In 1940, about 11,000 people lived in Qatar. Today, nearly two million men and women of every ethnicity and income reside in this state, living at the mercy of imported food.
However, Qatar sits comfortably as the largest global exporter of liquefied natural gas. A majority of residents are foreign workers, with no more than 13% native Qataris. As a result, this 13% – fewer than 300,000 – became very wealthy in the past two decades.
Justin Gengler, an American professor at Qatar University, calculated the annual income for each citizen at $180,000.
Skyscrapers now dominate the Qatar skyline – monuments to Qatar’s rapid economic growth. This rising urbanization, however, contrasts sharply with the declining food supply.
The arid region cannot support the recent influx of foreign workers. Limited land and chronic water scarcity restricts agricultural growth and heightens fear of food insecurity. Qatar imports more than 90% of its food and desalinates nearly 100% of its water. Today, it faces an agricultural trade deficient of $1.2 billion.
Dependence on wealth from natural oil and gas cannot sustain the state, as it combats degraded soil, difficult climate, and a lack of irrigation water.
Robert Siegel of NPR reports, “The way the Qataris see it, it’s a fair match, paying for the best technology to triumph over the most adverse natural environment.”
The government established the Qatar National Food Security Program (QNFSP) in 2008. This initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency, by investing in agricultural technology. Ideally, this technology makes “optimal usage of scare resources.”
Technology ties the principles of growth and sustainability together. At the Ministry of Environment, Fahad Al-Attiya hopes to transform Qatar from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a knowledge-based one.
A seven acre farm sits 12 millimeters from Doha. Trees and several greenhouses form a protective ring around the farm, as harsh winds threaten the crops. The farm rests on the very limited source of fresh groundwater.
Nearly 60% of residents live in Doha, relying on desalinated water. Farmers, however, depend on aquifers. More than a century ago, water flowed freely. Today, farmers and consumers have overdrawn their aquifers and exhausted the water supply.
The QNFSP intends to equip farmers with more efficient irrigation technology, placing Qatari farms on par with those in more favorable climates. At this time, only one percent of total land is cultivated and farms declined by 30% in the past five years. However, by 2030, the state aims to produce 40% of its food domestically.
Around 50,000,000 cubic meters of water from rain and underground channels remains and though this can sustain the state for two or three years, it needs more long-term solutions.
The state continues to grow by 15% annually and consumes more water than any nation in the world. However, rainfall in Doha totals a mere 74 millimeters per year. Consequently, it must rely heavily on energy for the desalination for water.
With 300 days of sun, Qatar holds a competitive advantage: renewable energy.
Though the global economy values gas and oil, Qatar serves as a reminder to all: without access to water, the threat of food insecurity and poverty persists.
– Ellery Spahr
Sources: NPR, Ted Talks
Photo: QNFSP
Zuckerberg $1 Billion to Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook and inspiration for Jesse Eisenberg’s role in The Social Network, has committed $1 billion to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVC). Audiences who remember the movie might be surprised by this contribution, considering the depiction of Zuckerberg in the film was essentially that of a ruthless and self-serving young man. The technology industry in general is often considered greed-oriented and profit-driven, rather than beneficial to humanity. Chief Executive of the SVC fund, Emmet Carson, says the money will go to health and education.
The SVC Foundation helps identify organizations that are most effective with their aid, both in the US and internationally. Their mission, listed on their official website states, “We provide visionary community leadership by identifying emerging challenges in our region. We address those challenges through our grantmaking programs, our research and our ability to bring together diverse groups of problem-solvers. We build and energize a community of philanthropists who strengthen the common good.”
The organizations that the SVC funds have been studied in order to confirm that their work is making a tangible difference with the money they are given.
Featured on the SVC homepage is a spotlight section that is currently linking viewers to the top charities helping Typhoon Haiyan victims. The Silicon Valley Community Foundation partners with and researches these organizations to track what their relief funds actually do so that donors know their money is really making an impact. Much of what the foundation does revolves around investment management, and matching potential donors with charities that are involved with specific lines of aid ,disaster relief and medical research.
