Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease causing severe diarrhea and dehydration and it can be fatal if left unchecked. With the onset of 2024, the persistence of cholera has become evident. In January alone, across 17 countries in four regions – Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Americas and South-East Asia – 40,900 cases and 775 deaths were reported. Here are five aspects of global poverty that contribute to cholera outbreaks:
Lack of Access to Sanitation and Clean Water
While there have been efforts to address inadequate sanitation through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in the past, there are still challenges. On a positive note, previous studies have indicated that initiatives like extensive media outreach, engagement of community health workers and the provision of essential items such as water purification tablets, soap and oral rehydration solutions have demonstrated efficacy in encouraging behavioral shifts aimed at preventing cholera.
However, the effectiveness of WASH interventions varies across different regions and contexts, especially regarding recontamination. Despite efforts to disinfect water storage containers, a significant percentage of containers are becoming recontaminated at the household level. The distribution of household disinfection kits as an alternative presents the potential to diminish social stigma and empower households to uphold hygiene practices. Yet, additional evaluation is required to confirm their efficacy. Additionally, more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of WASH interventions during cholera outbreaks and inform international policy and practice.
Unplanned Urbanization
Unplanned or unmanaged urbanization often refers to the rapid and unplanned growth of urban areas without adequate planning, infrastructure and governance. In the context of public health, the consequences of unplanned urbanization are profound, particularly concerning the spread and impact of infectious diseases like cholera.
It is important to note that cholera outbreaks primarily impact impoverished communities characterized by low socioeconomic status. Particularly vulnerable are individuals living in densely populated regions with restricted access to safe water and sanitation facilities – the overcrowding in these regions is exacerbated by unplanned urbanization.
Therefore, the lack of urban planning often results in disparities in access to health care services, exacerbating the burden of disease on already marginalized populations. Reducing unplanned mass urbanization would require a multifaceted approach that addresses both the underlying drivers of urbanization – including weak governance, unaffordable housing and a lack of investment in infrastructure – and the consequences of rapid and disorderly urban growth.
Food Insecurity
Currently, a negative correlation exists between national food security levels and annual incidences of cholera. In a cross-sectional survey investigating the relationship between food insecurity and cholera in rural Haitian households, it was found that moderate and severe household hunger were significantly associated with a history of cholera. Certain high-risk behaviors were identified as potential mediators of the association between food insecurity and cholera.
These behaviors include the consumption of food and beverages prepared outside the home, the use of antacids and the consumption of leftover non-reheated food items. Household food insecurity was positively associated with these high-risk behaviors, indicating a potential pathway through which food insecurity may increase the risk of cholera transmission.
Interventions targeting food insecurity may help reduce the prevalence of high-risk behaviors and subsequently lower the incidence of cholera in vulnerable populations. Future longitudinal and qualitative research can be done to investigate the relationship between food insecurity, high-risk behaviors and cholera risk further. By addressing and understanding underlying socioeconomic determinants such as food insecurity, public health initiatives can disrupt the transmission dynamics of cholera outbreaks and alleviate the burden of this preventable disease in resource-constrained settings.
Vaccine Shortages
More recently, there was a significant scarcity of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) globally from January 2023 to January 2024, impacting the ongoing cholera response efforts. Within this timeframe, 14 countries urgently requested 76 million doses of OCV, yet only 38 million doses were accessible. The depletion of the OCV stockpile was exacerbated by Shantha Biotechnics’s exit from the market in 2023.
This left the stockpile solely reliant on EuBiologics, a South Korean company, which faced challenges in meeting the unpredictable demand and low pricing associated with vaccine production. However, EuBiologics aimed to produce 35 million doses of the current vaccine and potentially 15 million more if the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalifies its new vaccine.
Despite the temporary shortage, there are prospects for increasing vaccine production in the coming years, with other manufacturers expected to enter the market. However, achieving the Global Task Force on Cholera Control’s target of reducing cases by 90% by 2030 requires sustained efforts, including long-term preventive vaccination programs and the previously mentioned improvements in WASH infrastructure.
Overall, the devastating impact of cholera outbreaks underscores the urgent need for collective action to address the underlying vulnerabilities and ensure access to essential health care services for affected populations.
