Education in the Solomon Islands is difficult to access for youth, creating a huge hurdle for the island nation. As a country made up of more than 300 inhabited islands, the challenge of attending school across the islands means around 20 percent of children are out of school. Uneven population distribution makes providing educational services difficult at best, and in the 2003 conflict, many schools were burnt down and teachers and students fled the violence.
As the number of out-of-school young people has increased, the Solomon Islands has seen a parallel increase in political violence as youth have found an outlet for their frustration in riots, crime and violence. A 2005 study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) found that under-18 youth were being recruited by armed groups. This prompted the creation of a peace education module, a community-based model bringing together educators, young people, community leaders and NGO’s. The program’s purpose is to foster understanding of peace, conflict and good governance. To address the tension and positively re-engage youth, the government and NGOs have increased their focus on education in the Solomon Islands as an impactful way to promote peace measures.
To address the tension and positively re-engage youth, the government and NGOs have increased their focus on education in the Solomon Islands as an impactful way to promote peace measures.
The content of the educational curriculum is being thoughtfully reconsidered, as it is cited as a potential causal factor in the Islands’ conflicts. A perceived divide between traditional customs and skills and colonial Western-style curricula has encouraged educators to innovate, implementing the use of native languages in schools and diversifying teaching materials on history, religion and culture.
In order for the peace modules and curriculum innovations to succeed, school enrollment and completion rates must improve. As of 2012, Education Policy and Data Center (EPDC) statistics show a high enrollment of both young boys and girls in primary school, with a net enrollment rate of 81 percent and a primary completion rate of 85 percent. However, only 72 percent of students were continuing their education in the Solomon Islands and enrolling in lower secondary school.
Since then, the hard work of local actors such as the Solomon Islands’ Curricular Development Division, church organizations and local women’s groups has demonstrated great commitment to making school more accessible. Partnerships with organizations including UNICEF, the New Zealand Agency for International Development and Save the Children have supported these efforts, and these powerful collaborations are rebuilding and innovating current educational structures.
In fact, based off of 2000-2010 education trends in the Solomon Islands, the Education Policy and Data Center predicts a 100 percent enrollment rate for primary and lower secondary students by the year 2025. By engaging every young person, education in the Solomon Islands will hopefully reduce conflict and promote peace. As long as aid funding and the government’s commitment to education continues, delivering culturally relevant, quality education can be a reality for the Solomon Islands in a few years.
– Irena Huang
Photo: Flickr
Impacts of Poverty in Countries with the Most Disasters
According to a 2017 report from the World Bank, the link between poverty and natural disasters is simple: “natural disasters increase global poverty,” sending 26 million people into poverty each year and generating annual losses of $520 billion. Countries with the most disasters are spread around the globe, and the extent of the impact of natural disasters like hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes depends on where they strike.
The World Bank notes that a flood or earthquake can be disastrous for those in poverty while having a negligible impact on a country’s aggregate wealth or production. Impact on aggregate wealth has traditionally been the measurement for natural disaster severity. Measuring the severity of natural disaster based solely upon economic loss often means the poor are overlooked.
The top five countries with the most disasters are China, the United States, the Philippines, Indonesia and India. The list of countries with the most disasters is different than that of countries with the most deaths caused by natural disaster. Of the top 10 countries with the highest disaster mortality in 2014–China, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Peru, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Japan and Indonesia–seven have low-income or lower-middle-income economies. There seems to be a correlation here, as 46.1 percent of disaster-related deaths in 2014 occurred in these seven countries.
The global average for socioeconomic resilience, defined as a country’s ability to bounce back from events such as natural disasters, is 62 percent. Low to middle-income economies generally have lower socioeconomic resilience rates than high-income economies. This means that after a natural disaster they struggle more than high-income economies to recuperate. For example, Guatemala, a lower-middle income economy, has a socioeconomic resiliency of 25 percent, while Denmark, a high-income economy, sits at 81 percent.
Measurement of natural disaster impact is changing to account more for those living in poverty. In a 2017 report, the World Bank addresses this issue by providing new strategies for determining natural disaster impact. These account for disaster impact in terms of loss of well-being rather than loss of financial assets alone.
