In Kabul, Afghanistan in 1929, a charitable foundation was created by philanthropists to aid the victims of domestic disasters. This organization would go on to become the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan in 1934, and officially was recognized in 1951 by a declaration by the King.
The Red Cross Society of Afghanistan
Similar to all Red Crescent and Red Cross organizations around the world, the Red Cross Society of Afghanistan works to accomplish its goals by the Seven Universal Principles proclaimed in Vienna in 1956: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteer service, unity and universality. These principles were adopted based on the experience of aid workers of the time. Although challenging, these principles have helped the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan claim many accomplishments in its years of active service.
The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan is organized into five different departments:
- Disaster Management
- Health Services
- Organizational Development
- International Relations
- Financial, Legal, and Gender
In addition, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan also has three special issue groups:
- Frostbite prevention
- Marastoon
- Poor houses
All eight departments work to tackle prominent recurring issues throughout the country.
Combatting the Elements
For example, the frostbite prevention group provides detailed advice on their website about how to prevent frostbite and how to handle a case of frostbite. Frostbite may sound like an odd injury to receive in Afghanistan (as many people picture the country as strictly a mountainous desert) but nighttime temperatures can drop significantly in a desert due to the lack of moisture to retain heat; in addition, average temperature can drop quickly as elevation increases.
Temperature is not the only environmental hazard that the people in Afghanistan must deal with — earthquakes also often strike Afghanistan. In 2015, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook the Hindu Kush Mountains; in Afghanistan, 77 people were killed by the earthquake and 2000 more were injured. The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan responded with volunteers to aid the injured and rebuild infrastructure.
Heavy snowfall must also be contented in the Hindu Kush Mountains as it causes avalanches and detrimental aftermath. In 2015, heavy snowfall and rain caused flooding, avalanches and mudslides in 22 provinces in Afghanistan, killing over 200 people and damaging over 600 homes. During and after the precipitation, Red Crescent members handed out foodstuffs along with blankets and heaters to those in need. In true fashion of the Red Cross Red Crescent Society, other Red Crescent Societies delivered aid and volunteers to Afghanistan.
Partnerships for Change
Cooperation between Red Cross Red Crescent Societies around the world is not uncommon, and the 2015 aid to Afghanistan is not the first time the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan worked with a partner. In 2013, the Red Cross Society of Canada and the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan launched a mission of cooperation.
The collaboration’s main goal was to mitigate the damages caused by common natural disasters in Afghanistan, and this arrangement lasted until 2017. The Red Cross and Red Crescent societies would work with the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority to improve the government capability to deal with natural disasters. Technology, money, and advanced planning techniques would be shared by the Canadians, who in turn would learn much from their Afghan cohorts.
The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan took over the operation and funding of the Marastoons (orphanages and poor houses), from the Afghan government in 1961. In 2015, over 1000 individuals lived in these Marastoons. Aside from providing safe housing for individuals, the Marastoons also help to provide, food, education, job training and other health services.
For example, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan helped to construct a high-school at the Marastoon in Kabul. The school was eventually recognized and accredited by the Afghan government, and now provides math, religion, English and computer courses to those who can attend.
Debunking Social Stigmas
In 2013, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan opened their Gender department. Its goal is to implement gender-sensitive education programs within the organization and the national population of Afghanistan. This is an important issue facing a conservative country, and it’s estimated that there are over one million widows in Afghanistan due to the ongoing war.
Often social stigmas prevent widows from returning to a normal life after the loss of a husband, and these “norms” sometimes relegate this population to second-class citizenship. On March 11, 2018, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan celebrated International Women’s Day, in solidarity with other countries in the international community.
More Work to Be Done
The President of the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan gave a speech. In his speech, he marked the increasing education level of women in Afghanistan and professional training but also said that there is still work to be done; as a result, the Red Crescent Society will continue to work to further women’s rights in Afghanistan. The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan and the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement recognize women’s rights as human rights.
The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan affects people at all levels of society throughout all of the provinces of Afghanistan. This combined with rampant corruption and tribal conflicts make aid work difficult in the country. Hopefully continued work by the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan and those around the world will help mitigate the effects of these issues on certain populations.
