The International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies described El Sistema as, “free classical music education that promotes human opportunity and development for impoverished children.”
El Sistema, also known as The National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestra and Choir, was established in Venezuela in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu, a Venezuelan educator, musician and activist. The music education program operates within the voluntary sector and is funded publicly. El Sistema’s motto, “Music for Social Change” along with their organization, focuses on providing opportunities to play music for students who otherwise would not have access, with a focus on public health and wellness.
Abreu explained that music has to be recognized as an agent of social development in the highest sense because it transmits the highest values – solidarity, harmony and mutual compassion, crediting it with the ability to unite an entire community. Beyond social change, music can be a powerful force for education and a valuable tool for combatting poverty.
El Sistema Organization Background
El Sistema started in 1975 when 11 young musicians assembled in an underground parking garage in Caracas, Venezuela to make music together. José Antonio Abreu was their guide, local teacher, organist, engineer and politician. At the moment, the organization is a global network of music centers, or “núcleos,” serving more than 400,000 children in almost every Latin American country and more than 70 countries across the globe.
El Sistema operates as a decentralized global entity. Instead of exerting control over numerous Sistema-based programs worldwide, El Sistema Venezuela has made the principles of the organization accessible to all who wish to adopt them. Consequently, the concept of El Sistema has evolved into a form of open-source ideology, accommodating diverse approaches and cultural frameworks that align with various local contexts. This approach fosters a genuinely glocal (global and local) movement.
Youth Orchestra and Choir in Brazil
Núcleo de Orquestras Jovens e Coros da Amazônia (NOJCA), founded in 2012, is an El Sistema-inspired program based in Manaus, Brazil. Situated in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, NOJCA provides music education and performance opportunities to children and youth from underserved communities in the region. Through its innovative curriculum, which integrates traditional Amazonian music with classical repertoire, NOJCA seeks to preserve cultural heritage while empowering young people to aspire to new heights.
NOJCA’s impact extends beyond musical proficiency, fostering environmental stewardship and cultural pride among its participants. By incorporating themes of sustainability and conservation into its programming, the organization inspires young musicians to become advocates for environmental justice and guardians of the Amazonian ecosystem. Through music, NOJCA is not only nurturing the next generation of artists but also cultivating a sense of responsibility and connection to their natural and cultural heritage.
Batuta Foundation in Colombia
One prominent El Sistema program in Latin America is the Fundación Batuta in Colombia. Founded in 1991 by renowned Colombian musician and conductor, Eduardo “Gordito” Rozo. The program operates under the belief that music has the power to transform lives and communities, particularly in regions affected by poverty, violence and social inequality.
Fundación Batuta provides free music education to more than 50,000 students annually, offering instruction in a wide range of instruments, including violin, cello, flute, guitar and percussion. Via its network of music schools and community centers, the program reaches underserved populations in both urban and rural areas, providing access to high-quality instruction and performance opportunities.
One of the distinguishing features of Fundación Batuta is its emphasis on social inclusion and youth development. Beyond teaching musical skills, the program seeks to instill values of discipline, teamwork and resilience in its students, empowering them to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. Through ensemble playing and collaborative projects, participants learn the importance of cooperation and mutual respect, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging within their communities.
The Afghanistan National Institute of Music
Established in 2010 by Dr. Ahmad Sarmast, The Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) in Kabul, Afghanistan offers free music education to disadvantaged children, including orphans and street-working youth, to promote cultural revival and peacebuilding in a war-torn nation.
Through its comprehensive curriculum, which includes instruction in both Afghan and Western classical music, ANIM empowers students to become agents of change in their communities while preserving Afghanistan’s rich musical heritage. Despite facing numerous challenges, including security threats and limited resources, ANIM has made remarkable strides in transforming the lives of its students.
By way of its innovative approach to music education and community engagement, the program has not only nurtured musical talent but also provided a platform for dialogue, reconciliation and healing in a country ravaged by decades of conflict. ANIM serves as a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries and inspire hope in the face of adversity.
El Sistema: Domestic Programs
El Sistema USA has played a pivotal role in bringing the transformative power of music education to underserved communities across the United States (U.S.). Through its partnerships with major orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, El Sistema USA has expanded access to quality music instruction and ensemble playing opportunities for thousands of children and youth.
These collaborations not only provide students with access to world-class musicians and resources but also serve as platforms for cultural exchange and artistic excellence.