Zuckerberg’s donation to the foundation will be his second large donation in the past six months.
In December 2013, Zuckerberg donated almost $1 billion in Facebook stock to charity, and his 2014 donation makes him responsible for the largest cash or stock donation of anyone under 30 years of age. Wealth and technology have been criticized for their power to corrupt, but donations like these to organizations that do legitimate good for others definitely speak for themselves.
– Kaitlin Sutherby
Photo: CNN Money
Sources: Philanthropy, Silicon Valley, Business Insider
Poverty in Cote D’Ivoire
Cote D’Ivoire, French for “Ivory Coast”, was once the paradigm of economic prosperity and stability for the African continent. Located in West Africa, Cote D’lvoire is one of the world’s leading exporters of coffee and palm oil and once held the title of most prosperous country in West Africa.
However, after the death of the nation’s first president, Houphouët-Boigny, the prized economy of Cote D’Lovire was riddled by insurgencies. Due to internal strife, such as a toll-taking civil war, the nation is now gripped by severe poverty. According to the World Bank, the proportion of the population experiencing poverty skyrocketed between 1983 and 1993, with the poverty ratio increasing from 10.1% to 34.6%. Poverty in Cote D’Ivoire has since steadily increased, with the poverty ratio peaking at 42.7% in 2008.
The extreme poverty in Cote D’Ivoire is compounded by insufficient resources, leaving Cote D’Ivoire unable to deal with inadequate housing and a growing population. According to Habitat for Humanity, housing in Cote D’lovire has a scarcity of nearly 10,000 houses each year. A significant contributor to this crisis is the process of urbanization- a progression that has lured over half of the population into urban areas such as a towns and cities.
The housing shortage is particularly severe in the rural, underdeveloped areas of the country. These locales lack the necessary tools and infrastructure to provide adequate housing for the residents of Cote D’lvoire. For instance, many residents dwell in traditional edifices composed of vulnerable materials and unsound construction, such as mud, wooden frames, and thatch-roofs. These houses are extremely susceptible to fire and disease, particularly since thatch-roofs attract mosquitos and tsetse flies aggrandize the chances of locals contracting malaria and other lethal and debilitating diseases. Additionally, these frail abodes are typically overpopulated – housing far too many individuals for what the structure itself can naturally support. Over-occupancy of these cramped quarters restricts proper ventilation, promoting a host of other illnesses.
Furthermore, where poverty rears its formidable head, so too does HIV/AIDs. The rate of HIV/AIDs in Cote D’lvoire is among the highest rate of the disease in West Africa. Therefore, by helping to restabilize and rebuild the economy of the Cote D’Lvoire, not only would residents receive proper infrastructure, they would also receive life-saving healthcare measures. The beautiful Cote D’lvoire had once been the gem of the African world, and with adequate support and awareness, the Ivory Coast can someday be restored.
– Phoebe Pradhan
Sources: Lonely Planet, Habitat for Humanity, World Bank
Photo: Africa Up Close
Poverty Reduction Success Stories in South Asia
South Asia has experienced about six percent economic growth per year over the past 20 years. The proportion of poor people in the region is lower now than any time since 1981. The region is making strides in poverty reduction with improvements in health, food security and education.
Health Care
In Afghanistan, child mortality dropped from 257 to 97 per 1,000 live births between 2002-2012. Maternal health and contraceptive use have also increased, with a 20% usage rate in 2011, up from five percent in 2003. The Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund was established in 2002 to provide assistance to the Government of Afghanistan for national investment projects. The Fund supports health projects in Afghanistan, increasing the number of health facilities more than fourfold, from 496 in 2004 to 2,047 in 2012.