– Nick DeMarco
Photo: Flickr
10 Facts About Poverty in Shanghai Everyone Should Know
Shanghai sits on China’s central coast and is becoming a wildly popular tourist destination for visiting foreigners as well as Chinese nationals. With an amazing city skyline, incredible subway transportation and popular nightlife, it can be hard to imagine or see those living in poverty beneath the glamour. Here are 10 facts about poverty in Shanghai that are important to remember.
10 Facts About Poverty in Shanghai:
The World Bank defines poverty as those living on less than $1.90 per day, and by those standards, China has eradicated all urban poverty. China’s ability to lift its citizens out of poverty is unprecedented but as great as this is, keeping an eye on the middle class will be important for economic health.
Most concern for poverty is for those in the countryside, as people leave for the cities due to a lack of available jobs. The Chinese government’s goal is to eradicate poverty in all of China by 2020 and it has started this process by creating social reforms and looking at its redistributive policies.
These ten facts about poverty in Shanghai would be incomplete without the mention of the growing middle class. It is estimated that the middle class will grow to 75 percent of the population by 2022 and as of 2013 the average Shanghai family’s disposable income was ¥48,841 a year.
Some may see the wealth of Disneyland and compare it to the poverty in the villages nearby. However, it looks as if Disneyland take part in the place to eradicate poverty. Disneyland has helped create infrastructure for rural places by bringing subway lines and freeways to the Pudong district as well as creating jobs for those in northern Shanghai.
Small homes built from a past and poorer era are being torn down and residents are being encouraged to relocate. Relocated citizens are given a monthly housing stipend by the government, which unfortunately is not always enough for the interim of the construction.
Wealth seems to be rising as from 2000 to 2008 luxury home construction saw an increase by ten versus smaller homes decreasing by 60 percent. While this has occurred naturally in the past, there is a new focus on building new homes and forcing relocation.
Approximately 39 percent of Shanghai’s residents are estimated to be long-term migrant workers. Migrant workers are people who have moved from more rural communities into the cities looking for work. Their income is unsure as is their housing and many migrant workers are susceptible to poverty.
The Chinese government is causing a migration reversal with the end goal of eradicating poverty. The government is forcing migrant workers out of the city and back to their hometowns by shutting down businesses and houses based on health coeds. Some feel it is unfair to have this forced lifestyle imposed on them, while others think this process would have occurred naturally because the cities are becoming too expensive.
Part of the migration reversal is a focus on urbanization–turning China into various urban centers. The government is becoming more focused on creating government-subsidized homes for those in rural areas. This relocation is estimated to see of 9.8 million people moved across China from 2016 to 2020.
These 10 facts about poverty in Shanghai all come down to growth and disparity. There is still a huge disparity between wealth and poverty, luxury and necessities, opulence and simplicity, but things are improving. While the methods may not be agreed upon, Shanghai is a beacon for the changing China.
– Natasha Komen
Flickr
New Developments in the Healthcare Sector of Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is a young country, and has been facing many difficulties since its independence. One of these difficulties is trying to improve the currently underdeveloped healthcare sector of Timor-Leste.
Timor-Leste’s History of Instability
Timor-Leste only officially became a sovereign nation on May 20, 2002. This came after years of violence and turmoil that led to much of the infrastructure in the nation being destroyed. With the destruction of this infrastructure, along with the casualties caused by the violence, many citizens of Timor-Leste were left unemployed and living in poverty. Another result of this violence was the sudden decline in healthcare professionals. Many of the nation’s doctors and specialists left the country during this time, leaving the healthcare sector of Timor-Leste unable to adequately care for all of its citizens.
This combination of poverty and lack of healthcare professionals has been problematic in Timor-Leste in recent decades. In 2017, 41.8 percent of the population of Timor-Leste was living below the poverty line, and as a result of this poverty, many individuals do not have the means to travel long distances when seeking medical attention. Due to the lack of healthcare professionals, clinics and hospitals are not easily accessible to all parts of the nation. Because of this, many individuals cannot get treatment for illnesses that would otherwise be preventable, and this leads to an increased spread of disease.
