Brazil shares a complex history with its indigenous population that spans centuries. The country contains approximately 60% of the Amazon rainforest and houses around 305 indigenous tribes. Throughout the 20th century, the intersection of indigenous rights, natural resource management and economic development has been navigated in Brazil.
Background to Indigenous Rights in Brazil
Brazilian policy aimed to balance development needs with indigenous rights and environmental protection. This approach shifted dramatically in 1964 when military forces successfully staged a coup and established a dictatorship.
Almost immediately after seizing power, the regime prioritized economic growth through large-scale development projects. The government built highways, including the Trans-Amazonian road, promoted colonization programs, and opened the Amazon to mining, logging and agribusiness operations.
Officials adopted slogans such as “Integrar para não entregar” (“Integrate to avoid surrender”). This phrase reflected the regime’s belief that Brazil needed to occupy the Amazon to protect national interests. These policies brought severe consequences for indigenous communities.
Twenty-one years later, the military dictatorship was toppled and Brazil transitioned back into a democracy. When the democratic constitution was still in progress, indigenous advocates and allies, including the Catholic Church’s Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), had lobbied vigorously to enshrine indigenous rights to their ancestral lands. “CIMI has become one of the most important defenders of indigenous rights, focusing on land rights, self-organisation and health care in indigenous territories.”
Feasting on the Amazon
Reestablishing democracy and constitutional protections has not resolved these issues. Subsequent administrations continue to face pressure to accelerate economic growth in the Amazon interior. This development drives deforestation and displaces indigenous communities. Agribusiness and logging operations systematically destroy public and indigenous Amazon lands. The state of Rondônia exemplifies this pattern with one of Brazil’s highest deforestation rates.
The Pastoral Land Commission, which advocates for environmental protection through the Brazilian Catholic Church, documented increased violence linked to logging activities.
“Poor people who effectively produce on their small lands are systematically persecuted, expelled, threatened or killed in the interest of real estate speculation,” Raphael Bevilaqua, the Commission’s attorney in Rondônia wrote.
Global demand for cheap coffee, meat, and soy incentivizes these developments. Multinational corporate giants such as McDonalds, Sysco, JBS Foods and Wal-Mart actively benefit from land seizure and repurposing it for cattle use, according to Protean. One Brazilian journalist writes, “Both these broader incentives and direct investment have helped facilitate the Amazon’s destruction and promoted abuses against Indigenous peoples.”
Displacing the Kayapó and the Cost of Energy
One example of this dynamic is the construction of the Belo-Monte dam. The Brazilian government began to implement plans to construct hydroelectric dams on the Xingu River, in northern Brazil. In response, hundreds of Indigenous leaders from the Xingu basin – Kayapó, Juruna, Arara, and others – united in the town of Altamira for a historic protest meeting, the first of its kind. Completing the dam would effectively destroy the livelihoods of thousands as well as increase the risk of flooding villages.
Riding the 1989 global wave of protests, indigenous communities in the Amazon leveraged the rare opportunity to take their grievances to an international audience. Around the world, people responded with ardent pressure against the dam’s construction. The public outcry eventually led the World Bank to pull out of financing its construction. Eventually, the Brazilian government capitulated, a watershed moment. For the first time the indigenous peoples were successful in halting the destruction of ancestral land.
Reversing the Victory
Rising electricity demands coupled with public consciousness favoring cleaner solutions, lead to the dam’s construction entering the public dialogue once again. Indigenous communities began to coalesce: organizing protests, filing lawsuits, and lobbying FUNAI (analogous to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the U.S.) against the construction. Even Sting, the British rockstar who headlined The Police, joined in their movement.
The construction went ahead in 2010 and five years later, the Brazilian government, facing substantial domestic and international scrutiny, launched an investigation into the dam’s construction. Investigation found that the dam’s main contractor, Norte Energia, had committed serious federal crimes. “In December, Brazil’s Public Federal Ministry, an independent state body, started legal proceedings to have it recognized that the crime of ‘ethnocide’ was committed against seven Indigenous groups during the building of the Belo Monte dam.”
Cautious Optimism
One tribe, the Kayapó, have been particularly vocal in halting plans to construct further dams in the region. In 2016, they scored a rare legal victory when a federal judge halted the construction of an expansion project.
