Refugees from Myanmar face staggering levels of trauma, stress, and mental and physical health challenges, made worse by living conditions in refugee camps across Southeast Asia. The toll on health is especially severe, but telehealth offers hope by expanding health care access for Myanmar refugees.
The Crisis in Myanmar
Since 2017, nearly 1.5 million people have fled Myanmar amid the country’s humanitarian crisis, and 3.5 million are considered internally displaced. Most of these refugees are Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine State, who have lived without citizenship and faced persecution since 1962. Following the military coup in 2021, the military forced additional ethnic groups — including the Shan, Karen, and Kachin, among others —to flee their homes. Around 70% of the refugees are women and children. Many now live in overcrowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh.
The twin forces of violence and displacement have stripped Myanmar’s refugees of their homes, livelihoods, social support networks and health care, leaving them deeply impoverished. UNDP reported that as of 2024, nearly half the population in Myanmar lived below the poverty line, while 76% lived at or close to subsistence level, numbers which surged just in the three years since 2021.
As is common in conflict situations, access to health care is a luxury. This is due not only to cost and shortages of trained medical personnel, but also to the challenge of delivering proper care in temporary and scattered refugee camps.
In Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh, where most refugees have relocated, communicable and waterborne diseases run rampant, and mental health is severely impaired.
Telehealth as a Lifeline
Telehealth expands health care access for Myanmar refugees by connecting them with the care they need. The digital delivery of services simplifies the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and follow-up for many physical and mental health conditions. Patients also do not have to travel as far — Cox’s Bazar is more than an hour by foot from the nearest health center, and clinics within the camp are understaffed and not always open 24 hours a day.
Within a few months of the military coup, the Ministry of Health of the National Unity Government launched its “Telekyanmar” initiative to provide telehealth services to people in Myanmar. The program’s telehealth clinics grew rapidly; by month three, almost all of Myanmar’s 330 townships had a telehealth clinic. As of May 2024, more than 71,000 people have registered with Telekyanmar, with over 178,000 consultations provided by both general practitioners and specialists.
The World Health Initiative, a U.S.-based nonprofit, also runs a program within Cox’s Bazar and at HOPE Field Hospital inside the camp since 2018. It provides a “specialized medical care that would otherwise not be available,” drawing on the expertise of volunteer physicians across a range of clinical disciplines, as well as virtual care devices donated by Teladoc Health.
One such device, the wheeled and collapsible Teladoc Health Lite, includes a touchscreen interface, audio system, port panel and a storage compartment for peripherals like stethoscopes and privacy headsets — all enabling clear and seamless video and communication between doctor and patient. Even with subpar Internet connectivity, doctors from anywhere in the world can beam in from their own remote devices, according to the World Telehealth Initiative.
The Global Case for Telehealth
The benefits of telehealth cannot be overstated. Essential health care services remain out of reach for half of the world’s population because they are “inaccessible, unavailable, unaffordable or of poor quality.” Every year, millions die from conditions that would be entirely preventable in high-income countries.
The poor suffer the most from this lack of access to critical health care, and telehealth offers a way to address this by enhancing and simplifying access to specialty providers.
Telehealth brings numerous other benefits:
- Lower costs for patients and health systems
- Increased flexibility in scheduling and delivery
- Elimination of geographic distance
- Facilitation of mental health support
- Promotion of health equity
- Decreased transmission of infectious diseases
The Future
Despite the advantages, challenges remain. Telehealth requires reliable Internet access, appropriate devices, and training for patients on device use and for providers on how to deliver care effectively. Language differences and cultural barriers can also complicate care delivery, and privacy worries are a reality for displaced persons who have not had the best relationship with authorities.