Improving the Healthcare Sector of Timor-Leste
The government of Timor-Leste has recognized this problem and is taking steps to improve the healthcare sector of Timor-Leste. The government created a Strategic Development Plan that it aims to complete by 2030, which details how it intends to improve the health system for the citizens of Timor-Leste. The three areas that it identifies as needing improvement are health services delivery, human resources for health and health infrastructure.
Part of the government’s plan to improve health services is to increase the number of health facilities in Timor-Leste. By 2030, Timor-Leste intends to have enough health centers to service the entire nation and to have each center equipped with the professionals needed to properly run it.
In addition to the government of Timor-Leste recognizing the importance of improving the healthcare sector of Timor-Leste, independent organizations in the nation are also working towards achieving a healthier Timor-Leste. The Jesuit mission in Timor-Leste opened the Centro de Saúde Daniel Ornelas health center in September of 2017. This health center will provide medical services to the students and staff of Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola and Instituto São João de Brito, as well as the local community of Ulmera and the greater Liquiçá district. The citizens in these areas did not have sufficient access to healthcare facilities in the past, and the opening of this health center will help to meet this need.
The healthcare sector of Timor-Leste is still recovering from the turmoil that the nation experienced while gaining its sovereignty, but it can be seen that Timor-Leste is not a nation doomed to survive without sufficient access to health services for its citizens forever. Between the commitment that the government of Timor-Leste has made to improving the health of its citizens, and groups such as the Jesuits in Timor-Leste working to improve the health of their own community, a healthier Timor-Leste is well on its way.
– Nicole Stout
Photo: U.S. Air Force
The Benefits of Literacy: Five Ways Literacy Fights Poverty
It seems an obvious statement to suggest that reading and writing can improve one’s life. Is it as obvious, however, that if everyone could read and write, 171 million people would be lifted out of poverty? These taken-for-granted, simple skills have the power to change our world. Literacy fights poverty in often unheralded ways and the effects of literacy reach beyond the walls of any classroom.
The Economy of Literacy
An economy’s success lies in the spending power of its people. This comes only through more opportunities, more developed skills, better employment and higher salaries.
Employment creation has proven to be the most effective tool in poverty reduction and better employment only comes through better education. In fact, on average, one year of education is estimated to increase wage earnings by 10 percent, and in places like sub-Saharan Africa, by as much as 13 percent.
The numbers are clear. While literacy fights poverty and helps to stabilize the economies of developing nations, illiteracy costs the world about $1.19 trillion every year.
Literacy and Health
Literacy fights poverty in the healthcare arena as well. Being literate helps people better understand health concerns and better educate themselves when it comes to healthcare. This is especially important in developing countries, where disease can dictate a cycle of poverty. The statistics linking literacy and generational health provide clarity:
Literacy Empowers
Inequality, specifically gender inequality, stifles economies and prevents generational growth. Two-thirds of the illiterate population of the world are women. It is no surprise, given the destructive social dynamics of so many underdeveloped nations, that every year 15 million girls under the age of 18 are married. Often, these girls see this as their only option when they cannot afford a good education.
Educated women become empowered and take control of their own lives. Education fosters personal autonomy and creative and critical thinking skills, which provide a wider economy and community. According to the World Bank, better-educated women tend to be healthier, have fewer children and marry later in life.
Resilience and Community
Literacy fights poverty through the power of the possible. Without literacy, a lack of choices commits millions to a prison of doubt. Reading and writing have been proven to increase self-confidence, help make informed decisions and provide new job prospects.
Additionally, literacy provides distractions and new pathways away from the prospects of crime or child soldiery. In fact, literacy makes it 50 percent less likely that people will commit robbery or murder.
Overcoming obstacles of this magnitude takes an enormous amount of resiliency. Education provides the will-power to build it up. In a world where 123 million 15- to 24-year-olds cannot read, the need for literacy has never been more apparent.