– Avery Fuller
Photo: Flickr
4 Aspects of Global Poverty That Lead to Cholera Outbreaks
Lack of Access to Sanitation and Clean Water
While there have been efforts to address inadequate sanitation through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in the past, there are still challenges. On a positive note, previous studies have indicated that initiatives like extensive media outreach, engagement of community health workers and the provision of essential items such as water purification tablets, soap and oral rehydration solutions have demonstrated efficacy in encouraging behavioral shifts aimed at preventing cholera.
However, the effectiveness of WASH interventions varies across different regions and contexts, especially regarding recontamination. Despite efforts to disinfect water storage containers, a significant percentage of containers are becoming recontaminated at the household level. The distribution of household disinfection kits as an alternative presents the potential to diminish social stigma and empower households to uphold hygiene practices. Yet, additional evaluation is required to confirm their efficacy. Additionally, more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of WASH interventions during cholera outbreaks and inform international policy and practice.
Unplanned Urbanization
Unplanned or unmanaged urbanization often refers to the rapid and unplanned growth of urban areas without adequate planning, infrastructure and governance. In the context of public health, the consequences of unplanned urbanization are profound, particularly concerning the spread and impact of infectious diseases like cholera.
It is important to note that cholera outbreaks primarily impact impoverished communities characterized by low socioeconomic status. Particularly vulnerable are individuals living in densely populated regions with restricted access to safe water and sanitation facilities – the overcrowding in these regions is exacerbated by unplanned urbanization.
Therefore, the lack of urban planning often results in disparities in access to health care services, exacerbating the burden of disease on already marginalized populations. Reducing unplanned mass urbanization would require a multifaceted approach that addresses both the underlying drivers of urbanization – including weak governance, unaffordable housing and a lack of investment in infrastructure – and the consequences of rapid and disorderly urban growth.
Food Insecurity
Currently, a negative correlation exists between national food security levels and annual incidences of cholera. In a cross-sectional survey investigating the relationship between food insecurity and cholera in rural Haitian households, it was found that moderate and severe household hunger were significantly associated with a history of cholera. Certain high-risk behaviors were identified as potential mediators of the association between food insecurity and cholera.
These behaviors include the consumption of food and beverages prepared outside the home, the use of antacids and the consumption of leftover non-reheated food items. Household food insecurity was positively associated with these high-risk behaviors, indicating a potential pathway through which food insecurity may increase the risk of cholera transmission.
Interventions targeting food insecurity may help reduce the prevalence of high-risk behaviors and subsequently lower the incidence of cholera in vulnerable populations. Future longitudinal and qualitative research can be done to investigate the relationship between food insecurity, high-risk behaviors and cholera risk further. By addressing and understanding underlying socioeconomic determinants such as food insecurity, public health initiatives can disrupt the transmission dynamics of cholera outbreaks and alleviate the burden of this preventable disease in resource-constrained settings.
Vaccine Shortages
More recently, there was a significant scarcity of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) globally from January 2023 to January 2024, impacting the ongoing cholera response efforts. Within this timeframe, 14 countries urgently requested 76 million doses of OCV, yet only 38 million doses were accessible. The depletion of the OCV stockpile was exacerbated by Shantha Biotechnics’s exit from the market in 2023.
This left the stockpile solely reliant on EuBiologics, a South Korean company, which faced challenges in meeting the unpredictable demand and low pricing associated with vaccine production. However, EuBiologics aimed to produce 35 million doses of the current vaccine and potentially 15 million more if the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalifies its new vaccine.
Despite the temporary shortage, there are prospects for increasing vaccine production in the coming years, with other manufacturers expected to enter the market. However, achieving the Global Task Force on Cholera Control’s target of reducing cases by 90% by 2030 requires sustained efforts, including long-term preventive vaccination programs and the previously mentioned improvements in WASH infrastructure.
Overall, the devastating impact of cholera outbreaks underscores the urgent need for collective action to address the underlying vulnerabilities and ensure access to essential health care services for affected populations.