However, these obstacles are not insurmountable, given the ongoing, demonstrable improvements in the technology. Telehealth represents a promising approach with significant potential to expand health care access, improve health outcomes and help chart a pathway out of poverty for one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
– Amanda Sablan
Amanda is based in Kensington, MD, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
C3’s Fight Against Child Marriage in India
At the forefront of efforts to resolve the issue is the Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), a nonprofit organization working tirelessly to empower girls, shift mindsets and create systemic change. C3 believes that when girls are educated, healthy and supported, they can break the cycle of child marriage and build stronger futures for themselves and their communities.
Understanding the Challenge
Child marriage remains alarmingly prevalent in India, especially in rural areas. According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), nearly one in four girls in India gets married before the age of 18. Girls forced into early marriage are more likely to drop out of school, experience complications from early pregnancy, suffer from domestic violence and face limited economic prospects.
Behind these statistics are complex factors: poverty, lack of access to education, deeply entrenched gender norms and the belief that marriage offers girls social or economic security. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation, with reports of rising child marriage rates during lockdowns.
About C3
Founded in 2002, C3 is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls across India. C3 envisions a world where all women and girls can realize their full potential, participate in decisions that affect them and live lives of dignity and equality. C3 works at the intersection of education, health, leadership and rights. Its child marriage prevention initiatives rely on community partnerships, grassroots mobilization and evidence-based advocacy.
C3’s Approach to Ending Child Marriage
C3’s multi-layered strategy addresses both the symptoms and root causes of child marriage:
Looking Ahead
In Bihar and Jharkhand—two states with high child marriage rates—C3 has reached more than 100,000 adolescent girls. It has engaged thousands of community members through workshops, leadership training and school-based interventions. With the help of C3 and other advocates, 23 child marriages have already been prevented. Despite progress, it appears ending child marriage in India still requires more effort. Social stigma, poverty and weak enforcement continue to pose challenges. But C3 remains committed by adapting to new realities, scaling what works and deepening its impact.
In 2025 and beyond, C3 aims to:
Ultimately, by empowering girls and challenging harmful norms, C3 is helping build a more just, equal and hopeful India for everyone.
– Meagan Beaver
Photo: Flickr
Expanding Health Care Access for Myanmar Refugees
The Crisis in Myanmar
Since 2017, nearly 1.5 million people have fled Myanmar amid the country’s humanitarian crisis, and 3.5 million are considered internally displaced. Most of these refugees are Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine State, who have lived without citizenship and faced persecution since 1962. Following the military coup in 2021, the military forced additional ethnic groups — including the Shan, Karen, and Kachin, among others —to flee their homes. Around 70% of the refugees are women and children. Many now live in overcrowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh.
The twin forces of violence and displacement have stripped Myanmar’s refugees of their homes, livelihoods, social support networks and health care, leaving them deeply impoverished. UNDP reported that as of 2024, nearly half the population in Myanmar lived below the poverty line, while 76% lived at or close to subsistence level, numbers which surged just in the three years since 2021.
As is common in conflict situations, access to health care is a luxury. This is due not only to cost and shortages of trained medical personnel, but also to the challenge of delivering proper care in temporary and scattered refugee camps.
In Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh, where most refugees have relocated, communicable and waterborne diseases run rampant, and mental health is severely impaired.
Telehealth as a Lifeline
Telehealth expands health care access for Myanmar refugees by connecting them with the care they need. The digital delivery of services simplifies the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and follow-up for many physical and mental health conditions. Patients also do not have to travel as far — Cox’s Bazar is more than an hour by foot from the nearest health center, and clinics within the camp are understaffed and not always open 24 hours a day.
Within a few months of the military coup, the Ministry of Health of the National Unity Government launched its “Telekyanmar” initiative to provide telehealth services to people in Myanmar. The program’s telehealth clinics grew rapidly; by month three, almost all of Myanmar’s 330 townships had a telehealth clinic. As of May 2024, more than 71,000 people have registered with Telekyanmar, with over 178,000 consultations provided by both general practitioners and specialists.
