From September to November, the pollution in North India is so severe that 15 of its cities ranked among the world’s top 20 most polluted in 2020. This is mostly due to crop stubble burning, a practice that involves farmers destroying crop residue between rice harvests, and extensive use of Thermocol packaging. Pollution has an inordinate impact on those living in poverty, posing severe health threats such as a heightened risk of lung or heart disease.
Indian entrepreneur Arpit Dhupar presented a solution to India’s pollution when he established Dharaksha Ecosystems in 2020. The organization’s name, which combines the Hindi words “Dhara” (earth) and “Raksha” (saving), summarizes its mission: “to save the earth from pollution.”
A Gray Sky
A graduate of mechanical engineering, Dhupar was inspired partly by an early initiative to recycle diesel smoke into reusable material. While working on the project, he visited many agricultural villages across the country, which raised his awareness of the pollution caused by crop stubble burning.
He learned that villagers felt the effects of burning much worse than those in the city. Living near the fields meant close exposure to the “highly toxic” smoke laden with hazardous chemicals. Furthermore, this smoke can ruin the organic content of local farmers’ soil.
However, Dhupar discovered that there was no crop stubble burning in Peva, a region of India that, significantly, contains a paper mill. There, rather than burning it, crop stubble residue is used to create craft paper, the raw material for cardboard. This sparked the idea that led to Dharaksha Ecosolutions. As Dhupar explained, “If we can create packaging out of crop stubble waste that can eliminate plastic and Thermocol from the market, it will be a great synergy.”
What is Thermocol?
Thermocol is a non-biodegradable material that is responsible for much of the world’s plastic pollution. It is common in everyday products like disposable plates, food containers, coffee cups and decorations. Primarily, however, Thermocol is used in packaging. A form of polystyrene, it is lightweight, shock-absorbent and versatile. Unfortunately, these benefits do not outweigh Thermocol’s damaging effects on the planet.
Most discarded Thermocol ends up in landfills and flows into rivers and oceans. The alternative, which is incineration, produces “toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and about 90 different hazardous chemicals” that can harm the eyes and nervous system.
Although Thermocol is 100% recyclable, the process is very expensive and not economically feasible. Composed of 95% air, it does not generate viable income for waste pickers who “sell their waste to kabadiwalas by weight, not volume.” Thus, Thermocol poses an ongoing environmental threat that begs for a solution.
India’s Solution to Pollution
The aim of Dharaksha Ecosolutions “is to curb stubble burning and plastic pollution by creating biodegradable and sustainable alternatives.” Dhupar and his team found their solution in a material that could reduce crop stubble burning and replace Thermocol.
Dhupar devised this solution using mushrooms. He found that mixing rice crop waste with mushrooms would break down and convert the waste into a biodegradable foam, developing an efficient packaging material. Additionally, while non-biodegradable materials decompose over hundreds of years, Dhupar’s material decomposes in just 60 days.
Producing such material on a mass scale requires collaboration, hard work and a factory. The factory is capable of converting 250 metric tons of rice stubble into usable packaging. The stubble comes from 100 acres of land in Punjab and Haryana, with the farmers who provide it now earning $30 per acre for something they used to previously burn.
A Blue Sky
“We feel we can disrupt the problem of plastic pollution and at the same time solve the problem of crop stubble waste burning,” Dhupar explained. His mission to turn India’s sky blue is well underway. Since innovating the new material, Dharaksha Ecosolutions has:
- Prevented more than half a million pounds of polystyrene from entering landfills.
- Produced 0.8 tonnes of packaging material per every tonne of crop stubble waste.
- Been named one of The 30 Most Promising Indian Startups of 2022.
But Dhupar’s work is not done. His future plans for Dharaksha Ecosolutions include:
- Extending his material use to furniture construction would help reduce deforestation and “lock the CO2 for the next 25 years,” marking “the biggest carbon sequestration anywhere in the world.”
- Creating a distributed manufacturing process model to help source material locally and deliver it to corporations.
- Eliminating 25% of crop stubble burning in the next five years and 90% in the subsequent three years.
