A region well known for Mount Everest and the Dalai Lama, the autonomous region of Tibet once had a poverty rate as high as 80%. Through various campaigns, it has significantly improved in recent years, but there is still a large amount of work that needs to be done. This journey is made possible by the following five charities operating in Tibet.
The Tibet Fund
Founded in 1981 under the patronage of the Dalai Lama, The Tibet Fund aims to preserve Tibet’s cultural identity, supporting communities’ education, health and livelihood. Its programs promote self-reliance among the Tibetan community and allow even the most vulnerable to have the chance to lead healthy, dignified lives.
Gender-based Violence
The organization also has specific initiatives for Tibetan women and girls. For example, it established an initiative that offers protection against gender-based violence, collaborating with partners such as the Central Tibetan Administration Women’s Empowerment Desk, Tibetan Women’s Association, and Drokmo. Workshops occurred on menstrual and reproductive health for youth as well as awareness sessions for other Tibetan organizations.
This also involved the establishment of gender focal persons, barefoot counselors and complaint committees in order to raise awareness on gender-based sexual violence (GBSV) and harassment; it also included the operation of a 24-hour helpline that acted as a safe space for survivors.
Another gender-based initiative is Every Mother and Child, which provides resources to breastfeeding mothers to support the nutrition, hygiene and healthy cognitive development of their child.
Education
The Tibet Fund has done a large amount of work regarding higher education. Through its various scholarship programs, it has allowed countless economically vulnerable Tibetans to be able to access post-secondary education, both domestically and in the U.S.
The Fund supported more than 50 Tibetan girls who were unable to afford the high costs of higher education, both at technical schools in the country and at universities in China. Additionally, it provided scholarships to two pursuing careers in medicine in Xining.
Furthermore, with funding from the U.S. Department of State and partnerships between Qinghai Tibetan Medical College and three American universities, the Fund was able to provide English language training courses for 20 students, with four top-performing students going on to continue their studies at various American academic institutes.
Its dedication to education and the future of Tibet was further exemplified through its Tibetan Women Microentrepreneurship Program, which assisted vulnerable women in growing their businesses and expanding their markets.
Earthquakes
It has also donated generously toward victims of earthquakes, including the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck in early 2010 that claimed the lives of nearly 2,700 people and injured more than 12,000. The Fund provided a total of $122,875 in grants for short-and long-term emergency and recovery efforts, assisting Tibetans in the reconstruction of a flour mill and school.
Machik
The second of these charities operating in Tibet is Machik, which translates to “one mother” in Tibetan. This organization works with Tibetans both in and outside the region, addressing social and environmental changes with a focus on social innovation, civic engagement and gender equity.
Its recent achievements include the provision of clean energy and safe drinking water; the establishment of an award winning school, a library and an organic greenhouse; the repair of roads and houses and much more.
In 2001, Machik established the Pende Clinic Project, which provides health care to a rural community and its surrounding villages; in total, the clinic supports 31 villages with approximately 2,000 households, a population of about 16,000.
Moreover, it has established education programs for women charting new pathways. Mother’s Wish, a program it initiated, now supports education for girls and women in Amdo, ranging from middle school-level education to PhDs.
One of these is its Women’s Writing Program. Machik has sponsored both the development and distribution of The Land of Snow Tibetan Women’s Journal, a quarterly magazine edited and produced by Tibetan women that offers a platform for Tibetan women writers to discuss countless compelling social issues. Since its conception in December 2004, it has produced 12 issues.
Karuna-Shechen
A nonprofit organization that reflects and emphasizes the ideals of altruism, Karuna-Shechen has promoted well-being in the Himalayan region, with their work spanning Tibet, India and Nepal.
The organization has provided shelter, safety, education, health care and opportunities to vulnerable communities, encompassing fields such as health and hygiene, education, food security, economic development and the environment. In 2023, it supported more than 494,130 people, including 555,000 indirect beneficiaries and 22,000 animals.
Karuna-Shechen has also been significantly involved in promoting food security. For instance, it has provided equipment to improve water management in agriculture, which has been vastly beneficial for farmers such as Indra Kumari Rai.
This improved not only crop production rate but also its quality, allowing for sustainable agriculture and creating a lasting positive impact for both nutrition and economy.
Finally, its unique Altruism in Action model allows for a more explicit and active partnership between Karuna-Shechen and the communities it serves. It can be boiled down to the creation and use of Better Future Councils (BFCs), elected representatives from each “cluster” of villages that work directly with Karuna-Shechen. The BFCs then play a central role in the:
- Co-identification of needs, issues, and available resources
- Co-design of projects
- Co-implementation of activities
- Co-monitoring and evaluation of the intervention and its impact
The American Himalayan Foundation (AHF)
Like Karuna-Shechen, another of these charities operating in Tibet, the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF) assists those living throughout the Himalayas, including Tibetans, Sherpas and Nepalis. Its projects have included trafficking prevention for women and girls, education, health care, cultural revival and environmental conservation.