“It’s great to work with the kids,” says Julia Johnson, an El Sistema teacher in the Denver, Colorado community. “Seeing them progress and get excited about music and get excited to learn makes an impact for their community,” she went on, “the program addresses how there is a disparity in access to classical music and how making it accessible can change lives.”
Looking Ahead
El Sistema has garnered international acclaim for its transformative impact on individuals and communities. By harnessing the power of music as a tool for social change, the program has helped to break the cycle of poverty and violence in marginalized areas while nurturing musical talent and instilling values of teamwork, discipline and perseverance.
Through its commitment to equity and excellence in music education, El Sistema continues to inspire similar initiatives around the world, demonstrating the universal potential of music to create positive social change. In the words of John Oates, “It’s the music that brings us together.”
– Ava Johnson
Photo: Unsplash
El Sistema: How One Music Program is Fighting Poverty Globally
El Sistema, also known as The National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestra and Choir, was established in Venezuela in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu, a Venezuelan educator, musician and activist. The music education program operates within the voluntary sector and is funded publicly. El Sistema’s motto, “Music for Social Change” along with their organization, focuses on providing opportunities to play music for students who otherwise would not have access, with a focus on public health and wellness.
Abreu explained that music has to be recognized as an agent of social development in the highest sense because it transmits the highest values – solidarity, harmony and mutual compassion, crediting it with the ability to unite an entire community. Beyond social change, music can be a powerful force for education and a valuable tool for combatting poverty.
El Sistema Organization Background
El Sistema started in 1975 when 11 young musicians assembled in an underground parking garage in Caracas, Venezuela to make music together. José Antonio Abreu was their guide, local teacher, organist, engineer and politician. At the moment, the organization is a global network of music centers, or “núcleos,” serving more than 400,000 children in almost every Latin American country and more than 70 countries across the globe.
El Sistema operates as a decentralized global entity. Instead of exerting control over numerous Sistema-based programs worldwide, El Sistema Venezuela has made the principles of the organization accessible to all who wish to adopt them. Consequently, the concept of El Sistema has evolved into a form of open-source ideology, accommodating diverse approaches and cultural frameworks that align with various local contexts. This approach fosters a genuinely glocal (global and local) movement.
Youth Orchestra and Choir in Brazil
Núcleo de Orquestras Jovens e Coros da Amazônia (NOJCA), founded in 2012, is an El Sistema-inspired program based in Manaus, Brazil. Situated in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, NOJCA provides music education and performance opportunities to children and youth from underserved communities in the region. Through its innovative curriculum, which integrates traditional Amazonian music with classical repertoire, NOJCA seeks to preserve cultural heritage while empowering young people to aspire to new heights.
NOJCA’s impact extends beyond musical proficiency, fostering environmental stewardship and cultural pride among its participants. By incorporating themes of sustainability and conservation into its programming, the organization inspires young musicians to become advocates for environmental justice and guardians of the Amazonian ecosystem. Through music, NOJCA is not only nurturing the next generation of artists but also cultivating a sense of responsibility and connection to their natural and cultural heritage.
Batuta Foundation in Colombia
One prominent El Sistema program in Latin America is the Fundación Batuta in Colombia. Founded in 1991 by renowned Colombian musician and conductor, Eduardo “Gordito” Rozo. The program operates under the belief that music has the power to transform lives and communities, particularly in regions affected by poverty, violence and social inequality.
Fundación Batuta provides free music education to more than 50,000 students annually, offering instruction in a wide range of instruments, including violin, cello, flute, guitar and percussion. Via its network of music schools and community centers, the program reaches underserved populations in both urban and rural areas, providing access to high-quality instruction and performance opportunities.
One of the distinguishing features of Fundación Batuta is its emphasis on social inclusion and youth development. Beyond teaching musical skills, the program seeks to instill values of discipline, teamwork and resilience in its students, empowering them to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. Through ensemble playing and collaborative projects, participants learn the importance of cooperation and mutual respect, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging within their communities.
The Afghanistan National Institute of Music
Established in 2010 by Dr. Ahmad Sarmast, The Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) in Kabul, Afghanistan offers free music education to disadvantaged children, including orphans and street-working youth, to promote cultural revival and peacebuilding in a war-torn nation.
Through its comprehensive curriculum, which includes instruction in both Afghan and Western classical music, ANIM empowers students to become agents of change in their communities while preserving Afghanistan’s rich musical heritage. Despite facing numerous challenges, including security threats and limited resources, ANIM has made remarkable strides in transforming the lives of its students.