The World Health Initiative, a U.S.-based nonprofit, also runs a program within Cox’s Bazar and at HOPE Field Hospital inside the camp since 2018. It provides a “specialized medical care that would otherwise not be available,” drawing on the expertise of volunteer physicians across a range of clinical disciplines, as well as virtual care devices donated by Teladoc Health.
One such device, the wheeled and collapsible Teladoc Health Lite, includes a touchscreen interface, audio system, port panel and a storage compartment for peripherals like stethoscopes and privacy headsets — all enabling clear and seamless video and communication between doctor and patient. Even with subpar Internet connectivity, doctors from anywhere in the world can beam in from their own remote devices, according to the World Telehealth Initiative.
The Global Case for Telehealth
The benefits of telehealth cannot be overstated. Essential health care services remain out of reach for half of the world’s population because they are “inaccessible, unavailable, unaffordable or of poor quality.” Every year, millions die from conditions that would be entirely preventable in high-income countries.
The poor suffer the most from this lack of access to critical health care, and telehealth offers a way to address this by enhancing and simplifying access to specialty providers.
Telehealth brings numerous other benefits:
The Future
Despite the advantages, challenges remain. Telehealth requires reliable Internet access, appropriate devices, and training for patients on device use and for providers on how to deliver care effectively. Language differences and cultural barriers can also complicate care delivery, and privacy worries are a reality for displaced persons who have not had the best relationship with authorities.
However, these obstacles are not insurmountable, given the ongoing, demonstrable improvements in the technology. Telehealth represents a promising approach with significant potential to expand health care access, improve health outcomes and help chart a pathway out of poverty for one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
– Amanda Sablan
Photo: Flickr
CDB and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
After electing its newest president in 2025, Daniel Best, the CDB is working to address geopolitical tensions and shifting financial conditions, while approving a historic $460 million from the Special Development Fund — an amount intended to sustain the organization for three years. Best is intending to start in his newly appointed position, hitting the ground running by looking to introduce three new financial products to support a just green transition and reduce investment risk for the private sector. Furthermore, he’s made it an utmost priority to address the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2 by joining the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
Integration with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty is a governance structure that focuses on accelerating the achievement of specifically SDG 1 and 2—No Poverty (1) and Zero Hunger (2). Many board members of the CDB have reached out to the press, explaining that the organization sought to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger to address globalized poverty and food insecurity through sustainable agricultural practices. In addition, this decision could enhance domestic lives in the Caribbean by working with international programs and partners incorporated with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
Before publicly joining this fight alongside such an established organization, the CDB pledged to support the Alliance’s objectives through knowledge sharing, ethical engagement and the development of solutions tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities, including Indigenous populations and tribal groups. Both governance bodies have been made aware of the disproportionate poverty indigenous populations experience in not just the Caribbean, but all of Latin America. Of the 42 million Indigenous people living in the region, 43% live in poverty — more than twice the rate of non-Indigenous populations in Latin America — deepening their underrepresentation in areas such as the humanities and politics, according to Elizabeth Wong’s article Indigenous Erasure and Resistance in the Caribbean. Fortunately, the CDB and Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty are exploring strategies on how to address this long-established systematic oppression.
Furthering Progress
While addressing domestic issues with support from international partners is a strength of the Caribbean Development Bank, the organization also maintains a mutual aid agreement to advance the SDGs abroad. However, this task could be a lot more challenging, as in the last year, the World Bank has found a divergence in SDG 1 and SDG 2—which primarily have a close correlation with one another—in the past one to two decades. This could mean several things, ranging from poor or outdated data and analysis tools or genuine economic gaps in certain countries.
Moving Forward
The CDB appears to be in a position to be a key contributor in providing aid to address the issue and resolve weaker data systems among affected nations. As a region that many consider data poor, the integration of new data systems—if the U.N. can successfully achieve this—could improve the region’s capacity to properly track poor and malnourished environments. This could legitimize the organization’s influence, effectively resulting in its global expansion to provide improved analysis measures for more data-poor nations and regions.
– Sam Barbagallo
Photo: Flickr
The HIV Epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
What is the Elton John AIDS Foundation Doing Now?
