When analyzing progress created from global trade, employment opportunities and local equality, the world witnesses how to help people in Cabo Verde.
Tourism and Trade
With only 10 percent of land in Cabo Verde suitable for agriculture, it is essential for Cabo Verdeans to get support from outside sources. Thus, the fight to help people in Cabo Verde relies heavily on foreign support, trade and tourism.
As of May 2017, the Cabo Verde government has made efforts to create a trade, business and transport hub. Without witnessing the benefits that tourism created, the effort to increase trade would not exist. The poverty rate dropped from 37 percent in 2003 to 27 percent in 2008, largely because of Cabo Verde’s tourism sector.
To support Cabo Verde in its rise above poverty, the World Bank Group (WBG) committed funds for analytical work that enables accountable and strategic goals for reducing poverty. These activities would provide Cabo Verdeans with easier access to food and help ensure economic growth through trade and tourism.
Employment
The increase in tourism and trade helps develop more jobs for the locals. With low agricultural opportunities, Cabo Verdeans struggle to find employment: however, trade brings in consumer goods, allowing Cabo Verdeans to seek employment.
The new Cabo Verde government leaders, put in place after the 2016 election, are addressing the country’s macroeconomic challenges, with hopes of securing 45,000 jobs by 2021. To do so, the government teamed up with the United Nations and agreed to sign an annual work plan, aiming to reduce poverty and promote the new democratic government in Cabo Verde.
Equality
Reducing poverty and addressing how to help people in Cabo Verde means providing all Cabo Verdean adults the chance to be employed. Simply creating more job opportunities is not enough if the female population is not permitted to support their families and their country’s economy.
In 2015, Cabo Verde joined Step It Up for Gender Equality, meant to empower women and fight gender-based violence. The Government of Cabo Verde fights to implement the Gender-Based Violence Law and to provide women with equal roles within the country.
Cabo Verdeans have seen improvements in regards to female health because there was a decrease in the maternal mortality rate from 0.036 percent in 2006 to 0.026 percent in 2011. Hopefully with the new outlook on gender equality, those numbers will drop even further.
Cabo Verdeans are benefiting gradually from the World Bank Group granting Cabo Verde $78 million in 2017, the aid of the United Nation’s work plan and from the empowerment gained from Step It Up for Gender Equality. The progress in global trade, employment opportunities, and gender equality all contribute to the efforts of helping people in Cabo Verde alleviate poverty.
– Brianna White
Photo: Flickr
Improving Access to Clean Water in India
Thus, it is clear that access to clean water in India is a serious issue. Consequently, such an enormous undertaking typically requires an enormous price tag. As such, the increasing efforts to provide communal water systems are almost impossible to support financially, as an average system will typically cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000.
Yet, a company called Spring Health is changing the narrative. Spring Health provides low-cost safe water “kiosks” in Orissa, a rural state in northeastern India. After cleaning the water using a liquid chlorine solution, the water is distributed via motorcycle to rural vendors. Spring Health constructs cement water tanks near pre-existing local retailers within a village, which allows local retailers to then pump the water from the tanks into 10-liter Spring Health branded containers. From there, these local vendors sell the water alongside their other products, returning a portion of their water profits to Spring Health.
The system has revolutionized life in Orissa and is currently expanding. Within the next three years, the company is projecting to serve five million people via 10,000 village retailers, and it also hopes to one day export the system to other nations in order to serve on a global level as well. By simply capitalizing on pre-existing retailers and creating a low-cost distribution system using standard methods of transportation, Spring Health is advancing the fight for clean water in India.
– Kailee Nardi
Photo: Flickr
How to Help People in the Solomon Islands
Why the Solomon Islands Are Vulnerable
Between 1998 and 2003, the Solomon Islands suffered ethnic tensions and civil unrest. As result, the domestic infrastructure of the country was severely damaged. The geographic location of the islands makes the country particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, especially those that are water-related.