Implementation of disaster management procedures in low- to middle-income countries can help protect against economic loss and reduce the likelihood of people falling into poverty. The World Bank estimates that policies targeting disaster response can save governments $100 billion dollars per year. Unlike in the past, the World Bank adds that “disaster risk management can be considered a poverty reduction policy,” providing a window into the future where resources are available to lessen the impact of these unavoidable phenomena in countries with the most disasters.
– Cleo Krejci
Photo: Flickr
10 Important Facts About Guinea-Bissau Refugees
Guinea-Bissau is positioned on the west coast of Africa, south of Senegal. In recent years, the total number of asylum applicants from Guinea-Bissau has increased significantly. Among the 1,467 people fleeing persecution, 99 percent of applicants are being rejected from European asylum. To understand why these people are fleeing and why no one will take them in, here are 10 facts about Guinea-Bissau refugees.
10 Facts About Guinea-Bissau Refugees
These 10 facts about Guinea-Bissau refugees show that there are many considerable issues surrounding the people of Guinea-Bissau, making their case for asylum compelling. However, many European countries are unable to integrate them into their culture. This refusal by affluent European countries leaves thousands of refugees with nowhere to go and their applications for asylum rejected. The lives of these refugees are valuable, yet they have not been treated as such. Many are stuck in their home country without adequate living conditions.
However, improvements have been made. Regarding health and sanitation, The World Health Organization has seen a drop in malnutrition since 2010 and a significant decrease in infant mortality in the last decade. Changes are being made, and, slowly but surely, the lives of people in Guinea-Bissau are improving. As long as affluent countries such as the United States keep giving, Guinea-Bissau will see less emigration and a higher ranking in the U.N.’s human development index.
– Lucy Voegeli
Photo: Flickr
A Look at the Life of Dr. Osotimehin
On June 4, 2017, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, died in his West Harrison, New York home at the age of 68. He led the United Nations Population Agency.
Dr. Osotimehin amassed renown for his work with women’s sexual health and reproductive rights around the world. Additionally, he promotes the UN goals of “preventing maternal deaths in childbirth, meeting all demands for family planning, and eliminating harmful practices against women and girls.” Here is a look back at the rich life of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin.
Osotimehin was born on Feb. 6, 1949 in Ogun State, Nigeria. He received a doctorate in medicine from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 1979. He became the Nigerian Minister of Health in 2008. In addition, his achievements include an award for the Nigerian national honor and Officer of the Order of the Niger. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminate polio and other childhood diseases.
In 2011, Osotimehin assumed the position of the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund. This fund plays a significant role in providing health care and training to midwives to help women fleeing conflict in war-torn countries.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) funds programs that help mothers deliver babies during disasters. Additionally, it prevents violence against women and girls, and argue against female genital mutilation. Unfortunately, the UNFPA has been hit with a series of blows by the Trump Administration, including a $33 million funding cut.
“The world has lost a great champion of health and wellbeing for all,” the UN said in their press release of Dr. Osotimehin’s death. Nonetheless, the “UNFPA is dedicated to continuing Dr. Osotimehin’s grand vision for women and young people and will continue to stand up for the human rights and dignity of everyone, particularly the most vulnerable adolescent girls,” the statement added.
Dr. Osotimehin dedicated his life to helping women and girls around the world. Consequently, countless individuals will dearly miss him.
– Kelsey Jackson
Photo: Flickr
Education in the Solomon Islands
Education in the Solomon Islands is difficult to access for youth, creating a huge hurdle for the island nation. As a country made up of more than 300 inhabited islands, the challenge of attending school across the islands means around 20 percent of children are out of school. Uneven population distribution makes providing educational services difficult at best, and in the 2003 conflict, many schools were burnt down and teachers and students fled the violence.
As the number of out-of-school young people has increased, the Solomon Islands has seen a parallel increase in political violence as youth have found an outlet for their frustration in riots, crime and violence. A 2005 study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) found that under-18 youth were being recruited by armed groups. This prompted the creation of a peace education module, a community-based model bringing together educators, young people, community leaders and NGO’s. The program’s purpose is to foster understanding of peace, conflict and good governance. To address the tension and positively re-engage youth, the government and NGOs have increased their focus on education in the Solomon Islands as an impactful way to promote peace measures.
To address the tension and positively re-engage youth, the government and NGOs have increased their focus on education in the Solomon Islands as an impactful way to promote peace measures.