The dam’s future remains uncertain as energy conglomerates and indigenous communities clash in the court system. Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, indigenous rights in Brazil have been given more consideration, but not concrete action. As of May 2025, no further construction has been initiated as the decision on construction rests with IBAMA (environmental regulation agency) to approve or deny the dam’s license.
Indigenous communities have once again banded together to oppose further degradation of the river. The Kayapaó have been successful in obtaining legal support from the Brazilian federal public defender’s office.
Advocates abroad like AIDA America and the Rainforest Foundation, are seeking to replicate the successful international pressure campaign of 1989 by amplifying indigenous voices to a global
audience.
The Future
As public awareness grows, advocacy networks are mobilizing and Indigenous leaders remain steadfast, placing Brazil at a pivotal moment. The impending decision on the dam is no longer just a yes-or-no vote—it is a chance to prove that economic growth can align with environmental stewardship.
– Max Marcello
Max is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Amazon Deforestation Undermines Indigenous Rights in Brazil
Background to Indigenous Rights in Brazil
Brazilian policy aimed to balance development needs with indigenous rights and environmental protection. This approach shifted dramatically in 1964 when military forces successfully staged a coup and established a dictatorship.
Almost immediately after seizing power, the regime prioritized economic growth through large-scale development projects. The government built highways, including the Trans-Amazonian road, promoted colonization programs, and opened the Amazon to mining, logging and agribusiness operations.
Officials adopted slogans such as “Integrar para não entregar” (“Integrate to avoid surrender”). This phrase reflected the regime’s belief that Brazil needed to occupy the Amazon to protect national interests. These policies brought severe consequences for indigenous communities.
Twenty-one years later, the military dictatorship was toppled and Brazil transitioned back into a democracy. When the democratic constitution was still in progress, indigenous advocates and allies, including the Catholic Church’s Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), had lobbied vigorously to enshrine indigenous rights to their ancestral lands. “CIMI has become one of the most important defenders of indigenous rights, focusing on land rights, self-organisation and health care in indigenous territories.”
Feasting on the Amazon
Reestablishing democracy and constitutional protections has not resolved these issues. Subsequent administrations continue to face pressure to accelerate economic growth in the Amazon interior. This development drives deforestation and displaces indigenous communities. Agribusiness and logging operations systematically destroy public and indigenous Amazon lands. The state of Rondônia exemplifies this pattern with one of Brazil’s highest deforestation rates.
The Pastoral Land Commission, which advocates for environmental protection through the Brazilian Catholic Church, documented increased violence linked to logging activities.
“Poor people who effectively produce on their small lands are systematically persecuted, expelled, threatened or killed in the interest of real estate speculation,” Raphael Bevilaqua, the Commission’s attorney in Rondônia wrote.
Global demand for cheap coffee, meat, and soy incentivizes these developments. Multinational corporate giants such as McDonalds, Sysco, JBS Foods and Wal-Mart actively benefit from land seizure and repurposing it for cattle use, according to Protean. One Brazilian journalist writes, “Both these broader incentives and direct investment have helped facilitate the Amazon’s destruction and promoted abuses against Indigenous peoples.”
Displacing the Kayapó and the Cost of Energy
One example of this dynamic is the construction of the Belo-Monte dam. The Brazilian government began to implement plans to construct hydroelectric dams on the Xingu River, in northern Brazil. In response, hundreds of Indigenous leaders from the Xingu basin – Kayapó, Juruna, Arara, and others – united in the town of Altamira for a historic protest meeting, the first of its kind. Completing the dam would effectively destroy the livelihoods of thousands as well as increase the risk of flooding villages.
Riding the 1989 global wave of protests, indigenous communities in the Amazon leveraged the rare opportunity to take their grievances to an international audience. Around the world, people responded with ardent pressure against the dam’s construction. The public outcry eventually led the World Bank to pull out of financing its construction. Eventually, the Brazilian government capitulated, a watershed moment. For the first time the indigenous peoples were successful in halting the destruction of ancestral land.
Reversing the Victory
Rising electricity demands coupled with public consciousness favoring cleaner solutions, lead to the dam’s construction entering the public dialogue once again. Indigenous communities began to coalesce: organizing protests, filing lawsuits, and lobbying FUNAI (analogous to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the U.S.) against the construction. Even Sting, the British rockstar who headlined The Police, joined in their movement.