The Foundation’s work spans multiple countries–in Nepal, it has been involved in disaster relief during events such as the Nepal earthquake, and have initiatives in the kingdom of Mustang and other areas that contribute to the preservation of culture. Additionally, it has an initiative titled STOP Girl Trafficking that aims to prevent girls from Nepal from being trafficked, or entering indentured servitude or child marriage. The program has grown significantly, supporting education that not only keeps girls safe but empowers them with the skills and confidence required for them to shape their own futures.
The Terma Foundation
The last of these charities operating in Tibet is The Terma Foundation, an international humanitarian medical organization that aims to provide innovative and sustainable health solutions, mainly for indigenous, marginalized and other excluded populations. Its work in Tibet, Mexico, Myanmar and Brazil has positively impacted and reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries to date.
Malnutrition
Through the implementation of its various culturally-sensitive programs that work with local partners, The Terma Foundation has provided medical education, participated in research combining both traditional Tibetan and western knowledge and practices and provided diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to Tibetans.
Its child feeding and indigenous food development program supports the supply and consumption of highly nutritious indigenous natural foods, which began after reports of malnutrition in children and their mothers due to insufficient protein and micronutrient intake.
Although the variety of processed food has grown exponentially, elders have stated that children have been shown to be stronger and healthier when eating locally cultivated food, which was previously a regular part of daily diets.
One such food is droma, a locally abundant, traditional root that is high in iron and vegetable protein, and combines to form a complete protein when mixed with barley.
The organization distributes droma in combination with multivitamin supplements, a well-received, low-cost practice that has led to visible, rapid improvement in children’s clinical status and growth. The harvesting process of these food sources is also being studied for its potential as a source of revenue for farmers, traditional doctors and herbalists.
Tibetan Medicine
On the topic of malnutrition, Terma has also emphasized the importance of traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) principles and practices as a form of advancement for cultural health care. Its health promotion team and TTM physicians work hand-in-hand, increasing credibility, trust and efficiency. The practices are adapted into schools and villages, offering a sense of comfort through the provision of clinical care that is culturally familiar to patients.
Terma’s other programs include health education and primary care delivery, tuberculosis prevention and control, pre- and postnatal care and rickets education and prevention.
Looking Ahead
Through these charities operating in Tibet, transformative work is being done in Tibet every day. Each act that these organizations implement have an impact.
– Rune Pang
Rune is based in Markham, ON, Canada and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
The Afrilearn App: Leading Nigeria’s Educational Future
With supplementation through AI, Afrilearn has envisioned a completely personalized academic pathway for students across West Africa, allowing users to navigate lessons across disciplines at the most appropriate pace. The Afrilearn app has amassed more than 7,000 learners, fueling the rapid international growth of education technology companies throughout the last decade.
Accessibility to Education in Nigeria
More than 40% of Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million people cannot read or write, depriving millions throughout the nation of the opportunity to engage in academia thoughtfully. Despite access to physical and academic settings, Oladipupo views current projections of affordable, quality education within Nigeria as an “illusion.” Statistics indicating the number of Nigerian students attending school do not properly reflect the standards of education they are receiving. For example, more than 83% of West African Senior School Certificate Examination candidates cannot fulfill the national educational guidelines and ultimately do not pass.
Oladipupo views Afrilearn as a way of mitigating these educational inequalities, serving as his inspiration for the company. In an interview with Forbes Africa, he emphasized that “every child, no matter their background or location,” should have “full access to quality education and the tools to prepare them for lifelong success,” with Afrilearn serving as a stepping stone for these future academic aspirations.
Developing a World-Renowned Platform
Afrilearn previously consisted of numerous ventures in education technology led by Oladipupo and Olatunji-Legend. They first created ClassNotes.ng in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided primary and secondary academic tools when Nigerian students could not attend school in person. ClassNotes.ng achieved widespread success, acquiring more than five million users and teachers since its establishment in 2020.
Later that year, they released Exambly, which democratized access to test preparation materials in West African nations to prepare learners for national and international exams. The Afrilearn app combines the ambitions of these prior applications, pairing animated, engaging lesson plans with sample tests and other types of practice documents. The work of Oladipupo and Olatunji-Legend earned them the Digital Innovation of the Year Award in 2020, dictated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Engagement Tactics
One of the primary goals of Afrilearn is to tailor its content to the needs of each student, influenced by the relatively large teacher-to-student ratio present within the Nigerian education system. While the teacher-to-student ratio in the U.S. can be estimated at around 1:10, in Nigeria, this is closer to 1:70. Despite the scale of educational materials stored within the Afrilearn app, it attempts to create a sense of connection between its users and the expert tutors that it hosts, blending modes of “social learning and storytelling” to replicate a typical student-teacher relationship.
Most of the options within the platform are free; however, a variety of tools become available for an additional subscription. Some of these include downloadable notes, instant homework help and coding lessons, enhancing the personalization features contained within the app. The revenue generated from subscriptions is re-invested into expanding and improving the free curriculums, corresponding to Afrilearn’s overarching goals of affordability and accessibility.
Education in the Digital Age
Afrilearn showcases an innovative approach to navigating education in the digital age, reimagining modern-day technologies through its teaching potential. For those with the restricted financial capacity to attend and thoughtfully engage in academics, Afrilearn proposes a solution through digital incentivization tailored toward younger generations.