By way of its innovative approach to music education and community engagement, the program has not only nurtured musical talent but also provided a platform for dialogue, reconciliation and healing in a country ravaged by decades of conflict. ANIM serves as a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries and inspire hope in the face of adversity.
El Sistema: Domestic Programs
El Sistema USA has played a pivotal role in bringing the transformative power of music education to underserved communities across the United States (U.S.). Through its partnerships with major orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, El Sistema USA has expanded access to quality music instruction and ensemble playing opportunities for thousands of children and youth.
These collaborations not only provide students with access to world-class musicians and resources but also serve as platforms for cultural exchange and artistic excellence.
“It’s great to work with the kids,” says Julia Johnson, an El Sistema teacher in the Denver, Colorado community. “Seeing them progress and get excited about music and get excited to learn makes an impact for their community,” she went on, “the program addresses how there is a disparity in access to classical music and how making it accessible can change lives.”
Looking Ahead
El Sistema has garnered international acclaim for its transformative impact on individuals and communities. By harnessing the power of music as a tool for social change, the program has helped to break the cycle of poverty and violence in marginalized areas while nurturing musical talent and instilling values of teamwork, discipline and perseverance.
Through its commitment to equity and excellence in music education, El Sistema continues to inspire similar initiatives around the world, demonstrating the universal potential of music to create positive social change. In the words of John Oates, “It’s the music that brings us together.”
– Ava Johnson
Photo: Unsplash
Improving Rural Sanitation Access in Senegal
The Initiative
To address this public health challenge, UNICEF began to implement its highly successful Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programs in rural Senegal starting in 2009. As opposed to other, less effective rural sanitation programs, the CLTS approach emphasizes inclusive local participation to change community attitudes and behaviors regarding sanitation practices. To maximize sustainability and keep project overhead low, CLTS programs rely on UNICEF-trained local committees to manage community sanitation education and make decisions on sanitation infrastructure, such as the location of handwashing stations. Women have an equal representation in these committees, giving them a voice in their traditionally male-led communities on an issue that disproportionately affects them. Children, who perhaps open defecation and poor sanitation affect the most, take part in youth councils that can lobby UNICEF to meet their specific needs.
Educating and Making Improvements
CLTS programs combine sanitation education and basic latrines and handwashing station construction to not only create lasting sanitation improvements but also to set the stage for a smooth transition to improved sanitation in the future, according to UNICEF. While the end goal of all rural sanitation projects is to provide people with proper sanitation facilities, the poverty and established behaviors prevalent in rural areas often make this a longer-term objective. Thus, CLTS programs focus on improving rural health using cost-effective measures, such as constructing latrines and handwashing stations using locally available materials. In one example, the rural village of Bloc Chantier used old plastic peanut oil bottles that were readily available in the community to construct hand-washing stations, UNICEF reports. Such solutions provide cheap and easy ways to end the practice of open defecation, while also getting the community invested in their health and sanitation practices.
The Future
Since UNICEF began its CLTS programs in Senegal in 2009, more than 1.8 million people from 4,300 rural villages have abandoned open defecation, as of 2022, UNICEF reports. Furthermore, as of 2022, more than 6,100 of the 11,000 target villages have initiated CLTS approaches. UNICEF’s CLTS programs are not confined to Senegal and have been successfully implemented in countries from Cambodia to Timor-Leste.
Despite these successes, however, work must continue to make these gains sustainable through regular monitoring of open defecation-free communities and the provision of improved sanitation infrastructure, such as formal latrines. CLTS programs offer an excellent starting point for improving rural sanitation that can end open defecation and deliver tangible health benefits to the communities who need it most, while also engaging all members of a community to come together for a common good.
– Sebastian Hoffman
Photo: Unsplash
Photography Program Helps Improve Colombian Education
Overview of Colombian Education
In June 2023, the World Bank Group reported a 64% learning deprivation in public schools in Medellín, where Veanvé launched. Medellín also had a learning poverty index of 61 in a 195,126 population. The Learning Poverty Index gauges the percentage of children unable to read proficiently by a certain age, revealing educational challenges and areas for improvement. In 2023, more than 2.5 million Venezuelan migrants fleeing a poverty-stricken country faced multiple obstacles in obtaining education and social services.
These challenges included the absence of necessary legal prerequisites, insufficient understanding of the Colombian education system and inadequate documentation. Since then, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supported a program called Evaluar para Avanzar that sought to find learning gaps in schools and help teachers identify plans to bridge those gaps. It was successful in reaching more than 150,000 students.