– Avery Fuller
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in El Salvador
Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation
The Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation (SAHF) is a Miami-based non-profit that provides humanitarian aid to Salvadorans in need. The foundation collects donations from the United States and distributes them to hospitals, clinics, orphanages, nursing homes, libraries and schools in El Salvador. In partnership with its sister organization, the Salvadoran Foundation for Health and Human Development (FUSAL), SAHF shipped more than $19 million in aid to El Salvador in 2022, directly helping 62,535 Salvadorans and 157 organizations.
FUSAL
Established in 1986, the Salvadoran Foundation for Health and Human Development (FUSAL) is the Salvadoran-based sister organization of SAHF. FUSAL is responsible for receiving the goods shipped by SAHF. They distribute items, such as medicine, medical supplies, hygienic products, clothing, food and educational goods to vulnerable Salvadorans across the nation’s 14 states. Since its conception, FUSAL has distributed about $850 million of donations to 630 beneficiaries, including hospitals, schools, care and community centers, and other Salvadoran NGOs.
The Poma Foundation
The Poma Foundation is a Salvadoran organization that aims to promote the social, economic and personal development of the impoverished. Through various educational, cultural and wellness programs, such as FUSAL and the Higher School of Economic and Business (ESEN), the Poma Foundation creates opportunities for vulnerable Salvadorans to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1984, the organization has granted more than 1,300 scholarships, donated $1 million dedicated to the distribution of COVID tests and produced over 329 national theater shows.
Americares
Americares is a global nonprofit that provides relief and health care to developing countries. Their presence in El Salvador began in 1984 and increased following the 1986 earthquake. Americares works alongside FUSAL to provide medicine and medical supplies to Salvadorans in need. In 2003, the organization built the Americares Family Clinic. The clinic, located in Usultan, sees about 30,000 patients yearly and offers low-cost, high-quality medical care to local families in El Salvador.
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos
Since 1999, the Salvadoran chapter of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) continues to provide support to vulnerable Salvadoran youth. NPH’s main house, Casa Sagrada Familia, offers shelter, education and food for 373 children emancipating from difficult environments. In addition to its internal programs, NPH’s external programs provide educational tools, such as primary education and scholarships, to low-income Salvadoran students.
Despite a third of the country’s population living in poverty, these charities operating in El Salvador are dedicated to improving the lives of poverty-ridden Salvadorans. According to a study conducted by the World Bank Group, the national poverty rate decreased from about 40% in 2009 to 26.6% in 2022. Through various educational programs, cultural opportunities and humanitarian aid provided by non-profits, El Salvador is advancing in the fight against poverty.
– Naima Rasheed
Photo: Flickr
Seniors Face Poverty in Slovakia
Socioeconomic Situation of Slovakia
Poverty in Slovakia “is not only a matter of lack of money.” The number of persons at risk of poverty rate (AROP), severe material deprivation and the number of people living in households with very low work intensity are indicators Slovakia uses when forming policy measures to increase employment, reduce long-term jobs and reduce poverty and social exclusion.
However, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD), about 74% of all pensions are below the monthly minimum wage. This leaves 500,000 (2021 estimate) Slovakian pensioners living below the poverty line. This number increased by 200,000 in 2022. Social, employment, health and education reforms are crucial to offset the pressures poverty places on pensioners. A large number of pensions were established during the mid-20th century.
At that time, life expectancy was shorter: 66 for men and 71 for women. Today, the government needs to support pensioners living in their 80s and 90s. So, considering a rising life expectancy and a declining fertility rate, the old-age dependency ratio is anticipated to increase.
Elderly persons’ poverty and social exclusion degree depend on their cohort (i.e., single adult, married with one child and so on) and the region in which they reside. One-third of older people in Central, Western, Eastern and Bratislava regions experience severe poverty. These areas are poorer because of weak business development, poorly developed infrastructure and lower levels of education.
Social Exclusion vs Dignity
According to the OECD, the Slovak Republic’s poverty rate for people aged more than 65 is between 3% and 4%. The retirement income is less than half the national median household disposable income. Hence, a retirement pension assures the elderly population of Slovakia that they “lack the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living,” in short, “poverty.”