– Eileen Lincoln
Photo: Flickr
Legislation Passed: Child Marriage in Sierra Leone is Banned
Law That Aims to Protect
In Sierra Leone, a milestone has been achieved in the country; the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act was recently signed into effect, eradicating all child marriages younger than the age of 18. This includes conspiracy, aiding and abetting a child to enter marriage; violators can expect strict penalties if found guilty, with punishments of up to 15 years in prison and approximately $4,000 fine.
Obligations on community and religious leaders will require them to take strong measures so they don’t officiate child marriages and no person is allowed to attend the ceremony involving a child. It will also prevent cohabitation with a child regardless of whether married or not, criminalizing both as offenses.
The new bill contributes to protecting women, girls and children from harmful practices, even employing marriage prohibition officers who will work within communities to advise and issue reports, ensuring the law is being followed.
The Scale of Child Marriage
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 800,000 child brides reside in Sierra Leone, with half having been married before the age of 15 years. Child marriage is common in the country, with 30% of girls aged 20 to 24 years old married before age 18 and 13% married before age 15.
The reasons for child marriage are complex and vary: poverty, education, gender inequality, religion and even inheritance are all factors related to this ongoing issue. Families with limited resources seek to find ways for their children to gain opportunities; by offering a bride in the form of a child, the motivation is not just economic, but also a custom and local practice.
Education, FGM and Risks
The effects of child marriage have been devasting, resulting in many disadvantages for women and girls throughout their lives. Girls are often less educated and unable to complete secondary school, which limits their employment opportunities. This makes them underrepresented in skilled and professional industries and digital literacy, such as the internet, cell phones and technology that can provide them access to more resources and information.
There is also the divisive practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) used to initiate girls into womanhood and prepare them for marriage. It’s a method of suppressing women’s and girls’ sexual urges and keeping them focused on the woman’s responsibilities and duties she will face within her home. According to the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey, 83% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 years have undergone FGM.
Final Remark
Additional concerns that must be addressed are fear of retaliation for having a family member imprisoned and increased poverty, which will prevent many from following the new law. Therefore, it will take much involvement from the community for this law to make a substantial impact. The benefits for women, girls and children are great for now. They can finish school, gain more skills and seek opportunities. Most of all, they can enjoy childhood without the pressures of being forced into child marriage.
– Tanita Love
Photo: Unsplash
Microfinance: Firms Providing Small Loans to Fight Poverty
KIVA and Rachel’s Story
Kiva offers banking services to the international community, functioning similarly to a crowdfunding platform. As a lender, individuals can browse various projects globally and choose whom to lend to. In 2023, Kiva facilitated loans for more than 190,000 people, distributing more than $176 million with an impressive 96.2% repayment rate. Additionally, Kiva has partnered with Novica, an e-commerce platform that allows people in developing communities to sell their products internationally. This partnership has generated more than $130 million for individuals, enabling them to share their skills and products worldwide and drive tangible change.
Rachel, who grew up attending the Odwira Festival in Abiriw, Ghana, was captivated by the colorful garments and accessories celebrated during the harvest. Inspired, she learned to create similar items from a friend and began selling her wares. Although she experienced modest growth, Rachel sought to accelerate her business. Partnering with Kiva, she received $100 from four donors, which she used to buy raw materials, effectively doubling her production and profit. Rachel now employs others, imparts valuable skills and runs outreach programs that teach underprivileged youths how to make tie-dye and batik at no cost.
Micro-loan Foundation and Lydia’s Story
The Micro-loan Foundation has been empowering women in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe since 2002 by providing business training and small loans. To date, it has assisted more than 450,000 women, enhancing food security, health care access and educational opportunities and boosting women’s roles in their communities. Lydia, a single mother of four and caregiver to her mother-in-law, turned her passion for baking into a sustainable business. With a micro-loan of 500 Kwacha (about $30), she invested in her bakery, quadrupling her daily bread production and significantly boosting her income. This increase allowed Lydia to reinvest in her business, repay her loan and improve her family’s living standards while contributing more to her community.
BRAC and Sharmin Akter
BRAC, originally an NGO in Bangladesh, has evolved to provide small loans aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting financial inclusion. Since 2023, BRAC has disbursed more than $6 billion in loans, mainly focusing on women, who constitute 90% of its beneficiaries. These ongoing efforts empower women and address the root causes of poverty, particularly in urban areas of Bangladesh.
Sharmin, who worked for a decade in a toy factory, acquired valuable skills that she leveraged to start her own business. Her high-quality toys quickly garnered demand, but she struggled to keep up with growth. Realizing the need for investment, Sharmin secured a $3,750 loan from BRAC to purchase 12 new sewing machines. This capital infusion allowed her to expand production by hiring staff and increasing output. At the moment, Sharmin’s business is one of the largest soft toy manufacturers in South-West Dhaka.
Looking Ahead
Small loans continue to play a crucial role in the fight against poverty and economic empowerment worldwide. Success stories like those of Rachel, Lydia and Sharmin highlight the transformative potential of these financial services. As microfinance institutions like Kiva, the Micro-loan Foundation and BRAC expand their reach, they can potentially create sustainable livelihoods and foster economic growth in underbanked regions.