Juntos Aprendemos
Juntos Aprendemos (Together We Learn) program, which began in February 2021 and runs till December 2026, aims to help migrant students ages 3 to 17 get better access to quality education. Since its focus is immigrant children, the program targets migrant areas like Medellin and Bogota.
The initiative partners with organizations such as the Ministry of Education, Secretaries of Education, the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (CFWI) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) to achieve three main goals: improve educational quality, increase access to education and strengthen community engagement.
Additionally, the program is partnering with education authorities to develop policies that foster migrant and returnee children’s access to the Colombian educational system, among other initiatives. Veanvé is one of many initiatives Juntos Aprendemos undertook to help it reach its main goals and increase migrant student enrollment.
What Is Veanve
Camilo “Rulos” Perez and Juan Diego “Skinny” Laura spearheaded Veanvé in public school Joaquin Vallejo Arbeláez Educational Institution. Their target audience was migrant students escaping difficult circumstances in host countries. Colombia reported the dropout rate for migrant students was twice as high compared to other students.
Laura and Perez believed photography would help integrate migrant students and decrease dropout rates. In the workshop, Rulos and Skinny merge lessons on film photography where students share their thoughts, emotions and experiences through collaborative art. Participants are guided in creating basic cameras and kaleidoscopes using everyday items like cardboard boxes, cans and oranges, eliminating the need for expensive equipment students cannot afford.
USAID’s Juntos Aprendemos provided Veanvé with the necessary funding, training and assistance for the workshops. The migrant students in Medellín looked at this program as an opportunity, proven when 20 people enrolled in Veanvé right when it launched in 2022. According to USAID, students were committing hours after school to participate in this initiative and sometimes walked home because of the lack of buses. Also, students looked to Perez and Laura as guides, sometimes opening up to them on issues in their lives.
Other Programs Improving the Colombian Education System
To increase migrant access to education through curricular flexibility, UNICEF launched Aprendamos Todos a Leer, which translates to Let’s All Learn to Read, in 14 settlements housing migrants such as Arauca and La Guajira. This program expanded the “educational capacity of 51 female community leaders” and benefitted more than “800 children and adolescents.”
– Lucciana Choueiry
Photo: Flickr
Child Labor in India’s Mica Mines
However, the glittering mineral hides a dark secret: the pervasive use of child labor in its mining. Child labor remains a prevalent and concerning issue within the mica mining industry. Despite its association with unethical labor practices, mica’s popularity in cosmetic products will not decline shortly. Moreover, the recent European Union ban on microplastics, effectively outlawing synthetic glitter, is poised to amplify the demand for mica even further in the foreseeable future.
Child Labor in Mica Mines
India produces 60% of all the sheet mica in the world. This mineral is exclusively found in four states within the country: Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Rajasthan. Bihar and Jharkhand stand out as the two most economically disadvantaged states in India, holding the dubious distinctions of being the poorest and second poorest, respectively, with staggering poverty rates of 51.91% and 42.16%. This combination of resource richness and economic poverty is one of the main reasons for the prevalence of child labor in India’s mica mines.
In many families residing in these regions, the harsh reality is that financial constraints prevent them from sending their children to school. Consequently, these families rely on the labor of their children to generate income and survive. Children engaged in mica mining earn a meager average daily wage of fifteen rupees, equivalent to $0.06. Children are so heavily used in mica mining because of their ability to navigate the narrow caves and tunnels where mica extraction occurs.
Tackling India’s Child Labor Problem in Mica Mines
The Indian government announced in 2017 that it would legalize mica mining to regulate its production better, take child labor out of the supply chain and crush the so-called mica mafia. Despite this announcement, as of 2020, illegal mica mining had not only not been eradicated but was thriving. The Child Labor Free Mica initiative is the most hopeful development in the fight against child labor in mica mining in India. This initiative works with children, civil society, the local community, as well as the provincial government to eliminate all forms of child labor in mica mining in Jharkhand and Bihar.
This project aims for the complete eradication of child labor in mica production in these states by next year, 2025. This goal is aligned with the national Indian government’s goal of ending child labor in 2025. One of the biggest successes of this initiative has been the creation of child-friendly villages. Child-friendly villages are a grassroots solution that centers and empowers children to defend and protect their rights and creates a community of parents and other actors that build on and support children’s rights.
– Sara del Carmen Navarro Galvan
Photo: Pexels
Avani’s Pine Needle Power Plants
Avani, a nonprofit organization, simultaneously focuses on creating jobs and reliable energy. It promotes “community-centric rural development” in the Kumaon region to enable residents to become self-sufficient, given the limited government employment opportunities in the area. Additionally, Avani introduces sustainable practices for energy and resource creation.
