A small, southeastern European country, Montenegro declared independence from Serbia on June 3, 2006. Native Montenegrins form only 41% of the population with Serbs, Bosnians, Albanians and Russians from neighboring countries forming the rest of the population. With a long Adriatic coastline boasting 72 km of beaches and well-preserved ancient towns, tourism remains a key industry, welcoming 2.1 million visitors in 2022. Other main sectors include steel, aluminium, agriculture and consumer goods. Despite the country’s success in various industries, poverty is a problem that five charities operating in Montenegro are attempting to address.
About Poverty in Montenegro
According to the 2023/2024 UN Human Development report, Montenegro retains its position as a country of very high human development for the seventh year in a row. Life expectancy, education and income have all seen significant growth, with the gross national income per capita increasing by 64.5% and the Human Development Index rising by 12.7% between 2003 and 2022. However, despite economic progress, income inequality and poverty persist ― particularly in northern and rural areas ― significantly impacting displaced persons, ethnic minorities and children in institutional care. As of 2022, 17.2% of Montenegro’s population live below the upper-middle-income poverty line of $6.85 per day. Children are particularly affected, with 28.4% at risk of poverty in 2022, a slight improvement from 30.5% in 2021.
To alleviate these issues related to poverty in Montenegro whilst meeting development goals, UNDP resident representative Ekaterina Paniklova stresses the importance of Montenegro focusing on sustainable development, social protection and promoting innovation. Charities play a crucial role in bridging the gap between development goals and vulnerable communities affected by poverty. Here are five charities operating in Montenegro aiming to support communities affected by poverty:
1. Pristanište Foundation
The first of the charities operating in Montenegro is The Pristanište Foundation. Founded in March 2022, The Pristanište Foundation is a volunteering community supporting Ukrainians and other displaced persons arriving in Montenegro. Its Sleep in Silence program provides free temporary accommodation in Budva, basic necessities, SIM cards and emergency financial assistance to groups seeking aid. The foundation has helped more than 1,800 individuals, including 426 children, and is the only house in Montenegro accepting persons with disabilities. Individuals aided by the foundation express feeling “as if [they] have been transported to another reality, which delights with incredible views, positive emotions, and sincere feelings.”
In addition to material aid, the program offers psychological support through consultations and group sessions, aimed at reducing stress and trauma, and promoting resilience. Led by volunteer professionals, including clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Anna Sergeeva, this initiative has supported nearly 200 individuals since its launch, and plans are currently underway to expand the service. By offering free accommodation, necessities and psychosocial support, the foundation not only addresses the immediate needs of displaced persons but also mitigates their risk of falling into poverty ― a reality many migrants face upon arrival in a new country.
2. Red Cross of Montenegro
Founded in 1875, the Red Cross of Montenegro is a voluntary humanitarian organization involved in disaster response, health care, social support and community development. It offers training and equipment for disaster preparedness, provides emergency aid, runs flood resilience programs in vulnerable areas like Zeta Municipality and maintains a tracing service to reunite families separated by disaster.
The Red Cross Montenegro has been pivotal in supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees within the country. The organization provides them with food, clothing, hygiene kits, psychosocial care and help accessing health care through community centers near reception facilities, aiming to aid social and economic integration and prevent migrants falling into poverty. As of January 2023, the Red Cross of Montenegro directly supported 3,012 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war, distributing 2,560 food parcels and hygiene kits and 1,580 sets of clothing, organizing 138 psychosocial support workshops and conducting 197 Montenegrin language classes.
Furthermore, the organization’s youth programs include academic support, peer-led education on topics like HIV/AIDS and intergenerational projects that foster community bonds. The organization also supports older adults and persons with disabilities through home care services and community programs.
Beyond ground-level activities, the Red Cross actively collaborates on national strategies around climate resilience and humanitarian innovation, aiming to integrate climate concerns into future disaster preparedness work. The organization’s Global Climate Resilience Program, designed to scale-up locally-led, climate-smart disaster risk reduction, is projected to reach 500 million people by 2027. These strategies are essential in Montenegro, where rural and low-income communities suffer the greatest impacts from floods, often exacerbating cycles of poverty.
3. FORS Montenegro
Founded in 2006, the Foundation for the Development of Northern Montenegro (FORS) works on regional development, environmental protection and civil society initiatives. Partnering with local authorities and institutions, it promotes environmental protection through sustainable agriculture, tourism and disaster risk reduction.
One notable initiative that launched in April 2018 is Disaster do not know Borders, which aims to enhance disaster risk reduction capacities in Montenegro and Albania, with a particular focus on flood protection. The project, funded by the European Union through the Cross-Border Cooperation Program Montenegro-Albania 2014-2020, had a total budget of €483,538.35. Main activities within the project included equipment procurement, training emergency responders, updating databases on floods in the region of Shkodra Lake and running educational workshops for school children.
Over the two-year course of the initiative, more than 100 local protection and rescue personnel from Montenegro and Albania received training in flood response, swift water rescue, and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. Educational initiatives engaged more than 1,000 primary and secondary students in workshops and drawing competitions focused on flood risks and disaster preparedness. Such outreach not only raises awareness, but empowers youth in economically disadvantaged regions where poor infrastructure and limited services make recovery from natural disasters more difficult. Concluding in April 2020, the initiative reached approximately 30,000 citizens.