Food Security
In Nepal, one million people received support through the Food Crisis Response Program, which is funded by the International Development Association (IDA). The landlocked country is one of the most malnourished in South Asia. The program supported a partnership between the Government of Nepal and the World Food Programme to provide food and cash in areas facing immediate risks. Benefits of the program include restored short-term food security, increased local employment opportunities and higher income, rural road construction and rehabilitation of community assets.
Education
In Bangladesh, secondary school graduation rate increased from 30% to 39% from 2008-2011. The Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project and the Secondary Education Quality and Access Enhancement Project support the government of Bangladesh in their effort to improve education in the country. Primary education is free for all children in Bangladesh with attendance between the ages of six and ten mandated by law. As one of the world’s most densely populated countries, it is one of the world’s greatest human resources for the future. An education for children in Bangladesh means employment opportunities and eventually, self-sufficiency for the country and its people.
– Haley Sklut
Sources: World Bank, Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, UNICEF
5 Genocides that Changed the World
Throughout history, there has been a problem in classifying mass killings as genocides. The term “genocide” carries a lot of weight because it implies that there was a deliberate extermination of a certain group of people. Would natural disasters deliberately ignored by the government qualify as genocides? Can colonization be considered a form of genocide? Was the North Atlantic Slave Trade genocide? Since the definition and characteristics of genocide are subjective, this post considers a broad definition of genocide, as in, organized mass murders that are politically, racially, religiously or ethnically fuelled. The following list is by no means ranking the genocides in any terms, nor is this a comprehensive list of world genocides
The Nazi Holocaust
Nazi Germany, led by Hitler in the 1930s and 1940s, sought to exterminate the Jewish population. The Jews were used as a scapegoat for Germany’s economic crisis. Over the course of WWII, close to 8 million Jewish people were slaughtered by the Nazi regime. Close to 2/3 of all Jews living in Europe were killed, including 1.1 million children. Furthermore, some 300,000 members of the Jewish population in Eastern Europe were displaced.
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
The slave trade to North America killed many Africans as they were uprooted and shipped across the Atlantic. Over 12 million Africans were transported to the Americas and sold into slavery from the 16th to the 19th century. The trans-Atlantic slave trade is considered one of history’s greatest tragedies in terms of scale and duration.
Holodomor (Soviet famine of 1932-1933)
Often called the “Terror-Famine” in Ukraine, this genocide was responsible for the deaths of 2.5 to 7.5 million Ukrainians. From 1932 to 1933, Stalin withheld aid, restricted migration and confiscated food from Ukrainian peasants. Holodomor, essentially means “extermination by hunger.” Scholars believe that Stalin was attempting to quell the Ukrainian nationalism that threatened the USSR’s hold over the country. Due to shoddy record-keeping and government corruption, the details concerning this genocide are largely unknown.
China’s Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution
China’s movement towards a utopian communist society from the 1940s to the 1970s failed miserably. Some 40-70 million people died due to starvation as well as the targeted killing of “rightists” and elites by the Red Guard, a communist youth organization that led the Cultural Revolution. The promotion of a “class struggle” prompted young people to fight against society’s elites, such as professors, landowners and businessmen.
Pol Pot’s Cambodia
From 1975 to 1979, Pol Pot’s regime targeted intellectuals, foreigners and elites in an attempt to create an agrarian utopia reminiscent of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. Over 2 million people were killed in a period of 4 years. Any foreign economic or medical aid was suspended, media was censored, outside contact was forbidden and the country’s currency was eliminated. People were forced to work all day in the fields, but were forbidden from eating the food they produced. Those who were not targeted by the government often died of starvation or disease.
– Stephanie Lamm
Photo: Alan Hart
Sources: Union County College, About.com, SlaveVoyages.org, UNESCO, The History Place
Tunisian Constitution Approved After Long Road
The Arab Spring brought the air of revolution to Tunisia, and after years of struggling to create a steady and free democracy, the assembly has reached an agreement and approved a new constitution.
Out of the 216 members of the Tunisian assembly, 200 affiliates voted to pass the constitution. Of the remaining 16 members, 12 voted against the constitution and four members abstained from the vote.