International Assistance
After the ethnic tensions and civil unrest had dramatically affected the Solomon Islands, the country’s prime minister requested Australian assistance. In response, Australia and New Zealand worked with the Solomon Islands to draft the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The Pacific Islands Forum wholeheartedly endorsed RAMSI, and was supported in its undertaking by then-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
RAMSI set up a comprehensive assistance plan focusing on the economy to better help people in the Solomon Islands. On June 30, 2017, RAMSI concluded, having improved the Solomon Islands’ economic capacity. RAMSI will likely be replaced by a new bilateral policy development program to ensure that the Solomon Islands’ growth continues in leaps and bounds.
The United States is helping the Solomon Islands work towards such a bilateral policy. In particular, the State Department has done detailed research into the ongoing policies of the Solomon Islands. There are opportunities to work to help people in the Solomon Islands through the U.S. State Department’s internship program or its career options.
Help from Organizations
There are several organizations helping to eliminate the causes of poverty in the Solomon Islands. Caritas Australia is one such organization. Caritas Australia focuses on helping people through community-driven efforts: improved access to water, sanitation, hygiene and heavy investments into education. Along the way, Caritas Australia promotes social justice for those living on the islands, and also prepares permanent residents of the islands to face natural disasters. For example, in 2012 and 2013, Caritas Australia trained more than 80 teachers to use nursery rhymes and games to prepare children for natural disasters.
The organization has vacancies, so those interested can work to help people in the Solomon Islands. While serving with organizations that directly help people in the Solomon Islands would be a powerful way to make an impact on people’s lives, other forms of advocacy from home are also important. Political advocacy for legislation that impacts international policies is an influential way to ensure that poverty across the world is reduced, bit by bit.
– Smriti B Krishnan
Photo: Google
NGOs and How to Help People in Malta
Although it is one of the smallest European states, Malta has been affected by the refugee crisis on the continent over the last few years. Many displaced families and individuals are seeking asylum in Malta, and organizations throughout the country have established means of meeting the asylum seekers’ most basic needs. NGOs offer several ways of how to help people in Malta, and specifically refugees.
Donations of necessary materials such as clothing, household goods, food and books are highly encouraged. Monetary donations are also accepted by all of the non-governmental foundations working to support refugees in the country. Here are two successful nonprofits that could use your help.
Jesuits in Malta is a nonprofit organization whose aim is to “serve, accompany and advocate.” Their mission specifically involves serving and welcoming new migrants and refugees. JRS Malta specializes in legal assistance and social work services, including psychological support and healthcare. The group offers outreach through its members, made up of social workers, lawyers, nurses and religious figures.
“Project Integrated” is on of Jesuits in Malta’s current projects, supported by UNHCR Malta. The overall goal of the project is to integrate “beneficiaries of international protection” into Maltese society so that they may practice their rights and live an independent life. The group suggests helping through monetary donations or the donations of useful items. They also offer information on organizing fundraising activities.
Kopin is a voluntary nonprofit based in Malta working in international development and refugee support. The group stands for international development cooperation and works to raise awareness about the “role of each individual as a global citizen.” The aim to empower developing communities in this way. For refugees in Malta specifically, Kopin provides educational and social services to women and children seeking asylum.
One of the group’s current projects is known as “TOO M&E up!” geared towards raising the quality of designs and implementation of learning activities for young people. You can donate to the organization online or even via text message. They also offer training and volunteering opportunities on human rights issues and hands-on skills.
If volunteer time or physical donations are not possible, it is always helpful to follow these NGOs on Facebook and Twitter if you are still wondering how to help people in Malta.
– Melanie Snyder
Photo: Google
EU and UN Initiative End Violence Against Women
The Spotlight Initiative’s main focus is on ending domestic violence, sexual violence, femicide, female circumcision, child and forced marriage, human trafficking and the exploitation of women. These problems are widespread throughout the world. 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse. 700 million women have undergone child marriage and 200 million have experienced genital mutilation. These acts come at a tremendous cost to the physical and mental well-being of women.
Violence against women also comes at a great cost to society at large. When societies suppress women with acts of violence and both institutional and de jure inequalities, they are deprived of the many contributions women bring to the world. Women’s contributions are so valuable that McKinsey Global Institute found that the world economy would be $12 trillion richer if every nation moved towards gender equality at a rate equal to its fastest-improving neighbor. Ending violence against women is not just in the best interest of humanity, it is also crucial for advancing global development.