4. Riznica Mladosti
Riznica Mladosti, established in 2010, supports the only orphanage in Montenegro, Djeciji Dom Mladost in Bljela. While the orphanage receives government funding, the charity enhances educational outcomes and life skills for children with special needs who cannot attend regular schools.
Working closely with the orphanage’s staff, the organization provides one-to-one sessions with the children that promote academic development and emotional well-being. This project has seen not only a significant improvement in academic results for the children, but also improved self-sufficiency and ability to access employment when they leave the orphanage. In addition to education, activities like community bazaars help the children develop social and interpersonal skills. Significant improvements in academic results and emotional well-being are critical components in breaking the cycle of poverty for children growing up without stable family support or access to mainstream educational opportunities.
5. World Vision Montenegro
Originally founded as a relief project in 1998 following the Kosovo conflict, World Vision has evolved into a wide-reaching development agency in Montenegro, attending to the physical, social, psychological and financial needs of the poorest sectors of the Yugoslav population. Its primary goal is the sustained well-being of vulnerable children, addressing interconnected challenges like education, clean water, nutrition, disaster management, gender equality and social inclusion and urbanization. By investing in nutrition, clean water and financial inclusion, World Vision directly addresses some root causes of poverty.
As of 2023, an estimated 113,800 individuals have been reached worldwide through World Vision innovation projects. AgroInvest, a partner of World Vision, had loaned approximately $23,921,687 to 12,646 individuals as of 2011, allowing for radically increased milk production, cattle breeding and greenhouse maintenance to alleviate food insecurity. These loans enable low-income families to achieve self-sufficiency, especially in underdeveloped rural areas. Both World Vision and AgroInvest remain highly active in Montenegro to this day.
Looking Forward
Despite its impressive development, Montenegro continues to face challenges such as regional inequality, social exclusion and vulnerability to changing weather patterns. These five charities operating in Montenegro ― ranging from long-established institutions to grassroots initiatives ― offer targeted, community-based support that directly combats poverty, promotes inclusion and strengthens long-term resilience. As the country continues to grow, charities operating in Montenegro offer hope and practical support for a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future.
– Holly McArthur
Holly is based in Somerset, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Pixabay
5 Initiatives Fighting Poverty in Uzbekistan
1. Tailored Social Support: “Assistant to the Hokim”
The main strategy to tackle poverty in Uzbekistan is the “Assistant to the Hokim” initiative. Trained representatives are put in every neighborhood to identify and support families that are struggling. Launched in 2021, these assistants are empowered to assess needs, connect people with government services and propose customized solutions. The organization does not just hand out aid, it also finds the causes of poverty for each family and works to support them.
So far, the program has improved 35 million people’s income level. For families lacking work, assistants can arrange job interviews or training. The program also provides support to those who do not have housing by helping them secure land or subsidies. The program works locally so every community can receive help.
2. Giving Rural Families a Stake
Uzbekistan’s government has launched an initiative to distribute unused land that the state owns to low-income families for agricultural purposes. The initiative recognizes that land is one of the most valuable assets in rural economies. Since 2020, the government has allocated more than 260,000 hectares of land to 800,000 residents, providing them with opportunities to engage in farming and generate income. It is a long-term investment in rural prosperity that breaks the cycle of seasonal or subsistence living. Farmers can take out loans to improve their production or upgrade equipment.
3. Women at the Centre
There have been efforts to tackle gender inequality. Women have had limited access to education and jobs, especially in rural areas. The government has created microfinance programs and vocational training tailored specifically for women to help address these issues. As of early 2023, women managed more than 39,000 small enterprises and micro-firms. These women-led businesses have shown remarkable growth, with a net income increase of nearly 9.2 trillion soums (more than $757 million) compared to the previous year. These programs provide women with the resources to support the growth of their businesses and contribute to the goal of tackling poverty.
4. Investing in Digital Skills for the Next Generation
Youth unemployment is a significant issue when it comes to poverty in central Asia. Therefore, the Uzbekistan government implemented the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030” strategy to promote digital literacy. The strategy has resulted in the training of thousands of young people who have been part of programs that develop skills in coding, graphic design and e-commerce. The programs are set up in rural areas where there has been an increase in internet access. The strategy aims not just to educate, but also to connect a generation to the global digital economy, setting young people up in careers that are of high value to the economy and supporting families in poverty.
5. Tax Breaks for Companies Hiring the Marginalized
Uzbekistan introduced tax incentives in 2023 for companies that hire people from low-income or vulnerable backgrounds. The incentives include underrepresented groups such as those who have been unemployed for a long time and the disabled.
Under the scheme, businesses can deduct a portion of their payroll taxes for every eligible worker they employ. These are not just temporary placements; most incentives apply only after employees complete a minimum tenure, encouraging companies to retain and develop talent over time.
Looking Ahead
In 2024, household income saw significant growth, with real income per capita increasing by 10.7%, reaching an average of 2.1 million UZS per month. The initiatives that the Uzbek government has led have proven successful in tackling poverty in Uzbekistan and will continue to support families across the country.
– James Harwood
Photo: Pixabay
Youth Empowerment Initiatives in Rwanda
Never Again Rwanda
Never Again Rwanda (NAR) is a grassroots organization “dedicated to peacebuilding and social justice.” Its primary strategy is engaging young people, encouraging them to become agents for peace and valuable community members. NAR has employed several tactics to empower Rwandan youth.
One of these is confidence-building sessions, allowing young people to express their feelings and foster critical thinking skills. This has resulted in several participants running for leadership positions in their respective communities, advocating for social change and making a significant difference in post-genocide Rwanda.