– Philip Mundy
Photo: Unsplash
Food Insecurity and the Venezuelan Educational System
Lack of Attendance
According to The New York Times, “In Boca de Uchire, the Caruto family has stopped sending its nine children to a nearby school when the cafeteria doesn’t open. ‘I can’t send them to class hungry,’ said José Luis Caruto, a 36-year-old unemployed father of two.” The Caruto family is just one out of thousands affected by food insecurity within the school system.
According to Global Issues, “Hundreds of thousands of children and young people and thousands of their teachers, drop out of regular schooling in Venezuela year after year and most of those who remain go to the classroom only two or three days a week, highlighting the abysmal backwardness of education in the country.” This is largely attributed to food insecurity plaguing the country, especially those most vulnerable, such as impoverished children.
Lack of Proficient Educators
Not only are students affected by Venezuela’s food insecurity crisis, the educators are, as well. In fact, according to the national teachers’ union, thousands of the country’s 550,000 teachers did not show up to classes when schools reopened in September 2020, abandoning their $8-a-month wages.
Venezuela teachers are among the groups most affected by food insecurity and the economic crisis. According to The New York Times, “The number of graduates at Venezuela’s main teacher training center, the Libertador Experimental Pedagogical University, fell 70% from 2014 to 2018.” As a result, many Venezuelan schools have had to enlist parent volunteers to come in and teach their children, resulting in an insufficient learning environment.
Poor Medical Care
As more and more school-age children have fallen helpless to the food insecurity crisis in Venezuela, there has been a high demand for medical care and attention, most of which is unattainable. In schools all across the country, students are fainting mid-class due to extreme hunger. “You can’t educate skeletal and hungry people,” said Maira Marín, a teacher and union leader in Boca de Uchire.
According to South American Initiative, a nongovernmental organization, “The infant mortality rate has doubled because hospitals and parents have no food to feed them. In some cases, parents are forced to abandon their children and drop them off at orphanages because they simply cannot afford food.” Venezuela’s food insecurity crisis, coupled with the unrealistic expectations for medical facilities and workers, makes the risk of attending schools unnecessary for many families. Instead, many children stay home with their parents to participate in the workforce to gain enough revenue to feed their families.
Solutions
While the food insecurity crisis and its effect on the Venezuelan school system looks like a bleak and lost cause, the World Food Programme (WFP) is working to curb the situation. WFP activities in Venezuela include providing school meals and food assistance for vulnerable populations, supporting climate risk management, building resilience and strengthening food systems infrastructure and logistical capacity. The organization aims to support one million Venezuelans with food by the end of 2025.
Conclusion
The Venezuelan educational system is struggling to provide students with adequate nutrition so that they can attend schools, have proper educators and appropriate medical care. However, nonprofit organizations like WFP are actively working to curb the food crisis in Venezuela.
– London Collins Puc
Photo: Pexels
Ready to Use Therapeutic Food and Childhood Malnutrition
Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) has a significant impact on treating this condition. This life-saving superfood transforms how severe acute malnutrition is treated, allowing children to recover quickly and regain their health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), well-nourished children are more capable of escaping poverty as adults during the first two years of life.
Why RUTF?
Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food is a revolutionary food treatment that’s giving hope to millions of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form of hunger. The WHO estimated in 2007 that severe acute malnutrition (SAM) accounts for around one million child deaths annually. Approximately 20 million children worldwide suffer from SAM and those affected have a mortality risk of more than nine times greater than their well-nourished peers.
RUTF is an energy-dense, micronutrient paste designed to treat severe wasting in children younger than 5. Wasting is characterized by low weight-for-height and occurs when a child does not receive enough food or adequate quality. If untreated, it significantly increases the risk of death.
History of RUTF
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the concept of RUTF was pioneered by pediatric nutritionist André Briend and food processing engineer Michel Lescanne 25 years ago. RUTF is made from powdered milk, peanuts, butter, vegetable oil, sugar and vitamins and minerals. Each sachet of RUTF provides 500 calories and essential micronutrients, allowing malnourished children to gain weight rapidly.
The invention of RUTF marked a revolution in malnutrition treatment, shifting from the traditional therapeutic feeding centers (TFCs) to home-based care. Previously, children with severe acute malnutrition needed round-the-clock care at TFCs, which were scarce and often located far from the communities they served.
This setup required mothers to leave their homes for weeks, causing lost wages and incomplete treatments. The crowded conditions at TFCs also posed infection risks and in conflict areas like Sudan, they were vulnerable to attacks. Recognizing these challenges, Briend aimed to develop a home-administered solution. His goal was to revolutionize the management of severe acute malnutrition, allowing children to receive treatment safely at home.
RUTF’s Role in Community-Based Management
RUTF is vital for community-based management of children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition who still have an appetite. Its two-year shelf life makes it convenient for storage and distribution. The appealing taste and easy digestibility ensure that children readily consume it. Most importantly, RUTF requires no preparation. Children can directly have this nutrient-dense food from the packet, making it safe and reducing the risk of contamination.