Three years ago, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted from the highest political office in Tunisia, which marked the beginning of the tumultuous journey towards democratic stability.
Ben Ali was overthrown in January 2011, and it was not until about October 2012 that the Islamist party, Ennahda, gained control of Tunisia. It has held power ever since, but agreed to step down from office once the final draft of the constitution was passed in the assembly.
After the overthrow of Ben Ali, there came multiple terrorist attacks and two political assassinations of secular leaders. The Islamist party Ennahda denounced the violent acts, but certain radical Islamists are held responsible. Their motive was to maintain Islamic leaders in powerful positions.
The two years it took to draft the new Tunisian constitution stirred tensions between Islamists and Secularists, as the Islamists wanted to invoke Sharia (Islamic) law. The compromise within the constitution seems promising, and the Ennahda has stepped down. An appointed caretaker government will be taking power until elections that will take place later this year. The Prime Minister of the caretaker government, Mehdi Jomaa, is a respected technocrat who will lead the transitional period until the time comes for free elections.
The Assembly Speaker, Mustapha Ben Jaafar, was quoted after the vote, saying, “This constitution, without being perfect, is one of consensus… we had today a new rendezvous with history to build a democracy founded on rights and equality.”
From what is known of the new constitution so far, it seems to be the most broadminded within the Middle East/North African region, with the guarantee of gender equality and protection of the environment. There are also laws that keep the state responsible for detecting and confronting corruption.
Power is split between the Prime Minister and the President, with more control in the Prime Minister’s hands and the President’s dominance lying mostly within defense policies and foreign relations.
The Tunisian constitution does not cite Sharia law, but Islam is declared as the country’s religion and the state outlaws attacks on Islam. As religious differences were a major obstacle in drafting this new constitution, this is a remarkable step for the North African country.
“All eyes around the world are fixed upon Tunisia’s democratic experience,” Jaafar stated. His words are appropriate, especially with the most recent turmoil in nearby countries, such as Egypt and Yemen.
Hopefully this milestone in Tunisia will be a model for countries struggling to obtain stability after the turmoil of the Arab Spring. The revolutions were necessary for the inspiration of new democratic ideals, however the loss of control has left many countries vulnerable to terrorist organizations and leaders with ulterior motives. The constitution marks a new era for the Tunis people that will hopefully lead to a thriving economy and strong democracy.
– Danielle Warren
Sources: Aljazeera, CNN, New York Times
Photo: Blouin News
Qatar Food Security: A Rich State in a Poor Place
In 1940, about 11,000 people lived in Qatar. Today, nearly two million men and women of every ethnicity and income reside in this state, living at the mercy of imported food.
However, Qatar sits comfortably as the largest global exporter of liquefied natural gas. A majority of residents are foreign workers, with no more than 13% native Qataris. As a result, this 13% – fewer than 300,000 – became very wealthy in the past two decades.
Justin Gengler, an American professor at Qatar University, calculated the annual income for each citizen at $180,000.
Skyscrapers now dominate the Qatar skyline – monuments to Qatar’s rapid economic growth. This rising urbanization, however, contrasts sharply with the declining food supply.
The arid region cannot support the recent influx of foreign workers. Limited land and chronic water scarcity restricts agricultural growth and heightens fear of food insecurity. Qatar imports more than 90% of its food and desalinates nearly 100% of its water. Today, it faces an agricultural trade deficient of $1.2 billion.
Dependence on wealth from natural oil and gas cannot sustain the state, as it combats degraded soil, difficult climate, and a lack of irrigation water.
Robert Siegel of NPR reports, “The way the Qataris see it, it’s a fair match, paying for the best technology to triumph over the most adverse natural environment.”
The government established the Qatar National Food Security Program (QNFSP) in 2008. This initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency, by investing in agricultural technology. Ideally, this technology makes “optimal usage of scare resources.”