Aware that part of the solution to pollution starts at home, Dhupar is also a strong advocate for adopting an environmentally conscious lifestyle. He drives electric vehicles, recycles all his plastic and is working to convert all his food waste into compost. He noted, “Say what you believe in and do what you say. If there is a disconnect between those two, there is no meaning in doing anything in life.”
Acknowledging his work, the United Nations (U.N.) named Dhupar the 2018 Young Champion of the Earth for Asia and the Pacific Region, and Forbes named him one of 2018’s “30 Under 30” social entrepreneurs.
The Future
Air and plastic pollution in India are severe problems that pose dire health threats to the population, particularly those living in poverty. However, Arpit Dhupar is working to ensure that his “interventions have an impact in the real world.” At the forefront of India’s solution to pollution, Dhupar and Dharaksha Ecosolutions are inspiring hope for a brighter and bluer future for India.
Maximo Nivel Volunteers Help to End Poverty in Latin America
Poverty in Latin America
According to the details of the Social Panorama 2022 report, at the end of 2022, about 201 million Latin Americans lived in conditions of poverty and 82 million Latin Americans endured conditions of extreme poverty.
In Costa Rica specifically, the most recent findings by the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica (INEC) reported that, in 2022, almost 400,000 households endured poverty. Of these households, 110,631 endured extreme poverty. Peru has scarcely recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 26% of the country experiencing poverty and another 4% experiencing extreme poverty as of 2021, the World Bank notes. In Guatemala, 2019 estimates indicated that more than half of the population has remained below the poverty line since 2014, says the World Bank.
Maximo Nivel’s exclusive focus on these countries directly improves living conditions and increases access to opportunities for those who need assistance the most. And this is all in a bid to end poverty in Latin America.
Maximo Nivel Volunteer Programs
The Power of Volunteerism
Maximo Nivel’s efforts suggest that volunteers can make a significant difference in developing countries. Poverty remains a massive issue across Latin America, but projects like those run by the organization promote hope and advance progress in communities facing the impacts of impoverishment.
– Rachel Rebecca Smith
Photo: Flickr
7 Reasons to Invest in Albania
Albania’s economic growth has had a positive impact on the country’s poverty levels. It has also represented huge opportunities for investors looking to make money amid Albania’s success. In light of this, the following are seven reasons to invest in Albania:
7 Reasons to Invest in Albania
Looking Ahead
Albania’s remarkable economic growth and favorable investment environment offer lucrative opportunities for investors. With tight ties to Europe, a liberal business environment and a serious anti-corruption drive, Albania presents a seamless and secure investment destination. Moreover, the country’s success in reducing poverty and its conscious efforts to tackle societal challenges make investing in Albania not only financially rewarding but also impactful in promoting further development and creating well-paying jobs for its population.
– Sam Rucker
Photo: Unsplash
The Importance of Community-Led Projects in the Aid Sector
The charity sector plays an important role in poverty reduction but its approaches have at times garnered criticism in terms of efficacy and reach. From Peace Direct, Third Sector and Non-Profit Quarterly comes a swelling of proposals to make charity work more effective, more democratic and more conscious. More specifically, community-led projects in the aid sector stand as a solution to strengthen aid efforts globally.
Issues in the Charity Sector
Decolonization academic Khadijah Diskin said at the BAME Fundraising Virtual Conference 2021 that the charity sector was “explicitly tied to the colonization of the Global South” and if “charities do not acknowledge their histories, they are likely to be repeated.”
A report published by Peace Direct and partners, including Adeso (African Development Solutions), Alliance for Peacebuilding and WCAPS (Women of Color Advancing Peace Security and Conflict Transformation) sheds further light on the issue.
The report published in 2021, titled “Time to Decolonise Aid,” claims that “power and resources remain dominated by, and between, certain organizations and relationships largely based in the Global North.” As a result, decision-making often ignores indigenous knowledge and experience. Instead, aid efforts are centered around “Western values and knowledge,” leading to misunderstanding and the reinforcement of old ways of perceiving the Global South as unknowledgeable and desperate.