According to UNICEF, the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition was traditionally in facilities where they received specialized therapeutic milk under strict regimens. However, many children arrived too late or could not access these centers due to distance, cost and lengthy treatment durations. RUTF has enabled community-based management and transformed it into a home-based treatment. Its single-dose foil sachets do not require refrigeration or mixing with water, making it practical and safe for home use. This innovation has significantly improved treatment outcomes and accessibility.
Success of RUTF
RUTF and the community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) have proven to be powerful. In emergencies like famine, child mortality rates typically range from 20% to 30%. However, with the combined use of CMAM and RUTF, these rates have dropped to 4.5%, saving countless lives. A notable pilot program in Darfur, Sudan, treated 25,000 acutely malnourished children with similarly positive results.
From 2002 to 2006, Concern Worldwide implemented a large-scale pilot in Malawi, yielding excellent treatment, coverage, community acceptance and cost-effectiveness outcomes. This success led to the publication of the CTC field manual in 2006 and a joint recognition by WHO, UNICEF and the World Food Programme in 2007, establishing CMAM as a global best practice. Today, millions of acutely malnourished children have been successfully treated with RUTF through the CMAM approach. In South Sudan, UNICEF and partners treat nearly a quarter of a million children annually with RUTF, achieving a treatment recovery rate of 95% and averting potential deaths.
Challenges in Distributing RUTF
UNICEF plays a pivotal role in the global distribution of RUTF, procuring and delivering 75-80% of the world’s supply. It ensures that RUTF reaches the most vulnerable children, even in challenging environments. Large-scale operations by UNICEF have saved countless lives during emergencies.
Despite its success, RUTF is not universally available. Many countries do not include RUTF in their essential medicines lists and treatment for severe wasting is often poorly integrated into routine health services. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts have increased the cost of RUTF, further limiting its availability.
Conclusion
Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food has proven to be a lifesaving superfood, transforming the treatment of severe acute malnutrition and saving millions of children’s lives. Its success underscores the need for increased global efforts to ensure all children have access to this essential treatment.
– Sumaiya Sultana
Photo: Flickr
No Child Left Behind: Child Labor in Myanmar
Child Labor
Child Labor takes many shapes and children across the world are exploited in a variety of ways. In Myanmar, child labor is primarily used for agriculture, services and manufacturing. Regarding the statistics, the Ballard Brief verifies child labor as “58.3% in the agriculture division, 24.2% in the services division and 17.5% in the industrial division.”
Furthermore, the International Labor Organization (ILO), whose work in Myanmar is extensive, illustrates that “one in every 11 children in Myanmar is trapped in child labor – deprived of their childhood, health and education.” These numbers remain staggering but contextually are promising as they steadily decrease.
The Cause and Conditions
It is no secret that high poverty levels drive all family members to pursue a source of income. The higher the poverty in Myanmar, the more prevalent child labor will be in Myanmar. Addressing the issue of poverty is another way to protect the children of Myanmar, not only from dangers in the workforce but also from the dangers of lacking basic human necessities.
An article published by the United Nations (U.N.) in Myanmar has determined that “Poverty and crises are key to driving children into work.” The article stated specifically that “children in Myanmar between 5 and 17 years old are trapped in child labor, with more than half of them involved in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety and moral development.”
Understanding the causes of child labor assists governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and everyday people in developing quality solutions.
What’s Being Done
Many promising efforts are underway and currently in progress to tackle child labor. Myanmar has now ratified both International Conventions on child labor and the ILO’s on-the-ground projects have reduced child labor by 55% in three years in three pilot areas. In light of the significant reduction in these pilot areas, there is hope that once expanded, child labor will decrease.
Additionally, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is making significant strides to assist the children of Myanmar. UNICEF combats child labor in Myanmar by supporting government policy reforms and advocating for stronger child protection laws. It promotes access to quality education to keep children in school and away from labor.
Though child labor remains a significant challenge, the solutions are continually evolving and expanding. This growing momentum by Myanmar’s government and NGOs will help to eradicate child labor in the country.
– Abigail Johnson
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Tibet
A region well known for Mount Everest and the Dalai Lama, the autonomous region of Tibet once had a poverty rate as high as 80%. Through various campaigns, it has significantly improved in recent years, but there is still a large amount of work that needs to be done. This journey is made possible by the following five charities operating in Tibet.
The Tibet Fund
Founded in 1981 under the patronage of the Dalai Lama, The Tibet Fund aims to preserve Tibet’s cultural identity, supporting communities’ education, health and livelihood. Its programs promote self-reliance among the Tibetan community and allow even the most vulnerable to have the chance to lead healthy, dignified lives.
Gender-based Violence
The organization also has specific initiatives for Tibetan women and girls. For example, it established an initiative that offers protection against gender-based violence, collaborating with partners such as the Central Tibetan Administration Women’s Empowerment Desk, Tibetan Women’s Association, and Drokmo. Workshops occurred on menstrual and reproductive health for youth as well as awareness sessions for other Tibetan organizations.
This also involved the establishment of gender focal persons, barefoot counselors and complaint committees in order to raise awareness on gender-based sexual violence (GBSV) and harassment; it also included the operation of a 24-hour helpline that acted as a safe space for survivors.