Technology ties the principles of growth and sustainability together. At the Ministry of Environment, Fahad Al-Attiya hopes to transform Qatar from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a knowledge-based one.
A seven acre farm sits 12 millimeters from Doha. Trees and several greenhouses form a protective ring around the farm, as harsh winds threaten the crops. The farm rests on the very limited source of fresh groundwater.
Nearly 60% of residents live in Doha, relying on desalinated water. Farmers, however, depend on aquifers. More than a century ago, water flowed freely. Today, farmers and consumers have overdrawn their aquifers and exhausted the water supply.
The QNFSP intends to equip farmers with more efficient irrigation technology, placing Qatari farms on par with those in more favorable climates. At this time, only one percent of total land is cultivated and farms declined by 30% in the past five years. However, by 2030, the state aims to produce 40% of its food domestically.
Around 50,000,000 cubic meters of water from rain and underground channels remains and though this can sustain the state for two or three years, it needs more long-term solutions.
The state continues to grow by 15% annually and consumes more water than any nation in the world. However, rainfall in Doha totals a mere 74 millimeters per year. Consequently, it must rely heavily on energy for the desalination for water.
With 300 days of sun, Qatar holds a competitive advantage: renewable energy.
Though the global economy values gas and oil, Qatar serves as a reminder to all: without access to water, the threat of food insecurity and poverty persists.
– Ellery Spahr
Sources: NPR, Ted Talks
Photo: QNFSP
Ukraine Protests Turn Violent
Since November, Ukraine has been rocked by intense public protests over the government’s apparent rejection of the West in favor of closer ties to neighboring Russia. The protests have taken a violent turn as many demonstrators clashed with riot police over new anti-protest legislation that was recently passed this week.
The new legislation aims to quell the public’s right to protest against government officials. The specifics of the law ban the placement of tents, stages and loud speakers in public spaces.
The law also puts in place hefty jail sentences for those deemed to have played a part in “mass disorder.” Other points in the law state that wearing face masks or helmets is prohibited, threatening violators with long sentences.
Probably the law’s most egregious violation pertains to journalist’s ability to report on government officials. Any criticism of officials by the media is deemed illegal under the new legislation.
Tensions boiled over on Sunday as protesters resorted to violence against police forces. Demonstrators beat officers with sticks and attempted to turn over a bus blocking access to parliament. Fireworks and smoke bombs hurled through the air, injuring many.
A total of thirty police officers were injured during the protests. Later that night, police fired upon protesters with large water cannons in an attempt to disperse them.
A central figure in the middle of the public outrage over recent anti-western moves by the government is former professional boxer Vitaly Klitschko. He has made repeated calls for protests to remain peaceful despite the government overreach.
Recently, Klitschko was joined by his fiancé, American actress Hayden Panettiere, in a show of solidarity with the protesters.
Despite his efforts, Klistchko’s repeated calls for restraint fell on deaf ears, as tensions proved too much for many involved in the protests.
The country’s recent pivot away from a proposed joint economic partnership with the European Union toward Russia leads many to see Russia’s influence in the new anti-protest legislation. Heather McGill of Amnesty International reports the new law is almost an exact copy of existing Russian legislation that dealt a severe blow to the civil society in Russia.
The new economic partnership with Russia aims to reverse the decline of trade among the respective nations. Under the new deal, Russia will buy up $15 billion of Ukraine debt and cut natural gas prices.
The new prices will be slashed to $268.50 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas from $400.
The proposed partnership will reach across many economic sectors including industry, agriculture, defense, construction and transport.
This new partnership has created a split among the citizenry throughout Ukraine. The eastern section of the country desires increased relations with Russia, while the West favors closer ties with the E.U.
As Ukraine moves closer to Russia, many fear the nation will emulate the authoritarian tactics associated with the Russian government. The brazen passage of anti-protest legislation with complete disregard for the public’s disapproval is a clear sign Ukraine is moving in that direction.