The End of a Cycle: Literacy Fights Poverty
According to the United Nation’s Global Education Monitoring Report, new evidence suggests that increasing the years of schooling among adults by two years would help lift nearly 60 million people out of poverty. If ending poverty is the ultimate goal, it may well be that literacy is a starting point. Literacy allows other development goals to happen.
Literacy creates opportunities for people to develop skills to provide for themselves and their family, while at the same time positively impacting each generation through raised expectations and increased self-esteem. Literacy fights poverty much like the feet of a duck fight against the water beneath it. Though it may not always be seen, much work lies below the surface.
– Daniel Staesser
Photo: Flickr
Alipay a Model for the Gamification of Philanthropy
Alipay, China’s largest third-party online payment platform, has reshaped the landscape of payment services in China for the last decade. At present, Alipay has a user base of 520 million people, handles more than 170 million transactions per day and accounts for more than two-thirds of mobile payments in China.
Credit card use only has about 400 million patrons. Alipay rules China’s mobile payment market with absolute authority. A Forbes article claims that “cash really is becoming a thing of the past” because a “smartphone (with Alipay) will do nicely”.
Such immense popularity of the platform opened the door to the utilization of its unprecedented user-engagement for social good. Ant Farm came into being, representing the balance between marketing strategy and fulfillment of social responsibility.
Ant Farm is a pre-installed online game program inside the Alipay mobile phone application, in which users keep a virtual chicken as a pet. Through daily payments via Alipay users can feed their chicken and collect hearts to be donated to charity projects.
The parent company of Alipay and Ant Farm, Ant Financial, is working closely with governmental offices like Jiangsu Sihong Poverty Alleviation Office and more than 1,200 charity organizations. According its 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, Ant Financial’s philanthropy platform has raised more than $140 million for the services provided to its partner nonprofits.
On top of the basic construct, developers have added many interactive mechanisms to boost Ant Farm’s participation. For example, playing with the pet chicken can also generate hearts and users can interact with their friends’ farms. Eventually, more and more users are engaged, funding more and more philanthropic projects.
Ant Farm is a successful model of the gamification of philanthropy, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to take part in charity projects, which is much more efficient and larger in scale than traditional models of philanthropic fundraising like donation boxes. In addition, by implementing the basic elements of an online game, Ant Farm has more charm than other heavy-hearted fundraising strategies.
Other companies have also engaged in social projects through gamification of philanthropy. Tencent, one of China’s internet and technology giants, has also cooperated with nonprofits working to provide education for left-behind children in impoverished regions by creating donation venues in its online games. In certain Tencent games, users can donate their equipment in exchange for reward or recognition.
Tencent Foundation chairman Guo Kaitian believes that with the help of online platforms like Ant Farm, “charity is now everywhere around us, and it is now the life attitude with innovation and participation”.
– Chaorong Wang
Photo: Flickr
Developing Education in Niger
Niger is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking last out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index. Education in Niger is affected by the country’s struggling economy.
With a gross national income of just $641 per capita, roughly 60 percent of Niger‘s population lives under the poverty line. One of the many causes for the country’s poverty is a high birth rate. As more children are born, more food is needed, but as more food is needed the area of arable land shrinks. Food becomes a daily difficulty for families and other necessities are overshadowed, including education.
Education in Niger
Niger’s population is 70 percent illiterate and the average length of time a student is enrolled in a school is only one year. Fortunately, this situation has not been overlooked as the Nigerien government and other global organizations have come to the table with several programs and other plans to address this issue.
The Nigerien government has partnered its own Niger Threshold Program with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to reduce corruption, promote land titling, register more businesses and improve girls’ educational outcomes.
This cooperation led to the involvement of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the development of the Niger Education and Community Strengthening (NECS) program. The goal of this program is to improve educational opportunities for children while fostering links between the state and local communities. NECS is to be implanted in 150 villages across the seven regions of Niger.
Planning for Improvement
The government has also implemented an education and training sector plan that began in 2014 and will go through 2024. The plan outlines the priorities for education in Niger:
Accessibility for Children
Children are still more often forced to work rather than attend school. This is especially true during harvest periods and in the northern regions of the country where nomadic children have no access to school at all. To further increase literacy and education in Niger, schooling has been made compulsory for children seven to 15 years of age. However, attendance rates remain low, particularly for girls.