Another gender-based initiative is Every Mother and Child, which provides resources to breastfeeding mothers to support the nutrition, hygiene and healthy cognitive development of their child.
Education
The Tibet Fund has done a large amount of work regarding higher education. Through its various scholarship programs, it has allowed countless economically vulnerable Tibetans to be able to access post-secondary education, both domestically and in the U.S.
The Fund supported more than 50 Tibetan girls who were unable to afford the high costs of higher education, both at technical schools in the country and at universities in China. Additionally, it provided scholarships to two pursuing careers in medicine in Xining.
Furthermore, with funding from the U.S. Department of State and partnerships between Qinghai Tibetan Medical College and three American universities, the Fund was able to provide English language training courses for 20 students, with four top-performing students going on to continue their studies at various American academic institutes.
Its dedication to education and the future of Tibet was further exemplified through its Tibetan Women Microentrepreneurship Program, which assisted vulnerable women in growing their businesses and expanding their markets.
Earthquakes
It has also donated generously toward victims of earthquakes, including the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck in early 2010 that claimed the lives of nearly 2,700 people and injured more than 12,000. The Fund provided a total of $122,875 in grants for short-and long-term emergency and recovery efforts, assisting Tibetans in the reconstruction of a flour mill and school.
Machik
The second of these charities operating in Tibet is Machik, which translates to “one mother” in Tibetan. This organization works with Tibetans both in and outside the region, addressing social and environmental changes with a focus on social innovation, civic engagement and gender equity.
Its recent achievements include the provision of clean energy and safe drinking water; the establishment of an award winning school, a library and an organic greenhouse; the repair of roads and houses and much more.
In 2001, Machik established the Pende Clinic Project, which provides health care to a rural community and its surrounding villages; in total, the clinic supports 31 villages with approximately 2,000 households, a population of about 16,000.
Moreover, it has established education programs for women charting new pathways. Mother’s Wish, a program it initiated, now supports education for girls and women in Amdo, ranging from middle school-level education to PhDs.
One of these is its Women’s Writing Program. Machik has sponsored both the development and distribution of The Land of Snow Tibetan Women’s Journal, a quarterly magazine edited and produced by Tibetan women that offers a platform for Tibetan women writers to discuss countless compelling social issues. Since its conception in December 2004, it has produced 12 issues.
Karuna-Shechen
A nonprofit organization that reflects and emphasizes the ideals of altruism, Karuna-Shechen has promoted well-being in the Himalayan region, with their work spanning Tibet, India and Nepal.
The organization has provided shelter, safety, education, health care and opportunities to vulnerable communities, encompassing fields such as health and hygiene, education, food security, economic development and the environment. In 2023, it supported more than 494,130 people, including 555,000 indirect beneficiaries and 22,000 animals.
Karuna-Shechen has also been significantly involved in promoting food security. For instance, it has provided equipment to improve water management in agriculture, which has been vastly beneficial for farmers such as Indra Kumari Rai.
This improved not only crop production rate but also its quality, allowing for sustainable agriculture and creating a lasting positive impact for both nutrition and economy.
Finally, its unique Altruism in Action model allows for a more explicit and active partnership between Karuna-Shechen and the communities it serves. It can be boiled down to the creation and use of Better Future Councils (BFCs), elected representatives from each “cluster” of villages that work directly with Karuna-Shechen. The BFCs then play a central role in the:
The American Himalayan Foundation (AHF)
Like Karuna-Shechen, another of these charities operating in Tibet, the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF) assists those living throughout the Himalayas, including Tibetans, Sherpas and Nepalis. Its projects have included trafficking prevention for women and girls, education, health care, cultural revival and environmental conservation.
The Foundation’s work spans multiple countries–in Nepal, it has been involved in disaster relief during events such as the Nepal earthquake, and have initiatives in the kingdom of Mustang and other areas that contribute to the preservation of culture. Additionally, it has an initiative titled STOP Girl Trafficking that aims to prevent girls from Nepal from being trafficked, or entering indentured servitude or child marriage. The program has grown significantly, supporting education that not only keeps girls safe but empowers them with the skills and confidence required for them to shape their own futures.
The Terma Foundation
The last of these charities operating in Tibet is The Terma Foundation, an international humanitarian medical organization that aims to provide innovative and sustainable health solutions, mainly for indigenous, marginalized and other excluded populations. Its work in Tibet, Mexico, Myanmar and Brazil has positively impacted and reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries to date.
Malnutrition
Through the implementation of its various culturally-sensitive programs that work with local partners, The Terma Foundation has provided medical education, participated in research combining both traditional Tibetan and western knowledge and practices and provided diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to Tibetans.
Its child feeding and indigenous food development program supports the supply and consumption of highly nutritious indigenous natural foods, which began after reports of malnutrition in children and their mothers due to insufficient protein and micronutrient intake.
Although the variety of processed food has grown exponentially, elders have stated that children have been shown to be stronger and healthier when eating locally cultivated food, which was previously a regular part of daily diets.
One such food is droma, a locally abundant, traditional root that is high in iron and vegetable protein, and combines to form a complete protein when mixed with barley.