From a purely practical standpoint, this makes the delivery of aid very difficult. It means extra people have to be employed to do a job that would otherwise be done by local people with intimate knowledge of the issues. Peace Direct closes the report with recommendations. NGOs are to adopt a “transitional mindset,” which puts in place targets for the “transfer of power and resources to local organizations.” Finally, NGOs are asked to “re-evaluate partnerships… so that they are more equitable and mutually accountable.”
Progress
Since the publishing of the “Time to Decolonise Aid” report, progress is invisible. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is a global institution that boasts membership from the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OCHCR). The IASC organized the Grand Bargain Caucus on Funding for Localisation in March 2023, in response to criticisms of efficacy and reach in regard to the aid sector.
Those represented in the agreement included USAID, DG-ECHO, Denmark, OCHA, UNHCR, Save the Children, IFRC, A4EP and the Northwest Syria NGO forum. All agreed that localization, or community-led projects in the aid sector, stood as the solution. All present also agreed that a target of 25% of total spending by NGOs should go toward community-led projects. A roadmap formalizes this target and directs all to:
Targeting 25% of all budgets to community-led projects in the aid sector is a huge win for social justice. The signatories present have great reach and can provide the necessary capital to get genuinely transformative local action off the ground.
Impactful Community-Led Projects
Community-led projects are not only more ethically sound but they are also more effective. This is according to Sami Adler of Global Giving, an NGO that “actively work[s] to shift power toward [their] partners.” This is because, as the executive director of the Solidarity Foundation Shubha Chacko suggests, “emotional closeness, shared sentiments and beliefs and commonality in terms of background and experiences” all collide and contribute to impactful service.
The Solidarity Foundation
This is visible in the work of the Solidarity Foundation. The Solidarity Foundation is a registered trust based in India that supports sex workers and gender/sexual minorities. Sex workers in India face a multitude of issues that contribute to “extremely poor” conditions of life. Prostitution is legal, but there are multiple barriers to soliciting and brothel keeping. Labor laws do not safeguard sex workers and sex workers have no access to trade unions. As a result, abuse cannot be policed, pushing sex workers further into the shadows.
Instead of receiving protection, sex workers are subject to violent and moral policing that seeks to correct their “deviancy” rather than seeking to investigate the roots of their condition. Poverty is a “contextual factor” regarding sex work in India.
The Sarvojana Coalition
According to the Sarvojana Coalition, an NGO that supports sex workers in the region, poverty pushes as much as 68% of women into the trade. Solidarity Foundation supports these sex workers by hiring those who previously worked in the trade into outreach and leadership roles. The empathy that comes from a former sex worker means sex workers are more likely to seek help. Sex workers can expect no moral judgment or shaming. Rather, the organization shows them that they matter and that there are viable alternatives to sex work if they desire it. Crisis Management, for example, is a project that the Solidarity Foundation team organizes. It is a hub in the local area that “increases a sense of well-being and improves access to justice” by offering walk-in support in times of crisis.
The Solidarity Foundation highlights the importance of community-led projects in the aid sector. By allowing members of a particular to take the lead on projects, aid can improve in terms of both reach and efficacy.
– James Durbin
Photo: Flickr
Why Providing Accessible Childcare Services Is the Smart Thing to Do
Research and Initiatives
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with the World Bank, launched an initiative Invest in Childcare. USAID alone pledged $50 million to support the initiative. This childcare incentive fund works with governments to provide support in creating childcare programs and improving policies. Subsequently, the initiative seeks to gather more accurate data on childcare development and its effects on economic growth.
The World Bank has already supported many countries, including Senegal, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Mongolia, through the development of country-specific programs. These encompass the creation of mobile preschools for rural areas in Mongolia which have already benefited more than 8,500 of the country’s most remote children, the enrollment of thousands of children in preschools in Senegal and the financing of early childhood schools’ construction in Liberia.
Whether government-sponsored, NGO-supported or community-grown, initiatives developing and liberalizing early childcare are a necessity. Throughout the world, NGOs of diverse sizes and recognition seek to improve childcare. The most prominent include UNICEF and Save the Children, but many other organizations on the ground make efforts to provide help specifically tailored to their community. The Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India, for example, has created childcare cooperatives in an attempt to support women working in agriculture or independently in local cooperatives.