There are no complete and detailed statistics that showcase the number of schools, colleges, universities, teachers and students in the country. However, this data is not necessary to understand that education in Niger is still fundamentally lacking. Through the prudent programs and priorities of the Nigerien government, and from the help of global partners, education in Niger is certainly on its way to development.
– Aaron Stein
Photo: Flickr
How the US Benefits From Foreign Aid to Morocco
Morocco is an African country full of vibrant colors and vast potential. The U.S. has a planned budget of $15.9 million for Moroccan foreign aid in 2019. This money is spent advancing the U.S.’s development goals in Morocco, which include: maintaining peace and security, democracy, human rights and governance, economic development, education and social services within the country. So what are the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Morocco?
U.S. Benefits from Foreign Aid to Morocco: Security
First, and arguably the most important of the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Morocco, comes from the increase of security. By sending foreign aid to Morocco, the U.S. minimizes terrorist threats in the country. More than $8 million will be spent on counter-terrorism efforts, combating weapons of mass destruction, stabilization operations and security sector reform. While Morocco might seem distant, its security is of importance to the U.S.
The U.S. actively works to fight terrorism and combat extremist groups throughout the globe. Sending foreign aid to Morocco is one way to continue fighting terrorism. Foreign aid in Morocco is also sent to benefit democracy, human rights and governance. The Department of State breaks this into two spending categories: Rule of Law and Human Rights and Good Governance.
U.S. Benefits from Foreign Aid to Morocco: Economy
The aid that is sent in an effort to support good governance works to increase public participation and enforcement of the separation of powers through a checks and balances system. Keeping Morocco (and any country for that matter) politically stable and transparent benefits the U.S. ethically, economically and politically.
Economically, the Department of State has allocated $2.5 million in 2019 for economic development in Morocco. This aid aims to improve policies, laws and regulations within the private sector in an effort to give Morocco the ability to compete nationally and internationally. This improves trade and international policies for all states involved, including the U.S.
U.S. Benefits from Foreign Aid to Morocco: Education
Lastly, the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Morocco by improving Moroccan education and social services. Education, as a universal human right, should be ensured in every nation and benefits the entire world. Education is crucial in improving economic stability and increasing annual gross domestic product within a country. Within the U.S., education has been an important part of the country’s foreign assistance strategy for decades.
The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Morocco by supporting peace and stability within their security efforts, advocating for good governance ethically, advancing trade and international policies economically and by improving education and social service strategies.
– Haley Hine
Photo: Pxhere
10 Facts About Poverty in Syria
Since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, poverty in Syria has dramatically increased due to violence and a collapsed economy. Below are 10 facts about poverty in Syria.
These facts about poverty in Syria illustrate the need for more help. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to meet the needs that continue to grow. In 2017, $4.6 billion was required to give emergency support and stabilization to families throughout the region. Only half was received. To build resilience against poverty in Syria and to increase peaceful communities, it is essential to increase funding.
– Anne-Marie Maher
Photo: Flickr
How the US Benefits from Foreign Aid to Tanzania
The U.S. government is Tanzania’s largest bilateral donor, with Tanzania being a recipient of numerous presidential initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief, the President’s Malaria Initiative, the Sustainable Financing Initiative, Power Africa, Trade Africa, Feed the Future, the Global Climate Change Initiative and Let Girls Learn. From these developments, the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Tanzania in a number of ways. The implementation and successes of these programs have been widespread, with notable relational improvements building.
The U.S. Benefits from Stability and Security
The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Tanzania can be seen through continued commitment to strengthening Tanzania’s democracy. After U.S. officials described the country as a model of democracy in East Africa, the countries’ relationship suffered during Tanzania’s 2015 elections, which revealed a decidedly undemocratic streak. Responses to the electoral crisis included an indefinite suspension of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and a meeting between U.S. ambassador Mark Childress and Tanzanian president John Magufuli. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the countries’ strong partnership and a promise for continued investment of $400 million annually in development assistance, with more money being aimed at supporting the ruling party’s development plans.