The construction went ahead in 2010 and five years later, the Brazilian government, facing substantial domestic and international scrutiny, launched an investigation into the dam’s construction. Investigation found that the dam’s main contractor, Norte Energia, had committed serious federal crimes. “In December, Brazil’s Public Federal Ministry, an independent state body, started legal proceedings to have it recognized that the crime of ‘ethnocide’ was committed against seven Indigenous groups during the building of the Belo Monte dam.”
Cautious Optimism
One tribe, the Kayapó, have been particularly vocal in halting plans to construct further dams in the region. In 2016, they scored a rare legal victory when a federal judge halted the construction of an expansion project.
The dam’s future remains uncertain as energy conglomerates and indigenous communities clash in the court system. Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, indigenous rights in Brazil have been given more consideration, but not concrete action. As of May 2025, no further construction has been initiated as the decision on construction rests with IBAMA (environmental regulation agency) to approve or deny the dam’s license.
Indigenous communities have once again banded together to oppose further degradation of the river. The Kayapaó have been successful in obtaining legal support from the Brazilian federal public defender’s office.
Advocates abroad like AIDA America and the Rainforest Foundation, are seeking to replicate the successful international pressure campaign of 1989 by amplifying indigenous voices to a global
audience.
The Future
As public awareness grows, advocacy networks are mobilizing and Indigenous leaders remain steadfast, placing Brazil at a pivotal moment. The impending decision on the dam is no longer just a yes-or-no vote—it is a chance to prove that economic growth can align with environmental stewardship.
– Max Marcello
Photo: Flickr
Women in Fiji: Gender Wage Gap
Battling Inequality
Gender inequality has been a hot topic within societal norms and traditions. The World Bank issued a report stating that women in Fiji spend 2.9 times more than men on household work. A traditional female role is to provide for the family and domestic responsibilities like cooking and cleaning. Women possess full inheritance and property rights under law; however, local city governments dispose of their decisions on collective land.
A group of 56 women founded The Women’s Rights Movement of Fiji (FWRM) in 1986. Over the years, the movement pushed for legislation in Fiji. The implementation of the Family Law Act and the Employment Regulations Act upheld the FWRM campaign in 2005.
The FWRM are known for their two main active programs: the Gender and Transitional Justice Program (GTJ) and the Intergenerational Women’s Leadership Program. Enhancing democratic recognition and the rule of law for women’s rights is the goal of the GTJ. This is positioned between right holders and responsibility bearers. The Intergenerational Women’s Program focuses more on women’s health and female leaders in high leadership roles.
Empowering Women in Fiji
GlobalGiving is a charitable organization that aims to focus on women’s empowerment through community service and project collaborations. It opens up workshops on gender gap-related issues. Since 2002, the organization has funded $1,026 million from almost 2 million donors or volunteers. The number of projects expanded to more than 40,000 in more than 175 countries around the world. They estimated 96 million citizens will live on the poverty brink by 2021.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the dilemma grew more challenging. Its long-term goal was the launch of GlobalGiving’s empowerment programs, which ask for volunteers to help or lead women empowerment service projects. These projects range from play activities for children, women’s health plans, and community networks where women and grandparents can share stories.
Future Restorations
The gender wage gap continues to be a barrier, with women in Fiji earning lower wages and being significantly underrepresented in positions of leadership. The burden of unpaid caregiving duties that women bear limits this difference. This restricts the prospects for financial growth. But the groundwork of women’s rights has been laid. Through their reliable lobbying techniques, the women’s rights movement in Fiji has overturned discriminatory laws and regulations. Health education, skills-based training, and community development all received aid from GlobalGiving charity programs. These give women the knowledge they need to grow. Closing the gender wage gap requires persistent advocacy and ongoing funding for these organizations.
– Janae Bayford
Photo: Flickr
Progressing Education in Albania
Education Investment and Teacher Conditions
Albania has not yet met the global recommendation of allocating 6% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to education. As a result, public schools face challenges including under-resourced classrooms, limited infrastructure and a lack of inclusive tools to support diverse learners. Teachers are especially affected by these gaps, receiving low wages while working in overcrowded environments with limited professional support. According to Education International, these conditions have long-term implications for teacher retention and system performance. In response, local education unions have begun mobilizing to advocate for increased public funding and fair treatment for educators.