NAR has also financially supported five youth-led organizations dedicated to peacebuilding and socioeconomic resilience. These youth-led initiatives attracted more than 3,000 people and they used creative approaches (poems, art, songs and more) to advocate for political reform.
Finally, NAR has worked to “bridge the gap between youth and social leaders,” through roundtable discussions where young people highlight relevant challenges and work with local government officials to foster solutions. Such transparency and connectedness between the state and the citizens are incredibly rare, proving how motivated youth are to work to make a change in Rwanda.
Youth Connekt Rwanda
The National Strategy for Transformation in Rwanda has noted that youth are its most excellent resource. YouthConnekt, created to tap into that resource, is “a platform designed to connect the youth for socioeconomic transformation.” It was first implemented in 2012 through the joint efforts of the Rwandan government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). YouthConnekt focuses on leveraging youth employability and entrepreneurship.
This program has connected thousands of young Rwandans with mentorship, networking, funding and employment opportunities. The initiative also promotes civic engagement, encouraging young people to obtain digital training and get involved in their own local government. YouthConnekt Rwanda has won multiple awards, including the Future Policy Gold Award 2019 for Economic Empowerment of Youth. It has also received endorsement from the African Union. Dozens of professional partners have joined the program, optimizing youth empowerment initiatives in Rwanda.
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)
YALI is a program founded by Barack Obama to “invest in the next generation of African leaders.” Most of Africa’s population is below 30 years old, marking a significant need to prepare them for the future. The Rwanda chapter, in particular, describes itself as a “community of young leaders who are passionate about driving positive change in our communities and beyond.”
Through the YALI Regional Leadership in East Africa, the program offers intensive training in entrepreneurship, civic engagement and various soft skills. Participants engage in collaborative activities, attend workshops and make valuable connections. YALI has a robust alumni base that spans Africa. This incredible program serves as a stepping stone for young Rwandans, empowering them to make a positive change in their local communities and beyond.
A Vision for the Future
Despite its dark past, youth empowerment initiatives in Rwanda, such as Never Again Rwanda, YouthConnekt Rwanda and YALI, have helped unlock a brighter future. These programs have helped thousands of brilliant young Rwandans to develop leadership skills, become involved in civics and create change in their local communities.
By empowering the younger generation, Rwanda has made a worthwhile investment in its future prosperity, stability and resilience. The country has not only addressed the wounds of the past but built a foundation for sustainable peace and development. This offers a valuable lesson to underdeveloped nations and post-conflict societies: investing in the youth can yield incredible results.
– Josh Weinstein
Photo: Pexels
Dismantling Gender Wage Gap in Zimbabwe
Understanding the Gender Wage Gap
The gender wage gap refers to “the difference between median earnings of men and women relative to median earnings of men.” In Zimbabwe, factors such as unequal access to education influence this difference, with more than 8,000 girls dropping out more than boys. and limited job opportunities. For example, many women work in low-income domestic jobs and earn “less than $5.50 a day.” Even within the same industries as men, women tend to less pay for performing similar work. These statistics are only a partial reflection of what women go through on a day-to-day basis, making it imperative to address the root causes of this inequality.
Root Causes of the Gender Gap in Zimbabwe
Steps Towards Closing the Gender Gap in Zimbabwe
Looking Ahead
The gender wage gap in Zimbabwe requires further addressing to eliminate it from all aspects of society. Ongoing initiatives and programs have provided hope and empowerment for women that the systemic barriers can be broken down. Empowering women benefits not only them but the nation as well, providing greater stability, prosperity and justice for all Zimbabweans.
– Blessing Nkama
Photo: Flickr
Refugee Education: A Catalyst for Development
According to the UNHCR 2024 Education Report, just 42% of refugee children make it to secondary school, compared to a global average of 77%. This number decreases even more dramatically in tertiary education, falling to 7% compared with a 42% global average. This disparity reflects a broader failure to provide refugee youth with the tools to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to society. However, it also presents a transformative opportunity: to reposition refugee education as a catalyst, not a cost, for development.
Secondary Education: A Critical Gap
Primary school enrollment for refugees has made modest gains in recent years. About 65% of refugee children attend primary school, according to the UNHCR’s 2024 Education Report. However, the transition to secondary school remains a significant challenge. Several key barriers block access:
Financial challenges are particularly stark. Educating a refugee secondary student costs about 30% more than educating a national student. In low-income countries, the annual cost for a national student averages $181, compared to $244 for a refugee. Despite the higher costs, international funding models rarely account for this disparity. Refugee education remains tied to short-term humanitarian frameworks, often leaving adolescents stranded between basic literacy and real opportunity.
Higher Education: Breaking New Ground
If secondary education is the missing middle, higher education is the next frontier for refugee inclusion. In a webinar hosted by the University of Winchester, Daniel Mutanda, an academic and advocate for sanctuary initiatives, emphasized that access to higher education often depends on circumstances beyond refugees’ control. “in many places, too many places, restrictive regulations and limited resources prevent individuals from pursuing their educational aspirations, making access to higher education a matter of geographic luck rather than a guaranteed right,” Mutanda said.
Barriers include being categorized as international students, which makes tuition unaffordable and excludes them from public financial aid. Legal status also determines access to education and future stability.
Mutanda introduced the concept of the “higher education border,” a powerful framework that highlights how multiple layers of exclusion operate: from lack of recognized qualifications and language proficiency to bureaucratic barriers and systemic discrimination.