The promotion of democracy within Africa has always been a professed commitment of the U.S., with repeated stress that support for democracy and inclusive governance has a place of pride among its interests and engagement in Africa. By aiding Tanzania in the stabilization of its democracy, the U.S. hopes to avoid violent extremism and militancy. It has been generally accepted wisdom in Washington that an enduring sense of injustice and political marginalization are powerful drivers of such extremism.
Further U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Tanzania can be seen with the growth of military-to-military relations. These ties now include capacity building and training in coastal water surveillance, international peacekeeping, military health and humanitarian projects. The U.S. Africa Command, in collaboration with other U.S. agencies, has supported the U.S.-Tanzania Canine Detection Program, an elite unit of U.S. Customs and Border Protection-trained Tanzanian Police Force handlers who work to detect ivory and narcotics at Tanzania’s ports of entry. Through the securitization of customs and borders, both countries are able to help end this illegal trafficking.
U.S. Benefits from Foreign Aid to Tanzania Include Economic Growth
Benefits from aid can also be seen in bilateral economic relations, most importantly Tanzania’s exports to the U.S. Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which offers tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets, Tanzania is eligible for preferential trade benefits. Exports are primarily agricultural commodities, minerals and textiles, while imports from the U.S. include items such as wheat, agricultural/transport equipment, chemicals, used clothes and machinery.
Strong trade relations between the U.S. and Tanzania have resulted in mutual economic benefits and have left both countries better off. Gains from aid to Tanzania by the U.S. are extensive and visible. Through aid, Tanzania has been able to become a more well-rounded country and the U.S. has been able to strengthen relations and improve its economic and security position.
– Ashley Quigley
Photo: Flickr
Three Simple Tools to Solve Farmer Poverty
Experts believe there are three simple tools to solve farmer poverty. These are:
How to Best Address the World’s Current Needs
The world is struggling to meet the demands of consistently rising rates of population and consumption There are only two alternatives to meet this increasing demand and multiply production: either dedicate more forest land to farming or increase the efficiency and productivity of the existing farmland.
Increasing land use is an inefficient short-term solution that is also detrimental to the environment, whereas the latter option can be achieved as an enduring solution. The most simple and proven way to produce a greater volume of crops from existing farmlands is through the use of hybrid seeds.
Using Hybrid Seeds as Tools to Solve Farmer Poverty
Hybrid seeds are one of the three simple tools to solve farmer poverty. Using a hybrid can yield a product that has the benefits of both its parents; for example, improved resistance toward disease from one and climate tolerance and high yield from the other. Several agricultural experiments in Africa, South America and South Asia have successfully proven the effectiveness of hybrid seeds in multiplying the crop production.
In rural Kenya, a farmer support initiative called One Acre Fund reported an average gain of 65 percent in farmer income using hybrid maize seeds along with microdoses of fertilizers in 2017 alone. Several farmers reported that they doubled or tripled their produce.
Skill Training as the Second Solution to Farmer Poverty
One of the other two tools to solve farmer poverty is skill training. Providing skill training to farmers can help them navigate their lives out of poverty’s vicious circle. Skill training can range from simple things like seed spacing or the right amount of irrigation to more advanced cultivation techniques; for example, sustainable agricultural practices and innovative cross-pollination methods.
In March, the Indian government’s Ministries of Agriculture and Skill Development signed an agreement to impart training and skill development to farmers at 690 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (farming science centers) all over the country. The scheme aims to double the farmer income.
Solving Farmer Poverty Through Microloans
The third one among the three simple tools to solve farmer poverty is microloans. As the name suggests, a microloan is a small amount of money borrowed from a bank or a local financial institution. Microloans are an essential key to solve poverty due to a small principal amount ($2 – $500), small monthly installments (only a few cents), flexible tenure (12 to 60 months) and a low-interest rate (12 – 20 percent).
Startups like Branch and LendUp are helping farmers in developing countries to borrow money using their mobile phones. Branch charges 15 percent interest on a loan as low as $2 at the end of a month. It never charges an overdraft fee and employs 100 employees in San Francisco, Lagos and Nairobi.