The earliest inception of the pine needle power plant project was in 2006 to provide power for Avanis Campus in Tripuradevi but it became its own established energy company, Avani Bio Energy, in 2012. Since then the project has expanded its reach to 9 surrounding communities with each plant supporting around 3,000 people.
The Nonprofits History
Avani began in 1997 as a branch of the Barefoot College in Tilonia. Still, she established itself as a nonprofit in 1999 when founders Bharti and Rajnish Jain moved from Delhi to the Himalayas and saw how the locals in rural areas lacked adequate access to electricity. Since then, Alvani has worked with 60 communities in the Kumaon region on various initiatives that create jobs and reliable energy sources in rural areas, often through “reviving traditional crafts”.
The first of its many initiatives included bringing 3000 solar-powered lights to 25 communities in the region in 1999. A community-run weaving program was also created as part of this plan, to employ villagers and provide them with enough income to pay for the solar panels. The pine needle power plants are another example of Avani’s work to bring sustainable electricity to rural communities and help combat the environmental and financial issues pine needles cause.
Pine Needle Power Plants
In the Kumaon forests, a thick layer of pine needles prevents water from seeping into the soil below, creating dry conditions conducive to wildfires. These fires, fueled by flammable pine needles, devastate biodiversity and farmland. Locals collect these pine needles to fuel gasification plants that generate sustainable electricity for approximately 3,000 people per facility. Additionally, the gasification process produces charcoal, which the community uses as a cleaner alternative to firewood, helping to reduce deforestation and pollution. Overall, this initiative tackles poverty by preventing forest fires that endanger the natural resources and livelihoods of 7,500 farmers, generating jobs and reliable, clean, accessible affordable energy, offering a natural and economical alternative to kerosene and curbing deforestation.
Throughout this project, as well as all of the other ones, maintaining a connection to local cultures is important for Avani. Alvani’s three principles are working for the people, the planet and prosperity. Job initiatives always tie to skills that locals have traditionally practiced, such as weaving, spinning and dyeing fabrics, this way, Avani can develop these communities while incorporating their way of life and their traditional knowledge and keeping both intact.
Recent Accomplishments
Avani Bio Energy actively pursues its mission and recently participated in the United Nations (U.N.) SDG Impact Challenge at the University of Waterloo. This event saw students competing to develop sustainable initiatives, with Waterloo students working together on sustainable solutions. Additionally, Avani Bio Energy earned runner-up status for the St. Andrews Prize for the Environment in 2022, underscoring its commitment to enhancing financial health in communities through ongoing sustainable projects.
– Emily Shapiro
Photo: Unsplash
Advancing Women’s Rights in Georgia
Legislative Reforms
There have been numerous legislative reforms the government implemented to help protect women’s rights in Georgia. For example, in September 2022, the Government approved the second National Strategy for the Protect of Human Rights in Georgia for 2022-2030, which includes a whole chapter that focuses on gender equality. One major legal reform is the Istanbul Convention, which the Council of Europe adopted in 2011, stating that violence against women is a human rights violation and a form of discrimination. This was an incredibly important reform due to the high rates of physical and sexual violence against women in Georgia. According to the EU4GenderEquality: Reform Helpdesk, 6% of women in Georgia are victims of physical and/or sexual violence and there is a 14% rate of child marriage, compared to 1% of boys married before the age of 18.
In 2017, the Georgian government ratified the Istanbul Convention, confirming its commitment to combatting violence against women. Legislation reforms are important for protecting women’s rights in Georgia, as certain laws treat violence against women as a punishable offense, therefore encouraging women to report any instances of violence and rape.
Education and Awareness Programs
Another issue affecting women’s rights in Georgia Is the lack of comprehensive education for girls and women. Many girls drop out of school early due to child marriage. According to Girls Not Brides, in 2018, 48% of women between the ages of 20-49 were married before the age of 18 and only 29% completed upper secondary education, 14% completed vocational education and 8% completed higher education.
The ongoing education system reform aims to make education more flexible and modern and it focuses on quality education outcomes. The government developed a funding system to support inclusive education for children of all genders and special education needs. In 2018, the government also developed informational databases to collect data on persons with disabilities, including girls with disabilities in education, to help improve the quality of their education.