The organization distributes droma in combination with multivitamin supplements, a well-received, low-cost practice that has led to visible, rapid improvement in children’s clinical status and growth. The harvesting process of these food sources is also being studied for its potential as a source of revenue for farmers, traditional doctors and herbalists.
Tibetan Medicine
On the topic of malnutrition, Terma has also emphasized the importance of traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) principles and practices as a form of advancement for cultural health care. Its health promotion team and TTM physicians work hand-in-hand, increasing credibility, trust and efficiency. The practices are adapted into schools and villages, offering a sense of comfort through the provision of clinical care that is culturally familiar to patients.
Terma’s other programs include health education and primary care delivery, tuberculosis prevention and control, pre- and postnatal care and rickets education and prevention.
Looking Ahead
Through these charities operating in Tibet, transformative work is being done in Tibet every day. Each act that these organizations implement have an impact.
– Rune Pang
Photo: Flickr
USAID in the Central African Republic
Economic Growth and Trade
Currently, USAID programs in the Central African Republic are restoring an 85-mile stretch of road in the northwest region. The construction of this road creates jobs for locals and upon completion it connects two northern cities, opening their markets to each other. Unemployment in CAR stood at 6.34% in 2022. While little information is given on this project, USAID boasts community involvement and job creation as well as the potential for new trade, all of which can aid in reducing unemployment.
Environment
USAID programs in the Central African Republic also fund the Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) which aims to protect the world’s second-largest rainforest. Located in the Congo Basin, the rainforest is threatened by deforestation, biodiversity loss, environmental destruction and growing global demand for resources.
About 70% of the country’s population depends on agriculture and nearly half of its population is food insecure. It is also facing an increasingly common issue with cattle farmers who cannot find grazing land. They have to travel farther than they used to graze, often causing them to cross borders into the Central African Republic because of its abundant fields. This puts a heavy strain on CAR’s resources and causes possibly violent disputes.
USAID supports the region by building up local, regional and national organizations to mitigate natural disasters, improve management of natural resources and sustain biodiversity. It also enforces logging regulations, reforms natural resource policy, engages communities in resource management and shares the benefits of forest resources.
CARPE is the largest environmental program from USAID. Its mission is to create a Congo Basin with healthy ecosystems and dynamic local leadership that supports stability and prosperity in communities. USAID works with partners such as the World Wildlife Fund to fund conservation, development, and community projects and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the region.
Crises and Conflict
Although recognizing the importance of economic growth and the environment, USAID places most of its focus on humanitarian crises in the Central African Republic. Fighting between the national army and rebel forces permeates across the country, regularly affecting civilian safety. In 2022, the government tried to remove the president’s two-term limit from the constitution, which only fueled the fire. This has led to an increase in abductions and hostages from both sides.
Because of ongoing instability, violence and displacement within the country people are often left without necessities. USAID works to combat food shortages and delivers medical aid such as measles vaccines and malnutrition treatment, according to its website. In places with more extreme conflict, they also provide emergency relief supplies, food aid, health and nutrition supplies, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and coordinated humanitarian efforts.
Food and Water
As of March 2024, USAID works with different partners to provide food security, health and nutrition, logistics support, water, protection and shelter and settlement in the Central African Republic. UNICEF, for example, partners with USAID to provide access to safe water for nearly 100,000 people through the rehabilitation and repair of more than 90 boreholes, the implementation of emergency water supply systems, and the distribution of household water treatment kits.
The World Food Program (WFP) implements cash transfers, locally procured food, food vouchers, and some U.S.-sources crops and supplementary feeding programs for young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. These are just two of their many partners and programs which also include things such as humanitarian air transportation due to insufficient roads, latrines and hygiene kits, community safety awareness sessions, emergency case management, emergency shelter kits and more.
The Central African Republic is facing political and economic instability and a major climate crisis at the same time, leading to skyrocketing poverty and food insecurity rates. USAID programs in the Central African Republic are designed to target these issues and help remove people from violence, poverty and hunger.
– Anna Thibodeau
Photo: Flickr
Cycles of Poverty in the Philippines
The Cycle of Family Poverty in the Philippines
Income inequality in the Philippines stems from several different structural factors. These include the fact that access to higher education and job skills remains an impossible task for many, the societal norms that leave women and other minorities at a disadvantage socially and addition, the complex geography of the nation, which means that opportunities and natural resources are disproportionately located.
The cycle of poverty prevails when these structural disadvantages mean that households permanently lack the resources to cover their most basic needs. When individuals are forced to spend their whole lives struggling to meet these basic needs, it means that they lack the time and resources to address the core of the issues that keep them rooted in poverty. This cycle of poverty can last a lifetime. It can even be passed from one generation to the next – family poverty.
These cycles of poverty, extreme and chronic, are passed from one generation to the next when children are born into situations where they are unlikely to have the ability to pursue changes that would make life easier for them and even their potential children. Children who are born into poverty are less likely to enroll in school and maintain age-appropriate grade levels because their time is taken up by the need to help the family meet their daily and most basic needs. Limiting a child’s access to education also limits their access to opportunities in the future, their subsequent earning potential and even the prospective development of their community.