Though they appear to be small changes, these three simple tools to solve farmer poverty can change the world sooner than it might seem.
– Himja Sethi
Photo: Flickr
Ongoing Progress and Conflict: The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan
The Red Cross Society of Afghanistan
Similar to all Red Crescent and Red Cross organizations around the world, the Red Cross Society of Afghanistan works to accomplish its goals by the Seven Universal Principles proclaimed in Vienna in 1956: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteer service, unity and universality. These principles were adopted based on the experience of aid workers of the time. Although challenging, these principles have helped the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan claim many accomplishments in its years of active service.
The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan is organized into five different departments:
In addition, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan also has three special issue groups:
All eight departments work to tackle prominent recurring issues throughout the country.
Combatting the Elements
For example, the frostbite prevention group provides detailed advice on their website about how to prevent frostbite and how to handle a case of frostbite. Frostbite may sound like an odd injury to receive in Afghanistan (as many people picture the country as strictly a mountainous desert) but nighttime temperatures can drop significantly in a desert due to the lack of moisture to retain heat; in addition, average temperature can drop quickly as elevation increases.
Temperature is not the only environmental hazard that the people in Afghanistan must deal with — earthquakes also often strike Afghanistan. In 2015, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook the Hindu Kush Mountains; in Afghanistan, 77 people were killed by the earthquake and 2000 more were injured. The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan responded with volunteers to aid the injured and rebuild infrastructure.
Heavy snowfall must also be contented in the Hindu Kush Mountains as it causes avalanches and detrimental aftermath. In 2015, heavy snowfall and rain caused flooding, avalanches and mudslides in 22 provinces in Afghanistan, killing over 200 people and damaging over 600 homes. During and after the precipitation, Red Crescent members handed out foodstuffs along with blankets and heaters to those in need. In true fashion of the Red Cross Red Crescent Society, other Red Crescent Societies delivered aid and volunteers to Afghanistan.
Partnerships for Change
Cooperation between Red Cross Red Crescent Societies around the world is not uncommon, and the 2015 aid to Afghanistan is not the first time the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan worked with a partner. In 2013, the Red Cross Society of Canada and the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan launched a mission of cooperation.
The collaboration’s main goal was to mitigate the damages caused by common natural disasters in Afghanistan, and this arrangement lasted until 2017. The Red Cross and Red Crescent societies would work with the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority to improve the government capability to deal with natural disasters. Technology, money, and advanced planning techniques would be shared by the Canadians, who in turn would learn much from their Afghan cohorts.
The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan took over the operation and funding of the Marastoons (orphanages and poor houses), from the Afghan government in 1961. In 2015, over 1000 individuals lived in these Marastoons. Aside from providing safe housing for individuals, the Marastoons also help to provide, food, education, job training and other health services.
For example, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan helped to construct a high-school at the Marastoon in Kabul. The school was eventually recognized and accredited by the Afghan government, and now provides math, religion, English and computer courses to those who can attend.
Debunking Social Stigmas
In 2013, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan opened their Gender department. Its goal is to implement gender-sensitive education programs within the organization and the national population of Afghanistan. This is an important issue facing a conservative country, and it’s estimated that there are over one million widows in Afghanistan due to the ongoing war.
Often social stigmas prevent widows from returning to a normal life after the loss of a husband, and these “norms” sometimes relegate this population to second-class citizenship. On March 11, 2018, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan celebrated International Women’s Day, in solidarity with other countries in the international community.
More Work to Be Done
The President of the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan gave a speech. In his speech, he marked the increasing education level of women in Afghanistan and professional training but also said that there is still work to be done; as a result, the Red Crescent Society will continue to work to further women’s rights in Afghanistan. The Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan and the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement recognize women’s rights as human rights.
The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan affects people at all levels of society throughout all of the provinces of Afghanistan. This combined with rampant corruption and tribal conflicts make aid work difficult in the country. Hopefully continued work by the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan and those around the world will help mitigate the effects of these issues on certain populations.
– Nick DeMarco
Photo: Flickr