“for those seeking sanctuary, what would be a or what could be a smooth transition in their journey is riddled with complex barriers. So often, the experience people have is hope and ambition quickly turning into feelings of helplessness and despair,” he said, describing the experience of refugee youth denied access. “So common advice that we’ve heard, I’ve heard is just to wait until your immigration status changes, which effectively puts people’s lives on hold.”
Refugee-led advocacy movements are now shaping the future of higher education. Former Sanctuary Scholars are leading initiatives like the Universities of Sanctuary network and organizations such as the Tertiary Refugee Student Network, pushing for systemic reform on local, national and global stages. Their leadership aims to meet a bold target: achieving 15% enrollment of refugee youth in higher education by 2030.
Case Study: UNICEF’s Let Us Learn
Programs like UNICEF’s Let Us Learn offer successful models for scaling refugee education. Operating in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Liberia, Madagascar and Nepal, the program addresses barriers across early childhood, primary, secondary and vocational education. Accelerated education programs in Bangladesh achieved gains of up to 59 percentage points in core subject tests. In Nepal, more than 89% of girls enrolled in accelerated programs transitioned into formal secondary schools. The program emphasizes access, quality and retention, integrating community engagement, vocational skills training and flexible schooling models to support marginalized adolescents, particularly girls.
Toward a New Paradigm
To unlock the potential of refugees, the current education model must evolve. Key changes include:
Moving Forward
Expanding access to education for displaced youth contributes to long-term resilience, workforce development and social inclusion. Supporting educational pathways, especially beyond the primary level, could enable individuals to participate meaningfully in rebuilding their communities and economies. As Daniel Mutanda said, “[Higher education] really provides an opportunity for them to flourish, whatever discipline they pursue, whatever sort of choice they make in terms of the subject area, it really gives them an opportunity to flourish.”
– Linnéa Matlack
Photo: Flickr
5 Organizations Helping To Rebuild Myanmar After the Earthquake
Military forces control the majority of the territory and some opposing forces, such as the National Unity Government’s People’s Defense Force, have said they would pause all military action in affected areas. Because of the conflict, getting outside aid into the country is not simple. However, this has not stopped several organizations from taking action and bringing aid to the millions in need. Here are five organizations helping to rebuild Myanmar after the earthquake.
Project HOPE
This organization specializes in global health and works on the ground with local representatives to bring health care aid to countries around the globe. After the Myanmar Earthquake, Project HOPE worked with one of its partners, SAMU, to put mobile medical teams on standby if needed by the government. However, they have already deployed two mobile units with the help of another partner, Community Partners International, which is connecting people in need with medical assistance.
When a disaster like this occurs, a significant issue many may not think about is the logistics of how life-saving aid is going to make its way into affected areas. Project HOPE’s response team in Yangon is addressing just that, as they are working out supply chain routes that can help aid organizations connect with local communities and bring essentials such as food, clean drinking water, and hygiene kits into affected areas.
Save The Children
This organization focuses on every aspect of an impoverished child’s life and ways to improve it. As children are some of the most vulnerable after the devastating earthquake, Save the Children mobilized 10 on-the-ground teams of around eighty staff members in various fields to help render aid to more than 91,000 people thus far.
Save The Children understands the need to provide specific care for children that is often overlooked. This is why they have established safe spaces for children in affected areas to play, learn and receive mental health support. Many schools have sustained structural damage after the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, leaving many children no place to continue their education. Save The Children is working with local organizations and partners to evaluate how they can rebuild and repair these essential spaces.
International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)
As the largest humanitarian network in the world, the IFRC has unprecedented access to getting fast aid into countries after a disaster strikes. It immediately coordinated with the Myanmar Red Cross Society to establish mobile health clinics to assist with overwhelmed hospitals. As access to working plumbing and clean drinking water is extremely limited in many of the hardest hit areas, they have also been working to distribute water purification and hygiene kits to help ease this burden.
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Following the earthquake in Myanmar, the IRC quickly realized hospitals were becoming increasingly overcrowded and that there were not enough workers to go around. To help ease the workload of the hospitals and get help to those unable to reach a treatment center, it mobilized health teams to coordinate with local authorities and started administering medicines and aid to those in need.
Doctors Without Borders
Founded in 1971 by doctors and journalists, Doctors Without Borders has worked for years to provide impartial medical aid to those in crises. The organization was quick to step in after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, providing the highly affected areas with skilled staff members not only in medicine but also sanitation, water, and logistics.
With how large the impact zones are and how many were affected, Doctors Without Borders sees their current limitations and is pushing for a larger “scale-up” of aid within the country. They are communicating and working with the country’s Ministry of Health to ensure more help is being provided in hard-to-reach areas that have lost contact with officials because of blackouts.
Looking Forward
Even before the earthquake struck Myanmar, millions were already in need of humanitarian support. This natural disaster only worsened these conditions and put millions more in need of assistance. These organizations are helping to administer life-saving aid to a country in a state of emergency by providing essential resources, medical services, and labor forces.
– Collier Simpson
Photo: Flickr
5 Things To Know About Higher Education in the Bahamas
Low Graduation Rates Pose Challenges
The Bahamas struggles with worryingly low graduation rates at the university level due to socioeconomic factors, academic challenges and other circumstances. Additionally, only 7% of students at the University of The Bahamas are studying science and technology-related courses. This lack of focus on key fields limits the country’s ability to diversify its economy, leaving the tourism sector the dominant growth driver.