The content of the educational curriculum is being thoughtfully reconsidered, as it is cited as a potential causal factor in the Islands’ conflicts. A perceived divide between traditional customs and skills and colonial Western-style curricula has encouraged educators to innovate, implementing the use of native languages in schools and diversifying teaching materials on history, religion and culture.
In order for the peace modules and curriculum innovations to succeed, school enrollment and completion rates must improve. As of 2012, Education Policy and Data Center (EPDC) statistics show a high enrollment of both young boys and girls in primary school, with a net enrollment rate of 81 percent and a primary completion rate of 85 percent. However, only 72 percent of students were continuing their education in the Solomon Islands and enrolling in lower secondary school.
Since then, the hard work of local actors such as the Solomon Islands’ Curricular Development Division, church organizations and local women’s groups has demonstrated great commitment to making school more accessible. Partnerships with organizations including UNICEF, the New Zealand Agency for International Development and Save the Children have supported these efforts, and these powerful collaborations are rebuilding and innovating current educational structures.
In fact, based off of 2000-2010 education trends in the Solomon Islands, the Education Policy and Data Center predicts a 100 percent enrollment rate for primary and lower secondary students by the year 2025. By engaging every young person, education in the Solomon Islands will hopefully reduce conflict and promote peace. As long as aid funding and the government’s commitment to education continues, delivering culturally relevant, quality education can be a reality for the Solomon Islands in a few years.
– Irena Huang
Photo: Flickr
Top Diseases in El Salvador
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the relatively small country, which has less than seven million citizens. The next leading causes of death include influenza, pneumonia, kidney disease, liver disease and lung disease. El Salvador has a relatively high number of healthcare workers but is still not able to meet the needs of the population with its current healthcare system and the unequal distribution of healthcare workers at different levels of service.
It is important to note that the top diseases in El Salvador and the top causes of death are not the same. Violence against citizens and road traffic accidents are among the top ten causes of death in El Salvador.
Regarding infectious diseases in El Salvador, currently, the Zika virus is still a significant risk to pregnant women in or traveling to El Salvador. The primary method of contraction of this disease is through mosquito bites and sexual exposure. However, these mosquitoes cannot usually survive at elevations above 6,500 feet.
Though not everyone who contracts Zika gets sick, sometimes mild symptoms can last for several days. Occasionally Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) will accompany Zika virus, which entails muscle weakness and paralysis for a few weeks to several months. Research suggests the two are associated. However, it remains unconfirmed due to the minimal amount of people with Zika virus that also contract GBS.
Hepatitis A and Typhoid can both be contracted through contaminated food or water in El Salvador though they are not among the top causes of death in the country. The risk of malaria contracted through mosquitoes is low, and is preventable with bug sprays.
Though El Salvador has struggled to provide adequate healthcare to its citizens in the past, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MSPAS) has made strides in changing things. Most pressing is the disparity between public and private healthcare systems.
– Ellen Ray
Photo: Flickr
IBM’s Science for Social Good Program is Helping Save the World
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is one of the organizations IBM is working with. The Cary Institute’s mission is to research and address the problem of the Zika virus in Central and South America. When the Zika virus arrived in Brazil through mosquitos, it gave babies many life-threatening diseases, such as brain under-development. Without a widely distributed vaccine in countries where only high-class citizens have access to health care, many unborn children are at risk.
Science for Social Good is assisting The Cary Institute in “applying machine learning and data science tools to identify primate species that could become animal reservoirs for Zika” in order to contain and combat the disease. In a short period of time, IBM technology helped pinpoint areas where Zika is most prevalent. Then, they created through mobile phone apps that map out these locations, allowing citizens to stay more informed and cautious. This technology also identified primate species that carry the disease in the wild.
In addition to The Cary Institute, IBM is assisting the emergency food service St. John’s Bread and Life. IBM will create an artificial intelligence supply chain model of emergency food operations and share it with cloud computing technology. Thus, Bread and Life can share its most advanced practices with other organizations to better help those in need. The digitization of new organizations would make both education on hunger issues and providing aid to the needy much easier.
“Science for Social Good is built on the premise that applied science and technology can solve the world’s toughest problems,” reads IBM’s research page. With companies like these beginning to take a more globalized approach to problem-solving, we may see more research projects like Science for Social Good in the future.