Barriers for Roma Children and Students With Disabilities
While Albania maintains a high enrollment rate overall, the quality and accessibility of education remain unequal. Roma children, Europe’s largest ethnic minority, face additional obstacles including poverty, discrimination and language barriers. These factors increase the risk of dropout and limit long-term academic success. Children with disabilities also encounter barriers, particularly due to limited teacher training and a lack of specialized educational strategies. According to Broken Chalk, very few teachers are equipped to support inclusive learning and those who are trained are not widely distributed across schools. As a result, many children with disabilities are unable to receive consistent, high-quality education.
UNICEF and Local Efforts to Expand Access
In partnership with the Ministry of Education and civil society, UNICEF has launched programs to identify out-of-school children and bring them back into the education system. These efforts aim to address the specific needs of marginalized groups and provide technical guidance to local and national governments. UNICEF’s involvement includes improving data systems, promoting inclusive learning environments and enhancing coordination between central and local authorities. These collaborations are designed to ensure long-term reform and more equitable educational access across Albania.
Community-Based Support Through Nehemiah Gateway
GlobalGiving has partnered with Nehemiah Gateway, a nonprofit that supports an educational program helping around 200 individuals each year in southern Albania. The program is inclusive of all students—especially Roma youth—and provides a strong academic foundation for future employment and personal growth. Nehemia Schools offer small class sizes for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, allowing staff to provide individualized attention. Every year, students from kindergarten to ninth grade receive free hot meals and social support, helping create a stable learning environment for those at risk of falling behind.
Advocacy Campaigns Push for Systemic Reform
To address structural challenges in Albania’s education system, Education International launched the Go Public! Fund Education campaign. This global movement has taken root locally, mobilizing teachers, civil society groups and policymakers to push for increased investment in education and improved working conditions. In February 2025, Albania hosted its first Community Forum on Education, which brought together educators, families and government officials. Forum participants called for stronger infrastructure, increased teacher salaries and greater transparency in school funding. A subsequent Policy Analysis Workshop focused on evaluating national education budgets and drafting reform proposals.
Looking Ahead
Ongoing advocacy from international and local stakeholders continues to spotlight education as a critical pillar of Albania’s development. While challenges persist, collaborative initiatives—such as those led by UNICEF, Nehemiah Gateway and Education International—are helping to bridge access gaps and build a more inclusive system. Progress could require sustained investment, teacher support and targeted reforms to reach underserved communities. With continued coordination and policy engagement, Albania could take further steps toward ensuring equitable, high-quality education for all students.
– Sarina Francis
Photo: Flickr
Liveaboard Helpers Provide Hope for Africa
Mercy Ships has impacted more than 2 million lives with the help of its liveaboard helpers. It has done over 119,000 surgeries, trained more than 50,000 people and has had more than 1,500 volunteers each year. Globally, 50% of all human beings live near a coast, making this the reason they use ships. “Two physicians per 10,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa” is the reason it serves the African region.
Providing Surgeries in Africa
Many of the stories by Mercy Ships recount the experiences of people living in countries where inadequate health care is available, as well as those who require surgeries.
According to Mercy Ships, ” In some areas of the world, medical professionals are a rarity. In countries like Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and others across sub-Saharan Africa, hospitals are scarce, and access to quality medical care is limited.” “Many people suffer from treatable conditions simply because there are no doctors or medical resources available to help them.”
In a 2019 Mercy Ships press release said how one child, Aissata from Guinea, was born with a cleft lip. She received assistance from liveaboard helpers through the Africa Mercy ship, which the child, of less than a year old, traveled around 200 miles with her mother to receive assistance from the liveaboard helpers.
“Their family is among the world’s estimated 5 billion people who do not have access to safe, affordable, timely surgery,” said the press release. “In sub-Saharan Africa specifically, 93% of the population cannot get the surgery it needs.” Africa requires places to get surgeries and health professionals.
Partnership
A partnership between MSC and Mercy Ships began in 2011. MSC originally provided cargo, but that turned into much more because of the attention MSC gave to Mercy Ships.