The Foundation implemented the RADIAN initiative in 2019 to address the HIV Epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. RADIAN was conceived with the partnership of Gilead Sciences. It focused on action, investment, care, and resources to improve the quality of life of people at risk of or living with HIV in the affected region.
More recently, in 2024, the Foundation introduced RADIAN 2.0, a new initiative to better implement RADIAN’s achievements to combat the HIV Epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The objectives of RADIAN 2.0 are:
HIV and Poverty
Some structural drivers increase the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The term structural drivers refers to “a range of factors, acting at macro and community levels, that fundamentally shape and influence patterns of HIV risk behaviour, and facilitate or impede an individual or group’s ability to access services and/or adhere to treatment” (STRIVE Research Consortium ), according to the Foundation. These structural drivers result in stigma and discrimination experienced by key populations and people living with HIV, which negatively affects their lives. This, in turn, contributes to the risk of contracting HIV, and then AIDS, and then dying. Some structural drivers of HIV include poor healthcare access, poor education, gendered violence, stigma and discrimination, and drug use.
How Does RADIAN 2.0 Help Combat HIV/AIDS?
RADIAN 2.0 works at the macro and community levels, creating structural interventions. At the macro level, the initiative may focus on changing discriminatory policies and legislation, improving economic and social conditions, modifying cultural and religious norms and changing the legal justice and law enforcement practices.
At the community level, the initiative may focus on reducing stigma and discrimination, creating educational and economic opportunities, changing gender norms and reducing inequality and improving access to health care services, according to the Foundation.
Why is RADIAN Important?
Eastern Europe and Central Asia are regions where new HIV infections and AIDS – related deaths are rising. Out of the 21 million people living with HIV, 41% are not aware that they have HIV, and 50% are not receiving treatment, which is below global targets. RADIAN, through its partnership with Gilead Sciences, was the Elton John Foundation’s answer to this growing problem.
Until the conception of RADIAN 2.0, RADIAN has significantly impacted the HIV response. With the help of local community services, RADIAN has reached over 310,000 people with essential HIV services and linked almost 35,700 people to HIV treatment. RADIAN 2.0 will build off the accomplishments of RADIAN in order to meet the changing needs of marginalized communities.
The Future
Even though HIV is declining globally, Eastern Europe and Central Asia are one of the regions where the HIV epidemic is worsening. In this region, new HIV diagnoses increased by 20%, and AIDS related deaths increased by 34% since 2010. “Over the next five years, RADIAN 2.0 will continue to address structural drivers of the epidemic, strengthen HIV health systems, and enhance the capacities of local organizations for a lasting impact,” says Daniel O’ Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. RADIAN has had a positive impact on HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is hoped that RADIAN 2.0 will do the same.
Elton John created the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 after losing loved ones to AIDS. He has worked to end the HIV epidemic once and for all. To put it in Elton John’s words, “All it takes is a bit more funding and a bit more understanding. All it takes is dialogue.”
– Abirame Shanthakumar
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Being Poor in Sudan
Historical Context and Conflict
Sudan has struggled with internal conflicts for a substantial portion of its history, from the Mahdist Revolution (1881-1898) to the Sudanese Civil War (2023-present). These conflicts have driven many innocent bystanders into extreme poverty and deprivation. The current Civil War officially broke out on April 15, 2023, when a power struggle between two rival factions of the military triggered the conflict. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, were at the center of this struggle. This conflict has rapidly escalated into one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
The Hunger Crisis
The effects of these long-standing conflicts have led to lasting damage to the country’s stability, devastating Sudanese infrastructure and agricultural lands. According to the nonprofit organization Action Against Hunger, 24.8 million people are living in food poverty and need aid, alongside hundreds of thousands living in famine-like conditions. This is nearly half of the population.