– Zack Lindberg
Sources: CNN, Amnesty International, Reuters
Photo: TPM
India: How A Rape Changed A Nation
News related to India in recent years has focused on a distressing part of life in the nation. That is to say, a purported prevalence of rape has come to the forefront of the nation’s international presence. Recently, for instance, a Danish tourist vacationing in New Dehli was allegedly raped by two men. The attention has brought to light what many people allege is a burgeoning ‘rape culture,’ and a society that views women’s rights as less than important.
The attention has pushed Indian politicians to address the issue more fervently, as the nation has a poor record on pro-women rights. Gender inequality is, however, firmly embedded in the foundation of the nation’s culture, which can be seen by powerful figures such as the head of India’s National Intelligence Agency stating, “If you can’t prevent rape, you enjoy it.” Such a statement clearly demonstrates that an outdated mentality towards women’s rights persists in the nation, a mentality where blaming victims for rapes seems to be the main attitude toward this epidemic. For instance, Madyha Pradur, India’s Home Minister, blamed the Swiss rape victim for her attack, stating that if she had notified local authorities about where she planned to travel, the attack most likely would not have happened.
Gang-rape has historic roots in India, having been used since the creation of Modern India. It was especially used as a “weapon of oppression” against women throughout the nation. Rampant unemployment has led to men developing “personal alienation,” coupled with deeply “ingrained misogyny.” It’s argued that gang-rape has been a budding phenomenon, only growing due to a legal and court system which has been mostly indifferent to the concerns of women, or wholly incompetent in dealing with an upsurge of rape cases.
Conditions have been improving in recent years, however. In comparison to more developed nations like the United Kingdom, Indian rape convictions were much higher. Only about 7% of rapes in the United Kingdom actually led to convictions, where-as India had a conviction rate of 24.2% in 2012, a stunning rate considering it’s developing nation status which gives it less resources to deal with the issue.
Rape cases are, furthermore, being more publicized in India, as shown through the increased reporting on rape throughout the nation. The major catalyst for India was the infamous Dehli gang rape of 2012, which brought into focus, the welfare of women in the nation and how authorities handle the delicate nature of rape and assault cases. The Dehli Gang rape occurred in December of 2011 and led to major protests that rocked the nation as well as the creation new legislation that refocused anti-rape laws.
As it stands, the amount of reported rapes increased, doubling from 143 reported between January and March of 2012 to 359 following the Dehli gang rape. As tragic as the rape was, it has turned rape into newspaper fodder, with major media outlets in India reporting “each and every rape case.”
The Indian nation is hopeful for change. With rapists being held more accountable for their actions, the nation may overcome this widespread epidemic.
– Joseph Abay
Sources: IBN Live, TIME, ABC News, CNN, NDTV, Think Progress, Telegraph, The Daily Beast, Huffington Post, Spiegel Online
Photo: The Guardian
Greece: A Nation in Decline
In 2013, Greece faced its sixth consecutive year of a devastating recession. In order to secure $325 billion in rescue funds from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, the Greek government resorted to cutting jobs and wages, actions that consequentially incited mass protests and unrest.
As a result, according to statistics released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (HSA,) nearly a quarter of Greece’s population is susceptible to poverty. In a nation composed of 11 million residents, 2.75 million of whom are at risk of poverty, Greece has the highest poverty risk in the E.U. Among those at risk, the most susceptible individuals are single parents and unemployed men. Approximately half of jobless men in Greece are at risk of poverty, while single-parent households are also in a vulnerable position.
A factor contributing to the anticipated poverty of Greece’s population are the projected social welfare budget cuts for 2014. Between 2012 to 2013, the welfare budget had been cut by almost seven percent. However, the projected budget reduction for social welfare in 2014 is a staggering 18%, or $406 billion.
Furthermore, according to the Public Policy Analysis Group at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) discovered that within the last year, approximately 14% of Greeks had earned an income that was less than the living standard. In contrast, in 2004, only two percent of the population had earned an income below the standard of living.