“I spent part of my childhood and early years in the shipping industry in the Horn of Africa, it is a region close to my heart,” said Diego Aponte, the founder. “I saw firsthand the challenges faced by many local communities there and this shaped my conviction that improving the availability of healthcare would bring real and lasting impact for them.”
MSC helps to provide funding, leading the way for Mercy Ships to focus on other areas.
In 2024, MSC Foundation, MSC Group and Mercy Ships partnered to grow the number of Mercy Ships to three.
This new ship will have a two-deck hospital, the ability to house around 600 crew, training areas and six operating rooms. The new ship will operate in sub-Saharan Africa.
In an MSC press release, Gert van de Weerdhof, CEO of Mercy Ships, said, “This new vessel and her future crew will enable us to meet surgical needs while supporting host nations as they develop healthcare systems with their next generation of medical professionals.”
– Matthew Restrepo
Photo: Flickr
LIFT Program in St Kitts and Nevis Improves Family Poverty
New and Improved
The LIFT Program in St Kitts and Nevis aims to replace the previous program, “Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP),” which the government made to relieve poverty within a specific region or country. Instead of simply supplying citizens with necessities and short-term solutions like the PAP Program, the LIFT Program set out to further reduce poverty by focusing on long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency. This newly developed program provides training that will further improve citizens’ skills that will help them sustain themselves while still offering direct financial assistance.
The previous PAP program helped close to 4,000 families, as of 2019. However, in just one year, the LIFT Program has already helped more than 4,300 households, making it a more impactful and effective program for low-income people in St Kitts and Nevis.
Better Lives for Families and Children
Child poverty is one of the most significant issues in St Kitts and Nevis, with 31% of children living in poverty. However, the LIFT Program is highly centered around family and child social benefits, working to reduce and prevent child poverty.
Prioritizing unemployed families, single parents, and those with disabilities, the LIFT Program in St Kitts and Nevis actively helps people provide for their families and create a safe and healthy environment for their children. By providing cash transfers, they open low-income families to more financial opportunities, like more nutritious food, easier access to high-quality health care, and better equipment for schooling.
Alongside daily financial assistance, the LIFT Program also provides aid during natural disasters or other emergencies where the family may need immediate financial help.
While adult poverty is not as widespread as child poverty, it is still a prevalent issue, with 17% of adults living in poverty. The ongoing family support from the LIFT Program helps adults get back on their feet, teaching them necessary life skills that will help them self-sustain and prevent their own downward spiral into poverty.
The Future of St Kitts and Nevis
The LIFT Program in St Kitts and Nevis is still new, only recently put in place to better the countries quality of life. However, with its continuous development and promising results, the program brings hope for those most in need. Alongside other social programs, improving education and healthcare, and the nation’s growing community, the LIFT Program will build a better future for families and children of St Kitts and Nevis.
– Sevyn Whatley
Photo: Flickr
Access to Higher Education in Tajikistan
Poverty
From 2000 to 2020, poverty in Tajikistan dropped significantly, from 83% to 26%. Despite this remarkable progress, the country still struggles to promote higher education. As in many parts of the world, families facing financial hardship often find it difficult to afford university or college, making higher education in Tajikistan an inaccessible goal for much of the population.
In Tajikistan, 73.6% of the population lives and works in rural areas, and nearly half of them remain below the poverty line. These economic constraints make it especially difficult for rural families to support higher education, both financially and logistically. In many cases, families rely on their children to contribute to the household income, making school a lower priority. Child labor laws in Tajikistan are relatively lenient, allowing this practice to continue with limited regulation or enforcement.
The Tajik government officially condemns child labor but has yet to implement effective policies to regulate or eliminate its use. In practice, society often views child labor as a necessary means to an end for families facing severe poverty, especially in rural areas where economic opportunities are limited and survival takes precedence over schooling.
Tradition
In many societies, a woman’s role is traditionally seen as that of a homemaker, and Tajikistan is no exception. Deeply rooted gender norms continue to shape expectations for women, limiting their access to higher education. In 2012, only 23% of college students in Tajikistan were female, compared to a global average of 51%, highlighting a significant gender gap. While female enrollment has steadily increased over time, now averaging 58 female students for every 100 male students, representation remains uneven. Among those who do attend college, only about 7% of women pursue scientific or technical disciplines, reflecting continued gender segregation in academic and professional fields.