These organizations are often informal and face challenges in obtaining funding and accessing training and professional development. This struggle highlights a need for formalization, which could enable the affected organizations to unlock more investments and growth.
Childcare Closely Affects Gender Equality
Though a lack of accessible childcare hinders an entire society, data shows that women are the first to be affected and quit the labor force. World Bank data for Indonesia in 2021 revealed that 40% of women quit employment after childbirth and marriage. Another 2022 report showed that 73% of low-income respondents partaking in a survey in Bangladesh stayed at home to care for their children instead of working, and in 2018, a study “found that having a child under five years of age reduced a Sri Lankan woman’s participation in the labor force by 7.4%.” In poorer countries, when mothers cannot provide care for these children, an older sibling usually assumes responsibility. And more often than not, this older sibling is a girl. She may consequently neglect or forgo her chance at an education, which builds up stark gender inequalities for the next generation.
Improving the Economy and Children’s Health
On the other hand, the Eurasia Group has found that providing accessible childcare for women could add $3 trillion to the $45.8 trillion currently generated by women in the global economy each year. According to the Gates Foundation, this would be achieved through the creation of 43 million jobs globally. This would broaden opportunities for women, boosting economic growth and giving countries an opportunity to reclaim a productive segment of their labor force.
World Bank data has also shown that accessible childcare improved women’s financial outcomes and positively affected their families. When compared to men, women usually spend more money on their children’s education, health and nutrition. Moreover, childcare keeps children safe, with reduced mortality due to lack of supervision. For example, Bangladesh saw the mitigation of drowning risk and malnutrition reduced in Guatemala, where childcare provides up to 70% of children’s recommended energy intake.
Fostering a Foundation and a Future
The Research and Information System for Developing Countries and UNICEF have created a panel on ‘Investing in children: Investing in future’, demonstrating that early childhood care is a wise long-term investment. World Bank data shows that by prioritizing early childhood development, it is possible to pave the way for a brighter future, where children entering the labor market 15 years to 20 years later receive the abilities necessary for higher-paying, stable and innovative jobs. This positively impacts their learning, health, behavior and life opportunities. Investing in high-quality childcare not only has profound implications for individual children but also yields significant social and economic benefits. Providing children with a strong foundation in their early years can foster a generation of productive, skilled individuals. This leads to improved learning outcomes, reduced social inequalities, enhanced workforce participation and overall economic growth.
– Hanna Bernard
Photo: Flickr
How Project Isizwe is Empowering People Through Internet Access
The organization began with the Tshwane Free WiFi Project in South Africa in 2013. The project had remarkable success, with an estimated 1,000 new free WiFi hotspots providing Internet connection to more than 600,000 people monthly.
Internet Access and Equality
In developed countries, the Internet is accessible at home, in schools, businesses, coffee shops and train stations. For those living in this environment, it is difficult to consider a world without access to the Internet, and even unclear how a computer can empower people through Internet access. For perspective, the IMF reports that the highest rates of Internet use among businesses in Sub-Saharan hover at around 60%, whereas the number is as high as 85% in Europe and Central Asia.
In terms of economic benefits, financial institutions both within and between countries rely heavily on the Internet. This is evident even in developed economies where rural areas with limited internet access suffer isolation from the rest of the world. Internet equality is also closely linked to the national economy, as the IMF suggests that a 1% increase in internet users within a country can boost per-capita growth by up to 0.4%.
Internet Access as a Human Right
An Internet connection is a guaranteed path to information about education, work, health and safety. According to estimates, one-fifth of children in the elementary school age bracket in Sub-Saharan Africa are not in school. Brick-and-mortar schools are often far away, unsanitary and lack adequate funding. These problems are less of a concern when children can attend school from home by taking advantage of the Internet.
Although Internet access is not universally recognized as a human right, many countries consider it one. Among these countries are Canada, Germany and Finland. Even in the United States (U.S.), the Supreme Court has acknowledged the empowering nature of the Internet.
The Internet’s Impact on Africa
According to the Pew Research Center, 79% of Sub-Saharan Africans think the Internet has a positive impact on education; 63% believe the same is true about the economy. Despite the widespread belief, Africans use the Internet far less than people in other areas. In 2015, more than 90% of adults in countries such as South Korea and Australia reported occasional Internet usage. In contrast, South Africa was the only Sub-Saharan country where more than half of all adults used the Internet. The number was even lower in Tanzania, with less than 30% of adults reporting occasional internet usage.