Since 2008, the crisis in Greece had steadily increased in volatility. According to ESYE statistics agency, an increase in material deprivation in at least four of the nine basic categories of goods and services for human survival occurred during the past five years. To clarify, basic needs include the ability to endure unforeseen financial expenses, eat meat every two days, and heat one’s home. However, due to the economic crisis, approximately 76.3% of poor Greeks were directly affected, while 30.8 percent of the non-poor population suffered as well.
Without adequate government intervention, a substantial portion of the Greek population will remain at risk of poverty throughout 2014. With poverty and struggle in sight, internal social conflict in Greece will continue to rise as well. However, with aid from the E.U. and gradual stabilization, the nation can begin to recover.
– Phoebe Pradhan
Sources: International Business Times, The Telegraph, Zero Hedge, AFR
Photo: Read My Mind
New Programs in Tanzania Support Women’s Cricket
Historically, cricket in Tanzania has not been a sport played by the nation’s indigenous population. Those with backgrounds from countries with strong cricket programs, such as India and the United Kingdom, traditionally dominated the sport. That demographic has been changing, however, ever since 1999 when Zully Rehemtulla, chairman of the Tanzania Cricket Association, and former player Kazim Nasser became set on bringing cricket to all Tanzanians.
In the initial stages, Rehemtulla estimates that only about 150 people in Tanzania played cricket. He and Nasser decided that it was unacceptable for the sport to not permeate the majority of the country and started to focus their attention on bringing the sport to schools in Dar es Salaam, the capital.
Since then, and after about a century of non-indigenous participation in cricket, the sport has taken off, with Rehemtulla estimating that roughly 15,000 people now play in Tanzania. In August 2013, the International Cricket Council ranked the men’s Tanzanian team at 30th in the world.
Women in Tanzania have joined the game too. Though the Tanzanian women’s cricket team was eliminated from the last two World Cups early into qualification rounds, women’s participation has increased significantly.
Rehemtulla and Nasser state that they run into many barriers, due to Tanzania being one of the most impoverished nations in the world, when attempting to boost the participation of adolescent girls in cricket.
Moreover, they state that when girls become teenagers in Tanzania, their families put pressure on them to get jobs and contribute to family income. In order to offset this hurdle, the pair began offering services to girls who wanted to start playing cricket. They offered housing, HIV and malaria awareness classes, as well as, of course, cricket coaching to make them better players and in the future, effective coaches themselves.
The results of this program were very successful, with women not only continuing to play cricket, but also with many attending universities and maintaining lucrative jobs. Nasser and Rehemtulla report that many of the girls in the program are now financially comfortable and can make up to five times as much as low-wage workers in Tanzania.
Nasser explains that he and Rehemtulla have gotten to know the girls in the program and can serve as mentors and aid in their future development.
“We have spent five years with them so we try to do what is best for them. We train them so they get employment instead of going to work as house maids.” Furthermore, he states, “We as an association tried to give them classes and pay the school fees. We tried our best to help them to ensure they have better lives in the future.”
Cricket is also growing in other African nations. There has, for instance, been increased financial investment in cricket programs, including plans to build a new cricket stadium in Rwanda, largely to support the development of its new women’s team. Cricket has already become the second most popular sport in South Africa, whose men’s team, the Proteas, is globally competitive and whose amateur women’s team is gaining recognition.
Though the Tanzanian women’s team has not made it to the cricket World Cup, Tanzania has participated in a World Cup event. In 1975, Tanzanian athletes competed as a part of an East Africa team that included Uganda, Zambia and Kenya.
Tanzania is still far from achieving its goal of having premier, globally-recognized cricket teams, but with programs supporting female athletes and an increased investment in cricket and cricketers, one day Tanzania could prove its athletic prowess.
– Kaylie Cordingley
Sources: BBC Sport, AllAfrica
Photo: BBC News