In Tajikistan, work sectors dominated by women tend to pay far less than those dominated by men. For many women trying to support themselves or their families, this means earning just 60% of what a man in the same country might make. The struggle often starts early, as girls are more likely to drop out of school before finishing primary or secondary education. Whether due to financial strain, family expectations, or lack of opportunity, many young girls have to put their futures on hold long before they ever reach a classroom door in a university.
Efforts to Enable Prospective Students
The National Strategy for the Education Development of the Republic of Tajikistan (NSED) outlines key goals and initiatives aimed at making education more accessible, while also promoting meaningful changes to the country’s social and cultural framework. Despite significant growth in Tajikistan’s Gross Domestic Product, official employment among citizens remains low and has shown little progress. To address this gap, the NSEDRT calls for a stronger alignment between the education system and the domestic labor market.
In 2018, the President of Tajikistan emphasized that improving education is essential to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens, a statement that helped catalyze the development of the NSED, which spans from 2021 to 2030. By 2030, the strategy aims to ensure that education is free, equitable and of high quality. It also seeks to guarantee that the skills taught are both relevant and practical, while prioritizing improvements in literacy, student safety, and teacher qualifications.
Tajikistan’s path toward educational equity remains challenging, shaped by poverty, tradition, and limited resources. Yet with continued reform, growing awareness, and the resilience of its youth, there is hope that access to higher education in Tajikistan will become not a privilege, but a possibility for all.
– Abegail Buchan
Photo: Flickr
Refugee Policy and Humanitarian Leadership in Rwanda
Refugee Support and Integration Policies
Rwanda hosts approximately 120,000 refugees, primarily from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi. The majority live in refugee camps such as Mahama, Kigeme and Kiziba, while others reside in urban areas like Kigali. Mahama, the largest camp, is home to tens of thousands of Burundian refugees, while Congolese communities are more concentrated in Kigeme and Kiziba.
Refugees in urban settings have access to employment and local services under Rwanda’s integration policy. Through a community-based health insurance scheme, many can access national health care, despite policies promoting self-reliance, practical challenges persist, including limited job opportunities and resource constraints. Refugees also face restrictions on political participation, and reports of pressure to return to their home countries have raised concerns among human rights organizations.
Legal Framework and International Collaboration
Rwanda is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol and the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Refugee Convention. These commitments are reflected in Rwanda’s domestic laws, including Law No. 13 ter/2014, which outlines the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Article 18 of this law ensures that refugees enjoy liberties protected by international legal instruments.
The Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) oversees refugee affairs and coordinates with organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to implement resettlement programs and service delivery. The country’s asylum system includes national birth registration for refugees, reducing the risk of statelessness and supporting long-term integration.
Peacekeeping and Regional Influence
Rwanda has actively participated in peacekeeping operations with the African Union (AU) and United Nations (U.N.), including contributions to missions in the Central African Republic. These efforts have strengthened Rwanda’s international standing and regional influence.
At the same time, Rwanda’s involvement in neighboring conflicts has drawn scrutiny. Accusations of supporting rebel groups in the eastern DRC have sparked regional and international debate. While the Rwandan government maintains that its actions aim to protect national and regional security, organizations such as Human Rights Watch and AP News have reported ongoing tensions and concerns about the country’s role in exacerbating conflict dynamics.
Challenges to Refugee Protection
While Rwanda has been widely praised for its refugee policy framework, gaps remain. Some refugees have reported limited avenues for political expression, restricted civil liberties or difficulties accessing sustainable employment. Humanitarian organizations have raised concerns about forced or pressured returns, which would violate international protection standards. Despite these concerns, Rwanda’s refugee services continue to receive support from UNHCR and various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), particularly in camp settings where food, shelter and basic services are more reliably delivered.
Future of Humanitarian Leadership in Rwanda
Rwanda’s approach to refugee protection combines legal commitment with regional engagement. The country has made important strides in integrating refugees into its public systems, while also contributing to peacekeeping and humanitarian diplomacy in Africa. Continued international collaboration, policy refinement and monitoring could address existing gaps and uphold refugee rights. By maintaining its focus on integration, service access and legal protections, Rwanda has the potential to build on its progress and serve as a regional model for humanitarian leadership in displacement contexts.