Ending violence against women is a highly ambitious goal, but this is not the first time that the EU and the U.N. have made efforts to end forms of gender violence. The U.N. manages the Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, which has granted $116 million to 426 initiatives across the globe. The EU has been working with UNICEF and UNFPA to end female circumcision and child marriage in 16 African countries. Their efforts have put Senegal on track to become the first nation to completely abandon female genital mutilation, and Egypt and Sudan are seeing significant improvements as well.
The U.N. has touched on a few core areas of action for the Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women. In order to create long-term, sustainable developments in equality for women, social and political mobilization is essential, according to the U.N. When women are more politically active, nations are more likely to pass laws protecting the rights of women. Educational programs, community-organized events and awareness campaigns are also needed to shift cultural norms surrounding violence against women. Policies directed at empowering the financial independence of women will be significant in enabling women to leave physically and sexually abusive relationships as well.
Though the issue of ending violence against women is a daunting one, the amount of funding the Spotlight Initiative has drawn in and the wide scope of the initiative brings hope that the world will see major advancements in the global rights of women by 2030.
– Carson Hughes
Photo: Flickr
Poverty in Brunei – Development and Forward Thinking
Brunei, a high development country that benefits from a wealth of natural resources, has one of the highest gross domestic products in the world. While there is no reported poverty line, all signs point to a very successful population and a government structure that could act as a model to the world. In other words, poverty in Brunei is not nonexistent, but it is minimized. Unfortunately, even though Brunei is highly developed and their infrastructure is smoothly run and effective, the nation is a special case, and thus their model cannot be applied to the rest of the world that does struggle with high levels of poverty and strife.
The government of Brunei has not only set up an excellent infrastructure, but the population is also highly educated and benefits from not having to pay income taxes or for medical care. Yet, the government can only afford this social system because of the breadth of natural resources they have at their disposal. Brunei refines crude oil, which is then exported to economic powerhouses around the world such as Japan, which is the primary export market. Since the natural resources are so abundant for the time being, Brunei does not have to worry about them running out, leading to a recession or worse.
Yet, despite the strength of industry, the nation does struggle to make modern adjustments, raising the possibility of a future where poverty in Brunei could become an issue. The recent decline in oil prices has made this concern more plausible, and officials have made it a priority to diversify industry and bring in more foreign investment. The wealth of the country allows them to fix problems before they begin, and the threat of a “resource curse” is one such issue.
Another concern lies in the very small level of poverty in Brunei. While the country has no official measurement of a poverty line, the UN Millennium Development Goals report in 2011 indicated that 5.04 percent of the population is impoverished. The government is already taking steps to deal with the issue, creating a Poverty Issue Special Committee and drafting an action plan for eradicating poverty. While this committee has not led to an official poverty line, it does show that the government of Brunei is proactive and willing to fight for their citizens’ interests.
While Brunei does not struggle with a high percentage of poverty, they still remain an example on how to combat poverty through government action. Creating a committee to deal with this issue before it becomes too problematic and planning to diversify industry and modernize makes the government of Brunei an idealistic, forward-thinking country to observe and emulate.
– Rachael Blandau
Photo: Flickr
Causes of Poverty in Montserrat
The small Caribbean island of Montserrat is primarily known for one of its most striking features, the Soufrière Hills volcano. In 1995, the island was devastated by a series of eruptions from this volcano, destroying nearly two-thirds of the island and almost completely covering the capital city in ash and boulders. Even though the eruption occurred more than two decades ago, the BBC still describes the island as “striving to rebuild” after the eruptions. As a British territory, Montserrat is still receiving aid from the British government in the aftermath. Even today, many of the causes of poverty in Montserrat can be traced back to the eruptions.
The destruction on the island left large portions of the southern region uninhabitable. Large amounts of physical assets and sources of income were also destroyed. Many families and communities were fragmented by the destruction. Nearly two-thirds of the population left the island. Those who chose to stay on the island but had to relocate struggled more than others with economic recovery. The economy itself has struggled to return to its pre-eruption levels.