The percentage of people with AROP and social exclusion in December 2023 was 3.8%. The Slovak population’s social exclusion can be observed through health and access to health care, poverty and material deprivation, housing, local environment and interpersonal relations. Some senior adults who are unemployed, have limited education and live in single-parent and multi-child households are at the greatest risk of experiencing social exclusion in Slovakia.
Social exclusion unveils the multidimensional nature of poverty. However, being severely materially deprived, living in a jobless household and having a limited education do not qualify as being socially excluded from the dignity of an individual’s position within society.
Assisting Organizations and Programs
Conclusion
Slovakia is a relatively prosperous country but faces challenges in fighting poverty and social exclusion. One of the main challenges is the aging population, which cannot be addressed quickly. As the proportion of older people increases, Slovakian society will need to adapt to the economic, social and political consequences that come with it. This will require essential reforms in social welfare, employment, health and education.
– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Unsplash
Public Health Action for the Western Pacific Region by WHO
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working to bring adequate health services, human resources and financial protection to these impoverished communities. WHO is currently endorsing a publication for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It includes a framework for action and aims to transform public systems as a whole and support people in maintaining health for life.
Public Health Care Struggles
Within many countries in the Western Pacific, some can access health care yet face high out-of-pocket expenses that cause financial hardship. This can become a catalyst for dipping below the poverty line. As much as 10% of the population’s income is used for health care purposes, which can then force choices between health care or adequate food and shelter.
In 1940, only 40% of the Region lived until age 60; this number is expected to reach 94% by 2048 after the implementation of the WHO initiative. About 90 million people within the Region do not utilize a primary drinking water facility. Furthermore, about 400 million have no access to sanitation services that safely manage human waste. Diarrhea is often then contracted and contributes to malnutrition and antimicrobial resistance, which creates an overall unhealthy population over time.
Viral hepatitis is a significant threat in the Western Pacific, claiming around 1500 lives every day in the Region. Other environmental stresses pose challenges to the health, safety and physical well-being of rural populations. The increasingly polluted air and water supplies are contributing to a rise in cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Vulnerable Populations in the Western Pacific Region
The most vulnerable populations in the Region include those living in rural and peri-urban areas. These areas struggle with accessing and paying for health care. Additionally, there are high disease burdens, poor health outcomes and limited access to affordable and nutritious food. More than 300 million people in the Western Pacific Region cannot afford a healthy diet, contributing heavily to malnutrition.
Cambodians struggle with unsafe drinking water and a lack of sanitation facilities. The overall population health is negatively affected by poverty, lack of essential commodities and adverse social conditions. Similar to other countries, populations face high out-of-pocket payments that threaten impoverishment. In recent years in the Philippines, the top causes of death have been heart diseases, neoplasms and cerebrovascular diseases.
The country is also struggling with a lack of hospital beds and adequate medical equipment in rural areas more than in urban areas. Rural areas often contain non-licensed doctors and ill-equipped facilities, while larger cities such as Manila have better medical resources. This creates a more significant disparity between minority groups.
Similarly, the public health care system in Vietnam is underfunded, with insufficient resources allocated to health care infrastructure, equipment and staff training. This occurs in the majority public sector of the public health care system. High out-of-pocket payments account for large percentages of health expenditures in the country. This significantly burdens low-income families, resulting in delayed or inadequate care.
WHO’s Initiative
WHO understands that the right to health does not just include services. Other factors include safe, clean water, air, nutritious food, adequate housing, quality education, decent working conditions and freedom from discrimination. Therefore, its UHC initiative will contain action frameworks and health financing for social well-being and sustainable development for public health systems.
This initiative could create a strengthened public health system in Cambodia. It could reduce infant, child and mother mortality, as well as provide more adequate sanitation facilities. In the Philippines, having a collaborative public health system between the government and the public could provide a safe, effective, quality health system to those who need it, with a minimal waste of resources.
In Vietnam, removing disparities in the quality of care between urban and rural settings and public and private sectors would create a healthier population overall.
