send kids to school”. Investment divisions often provide families a monetary safeguard and security for time to come. Discussion groups increase understanding and awareness among communities, fostering improved connection with others.
Pro México Indígena
Pro Mexico Indigena is a Mexican nonprofit that has been working for 26 years to fight poverty, scarcity of assistance and services, and public erasure. It works to empower Indigenous people and has worked with “11 indigenous ethnic groups in nine states of the Mexican Republic”. The organization has helped more than 300,000 indigenous people gain independence and improve their quality of life.
While these solutions are great, there is still a higher poverty rate present in Indigenous communities in Mexico and by increasing the number of organizations available for these Indigenous groups and communities, it will only make it easier and decrease the percentage of Indigenous communities who are still in poverty in Mexico. According to Mexicohistorico “geographical disparities exacerbate poverty levels. Rural areas, particularly in states like Chiapas and Guerrero, experience higher poverty rates compared to urban centers. This geographical divide leads to a concentration of resources and opportunities in metropolitan areas, leaving rural populations in a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape.
– Leo Hardy
Photo: Flickr
Friendship’s 3-Tier System and Health Care in Bangladesh
In 2002, Bangladeshi entrepreneur Runa Khan began Friendship, a social purpose organization. The organization aims to address the challenges faced by the inhabitants of the chars with floating medical boats and other community initiatives using a three-tier system.
Friendship’s Three-Tier System
Combining Health Care and Climate Adaptation
Friendship not only provides health care services but also addresses other issues like climate resilience. To prepare the communities for natural disasters, Friendship has carried out preventative measures such as restoring forests to protect villages from cyclones. More than 650,000 trees have been planted on the southern coast of the country, protecting at least 125,000 people.
Actions like these help combat many issues suffered due to storms. The destruction of villages and infrastructure can lead to malnutrition from a shortage of resources, a lack of health care due to isolation and an increased risk of waterborne diseases from living in flooded areas. Friendship’s three-tier system with floating medical boats, satellite clinics, and FCMs allows medical staff to reach vulnerable communities in times of need, while also implementing preventative measures to save more lives.
In 2025, Friendship was a finalist for the Earthshot Prize for its incredible work protecting the communities in Bangladesh. The organization’s holistic three-tier system demonstrates how health care and climate adaptation can work together to support the vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
– Emma Wheeler
Photo: Flickr
AI Health Care in Southeast Asia
However, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping address this medical challenge by transforming standard smart devices into diagnostic hubs and clinical tools instead of relying solely on the construction of physical infrastructure. Local health care workers are utilizing low-cost, AI-integrated handheld devices and natural language processing platforms to conduct clinical screening and triage at the doorstep. AI-powered health care in Southeast Asia is serving as a modern solution to these challenges.
Handheld Diagnostics
Portable handheld devices are actively reducing the need for heavy and expensive hospital equipment and machines. Clarius Ultrasound is a transportable imaging tool that is improving the workflow of community health workers. It is a wireless handheld ultrasound scanner that can be connected to a smartphone. These scanners are cordless, which makes them easy to sanitize and carry anywhere. In remote areas of Southeast Asia, expectant mothers and patients traditionally needed to travel by boat to reach the regional hospital, which often put their lives at risk. The emergence of handheld scanners is transforming this situation.
Smarter Triage
Processing a large volume of patients and identifying who needs urgent care is another major challenge. In regional clinics with limited resources and a large number of patients, traditional triaging methods can be slow and exhausting for the workforce. Bot MD and Halodoc have emerged as solutions to this challenge. Bot MD is AI-powered, providing clinical assistance and a platform for patient engagement. It is specifically designed to assist hospitals and health care workers in automating workflow and remote monitoring.
AI-integrated health care in Southeast Asia is enhanced with the emergence of platforms such as Halodoc. Halodoc is an Indonesian platform that provides digital health care services. It allows patients to access specialists and doctors round the clock through calls, text messages and video consultations. It also allows users to order prescribed medicines and health care products. Options for booking laboratory tests are also available. It is improving health care access across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands.
Optimizing the Sparse Medical Workforce
These AI-integrated health care technologies in Southeast Asia also aim at workforce optimization. In remote areas where few doctors might be handling an entire island, their time becomes extremely valuable. When AI-integrated health care technologies handle language translation, preliminary documentation and baseline image analysis, they effectively reduce the burden on doctors.