There are other causes of poverty in Montserrat not directly associated with the eruptions. A major study of poverty in Montserrat released in 2012 found numerous causes of poverty. Adults who had only a primary level education were more likely to fall into poverty than others. Children under the age of 15 had the highest poverty level of any demographic. Larger households were more likely to fall into poverty than smaller ones. Additional causes related to different human rights issues on the island, including family breakdowns, domestic violence, unplanned pregnancies and drug and alcohol use.
Fortunately, the effects of poverty seem to be decreasing in Montserrat. While the 2012 report recorded poverty levels at 36 percent of the population, this number was defined by a poverty line much higher than the “severe” poverty line. Only 3 percent of the population, or around 160 people, fell into extreme poverty, earning less than $5 US per day. Since the study, poverty levels have fallen to the point where resources such as the CIA World Factbook report the poverty rate as negligible. British aid has been used to rebuild and expand infrastructure on the island. The population on the island has continued to recover over the last two decades. The government has also shown dedication to solving human rights issues. All of these steps show a continuing focus to address the causes of poverty in Montserrat.
– Erik Beck
Photo: Flickr
How to Help People in Palau
Palau has a rich cultural heritage that relies on the relationship between its people and the sea. Some inhabitants still practice traditional ceremonies, and it is still considered a matrilineal society. It was once considered customary for men to learn about water currents and the behaviors of fish to be caught. In honor of the connection of the Palau people with the ocean, the government of Palau designated 193,000 square miles of coast as a fully protected marine reserve. Despite the efforts to preserve the wildlife and traditions of Palau, overfishing, poaching, weather and tourism threaten the longevity of its livelihood. There are a few different ways of how to help people in Palau maintain their ecosystems and lifestyle.
Support conservation efforts
In addition to the marine reserve, Palau has agreed to the Micronesia Challenge, a region-wide initiative to balance the use of natural resources and conservation. Even with these efforts, the island still suffers from damage to coral reefs from tourist interaction as well as decreased fish populations resulting from tourist seafood consumption. The Nature Conservancy is one organization that has already donated $1 million to the Micronesia Challenge endowment benefitting the island. Decreasing commercial fishing and promoting local traditions are among the ways to conserve the heritage and environment of Palau.
Volunteer and support USAID and disaster relief organizations.
As an island nation in the South Pacific, Palau’s ecosystem is threatened by typhoons, drought, pollution and rising sea levels. A power plant fire in 2011 resulted in the declaration of a state of emergency with electricity rationing that affected schools, hospitals and sanitation. In March 2016, Palau became the most recent nation to declare an El Niño-related state of emergency. Because of record-setting low total rainfall and declining level of freshwater access, citizens were placed on a water rationing schedule. USAID has recently worked to increase disaster readiness and risk reduction programs for communities in Palau.
Conservation of culture and environment combined with disaster readiness and prevention are simple answers to the question of how to help people in Palau.
– Rebekah Korn
Photo: Flickr
How to Help People in Cabo Verde: To Persevere
Tourism and Trade
With only 10 percent of land in Cabo Verde suitable for agriculture, it is essential for Cabo Verdeans to get support from outside sources. Thus, the fight to help people in Cabo Verde relies heavily on foreign support, trade and tourism.
As of May 2017, the Cabo Verde government has made efforts to create a trade, business and transport hub. Without witnessing the benefits that tourism created, the effort to increase trade would not exist. The poverty rate dropped from 37 percent in 2003 to 27 percent in 2008, largely because of Cabo Verde’s tourism sector.
To support Cabo Verde in its rise above poverty, the World Bank Group (WBG) committed funds for analytical work that enables accountable and strategic goals for reducing poverty. These activities would provide Cabo Verdeans with easier access to food and help ensure economic growth through trade and tourism.
Employment
The increase in tourism and trade helps develop more jobs for the locals. With low agricultural opportunities, Cabo Verdeans struggle to find employment: however, trade brings in consumer goods, allowing Cabo Verdeans to seek employment.
The new Cabo Verde government leaders, put in place after the 2016 election, are addressing the country’s macroeconomic challenges, with hopes of securing 45,000 jobs by 2021. To do so, the government teamed up with the United Nations and agreed to sign an annual work plan, aiming to reduce poverty and promote the new democratic government in Cabo Verde.