However, Outreach International recognizes that family poverty is caused and maintained by more than just a lack of access to education and other kinds of infrastructure. It acknowledges the role of the above structural and societal inequalities and predatory loan practices.
Community-Led Development
Community-led development (CLD) aims to help communities get to the root of social issues affecting them and hindering their economic growth and development. CLD projects result in the final product and help the involved communities develop skills, knowledge and confidence in many aspects of life and business.
When the involved group learns how to “identify, prioritize and mobilize to reach a goal, they don’t just reach that one goal,” they develop skills to reach every goal after that. Their development becomes continuous and sustainable. Unlike short-term monetary solutions, this continues to benefit the communities involved as these skills can be passed onto future generations.
Outreach International’s Rice Loans
An example of Outreach International’s focus on CLD programs is its rice loans. Local community leaders work directly with suppliers to obtain rice at a wholesale price. They negotiate a fair price and organize a delivery location that is accessible to all participating households. The rice is then portioned and delivered to families who cannot afford it at market price.
All households are members of their respective Community-Based Organizations. Over time, each recipient repays the cost of their food loan into a community-managed fund. This fund generates interest and will cover the cost of further rice acquisition. This means vulnerable households can avoid using loan sharks that will take advantage of them. It also means the community can develop the funds and skills to tackle rice shortages on a long-term scale.
By providing communities with the skills and confidence to overcome structural issues over time, Outreach International’s focus on CLD schemes results in long-term economic and social development that helps lift the most vulnerable in the Philippines out of the cycle of poverty.
– Kristina Grant
Photo: Pexels
Ending Child Marriage in Guinea
Affected Population
In Guinea, though the law states that the minimum age of marriage is 18, this is not always upheld in practice. According to Girls Not Brides, 47% of girls marry before 18 and 17% of girls marry before the age of 15. This compares with 2% of boys who are married before age 18.
Rates of child marriage differ based on location. Rates of child marriage are two times higher in rural than urban areas, which may coincide with higher levels of poverty in the countryside. Child marriage in Guinea is more common in some areas of the country than others, with the highest rate being in Labé where 76% of children marry before 18, according to Girls Not Brides.
Reasons behind Child Marriage
Child marriages are often done with parental consent and because of financial worries, as children can be offered in exchange for goods. Other reasons include religious beliefs and fears of girls falling pregnant outside of marriage, Girls Not Brides reports.
Child marriage brings many dangers to these girls; 95% of girls married before 18 experience FGM/C, according to Girls Not Brides. Girls who are married as children are more likely to give birth earlier and experience complications in these pregnancies. They also have a higher chance of contracting infections like HIV and are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence.
Child Marriage and Poverty
Guinea is experiencing high levels of poverty with, according to the World Bank, 43.7% of people living below the poverty line – this equates to 5.8 million people. Statistically, there is a strong positive correlation between rates of poverty and rates of child marriage. This can be seen in Guinea; Labé is one of the poorest areas of the country with 66% of people living below the poverty. The city also has the highest rate of child marriage in Guinea.
UNICEF has identified that increasing access to education is a significant contributing factor to reducing rates of child marriage. According to Girls Not Brides, 63% of women without an education marry before 18, compared with 26% with secondary level education or higher. Therefore, a key aspect of tackling child marriage is increasing access to education; this is also an important aim of downsizing poverty.
Solutions
Though Guinea is amongst the highest in the world for child marriage, some changes are taking place. The country signed up to the SDGs, one of which aims to end child marriage. Guinea also signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in 2017 launched the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, according to Girls Not Brides. This campaign began in 2014 and aims to target the countries in Africa most affected by child marriage. It has given countries and leaders space to advocate for girls’ rights and has encouraged many countries to change their laws regarding child marriage. It has also led to more research on child marriage, providing important information on its impacts.
UNICEF has implemented the Fundamental Skills Improvement Programme, which trains teachers with the overall aim of improving the reading and mathematical abilities of children in Guinea. At the beginning of the program, 61% of students could not identify numbers. Just six months into the scheme this decreased to only 4%. Because of this success, many other schools are applying to the program, increasing its reach from 1,500 students to almost 6,000.
Equity Committee
The U.S. government has also offered help to increase access to education; the USAID education programme created an Equity Committee to grow the number of girls in education. The World Bank also joined this to fund studies into how to educate girls, as it was such uncharted territory, as well as running publicity campaigns to encourage more girls, and their families, to access education. This resulted in the percentage of girls attending school increasing from 23% to 36% and the percentage of boys rising from 51% to 66% in just four years.
This increase in education has had an impact on the number of child marriages in Guinea. There has been an overall decrease in the number of child marriages: the World Bank has reported that the mean age of marriage in 18-22-year-olds is 15.5, compared with 16.8 in 18-49-year-olds, therefore showing a decline.
There have been notable improvements and the future opportunities are looking brighter for Guinea’s young people as work continues to decrease child marriage in Guinea. By continuing to increase the number of children, especially girls, accessing education and by downsizing poverty, Guinea can further the progress made to eradicate child marriage.
– Eryn Greenaway
Photo: Flickr