Hyperinflation has further exacerbated the hunger crisis. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the annual inflation rate reached an astonishing 359% in 2021. Additionally, IMF data shows that businesses and traders raised prices by 200% last year. Sudanese citizens now struggle to find basic food staples like sorghum, rice, beans and sugar due to scarcity and high prices.
Unemployment and Economic Collapse
Being poor in Sudan means facing a daily reality of unemployment as ongoing conflict has led to the job market and economy crashing down. Before the war, unemployment rates in Sudan were already high. Since 2023, these rates have only increased. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Civil War contributed to the estimated loss of more than 5 million jobs and $5 billion in Sudan’s economy in the first year of the war.
Education Crisis
The conflict has severely disrupted access to education. The conflict has destroyed or repurposed schools and has forced millions of children out of education. International organizations have made significant efforts to solve this problem. UNICEF has launched a ‘learning passport,’ delivering education through digital platforms. This initiative has reached more than 12,000 children around Sudan.
The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has also launched multi-million dollar packages to assist with education, ensuring that all children can access education even during crises, by helping train teachers and distributing various materials. These packages have helped more than 285,000 children in Sudan.
International Developments, Positive Progress and Aid
Amidst all this seemingly negative news, there have been substantial efforts to progress, alongside these education initiatives to help fight being poor in Sudan. Many major international organizations have committed to helping in relief efforts:
Looking Ahead
Being poor in Sudan today means struggling with hunger, unemployment, lack of education and ongoing displacement. The compounded effects of war, economic instability and food scarcity have fabricated a humanitarian emergency. However, the work of international aid agencies and education initiatives brings a glimmer of hope for millions of these vulnerable Sudanese citizens.
– Emma Dornan
Photo: Flickr
COPHCI: Addressing Disability and Poverty in Côte d’Ivoire
A Closer Look at Disability and Poverty in Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire has seen a rapid rise in the Human Development Index (HDI) since the turn of the 21st century, surpassing the threshold of a country with medium development in 2017. This has resulted in a windfall of social progress in the country, with life expectancy at birth increasing by over 10 years by 2023-24, and the average GNP nearly doubling in the same time frame.
Nevertheless, people with disabilities (PWDs) in Côte d’Ivoire still face a litany of impediments which keep them from reaping the rewards of such progress and from proper inclusion in their communities. For instance, an observational study by COPHCI found that 83.56% of polling stations lacked accessibility for PWDs during the presidential elections in 2020, and the legislative elections in 2021. Additionally, UNICEF found that only 26% of children with disabilities had access to education. Such glaring inadequacies in the treatment of children and adults with disabilities have created a dire need for a reimagined approach to inclusivity in Côte d’Ivoire.
The burden to change the status quo has thus fallen on local organizations – often working in collaboration with one another – to support those whom the country’s hastening development has neglected. Many also work on building ties with various government ministries in an effort to highlight the often-ignored ails which the country faces.
COPHCI’s Fight
COPHCI is an umbrella organization, heading more than a dozen Federations which are separated by type of disability or by the specific needs of disabled individuals. It acts as a central unifier for all of these groups, working as, in their own words, a liaison between them.
COPHCI seeks to give a voice to the usually voiceless and bring awareness to problems which are otherwise completely overlooked by authorities. As an umbrella organization, COPHCI focuses primarily on awareness-raising, and it has acted as a crucial part of many social inclusion and aid initiatives undertaken in Côte d’Ivoire.
For this reason, workshops and community events form the backbone of much of the work which COPHCI does. Not only do they meet with and educate disadvantaged communities, they also act as a link between them and Côte d’Ivoire’s governing bodies. In 2024, the organization undertook a number of initiatives, one of which was a two-day November workshop with fellow advocacy groups to push for the involvement of PWDs in the burgeoning economic development of the country. As the economy continues to expand, COPHCI has worked tirelessly to ensure that space is made for people who have historically been left out of the job market.