– Olivia Fanders
Photo: Flickr
How Intercultural Education in Bolivia Can Help Alleviate Poverty
Intercultural education recognizes cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as ensures all learners have the right to communicate in their native language. Thanks to various strategies, legal reforms and programs, the implementation of intercultural education in Bolivia helped improve outcomes, preserve identities and promote inclusion among rural communities.
Bolivia: A Plurinational Nation
Bolivia’s 2009 constitution declared the country a plurinational state and officially recognized 36 Indigenous languages. This signalled a step forward in the decolonization of Bolivia, as the document also guaranteed rights to “autonomy, self-government, their culture and recognition of their institutions” for Indigenous populations. The constitution also emphasises education in Bolivia as universal, intercultural and free in Article 17.
Following the 2009 constitution and its emphasis on education, the government introduced Law 070 in 2010 to promote multilingual, intracultural and intercultural education in Bolivia. This meant that a multilingual model replaced the bilingual model, so English, Spanish and an Indigenous language became part of the national curriculum.
However, the implementation of complete intercultural education in Bolivia poses a network of challenges. Some of these challenges include insufficient time allocated to native languages, a lack of native-speaking teachers and an inadequate understanding of socio-cultural and regional contexts.
Improving Educational Outcomes
In addition to constitutional and legal reforms, various organizations are working to improve opportunities for Indigenous peoples through multilingual and intercultural education in Bolivia. The Programa Amazónico de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe (PAEIB) has been promoting an intercultural bilingual approach to education in the Amazon and lowland region since 2006. PAEIB provides scholarships and supplies materials to primary schools across Indigenous regions, including dictionaries, learning units, songbooks and teaching guides. Not only does this supply of materials ensure that schools have the necessary equipment to teach native languages, but it also adapts and complements the curriculum towards Indigenous cultures.
Similarly, Fe y Alegría Bolivia promotes quality education for excluded populations. Fe y Alegría manages 398 educational centres across Bolivia (including specialised services for children with learning and hearing disabilities), benefiting 173,518 students and employing 9,384 teachers and administrators. The education centres focus on relevant and contextualised learning by adopting a learning model based on the knowledge and practices of rural Indigenous communities, meaning that the curriculum responds to the socio-cultural contexts of its students and helps to preserve their cultural identities.
Preserving Cultural Identities
With around 30 indigenous languages in danger of extinction, Bilingual Nests is preserving the identities of marginalized groups by revitalizing native languages nationwide. The program has been working since 2014 to prevent language extinction and impacted 2,314 children in 2021.
Bilingual Nests targets children under the age of four to maximise acquisition and adapt their approach depending on whether or not a child’s relatives or caregivers are native speakers. If they are, daily communication and instructions using the native language are encouraged, as well as family and community meetups, in order for the child to naturally build a linguistic foundation. If neither a primary caregiver nor a grandparent can oversee language transition, childcare facilities primarily use Indigenous languages during instructions and activities.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bilingual Nests recognized inequalities regarding internet access and remote learning across Indigenous communities in Bolivia and subsequently developed both print and digital materials to continue running the program in rural communities. With the help of funding from UNICEF, Bilingual Nests hopes to continue expanding its strategies into more rural areas where native languages are at risk of extinction.
Funding and prioritization of native languages in the national curriculum are crucial in order for the 2009 Constitution’s promises of intercultural education in Bolivia to materialize.
– Clodagh Dowson
Photo: Flickr
Women in Peru: The Fight for Indigenous Rights
Conga Mine: Máxima Acuña’s Stand for Land and Water
The Conga Mine, a gold and copper project in Cajamarca, posed a significant threat to four lakes that are essential for local water supplies. Máxima Acuña, a Quechua subsistence farmer, emerged as a symbol of resistance after she refused to cede her land to Newmont Mining. Despite facing violent eviction attempts, criminalization, and harassment, Acuña achieved a landmark court ruling in 2014 that halted the mine’s expansion. Her courage earned her the Goldman Environmental Prize and inspired a documentary.
Although the project remains on hold, her success underscores the potential for Indigenous women’s rights in Peru to prevail against corporate power. Grassroots organizations like GRUFIDES continue to back similar legal efforts, illustrating that local activism can have a global impact.