Furthermore, in 2019, “GITA launched a program for 3,000 advanced IT specialists in highly demanded professions.” The number of women and girls’ enrollment in the courses “has increased significantly” where “at least 45% of the beneficiaries of the Agency’s ICT courses are women,” according to U.N. Women.
U.N. Women reports that “GITA is also running STEAM boot camps where participants are chosen following strict gender balance, to ensure there are equal amounts of male and female participants enrolled.” Ensuring that women and girls have equal access to education is incredibly important, as it helps them to gain independence to the ability to seek employment later in life.
Women’s Participation in Politics
Efforts to increase women’s representation in political and decision-making processes could help to empower women and encourage more women to participate in leadership roles, leading to equality. Only 11% of women in Georgia are parliamentarians in national and local governments, meaning that there’s still a lot of work necessary. However, electoral reforms in Georgia established compulsory gender quotas to create gender balance in the party list in the elections. Although women’s participation in politics remains low, this is still a huge step towards gender equality.
Economic Empowerment
Economic empowerment is crucial for reducing gender disparities and financial independence. In 2020, the government introduced the Law of Georgia on Labour Assistance, which aims to support Georgians find employment. Furthermore, it added a provision on equal pay for work of equal value to the Labour Code, meaning that employers must ensure equal pay for men and women for the equal work they perform, according to the EU4GenderEquality: Reform Helpdesk.
In addition to this, the government’s SME Development Strategy of Georgia 2021-2025 aims to promote the development of women’s entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The government aims to achieve this through “popularising the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), improving gender statistics in state programs, promoting women’s participation in state programs, strengthening women’s digital skills and the capacity building of state agencies to enable them to mainstream gender in their programs,” according to the EU4GenderEquality: Reform Helpdesk.
Overall, while there is still a lot of work necessary to help advance women’s rights in Georgia, the country has come a long way in its commitment to providing gender equality.
– Bethany O’Connell
Photo: Flickr
Employment in Moldova in Reducing Poverty
Employment as an Aid To Reducing Poverty in Moldova
The economic division of the Moldovan government, responsible for monitoring employment, reports that after 1999, the economy began to recover and thrive due to the inflow of remittances, relieving import limitations and encouraging growth. Furthermore, remittances have reduced the government’s reliance on borrowing, providing macroeconomic policy flexibility. By increasing consumption, remittances can directly contribute to reducing poverty in Moldova.
According to the study, families with migrants often experience better financial circumstances than those without and remittances are crucial to the welfare of those left behind. The Moldovan economic division emphasizes that work represents the only long-term sustainable path out of poverty for most impoverished individuals. A continuous reduction in poverty requires economic growth, achieved by creating jobs that raise people’s standard of living.
Agriculture as a Specific Strategic Aim
Davalos and Meyer state that agriculture significantly contributes to the agricultural sector and reduces poverty for the rural populace in Moldova. Moldova’s rural economy heavily depends on agriculture, which makes it poorly integrated into the market economy. It is imperative for the agricultural sector to harmoniously coexist with other industries and assume a more substantial role in shaping the foundation of a free market.
The extent to which agriculture has developed and its ability to provide raw materials to the processing sector and the population’s necessities are linked to social and economic advancement. In Moldova’s rural areas, agriculture has significant potential to reduce poverty, primarily when it works with other interested entities.
Employment as a Catalyst for Economic Mobility
Dávalos and Meyer state that the change from one initial welfare distribution to another is called economic mobility. Depending on whether we are focusing on welfare distributions across generations, such as for a parent and child or the same person or household in two distinct periods, mobility measures can be studied in either the “intra” or “inter”-generational domain.
By tracking purchasing patterns for Moldovan households over time, this study examined intra-generational mobility by examining upward and downward mobility. For instance, poverty vulnerability can be better understood by analyzing economic mobility, which standard net poverty changes cannot give. The study’s use of mobility makes it possible to create poverty transition matrices linked to other pertinent and connected individual or household dynamics, like employment profiles and socioeconomic characteristics, to ascertain the best ways of reducing poverty in Moldova.
The study revealed that while only a few non-poor households faced poverty, a considerable proportion of low-income households could enhance their standard of living and rise above it. Despite being one of the poorest countries in the region, Moldova has demonstrated one of the fastest rates of economic progress in the last decade. Consequently, a more significant portion of society, such as the less fortunate, could benefit from the current sectoral transformation.
Conclusion
Verme’s findings indicate that Moldova has sustained consistent economic growth and a marked decline in poverty rates from 2001 to the present day. During this period, there has been a relative decline in spending on the lowest quintile while overall spending has increased significantly. Furthermore, population coverage has undergone a dramatic expansion.