– Chloe Landry
Photo: Flickr
Parent Education Improving Childcare in Rwanda
Health Impact and Stunting
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), approximately 38% of Rwandan children are stunted, meaning their cognitive, motor and language abilities are severely impaired. This is a direct result of a child’s early development in life, which plays a crucial role in determining long-term educational outcomes. Children who come from low-income households are three times as likely than those in wealthier households to experience stunting. This significant disproportion showcases poverty as playing an important role.
Home Environment and Childhood Development
The home environment and parents are significant in shaping early childhood development. According to UNICEF, only one in five parents in Rwanda engages in early childhood learning activities in the home. Children are also limited in their opportunities to attend preschool or engage in other educational learning opportunities. Malnourished children are at a higher risk of becoming stunted, limiting their learning ability in the future.
Government Action
To assist parents, UNICEF and the Rwandan government worked together to implement initiatives to improve childcare. In 2019, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, The National Parenting Curriculum was commissioned, aiming to enhance parent education and familial support.
The National Parenting Curriculum also outlines initiatives to reduce stunting and malnutrition among Rwandan children. It emphasizes the need for childhood development to begin long before school starts. The document also stresses the role of parents in helping to support children further.
Parental education can help keep children engaged and improve their quality of life to keep them sustained and out of poverty.
On-The-Ground Solutions
Extensive strategies from the Rwandan government and advocacy organizations are helping to mitigate the dangerous impact of poverty on childcare in Rwanda. One such initiative fighting on the ground is the Children of Rwanda.
Children of Rwanda is a nonprofit supporting children unable to attend school in Western Rwanda. The organization works directly with local schools to provide bursaries to children struggling with education costs. In addition, families also receive health insurance. The foundation has empowered more than 250 children to return to their local schools.
Looking Ahead
According to a policy research paper published by the World Bank examining global trends in poverty among children in international poverty lines, the extreme child poverty rate was reduced from 20.7% to approximately 16% between 2013 and 2022. This underscores the importance of government collaboration with humanitarian aid organizations in improving early childhood development and eradicating child poverty.
Recognizing the need for reform and support can help increase awareness of the dangerous effects of poverty on the well-being of children. We can prevent poverty and it all starts with supporting the children of the future.
– Dominic Samaniego
Photo: Flickr
Water Poverty in Zimbabwe: Save the Children’s Approach
The Water Problem
Save the Children emphasizes that water is a basic human right and that the absence of clean, safe water increases the risk of contracting preventable diseases. In April 2024, Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, declared a national disaster over the drought gripping the country, requesting $2 billion in aid to secure food and safe water for millions. The drought has severely impacted not only food and water supplies but also electricity production, which relies heavily on hydroelectric power. Furthermore, the scarcity of clean, safe water led to a significant cholera outbreak, underscoring the urgent nationwide need for constructing boreholes.
Save the Children’s Efforts
Save the Children collaborated with the Beitbridge District Water and Sanitation Sub Committee to provide clean and safe water for drinking and household use. This effort received financial backing from the European Union (EU) through UNICEF as part of the Enhanced Resilience for Vulnerable Households in Zimbabwe (ERVHIZ) project. The initiative focused on rehabilitating dysfunctional boreholes, enabling local access to clean water without the need for long-distance travel.
This safe and clean water serves multiple purposes beyond drinking. Communities can use it to grow vegetables, enhance their diet and improve both health and well-being. Additionally, selling surplus produce can generate profit, creating employment opportunities for many women and girls.
Empowering Communities Through Water Access
Projects like the ERVHIZ have not only improved access to clean water but also empowered communities to take ownership and manage their resources. With functioning boreholes, some communities have established Water Point Management Committees comprising both men and women. Save the Children has provided training to ensure the boreholes are well maintained. A functioning and well-maintained borehole protects the community from cholera and enhances safety for women and girls.
Overall, the rehabilitation of 45 dysfunctional boreholes has improved access to clean water for more than 125,000 people. Moreover, this is just one example of the impactful work Save the Children undertakes to alleviate poverty. It illustrates the transformative effects that providing safe and clean water can have on communities.