– Vicente Vera
Photo: Flickr
10 Facts About Marshall Islands Refugees
Springdale, Northwest Arkansas, is just a few thousand miles from the Marshall Islands. Springdale has become a prominent relocation center for Marshall Islands refugees. As the “poultry capital of the world,” Springdale has offered Marshallese refugees employment through Tyson, a frozen food company.
The Marshall Islands is a small coastal republic consisting of a few main islands and coral atolls. Rising sea levels, intense tropical storms and droughts have disrupted life in the Marshall Islands. Climate change is at the root of these issues. Here are 10 facts about Marshall Islands refugees.
10 Facts About Marshall Islands Refugees
Despite the disastrous effects of global warming, the Marshallese are making headway on slowing its path until they can find permanent solutions.
– Mackenzie Fielder
Photo: Flickr
How to Lobby for a Cause
Lobbying for a cause is an important part of the political process and a key way all citizens can impact government decisions. There are many ways to advocate for a cause. Here are seven important points to consider when regarding how to lobby for a cause important to you.
7 Ways to Lobby for a Cause
Learning how to lobby for a cause takes time and often requires one to re-evaluate their strategies in order to convey their message most effectively. Remaining persistent and listening to all sides of an issue are crucial aspects of lobbying for a cause, and over time can lead to successful results.
– Nicole Toomey
Photo: Flickr
Fighting Common Diseases in Guatemala
In certain areas of Guatemala, malaria rates are higher than in other countries. In 2015, there were 6,834 cases of the disease. Since 2005, the government has been fighting the disease with additional funding from the Global Fund. The goal is to nationally eliminate malaria by 2020. In order to avoid bacterial diarrhea, doctors advise individuals to practice good hygiene when using the restroom, maintain clean water, and properly clean food.
Lastly, Guatemala created a comprehensive sexual education plan to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, a survey in 2015 showed that only 7 percent of students learned all of the intended points in the program. Another issue with this program is that out of classrooms that taught students about condom usage, 43 percent did so incorrectly. Since STDs and STIs are a common problem in Guatemala, people are pushing for improvement of the sexual education program through better instructor training or a complete reconstruction.
These are a few of the most common diseases in Guatemala. Travelers are warned against malaria and bacterial diarrhea. Additionally, HIV ranks number nine in the top 10 causes of death in Guatemala. Through better education and prevention, the prevalence of these common diseases in Guatemala can significantly drop and the well-being of the people will improve.
– Helen Barker
Photo: Flickr
How to Improve the Economy by Reducing Global Poverty
In addition to the moral reasons for reducing global poverty, more investment in foreign assistance benefits both domestic and international economies. To understand how to improve the economy by reducing global poverty, some particular factors must be considered. These are access to education, infrastructure and finance. All of these factors stimulate an economy.
Global poverty reduction boosts the global economy. Education plays a substantial role in this by closing the gap between the world’s rich and poor. According to Brookings, studies show that “the education gap between kids from poor and rich families has increased substantially, making it difficult for children from poor families to close the income gap between themselves and children from rich families.” It is becoming more and more apparent that education bridges these divides and helps accelerate economic growth.
Education is in the best interest of countries giving foreign aid. Education-based programs can give children the skills they need to complete degrees for well-paying jobs later in life. The comprehensive skill level of a labor force is a leading element of local job and wage growth. Growth in job numbers helps an economy to prosper. A generation with access to education will likely become a group of entrepreneurs more likely to practice equitable governance and improve not only their own country’s economy but the worldwide economy. Furthermore, advances in human development promote economic growth.
It is in the best interest of first world countries to use their foreign aid budget to help lessen the growing worldwide gap between rich and poor. An influx of foreign aid helps promote a strong and stable economy for all. As more people in developing countries are given the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty, it creates new consumers of U.S. products. The U.S. already benefits from an about one percent investment in foreign aid from the federal budget, as more than half of U.S. exports now go to developing countries. Every prosperous countries should consider how to improve the economy by reducing global poverty.
Even with trillions of dollars being spent on programs, there is still a long way to go in order to get the entirety of the global population above the poverty line, which is $1.90 per day. More than 700 million people are living at or below this level. Increasing not only work rates, but the amount of schooling completed is thought to be a successful approach. There are solutions to these emerging problems; education and an influx of jobs are what is going to create the most change and prosperity.
– Lucy Voegeli
Photo: Flickr