Loreto’s Oil Spills: Women Rise from Crisis to Leadership
In the Amazon, persistent oil spills from the state-owned Petroperú have contaminated rivers and severely impacted the Kukama Indigenous communities. Leaders like Flor de María Paraná have emerged as powerful advocates, establishing organizations to demand clean water, health care and remediation for the spills, ultimately securing a 2021 court order that mandated government action.
Their advocacy has transformed community leadership, with groups such as ONAMIAP pushing for policies that prioritize Indigenous women in environmental and health issues. These accomplishments illustrate how crises can catalyze progress in women’s rights in Peru.
A Path Forward for Women in Peru
In Peru, Indigenous women are transforming challenges into powerful advocacy, proving that grassroots initiatives can effectively address deep-rooted injustices. Despite persistent threats such as inadequate enforcement of prior consultations, gender-based violence, and demands for corporate accountability, their achievements serve as a model for meaningful change. As Peru strives to balance economic development with human rights, the leadership of Indigenous women is essential. Their struggle extends beyond issues of land and water; it envisions a future in which women’s rights in Peru are unequivocally upheld.
– Emilia Bartle
Photo: Flickr
Responding to Crisis: IF Charity in Gaza
Origins and Mission
Souad’s involvement with the Palestinian cause began 20 years ago, when she helped a friend in Morocco raise funds by selling items at a mosque. After moving to the United Kingdom (U.K.) in 2018, she sought to continue her efforts and found Interpal, the organization that preceded IF Charity. Political challenges eventually led to Interpal’s closure and IF Charity emerged in its place with a continued focus on providing life-saving aid to Gaza. Souad believes that the cause itself sets the charity apart. “I think it hurts a lot to see someone suffering or going through hardship nonstop,” she said.
Education Reborn
Education Reborn, one of IF Charity’s signature programs, focuses on restoring learning opportunities for children in Gaza whose schools have been destroyed. The organization supplies essential materials such as tables and books, aiming to ensure that children have the tools and spaces needed to continue their education.
IF Charity also invests in community infrastructure. Its community development program supports water and desalination plant construction, which provides clean water to families and reduces the need for young people to travel long distances. The time saved allows youth to participate in education or pursue job opportunities through the charity’s job creation initiatives.
Food and Energy Security
According to IF Charity’s 2023 to 2024 action report, 90% of people in Gaza experience food insecurity. To address this, the charity distributes vegetable baskets and food parcels. During Ramadan 2024, the organization provided food parcels to 2,338 families. To tackle frequent electricity outages, IF Charity installed solar panels in North Gaza. These panels also support water extraction from wells, contributing to both energy and water access. The charity also organized an Eid fun day in 2024 to provide emotional relief and a sense of normalcy for children and families affected by ongoing conflict.
Overcoming Barriers
Despite its impact, IF Charity faces numerous obstacles. Infrastructure destruction — including hospitals, power lines and roads — hinders aid delivery. Blockades further restrict access to essential supplies. While the organization constructs makeshift clinics and supplies medicine to the extent possible, needs remain high.
Another significant challenge is the transfer of donations. Souad described the difficulty she experienced after raising more than £6,000 for Gaza during Ramadan. Banks refused to transfer funds directly to Gaza, citing restrictions. She explained, “They were happy with it to go to any other country besides Gaza.” Attempts to reroute donations through Türkiye also failed due to bank complications and even IF Charity was unable to accept the funds due to regulatory concerns.
Additionally, the charity faces limitations on social media. Its Instagram page has been shadow-banned, meaning that posts do not appear in users’ feeds and tagging volunteers is restricted. Souad said, “So many hours that the person [spends]… to post pictures, videos,” yet the content does not reach the intended audience.
Looking Ahead
As IF Charity navigates operational hurdles, it continues to create spaces for global participation through events that raise both awareness and support. Annual initiatives in Morocco and Istanbul allow donors and volunteers to engage directly with the charity’s mission while fostering a broader network of solidarity. Despite ongoing challenges, IF Charity remains focused on expanding its reach and sustaining critical aid programs. With continued collaboration and visibility, the organization aims to strengthen its long-term impact in Gaza and beyond.
– Maryam
Photo: Flickr