Looking Forward
The revitalization of water resources by Save the Children and its partners promises a sustainable path toward community resilience and economic stability. The effective management and maintenance of these resources could be pivotal in breaking the cycle of water poverty in Zimbabwe and ensuring long-term health benefits for the communities involved.
– Cordelia Moore
Photo: Flickr
Innovative Solutions to Hunger in Gurugram
Hunger in Gurugram
In its poorest areas, hunger in Gurugram is rife, which has now been exacerbated by COVID-19 and lockdowns. Since COVID, a large number of people rely on dry food rations, meaning many do not have access to a hot cooked meal. This is where the work of a nongovernmental organization (NGO), Rasoi on Wheels, which was set up in 2016, becomes relevant. The nonprofit is a grassroots initiative with a small number of team members who work to alleviate hunger in Gurugram.
As the name suggests, the charity exists as a mobile food truck, which prepares meal boxes in kitchens in the morning and delivers them straight to areas in need the same day. This increases access to healthy, safely cooked meals for less privileged communities. Rasoi on Wheels has served more than 50,000 meals since the foundation started, evidence of its positive impact in alleviating hunger.
Positive Outcomes of Mobile Food Resources
A result of food insecurity in Gurugram means that individuals are desperate to eat and they often consume out-of-date leftover foods, such as leftovers and scraps from bins. This dangerous practice leads to illness and severe cases of food poisoning, which negatively impacts the health and cleanliness of these areas. Therefore, as well as reducing hunger in Gurugram, Rasoi on Wheels also increases access to safe, fresh and nutritious foods, preventing individuals from resorting to dangerous methods of accessing food. The nature of mobile food resources is often praised as a driving force of positive change, commending the work of Rasoi on Wheels, as it “effectively expands food distribution to highly vulnerable populations.”
The Future of Gurugram
Gurugram is an example of how a city can be home to two extremes: rich and poor. Although its transformation to wealth is promising, we must also acknowledge that poor communities still lack basic amenities and resources, such as food. However, with the efforts and hard work of NGOs, there lies hope for a more equitable future for Gurugram, where prosperity is shared more equally.
– Amelie Bunce
Photo: Pexels
Everything You Need To Know about Poverty in Bangladesh
In recent years, Bangladesh has reduced population growth, improved health care and education and is on track to transition into U.N. Developing Country status by 2026. Still, limited resources and a volatile political sphere have hindered progress. This is everything you need to know about poverty in Bangladesh.
Top 10 Facts About Poverty in Bangladesh
Severe floods damage crops, ruin villages and take a heavy toll on human and animal populations. In turn, this causes a strain on agricultural production and the supply of food. In August of 2023, 24% of households in Bangladesh suffered from food insecurity due to the rainfall and heat waves.
The situation may look pessimistic based on some of these 10 facts about poverty in Bangladesh. However, despite its challenges, Bangladesh has vastly improved and continues to improve. The cultural environment is rich and diverse and citizens continue to work toward a better future for Bangladesh. Overall, everything you need to know about poverty in Bangladesh highlights that, while there is room for improvement, the country has great potential to continue developing into a prosperous member of the U.N. and international realm.
– Anjum Alam
Photo: Pixabay
Meg and Rose: A Small Business in South Africa Alleviating Poverty
According to Trade and Industry Policy Strategies (TIPS), about 30% of employed people in South Africa work for a small business. These enterprises have become a significant source of income for many people from marginalized backgrounds. In post-Apartheid South Africa, small businesses face disadvantages compared to larger companies due to the lingering effects of Apartheid policies. Despite these challenges, many Black female South African entrepreneurs, a key demographic in small businesses, have spurred economic growth in South Africa.
Meg and Rose: A Family Enterprise
Meg and Rose, a family-run, female and Black-owned small business in South Africa, is creating positive change in its Cape Town community. Founded by three generations of women—grandmother Rosemary Solomons, mother and company president Meagan Van der Merwe and daughter Zoe Van der Merwe—the business began after a significant life change. When Meagan lost her job following Uber Eats’ acquisition of OrderTalk, a Cape Town-based tech company where she worked, she turned to crocheting, drawing and painting for joy and fulfillment.