Verme’s incidence analysis reveals that social benefits have enhanced the likelihood of escaping poverty and mitigated the risk of falling into it. Moldova’s poverty reduction strategy has prioritized employment as a critical driver for change in multiple social sectors. This approach has proven to be a promising step in addressing poverty-related issues and sustaining progress. Moldova’s prioritization of employment is an effective model for other countries seeking to alleviate poverty.
– Jordan Cunningham
Photo: Unsplash
Empowerment Initiatives for Women in Palau
Women in Palau
Domestic violence remains a significant problem, with one in four women experiencing physical or sexual violence by a partner in their lifetime. A lack of institutional support for tackling domestic violence further exacerbates this issue. Additionally, while women still play roles in traditional decision-making, there is still an underrepresentation of women in the political arena. Another concern is the limited childcare provision in Palau, along with a lack of standard regulation for daycare facilities. These challenges highlight areas where further work is necessary to ensure true gender equality in Palau. However, alongside these challenges, women in Palau have achieved significant progress as well.
Women in Political Leadership
A landmark event in 2023, the first-ever “Meeting of Women in Elected Leadership” in Palau, marked a pivotal moment for women’s political representation and gender equality in Palau. With the support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this event brought together 33 women members from the Senate, House of Delegates, State Executives and State Legislatures of Palau. The meeting aimed to reflect on the challenges and successes of women in government and to recommend actionable changes to enhance women’s empowerment in decision-making institutions.
Palau’s second female Vice President, Honorable Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, emphasized the critical role of women’s representation in public office for achieving Palau’s developmental objectives. Despite their presence in various executive and legislative roles, the number of women in these positions remains relatively low, with women holding only 6% of seats as of 2022, indicating an ongoing need for improvement.
Gender Equality in Disaster Risk Management
Palau has also been proactive in incorporating gender perspectives into its disaster risk management. Palau’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), Bureau of Ageing, Disability and Gender (BADG) and UNDP conducted a training workshop where participants received training to integrate gender, age, disability and cultural perspectives into disaster risk management policies and practices.
This initiative is part of the broader Enhancing Disaster and Climate Resilience through Improved Disaster Preparedness and Infrastructure (EDCR) project, which aligns with Palau’s national goals, including gender equality and women’s and girls empowerment. The EDCR project aims to strengthen gender-sensitive disaster communication, enhance disaster responders’ readiness and improve community disaster resilience with integrated gender and social inclusion awareness.
Pacific Women Lead Program
Tkakl Mekreos, the Pacific Community (SPC) Country Focal Officer for Pacific Women Lead, is working closely with the Palauan Government and communities to promote gender equality. He focuses on changing the traditional narrative that confines women to caregiving roles, advocating for women’s participation in decision-making and leadership positions. A significant achievement in this regard is the development of the National Women’s Forum in Palau for International Women’s Day, which has become a well-established platform for discussing women’s issues and empowerment.
The 2021 Pacific Women Lead program, a major five-year commitment to gender equality, also plays a central role in SPC’s work for gender equality in the Pacific. With support from Australia, the program provides technical, convening and funding support to government ministries and civil society partners, driving gender equality efforts in the region. Australian government allocated $170 million for initiatives across 14 Pacific Island countries, indicating a broad and significant impact on women’s lives in these regions. Although a precise number of women directly benefited is not specified, the program’s wide-reaching initiatives and partnerships suggest a substantial impact on women’s lives in the Pacific.
The progress reflects a growing recognition of the importance of women’s rights and gender equality in Palau across various sectors. The initiatives, ranging from political representation to disaster risk management and regional gender equality programs, demonstrate Palau’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Continued efforts in these areas will be crucial for ensuring that women in Palau not only have equal opportunities but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their nation.
– Hosna Hossain
Photo: Flickr
Healing Hernias in Ghana: Robert Hicks Recognized
With such high rates of hernia complications and operations, Robert Hicks, a doctor from Northamptonshire, U.K., decided to do something to aid in healing hernias in Ghana. In 2011, Hicks made his first trip over to Carpenter, a small village in Ghana, where he and his team of four medical staff would collectively perform more than 250 hernia repairs in nine days. In 2018 Hicks and his wife, Dr. Jo Inchley, would go on to start Hernia International Carpenter, a charity dedicated to healing hernias in the country.