Key to the country’s development is the Youth Employment Agency, an agency which has worked to improve employment opportunities for youth in Côte d’Ivoire since its establishment in 2015. COPHCI has worked tirelessly to lobby this agency, especially in 2024, and successfully pushed for a special desk for people with disabilities. This was a major victory for PWDs in the labor market, finally giving them a voice and place in the economic expansion of their country.
Continuing the Fight in 2025
COPHCI has so far stayed out of any headlines in 2025, however, the group’s website shows its continued efforts to train caregivers and educate local communities. As Côte d’Ivoire continues to blossom on the world stage, it is organizations like COPHCI which will ensure that disabled and disadvantaged people can finally take part in their country’s progress, and that disability and poverty in Côte d’Ivoire cease to be a barrier of entry to participation.
– Alex Degterev
Photo: Unsplash
Fighting Poverty With Higher Education in Spain
Higher Education Institutions in Spain
After compulsory education for those who are 3 to 16 years old, various educational options exist for students considering higher education in Spain:
Challenges of Higher Education in Spain
On paper, higher education in Spain is completely free. However, this fails to include necessary costs, like textbooks and other crucial supplies. As a result, many families still face challenges in paying these costs, which has been on the rise. It then makes sense that unfortunately, many Spanish students fail to finish their education–Spain has the highest rate in the EU of 13.9% of students leaving school. This sparks a brutal cycle; higher education is the key to escaping poverty yet financial barriers come in the way of its accessibility to many Spaniards.
The Good News
The good news is that higher education in Spain is improving. Recent years have demonstrated reforms including supporting student mental health, digitalizing education, adding an emphasis on the environment to the curriculum and reducing antisemitism in schools.
The Spanish government has outlined several goals that hope to reduce inequalities in its education system, including the high dropout rate. It is also intending to rewrite its curriculum to reflect more modern values, including civics. Additionally, it is allocating a greater budget toward scholarships, especially aimed at expanding the threshold of need-base eligibility, which is predicted to help out 1 million students across the country. It has also recently passed legislature expanding vocational education opportunities. As a result, gradually, more and more people are gradually getting a higher education. Hopefully, these efforts will contribute to reducing poverty, too.
Ayuda en Acción’s Efforts
Nonprofit organizations like Ayuda en Acción are fighting to reduce inequalities among higher education in Spain. Since it originated in 1981, Ayuda en Acción is a global nonprofit organization that has focused on advocating for a Spanish education system that reflects the diversity of its students and the variety of equally valid paths to an education. In particular, the nonprofit has created the Impulsa program, which works to provide more vocational training opportunities for students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Its efforts have helped 760,866 people globally.
Looking Ahead
Higher education institutions can also be agents of good that can contribute to a more just society. Rewriting the curriculum to include more topics like civics and social justice can create more global citizens and responsible leaders who contribute not only to the economy but also to the social well-being of those in poverty, thus helping them escape poverty. Ultimately, higher education is an opportunity and with reforms, can be a tool for breaking the cycle of poverty.
– Klara Jones
Photo: Flickr
The Gender Wage Gap in Syria and the Fight for Empowerment
A Country in Crisis
Many widely regard the Syrian civil war, which began in March 2011, as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. Over a decade of fighting led to the displacement of more than 14 million civilians, social and political instability and the collapse of the economy. As of December 2024, an estimated 90% of Syrians lived below the poverty line, and 16.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance.
Only on December 8, 2024, after 24 years of oppressive totalitarian rule, did the Assad regime fall at the hands of opposition forces. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 600,000 people, many of them men. Now, with so many killed or displaced, Syrian women are increasingly taking on roles in shaping their families, communities and the future of their country.
A Disproportionate Impact on Women
At the same time, women are facing significant struggles. While the civil war had a negative impact on all Syrians, it disproportionately impacted women in many ways. Increases in sexual and gender-based violence, alongside the destruction of hospitals and clinics, deprived countless women of basic and reproductive health care. In 2023, 3.9% of Syrian girls ages 15-19 gave birth, a statistic that reflects both this limited access to health care and rising rates of early and forced marriage.