Equality
Reducing poverty and addressing how to help people in Cabo Verde means providing all Cabo Verdean adults the chance to be employed. Simply creating more job opportunities is not enough if the female population is not permitted to support their families and their country’s economy.
In 2015, Cabo Verde joined Step It Up for Gender Equality, meant to empower women and fight gender-based violence. The Government of Cabo Verde fights to implement the Gender-Based Violence Law and to provide women with equal roles within the country.
Cabo Verdeans have seen improvements in regards to female health because there was a decrease in the maternal mortality rate from 0.036 percent in 2006 to 0.026 percent in 2011. Hopefully with the new outlook on gender equality, those numbers will drop even further.
Cabo Verdeans are benefiting gradually from the World Bank Group granting Cabo Verde $78 million in 2017, the aid of the United Nation’s work plan and from the empowerment gained from Step It Up for Gender Equality. The progress in global trade, employment opportunities, and gender equality all contribute to the efforts of helping people in Cabo Verde alleviate poverty.
– Brianna White
Photo: Flickr
Improving Education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Still, however, the gender disparities in the rate of education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are profound. Where 78.1 percent of the male population is literate, the female population lingers at a staggeringly low 50 percent. Nonetheless, women such as Melissa Kasoke of the Congo have been raising their voice in support of sustained efforts for women’s education. It seems, too, that the world is listening to their demands. In spite of the gender disparity that exists within the educational system in the nation, external organizations such as UNICEF have begun funding efforts to deconstruct barriers to women’s education and provide equal opportunities for them within the Congo.
In recent years, such external efforts have proven conducive to improving the overarching schema of education in the Congo. As of 2015, over 20 million textbooks had been distributed to classrooms throughout the country. The completion rate at the primary school level now stands at approximately 70 percent, as opposed to the 2002 rate of only 29 percent. Teaching strategies have been implemented, which encourage gender equality, discovery-based-learning and instructive materials.
In fact, the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently received a $100 million grant to help improve their education system. This grant seeks to improve the quality of primary education, strengthen sector management and promote greater accountability at the local level. Ultimately, this should help to improve the education system for both men and women throughout the nation, particularly in communities where low-income students have experienced a dearth of resources in the past.
The structure of the education system in the Congo overall parallels that of the U.S., to some extent. The first six years of education are encapsulated in primary school, the second four years are spent in middle school and the final three years are spent in lycee, which is similar to high school in the U.S. Finally, students have the opportunity to attend college or university in the tertiary portion of their educational pursuits.
Overall, education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to strive toward improvement and success. However, the nation is still in need of assistance. It is therefore incumbent for foreign countries, such as the U.S., to continue to provide aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to ensure universal educational opportunities for students of all ages, genders nd socioeconomic class backgrounds.
-Emily Chazen
Photo: Flickr
Holy See Poverty Rate Virtually Non-Existent
The Holy See is supported by a multitude of sources, including investments, real estate income and donations from Catholic individuals, as well as dioceses and institutions. Even though it is the smallest nation in the world in both size and population, the Holy See’s GDP per capita is an estimated $21,198, which makes Vatican City the 18th wealthiest nation in the world per capita.
The population of this small independent state is very small, which contributes to the Holy See poverty rate being non-existent. In July 2001, the estimated population in Vatican City was 890, and it generally sees a growth rate of about 1.15 percent. Most of the residents of the state are related to the Church in some way, supplemented by elderly officers and servants for the Church. Most of the jobs within the Vatican itself include secretarial, domestic, trade and service jobs. The working week is fairly reasonable, although some keep longer hours, such as the Secretariat of State.
Workers that reside within Vatican City also enjoy numerous religious holidays, and Italians that work in Vatican City are exempt from having to join the military. Defense is provided by Italy, known as the Swiss Guard, who performs ceremonial and limited security duties. The members of the Swiss Guard tend to make a relatively low salary, but they are usually younger men with private incomes.
Fortunately, it would appear that the Holy See poverty rate is unlikely to increase in the near future.
– Sara Venusti
Photo: Flickr