Health care workers and volunteers can conduct initial screenings and save the information. AI-powered triage systems can then identify and alert health care professionals about severe cases. Therefore, doctors are not required to focus on routine administrative intake procedures or easily treatable cases. Instead, they can devote their time and energy to high-risk patients who require immediate, complex clinical intervention. AI-integrated health care in Southeast Asia serves as a solution to these challenges of isolated and remote islands.
Conclusion
The digital health care revolution is transforming health care dynamics in Southeast Asia. It demonstrates that it does not always take massive concrete infrastructure to overcome health care challenges; equitable health care can be achieved through small, handheld AI-powered devices. Technologies such as Halodoc, Bot MD and pocket ultrasound systems are helping to bridge the health care gap. AI-powered health care in Southeast Asia is successfully improving patient treatment and access to care.
– Noor Ul Ain Ameer
Photo: Flickr
SDG 4 in Sudan: How Poverty and Conflict Threaten Education
Background of the War in Sudan
Omar al-Bashir, who was the former president of Sudan, helped form the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), known as the “Janjaweed militia,” which was a paramilitary group formed to act as a border guard force and was later moved to the capital city in 2019 to protect al-Bashir from any potential military coups and assassination attempts. However, later on, the RSF joined the Sudanese Armed Forces in overthrowing al-Bashir’s government and forming a new transitional government. The transitional government was later the main reason for the current war, due to the major power struggle between the RSF and the SAF, escalating to what is known now as the Sudanese Civil War.
Potential of Poverty Improvements in Sudan
According to the United Nations officials in Sudan, around seven in 10 people in Sudan live in poverty, compared to a percentage of 38% before the beginning of the war. Additionally, the country could potentially face a rise of extreme poverty, with the possibility of an additional 34 million people becoming impoverished if the conflict continues until 2030. However, according to the UNDP, if the country restores peace using the International Futures modeling system, Sudan’s GDP could reach $58.2 billion USD by 2043, resulting in an increased life expectancy and 17.3 million people being lifted out from extreme poverty, moving the country to a better socioeconomic situation.
SDG 4 in Sudan and the Potential of the Education Sector
SDG 4 is the goal of Quality Education under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims that by 2030, the world will have inclusive and equitable quality education. There are 10 targets including a focus on providing free primary and secondary education, ensuring equal access to primary and higher education and eliminating discrimination in education, along with many other goals that aim to support lifelong learning around the globe.
Due to the conflict in Sudan, there have been around 88 reports of violence in schools, resulting in harm for students, teachers and school facilities. Those violence reports included killings, injuries, torture, abduction of teachers and sexual violence. Additionally, the military have used school facilities in Sudan for active fighting and storage of weaponry, which makes it unsafe for educational use.
With this being said, in October 2023, around 19 million school-age children have been out of school, causing a severe disruption of their learning and education progress. Additionally, more than 10,400 schools have been closed, and even after an indication that around 65% of these schools were open again by January 2026, more than 7 million students remained out of school.
Addressing Education in Sudan
Despite the severity of the situation, a collaboration between Sudan’s Local Education Group and UNESCO has developed, involving more than 600 participants and more than 34 national and international organizations financially contributing to the project. The project aims to work towards a Transitional Education Plan with the goal of developing Sudan’s education system and acknowledging short-term and long-term humanitarian needs so that the Sudanese education system remains well structured and inclusive even with the current instability in the country.
Additionally, the project is focusing on creating safe learning environments, providing infrastructural support to ensure protective education facilities for school children and rebuilding and supplying equipment for schools. Moreover, it is also using temporary learning spaces to make its plans time-effective and ensure that children do not stay out of school for long periods of time during the conflict, instead, using those temporary spaces for learning during the work of the project. It is also focusing on providing training for marginalized groups to prevent skill gaps, such as for people with disabilities, and ensuring gender equality in terms of the provision of training, hoping to have a transformative impact and prevent a potential collapse on Sudan’s education sector.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, the findings show that the Sudanese civil war has a significant impact on the Sudanese community and education system, despite the efforts to limit its influence. However, its impact is likely to decline as people, advocates and organizations shed light on it, and dedicate projects toward improving education and addressing SDG 4 in Sudan.
– Annab Ahmed
Photo: Unsplash