Poverty as a Barrier to Access
Approximately 25% of households in The Bahamas experience poverty, especially those led by individuals with no formal education. Many families cannot afford the costs associated with university or college attendance, including fees, books and living expenses.
Limited scholarship opportunities and financial aid programs mean students from disadvantaged backgrounds often do not pursue higher education entirely. Ultimately, this deepens social inequality and prevents talented individuals from underserved communities from reaching their full potential.
A Structured Education System With Potential
The Bahamian education system, modeled after the British framework, provides a structured pathway to higher education. Students complete The Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) before pursuing advanced studies at institutions like the University of The Bahamas.
However, The Bahamas has only one public university, making it highly competitive for students, especially those from low-income households, who cannot afford to study in private institutions or abroad.
Growing Educational Attainment Offers Hope
Despite challenges, the higher education system in the Bahamas is progressing. The percentage of Bahamians aged 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree has risen steadily, reaching 15% in 2010 from 0.3% in 2000.
While still low compared to global standards, this upward trend reflects increasing access to higher education and a growing recognition of its value.
Future Opportunities Through Innovation and Investment
The future of higher education in The Bahamas is promising, with opportunities to overcome poverty-related barriers through innovation and investment. The government and private sector are exploring partnerships to fund scholarships, improve infrastructure and integrate technology into classrooms.
These efforts aim to equip students with the skills needed for a more diversified economy beyond tourism.
A Path Forward
Higher education in The Bahamas faces significant hurdles, particularly for students experiencing poverty. Yet, the nation’s structured system, rising attainment rates and commitment to innovation provide a foundation for hope.
– Sydney Carr
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Montenegro
About Poverty in Montenegro
According to the 2023/2024 UN Human Development report, Montenegro retains its position as a country of very high human development for the seventh year in a row. Life expectancy, education and income have all seen significant growth, with the gross national income per capita increasing by 64.5% and the Human Development Index rising by 12.7% between 2003 and 2022. However, despite economic progress, income inequality and poverty persist ― particularly in northern and rural areas ― significantly impacting displaced persons, ethnic minorities and children in institutional care. As of 2022, 17.2% of Montenegro’s population live below the upper-middle-income poverty line of $6.85 per day. Children are particularly affected, with 28.4% at risk of poverty in 2022, a slight improvement from 30.5% in 2021.
To alleviate these issues related to poverty in Montenegro whilst meeting development goals, UNDP resident representative Ekaterina Paniklova stresses the importance of Montenegro focusing on sustainable development, social protection and promoting innovation. Charities play a crucial role in bridging the gap between development goals and vulnerable communities affected by poverty. Here are five charities operating in Montenegro aiming to support communities affected by poverty:
1. Pristanište Foundation
The first of the charities operating in Montenegro is The Pristanište Foundation. Founded in March 2022, The Pristanište Foundation is a volunteering community supporting Ukrainians and other displaced persons arriving in Montenegro. Its Sleep in Silence program provides free temporary accommodation in Budva, basic necessities, SIM cards and emergency financial assistance to groups seeking aid. The foundation has helped more than 1,800 individuals, including 426 children, and is the only house in Montenegro accepting persons with disabilities. Individuals aided by the foundation express feeling “as if [they] have been transported to another reality, which delights with incredible views, positive emotions, and sincere feelings.”
In addition to material aid, the program offers psychological support through consultations and group sessions, aimed at reducing stress and trauma, and promoting resilience. Led by volunteer professionals, including clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Anna Sergeeva, this initiative has supported nearly 200 individuals since its launch, and plans are currently underway to expand the service. By offering free accommodation, necessities and psychosocial support, the foundation not only addresses the immediate needs of displaced persons but also mitigates their risk of falling into poverty ― a reality many migrants face upon arrival in a new country.
2. Red Cross of Montenegro
Founded in 1875, the Red Cross of Montenegro is a voluntary humanitarian organization involved in disaster response, health care, social support and community development. It offers training and equipment for disaster preparedness, provides emergency aid, runs flood resilience programs in vulnerable areas like Zeta Municipality and maintains a tracing service to reunite families separated by disaster.
The Red Cross Montenegro has been pivotal in supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees within the country. The organization provides them with food, clothing, hygiene kits, psychosocial care and help accessing health care through community centers near reception facilities, aiming to aid social and economic integration and prevent migrants falling into poverty. As of January 2023, the Red Cross of Montenegro directly supported 3,012 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war, distributing 2,560 food parcels and hygiene kits and 1,580 sets of clothing, organizing 138 psychosocial support workshops and conducting 197 Montenegrin language classes.
Furthermore, the organization’s youth programs include academic support, peer-led education on topics like HIV/AIDS and intergenerational projects that foster community bonds. The organization also supports older adults and persons with disabilities through home care services and community programs.
Beyond ground-level activities, the Red Cross actively collaborates on national strategies around climate resilience and humanitarian innovation, aiming to integrate climate concerns into future disaster preparedness work. The organization’s Global Climate Resilience Program, designed to scale-up locally-led, climate-smart disaster risk reduction, is projected to reach 500 million people by 2027. These strategies are essential in Montenegro, where rural and low-income communities suffer the greatest impacts from floods, often exacerbating cycles of poverty.