Using her artistic skills along with her mother’s sewing expertise and her daughter’s social media management abilities, the trio started selling handmade crochet dolls, home decor and accessories on their Instagram page. Some of their unique products include a customizable hand-painted tote bag priced at 200 South African rands—approximately $10.65 or £8.51—and a crocheted “Melody the Mellow Bunny” doll for R700.
Community Engagement and Customer Relations
Each product from Meg and Rose requires hours of meticulous work, and the company creates every item with love. The Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa Program, through Boitshoko ke Phenyo Consulting, found that about 95% of the business’s orders come from women in the Cape Town area. As Cape Town residents themselves, Rosemary, Meagan and Zoe have developed and maintained strong relationships with their customers, who are often fellow community members. For instance, they stay in touch with customers, offering congratulations on new babies and checking to ensure that their products are both loved and well-used.
Nonprofit Work
Rosemary, Meagan and Zoe directly alleviate poverty in Cape Town through their nonprofit. They established Mike’s Helping Hands in honor of Rosemary’s late husband, Mike, who was known for his generosity and service to the community. This organization, funded entirely by donations and profits from Meg and Rose, initially aimed to distribute meal kits to those unable to afford food. Mike’s Helping Hands has since broadened its efforts, driven by its mission: “In kindness lies strength, leave no one behind.”
The business’s nonprofit initiative, Dream Day, also supports young impoverished South African women during significant events like prom and graduation by providing dresses at no cost and offering makeup and hair services for only R20. Recently, the organization collected used toys and clothing to distribute to children who lack these essentials. Rosemary, Meagan and Zoe have strengthened their community ties in the collective fight against poverty by encouraging their friends and neighbors to participate.
Inspiring Future Generations
Meg and Rose supports its Cape Town neighbors with hard work, respect and love through its business and ongoing initiatives. Moreover, with its influence as a small business in South Africa, Meg and Rose aim to continue promoting Black female entrepreneurship in the country.
– Estelle Lee
Photo: Unsplash
Renewable Energy in Liberia
It is now a common trend for new and developing countries to adopt renewable energy as their main energy source, with Liberia currently working to incorporate more renewable energy into its energy sector. The country’s plans for renewable energy seek to rectify its inadequate power situation. According to a study by the International Energy Agency in 2019, only 3% of the population had access to the electrical grid.
What Is the Issue?
Like many other countries in the world, Liberia mostly relies on common forms of energy. Its major source of energy is biomass fuel, which includes firewood and charcoal. Another important source of electricity for the country is the combination of hydroelectric power and diesel generators. These sources are only available to a limited portion of the population, as the more remote the area, the lower the probability of electricity being produced in the area.
Renewable energy usage in Liberia is low, with hydroelectric power accounting for just 6% of energy consumption. This is due to a reliance on traditional sources of electricity and energy. Liberia has great potential to harness renewable energy from sources such as solar energy and hydro biomass (a combination of energy from dead animals/plants and water). However, the main challenge in Liberia’s adoption of renewable energy is obtaining the necessary resources to do so.
The Goal
In 2024, Liberia announced in the National Determined Contribution Document that it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 64%. The goal is to reach this number by 2030. The country also wants to use around 30% renewable energy after 2030. To achieve these goals, Liberia is looking for monetary help from countries and organizations abroad.
The help from other organizations began in 2017 when the Climate Investment Fund Awarded the country around $23 million to help remodel the country’s energy sector. Further, the Green Climate Fund aims to help with climate change around the world. Since 2017, the fund has donated $44 million to help reach the country’s energy goals.
How Is It Going?
Renewable energy is slowly becoming a reality in Liberia. Starting in 2018, Sun Star Green Energy, a renewable energy company, installed more than 10,000 solar-powered homes and solar lamps in the country’s rural areas. Implementing these homes is helping the residents in the area immensely, giving residents a chance to have electricity.
In that same year, the Millennium Challenge Corporation fixed the Mount Coffee hydropower plant in the country. As of now, the new plant produces 88 watts of power, which is twice as much as the country used to produce. Ultimately, renewable energy in Liberia is on track to have a bright future with the help and resources of others to facilitate it.
– Madison McCray
Photo: Pixabay