Syrian women also face a lack of employment opportunities, and when they do secure jobs, they are often receive less pay than men. Globally, women earn around 77 cents for every dollar that their male counterparts earn. Although comprehensive data on the gender wage gap in Syria is yet to exist, labor force participation rates illustrate the economic disparity: in 2024, it was 62.8% among males compared to only 13.3% among females. These numbers are representative of a wider trend in the Arab world, where women’s access to employment is up to 44% lower than men’s.
Beyond being concerning from a gender equality standpoint, the wage disparity in Syria also has serious, even life-threatening implications for women and their families. 92% of female-headed households report either an insufficient or complete inability to meet their basic needs. Additionally, 74% of the almost 6 million Syrians experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition are women and girls.
The Civil War as a Turning Point
However, suffering does not solely define the story of Syrian women. Amidst violence and desolation, many women stepped out of the home and into new roles, defying long held gender norms and stereotypes. Women found numerous ways to transform their challenges into opportunities by protesting against the Assad regime, finding work to support their families and empowering their daughters to learn to take care of themselves.
One particularly noteworthy individual is Ghalia Rahhal, founder of the Mazaya Center for Women’s Empowerment. Despite an assassination attempt, the murder of her son and sexist opposition, she has never stopped her fight to integrate feminist principles into Syrian laws and practices. By training women in refugee camps on politics and equality, Rahhal is preparing them to become active participants in the transitional and future government of their country.
Inspired to achieve similar goals, the nonprofit Uplifting Syrian Women seeks to help women and girls obtain better jobs by providing them with free online courses and trainings. The organization aims to close the gender wage gap in Syria by empowering women to enter the workforce and recognize their importance in the country’s rebuilding process.
Why Closing the Gap Matters
Looking forward, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the future of women in Syria. One reality, nevertheless, is that the empowerment of women is economically beneficial for all. As the World Economic Forum reports, increasing women’s workforce participation could boost a country’s economic output by up to 35%. That potential could become a reality as more and more women take an active role in the government and the workforce, helping close the gender wage gap in Syria and lift their country into a better future.
– Caroline Clark
Photo: Flickr
How Growing Mangoes Helps Reduce Poverty
Why Mangoes?
Mangoes thrive in hot, humid climates and are relatively easy to cultivate, particularly across regions of Asia, Latin America and parts of Africa. Their global popularity has surged recently, with widespread consumption and high demand in international markets. In addition to being a valuable cash crop, mangoes are highly nutritious and rich in essential vitamins.
A Source of Income in India
Unlike many crops grown on large commercial farms, mangoes are often cultivated on small-scale farms. Growing mangoes can significantly reduce poverty by providing families with an additional income of up to $2,700 per hectare of mango trees, helping to lift entire communities out of poverty.
Recognizing this potential, nonprofit organizations like TechnoServe have developed programs to train farmers in India more efficiently to cultivate their mangoes and resist common diseases afflicting mango trees, like dieback. It has also worked to support water-related infrastructure in the local communities. TechnoServe’s program has helped more than 1,000 thousand smallholder farmers in India.
Fighting Hunger in Uganda
Extreme hunger remains a serious issue in Uganda. Malnutrition directly causes nearly one-third of deaths among children aged below 5. One initiative, The Mango Project, donates mangoes to schools, health care clinics and individuals facing food insecurity. The program also trains Ugandan farmers in improved techniques for cultivating hardier mango trees that can survive the region’s six-month dry season.
While Uganda produces hundreds of thousands of tons of mangoes annually, about 40% spoil due to limited access to refrigeration and preservation methods. The Mango Project addressed this by teaching local farmers jarring, which involves boiling small portions of mango to preserve them without requiring specialized supplies like jars. It also teaches local Ugandans general cooking techniques and other necessary health education.