3. FORS Montenegro
Founded in 2006, the Foundation for the Development of Northern Montenegro (FORS) works on regional development, environmental protection and civil society initiatives. Partnering with local authorities and institutions, it promotes environmental protection through sustainable agriculture, tourism and disaster risk reduction.
One notable initiative that launched in April 2018 is Disaster do not know Borders, which aims to enhance disaster risk reduction capacities in Montenegro and Albania, with a particular focus on flood protection. The project, funded by the European Union through the Cross-Border Cooperation Program Montenegro-Albania 2014-2020, had a total budget of €483,538.35. Main activities within the project included equipment procurement, training emergency responders, updating databases on floods in the region of Shkodra Lake and running educational workshops for school children.
Over the two-year course of the initiative, more than 100 local protection and rescue personnel from Montenegro and Albania received training in flood response, swift water rescue, and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. Educational initiatives engaged more than 1,000 primary and secondary students in workshops and drawing competitions focused on flood risks and disaster preparedness. Such outreach not only raises awareness, but empowers youth in economically disadvantaged regions where poor infrastructure and limited services make recovery from natural disasters more difficult. Concluding in April 2020, the initiative reached approximately 30,000 citizens.
4. Riznica Mladosti
Riznica Mladosti, established in 2010, supports the only orphanage in Montenegro, Djeciji Dom Mladost in Bljela. While the orphanage receives government funding, the charity enhances educational outcomes and life skills for children with special needs who cannot attend regular schools.
Working closely with the orphanage’s staff, the organization provides one-to-one sessions with the children that promote academic development and emotional well-being. This project has seen not only a significant improvement in academic results for the children, but also improved self-sufficiency and ability to access employment when they leave the orphanage. In addition to education, activities like community bazaars help the children develop social and interpersonal skills. Significant improvements in academic results and emotional well-being are critical components in breaking the cycle of poverty for children growing up without stable family support or access to mainstream educational opportunities.
5. World Vision Montenegro
Originally founded as a relief project in 1998 following the Kosovo conflict, World Vision has evolved into a wide-reaching development agency in Montenegro, attending to the physical, social, psychological and financial needs of the poorest sectors of the Yugoslav population. Its primary goal is the sustained well-being of vulnerable children, addressing interconnected challenges like education, clean water, nutrition, disaster management, gender equality and social inclusion and urbanization. By investing in nutrition, clean water and financial inclusion, World Vision directly addresses some root causes of poverty.
As of 2023, an estimated 113,800 individuals have been reached worldwide through World Vision innovation projects. AgroInvest, a partner of World Vision, had loaned approximately $23,921,687 to 12,646 individuals as of 2011, allowing for radically increased milk production, cattle breeding and greenhouse maintenance to alleviate food insecurity. These loans enable low-income families to achieve self-sufficiency, especially in underdeveloped rural areas. Both World Vision and AgroInvest remain highly active in Montenegro to this day.
Looking Forward
Despite its impressive development, Montenegro continues to face challenges such as regional inequality, social exclusion and vulnerability to changing weather patterns. These five charities operating in Montenegro ― ranging from long-established institutions to grassroots initiatives ― offer targeted, community-based support that directly combats poverty, promotes inclusion and strengthens long-term resilience. As the country continues to grow, charities operating in Montenegro offer hope and practical support for a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future.
– Holly McArthur
Photo: Pixabay
Higher Education in Honduras
Honduran students experience significant challenges at the primary and secondary education levels that make it difficult to access higher education in Honduras, as many publicly funded schools do not have electricity, running water or qualified teachers.
Honduran students experience significant challenges at the primary and secondary education levels that make it difficult to access higher education, as many publicly funded schools do not have electricity, running water or qualified teachers.
Poor economic conditions in Honduras severely limit government spending on education. Dr. Dario Cruz, vice-rector of the Francisco Morazan University in Honduras stated, “what is left for investment, education and training or infrastructure of educational centers is scarce.” As of 2020, less than 7% of the eligible student population attended higher education institutions.
Current State of Higher Education in Honduras
Located in the capital of Tegucigalpa, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) is the flagship public university of Honduras. Founded in 1847, UNAH is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the country, and its student body accounts for more than 40% of all enrolled university students in Honduras.
There are 13 higher education institutions in Honduras, all of which fall under the authority of UNAH. UNAH is both a large public university and the body responsible for overseeing higher education in Honduras. Private institutions must submit their curriculum and policies to UNAH’s administrative branch, the Dirección de Educación Superior (DES), for approval.
Higher education institutions in Honduras offer both academic and vocational degrees. The Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional (INFOP) is a decentralized institution that connects prospective students with vocational training programs and has taught nearly 3,000 courses.
Honduras’ National Congress established INFOP in 1972 as the governing institution for vocational training policies and non-formal educational services. INFOP offers a diverse range of vocational courses, including interpersonal relations, residential electrical installation and call center operation. INFOP has five regional training centers and offers more than 80 virtual courses. The institute’s principal goal is to “link the offer of technical and vocational training to the needs of the labor market and national sectoral policies.”
There is growing recognition of the need to align higher education programs with the Honduran economy, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture. In 2024, North Carolina State University launched a partnership with UNITEC — a private technological university in Honduras — to boost economic development in the textile sector.
Hilando Oportunidades
The program called Hilando Oportunidades offers training and certification in textile manufacturing jobs for young adults in the northern region of Cortes. North Carolina State University expects more than 1,500 Honduran to take advantage of the program, which is free and open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 29.