Robert Hicks’ Story
Hicks was raised in Newport, Wales. He would go on to receive surgical training at St Thomas’s Hospital in London in 1989 before finding himself at Northampton General Hospital. After his trip to Ghana in 2011 and the subsequent founding of his charity in 2018, Hicks partnered with Canadian and Ghanaian charities to found Leyaata Hospital in Carpenter in 2022. Hicks and his team continue to organize trips to Ghana with teams of volunteers providing aid to those seeking medical help in the treatment of hernias and other conditions. In 2024, Hicks was awarded MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his work in Ghana and his charity’s continued aid to the disadvantaged.
Hernia International Carpenter
The early days of Hernia International Carpenter (HIC) consisted of a trip to Ghana once a year for Hicks and his team of volunteers. With their trips being personally funded, their supplies generously donated and their window of operation just two weeks, Hicks and his team made it their mission to perform as many surgeries as possible within their limited time. Eventually, the HIC team partnered with the Ghana Health Team to travel to Carpenter, where they performed over 250 hernia repair operations in 2019.
The aftermath of their work led to them being invited to a durbar (a traditional event for the royal court to meet and greet their people), in which they were celebrated by and with local chiefs and queens. In November 2023, Hicks set out to Ghana to perform his work for the first time inside of Leyaata Hospital. While this trip did have the main objective of performing surgery, the HIC team’s secondary goal was to provide education and training to the hospital staff, ensuring that Carpenter remained in good hands while Hicks was in the U.K.
Wrap Up
Hicks’s work is an example of the progress that can be made to help the disadvantaged. Hicks noted in an interview with the Argus that he could see the impact his team was having on the community of Carpenter. “Year-on-year, we would see an improvement in the living conditions of the community,” Hicks said. “And an improvement in the health of the children.” Hicks has made it clear that while he is honored to receive recognition for his work, he wants his team to get their due credit, noting that he could not have achieved what HIC had achieved without them.
– Beau Sansom
Photo: Flickr
Save the Children Saved 552,000 Ugandans Last Year
Health Care
Through the Save the Children and local leaders under the Strengthening Partnerships, Results and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) program, efforts are directed toward improving nutrition for mothers, infants and young children. Working with government ministries and district partners, the charity has successfully identified the most vulnerable children and families in 35 communities. This initiative involves imparting knowledge and skills necessary for these communities to access essential services effectively. As a result, 227,000 children have benefited from these efforts, contributing significantly to their health and nutrition.
Education
Education is fundamental to Save the Children’s mission in Uganda, with the organization making substantial strides in enhancing access to quality learning. The construction of schools, teacher training initiatives and gender participation strategies significantly improved school enrolment rates, leading to a 17% gain in literacy and a 24% gain in numeracy.
In addition to its impactful work in health and nutrition, Save the Children’s education programs have positively impacted more than 167,000 girls and boys in Uganda. The investment in schools goes beyond imparting knowledge, as the organization is also actively involved in providing essential health services. This includes immunizations, as well as vision and hearing screenings in schools, ensuring that children have access to quality health care.
Child Protection
Child Protection is also at the core of Save the Children’s Initiatives, focusing on raising community awareness about children’s rights and actively implementing them. In Northern Uganda, the foundation’s Responsible, Engaged and Loving (REAL) Fathers project is making substantial strides in transforming parental practices and decreasing violence within homes. The project has achieved noteworthy reductions, including a 29% decrease in intimate partner violence and an 18% reduction in the use of physical punishment.
Additionally, it has a pioneering Gender Roles Equality and Transformations (GREAT) project in Northern Uganda, working towards reducing sexual and gender-based violence in the region. Furthermore, the Save the Children’s Life Skills for Success approach, which helps adolescent girls build vocational skills, has led to a 35% increase in the likelihood of their engagement in income-generating activities.
Refugee Response
Uganda hosts more than 1.5 million refugees (the world’s fifth highest), with 61% being children. An unfortunate reality is that many refugees in the country face poverty and food insecurity. Save the Children is actively addressing these issues through various initiatives. It provides cash for work projects and employment opportunities while also supporting local communities by engaging in tree planting and road repair activities.
Additionally, the Response Innovation Lab by Save the Children serves as a collaborative platform, facilitating the development of innovative solutions to address the unique and challenging problems faced by refugees in the region.
Final Remark
Since 1959, Save the Children has been instrumental in helping the lives of vulnerable children and their families in Uganda. Through various programs, the nonprofit has reached more than 552,000 children in the country in the past year. This fantastic progress demonstrates that change is not only possible but is actively happening in the lives of children across Uganda.
– Jack Timmins
Photo: Flickr