Boosting Health in Haiti
Haiti suffers from one of the highest poverty rates globally, as well as a weak economy. According to agricultural and economic expert Gergens Polynice, growing mangoes helps reduce poverty by strengthening Haiti’s economy. Haiti is already a major supplier of mangoes to the U.S. However, it exports a relatively small fraction of its production. This means there is a significant economic growth opportunity in the mango industry.
Empowering Communities in the Philippines and Indonesia
The Preda Fair Trade Project, operating in the Philippines, supports mango farmers in several ways. It buys unmarketable mangoes to be sold as other mango products. Also, it encourages growing practices that improve quality to be sold on the market.
The Australian Center for International Agricultural Research sponsored a project that teaches farmers in the Philippines and Indonesia organic farming methods to increase mango profits. By improving their livelihoods, these initiatives empower local communities economically and promote long-term sustainability.
– Klara Jones
Photo: Pexels
World Bicycle Relief: Upgrading Lives in Communities Worldwide
The two-wheeled organization started in 2005 after a tsunami in the Indian Ocean struck Southeast Asia. F.K. Day and Leah Missbach Day wanted to help those in the community. They soon came to realize that bicycles upgrade lives. When they were in Southeast Asia, they looked at local bicycles but realized they needed something more durable.
Mobility in Sub-Saharan Africa
In the article “How bicycles support the SDGs in Malawi,” by World Bicycle Relief, it talks about the harsh realities of Malawi and how bicycles upgrade lives. In sub-Saharan Africa, millions of people rely on walking as their primary mode of transportation. Tim Petrie said in a verywell health article, “People biking outside at a moderate speed may travel between 12 and 13.9 miles in one hour, while people walking at a moderate pace typically cover about three miles in an hour.” The Buffalo Bicycle is lightweight, made for travel, can carry significant weight and is “easy to repair.”
“What I love most about the bicycle is that it’s multifunctional,” Noralba said in the “Scaling Bicycle Ownership” section of World Bicycle Relief’s 2024 Impact Report. “I can carry heavy things on the grill, go wherever I want and do everything so much faster.”
Theory and Model
World Bicycle Relief believes that people in poverty can improve their quality of life through bicycles. In the organization’s “Theory of Change” section, it mentioned how bicycles upgrade lives in different ways.
“We work globally in underserved markets with millions of people who lack reliable transportation, creating access to affordable purpose-designed bicycles, mechanics and spare parts so that individuals and communities have independence, access to health care, education and economic opportunities,” it mentioned in the “Our theory of change” section.
The organization mentioned that their mission is propelled through the community. The community can assess its needs and have mechanics. World Bicycle Relief creates partnerships to help communities.
The work of World Bicycle Relief takes place in Asia, Africa and South America. The organization sells its bicycles to different places and uses the profits to fund initiatives.
“Sales from Buffalo Bicycles Ltd. support World Bicycle Relief’s programs, allowing us to deliver greater efficiencies, distribute more bicycles per donation, position for scale and generate deeper, long-term impact where we work.”
Training Local Mechanics
Mechanics go through a five-day program that equips them with essential bicycle maintenance and repair skills. Many mechanics rely on this job as a steady source of income and a path toward a better livelihood.
Darlington Rafael, a mechanic, said, “By living in my parents’ home, I am able to save money while helping them out,” says Darlington, 20. “After I pay my parents, I am able to save about $37 (U.S.) each month. After working for another 4 or 5 years, I’ll be able to pay for my studies!”
He currently travels two hours by bus to get to work to help people. As of 2024, 3,657 mechanics had undergone training. The goal is to train a new mechanic for every 50 to 100 new bicycles added.
Looking Ahead
World Bicycle Relief now supports programs in Tanzania with a focus on strengthening the health sector and reaching people in rural areas who often travel long distances on foot. The organization also introduced a new feature to its bicycles called the Utility S2, designed to reduce rider effort. “If you change the gears, it can go faster, even if you are climbing the mountain,” said a Utility S2 rider from Kenya.
– Matthew Restrepo
Photo: Flickr