“This initiative serves to shine light on the importance of technical education for the sustainability and development of the textile industry in our region,” said Rosalpina Rodriguez, president and director of UNITEC, following the launch of the program.
Barriers To Higher Education
There are several factors that contribute to low levels of higher education enrollment, though the primary barrier to higher education in Honduras is extreme poverty. An estimated 3.2 million children had humanitarian needs as a result of extreme poverty in 2023.
More than a third of school age children in Honduras are not enrolled in primary or secondary school, and a formidable gang presence in the country has led to child homicide rates that are among the highest in the world. Gang violence routinely prevents Honduran students from accessing the classroom. A recent United Nations assessment reported that upwards of 200,000 children stopped going to school from 2014 to 2017 due to insecurity, as parents keep students home for their safety. According to estimates from the National Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DNIC), up to one in 10 Honduran students could be members of a gang.
One can associate low enrollment rates with students dropping out of school in exchange for employment to support their families. Despite the compulsory nature of primary and lower-secondary education, students in Honduras average 10 years of schooling. High absenteeism rates and a shortage of qualified teachers severely limit students’ opportunities to pursue higher education.
According to a report from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), “The main challenges are low access to preschool and secondary education as well as weak learning outcomes across the education system, low number of trained teachers and insufficient learning materials.”
Another major challenge is physical access to institutions. Roughly half of Honduras’ population lives in rural areas, while most universities are located in urban centers such as Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba. Rural regions also experience significantly higher poverty rates. In fact, there are three areas in Honduras with no higher education institutions at all.
Hope for the Future
Following the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, Honduras began the process of reforming and modernizing its education system. In the decades that followed, the country enacted a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening higher education.
In 2010, the DES established the Honduran Higher Education Quality Accreditation System (SHACES) as the entity responsible for overseeing quality assessment and accreditation processes for higher education institutions and academic programs.
Organizational Structure
A 2015 USAID project, the Advance program, originated to enhance technical training at the university level in Honduras. Five years later, the program resulted in new, modernized technical degree programs that better respond to the hiring needs of the private sector and give young people the skills to enter the Honduran economy.
Honduras also launched a specialized scholarship program in 2017 — the Presidential Scholarship Program Honduras 2020 — a financial aid initiative designed to support students’ professional development in key economic sectors such as tourism and manufacturing. The program also helps connect Honduran students with U.S. higher education institutions.
Established in 2022, the National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENACIT) and the Honduran Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (IHCIETI) work to strengthen technological innovation and academic research at the higher education level. SENACIT partners with universities across the country to stage academic conventions, promote technological research and develop relationships with the global academic community.
Moving Forward
Despite declining poverty rates and an improving economy in recent years, Honduras remains a developing nation with limited resources for its higher education system. However, the Honduran government has recognized the critical role higher education plays in improving social and financial conditions, and significant progress has been made in both the public and private sectors to improve access, strengthen the curriculum and modernize the administration of higher education in Honduras.
– Willem Quigley
Photo: Flickr
Elderly Poverty in Cameroon
Health Threats
One of the greatest consequences of elderly poverty in Cameroon is reduced access to health care. Citizens have to pay for services, and availability is often limited in the northern and eastern regions. Additionally, the people in these regions can distrust health services. The elderly are the leaders of households because families value their experience, and many elderly people dislike technology for fear that it devalues that experience.
In 2022, more than 400,000 Cameroonians were living with HIV and health facilities reported more than 9,000 new cases. The infection rate among the elderly in rural areas is 2.6%. HIV-positive Cameroonians in their prime years can struggle to support the elderly. If they die, orphans and widows must depend on the elderly for income, forcing them to continue working despite their age.
Cameroon has used rapid molecular diagnostic tests to identify TB since 2012, but health facilities only reported 24,000 TB patients in 2019, compared with the estimated average of 52,000 TB patients per year, indicating a significant diagnostic gap. In 2021, the mortality rate of TB (excluding people also infected with HIV) was 30 cases per 100,000 people.
Food security is another health concern. In a community in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital, 37.5% of the elderly were food insecure in 2024.
The Cameroonian government spends less than 5% of GDP on health care, and while the 2017 National Social Protection Policy set the goal of increasing coverage, it was unclear as to the methods that would be used.
Limited Social Insurance
As people age and become unable to work, their only source of income is social insurance, making it a necessary response to elderly poverty in Cameroon. The country’s social insurance system only covers those in the formal sector, the portion of the economy that is subject to taxes and social contributions, but the majority of the labor force works in the informal sector. Only 118,000 citizens, less than 0.01% of the population, receive a pension. Widows only receive a survivor pension if they do not have children in the workforce.
Because of this, many Cameroonians rely on family, religious institutions or tontines for support, but these are more volatile than government programs. At the moment, all government programs are contributory, and social safety nets protect 0% of the poorest quintile of the population.
Barriers To Personal Development
Government spending on education has remained at 3% of GDP for the past decade, and tertiary education receives far less funding than primary or secondary education. Along with restrictions on access to tertiary education based on gender, ethnicity or political affiliation, this hinders many Cameroonians’ ability to potentially gain certain types of jobs, which may force them into work with greater health risks and less insurance coverage through their elderly years.
Banking services are largely unavailable outside urban areas, and less than 20% of citizens have access to them. This prevents many people from saving money they can rely on as they age, which could worsen elderly poverty in Cameroon.
Solutions
Positive-Generation, a Cameroonian nonprofit, has collaborated with The Regional Centre for Research and Training in Clinical Management in Fann, Senegal, to improve care for those living with HIV over 50. They prioritize diagnosis and treatment of comorbidities, two or more medical conditions that affect a single patient at the same time. The initiative has reduced the price of drugs for high blood pressure and diabetes. Additionally, the organization has administered free care for cervical cancer and provided education and screenings for more than 1,200 people 50 or older. It also refers patients to organizations that promote healthy aging through exercise and physical therapy.
From 2009 to 2017, the World Bank Group treated 10,000 cases of tuberculosis and taught hygiene practices to avoid contraction of diseases. Health care workers in the village of Kagnol visited all households twice a month to assess health conditions. If necessary, they escort patients to nearby health care facilities.
In response to the lack of social safety nets, the Group’s International Development Association (IDA) established a cash transfers program that has benefited 85,000 households since 2013. The IDA plans to train more than 60,000 young people in entrepreneurship and business development. Training initiatives will allow them to care for themselves financially as they age.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has invested in a project to increase production of rice and onion. Furthermore, the project aims to rehabilitate land and build new crop storage facilities. The project targets 216,000 people in the northern and far northern regions. Poverty levels in these regions are particularly high, as well as northwestern and western regions. 70% of these people are adults or elderly, and the IFAD specifically focuses on those with disabilities.
The IFAD’s Aquaculture Entrepreneurship Development Support Programme similarly identifies the elderly as a target group. The plan includes guidelines for farm contractors to reduce dust and particulates, which pose health risks for the elderly.
Looking Ahead
Many programs have effectively addressed elderly poverty in Cameroon. Improved health care access and agricultural production will continue to let the elderly support themselves. Progress in that area shows this issue can be beaten.
– Tyler Payne
Photo: Flickr
Powering the Balkans: Albania’s Green Transition
Additionally, extreme weather patterns have affected weather conditions, causing droughts, which pose a real threat to the stability of these power sources. Therefore, the latest goal has been to promote Albania’s green transition and investments into other renewable sources such as solar and wind. The renewable transition aims to maintain a clean source of energy and avoid the abuse of water.
Solar Initiatives
On the one hand, due to the amount of sun and good weather conditions in Abania, solar energy was a great success. The country distributed 40 licences for a maximum of 466 MW of solar production. Although many of the current projects are at a small scale, in 2020, the launch of the large solar photovoltaic plant (PV) project named Karavasta predicted a promising future.
Voltalia is an international energy producer that focuses on renewable transition projects development and the primary investor in this infrastructure. Karavasta PV aims to provide half of the energy produced to Albania’s public energy company for 15 years, while the other half will be granted to private companies. The initiative’s objective is to produce electricity to supply around 220,000 households with 140 MW. By the end of 2024, the plant had produced 258 GWh, which translates to 25.8 MW, exceeding its initial goal. Consequently, the company decided to buy more land to open other solar power plants in the country.
Wind Power
On the other hand, wind projects have yet to be fully deployed. Albania is moving forward with wind energy, with a 234 MW project planned by Biopower Green Energy and Marseglia Group and 222.5 MW awarded to Guris, Total Eren and Verbund in 2023, according to the 2024 RenewStart report.
In addition, a 100 MW wind power auction is planned for next year, potentially increasing to 150 MW, along with an offshore wind project in development. Unfortunately, wind power projects tend to be slower due to their need for specific locations where not only is wind present, but also a grid source.
Albania’s Green Transition and Labor Market
The “Market Transformation for Solar Energy PV Acceleration” project in Albania is contributing significantly to skill development and employment. Around 250 individuals will receive training on solar energy projects with technical staff from the Energy Efficiency Agency. The project collaborates with the Albania-Japan Chamber of Trade and Industry (AJCCI) and provides studies on the feasibility of local businesses, encouraging private sector engagement. Albania’s objective of reaching 490 MW of solar PV capacity by 2030 could create 1,600 new jobs in fields such as consultancy, installation, maintenance, training and project management.
Fostering renewable energy projects tends to create employment and boost the economy. A small project with a capacity of 50 MW solar project already requires around 230,000 person-days of work, especially in the construction and transport sectors. This enhances local community jobs, with 70% of the workforce coming from the local area for installation and maintenance. Wind projects work similarly; they can create job opportunities for approximately 43% of local workers, according to the 2021 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report.
Benefits to the Local Community
The investments in PV energy produce clean electricity without releasing harmful greenhouse gases, reducing air pollution and fighting extreme weather patterns. Since PV technology uses small quantities of water, it can be useful in areas with water shortages. Besides, solar panels are silent, lowering noise pollution and improving living conditions. In rural areas, solar panels help the easy access to electricity due to their easy location in any place. Rooftop solar panels give private usage, helping lower bills and improving the economy.
Additionally, wind energy auctions in Albania will foster community benefits. With the production of 222,48 MW of wind capacity, it will strengthen its energy security and reduce dependence on imports of hydropower. Granting the population access to low-cost electricity, which in consequence reduces energy bills.
Albania’s Green Transition: The Future
Albania’s green transition moves a step forward and cooperates with the EU to align with the organization’s environmental standards. The country works to raise environmental awareness, promote circular economy practices and protect its biodiversity. The partnership reflects a growing recognition that the green transition creates jobs, encourages innovation and improves the well-being of citizens. The engagement in building a greener economy may position Albania as an emerging leader in sustainable development in the Western Balkans.
– Sara Arias Saiz
Photo: Flickr