The way Africans use the Internet is also interesting. Connecting to the Internet via mobile phones is extremely popular and is an important part of staying connected to careers, finances and information. The Pew Research Center reports that in 2017, 59% of mobile phone users in Sub-Saharan Africa use their devices to keep track of payments. Similarly, just over one-quarter of adults use the Internet to find and apply for jobs, while 14% use it to earn certificates through online courses. Additionally, about one-third of adults use their phones to find information about topics like politics and medicine. These trends highlight the importance of empowering people through internet access.
Project Isizwe’s Efforts
Project Isizwe provides WiFi to people who need it. It has helped more than 20,000 students across 15 schools in South Africa gain access to all the tools the Internet provides. The organization also maintains 70 additional hotspots for mining, solar and wind farm communities and hundreds of homes throughout South Africa.
Project Isiwe also empowers people through Internet access by connecting multiple shopping centers throughout South Africa to the Internet. Through its work with the Futuregrowth Community Property Fund, more than 30,000 consumers can access online employment opportunities and engage in online shopping. As a result, these people stand a better chance of securing equitable positions in both the digital world and the real world.
Looking Ahead
In its mission to connect millions of people to the Internet, Project Isizwe has made significant strides in empowering individuals and bridging the digital divide in South Africa. By providing free WiFi hotspots in schools, communities and shopping centers, the organization has enabled access to educational resources, employment opportunities and online services. With its efforts, Project Isizwe is playing a crucial role in creating a more equitable and connected society, where the power of the Internet can be harnessed by all.
– Christina Albrecht
Photo: Flickr
How Former Yugoslavian Countries Rebuilt
Slovenia
The first country to leave Yugoslavia was Slovenia in 1991, leading to a 10-day war between the new nation and the military. According to reports, the war was not as violent as future conflicts. This fact has been highlighted as one of the possible reasons for the following period of stability in Slovenia. Prior to the Yugoslavian breakup, the region was doing well for itself in terms of economy and international relations. The new nation grew economically and it joined the EU and NATO in 2004. Aside from the odd political dispute, the nation and economy remain strong today. The country is able to assist its poorer citizens directly with social transfers, which is about 12% of them. This is a lower poverty rate than in other former Yugoslavian countries.
Croatia
Slovenia and Croatia declared independence on the same day, but the war in Croatia lasted for four years. The conflict mostly revolved around the Serbian minority rebelling. Over time, however, the Serbians and Croatians reconciled. By the time Croatia entered the EU in 2013, the animosity was considered to be mostly over. So far, it is unclear whether the country’s coming into the EU will help the 20% of people at risk of poverty. Nonetheless, the nation itself is implementing programs to help its poorer citizens. Croatia’s rich history and landscape have also contributed to the country’s recovery. Its status as a popular tourist destination could also continue to grow the economy, especially in the post-pandemic era. Around 36,000 Croatians work in the tourism industry which welcomes around 15 million tourists.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina was an ethnically diverse country in 1992, with Croats (Catholics), Serbs (Orthodox Christians) and Bosniaks (Muslims) making up most of the population. This was the cause of the post-independence war, which led to around 100,000 deaths and more than 2 million displacements. Following the peace treaty, countries like the U.S. sent foreign service officers to mediate. Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to work with European organizations to ensure the protection of minority rights. The country championed both religious and ethnic diversity. There is still a long way to go as many minorities cannot serve in influential positions, and this makes them unable to advocate for or implement their rights.
Kosovo
In 1998, Albanians in the Kosovo region rebelled for their independence from Serbia. The fighting led NATO to try to broker a peace deal. Kosovo finally declared itself free in 2008, albeit to varied recognition. Even then, conflict with the nation of Serbia continued, as some members of the international community did not recognize Kosovo. This means that Kosovo has not been able to enjoy the benefits of membership. Its citizens can not move freely between the EU, even though many wish to migrate. Talks have recently begun for Kosovo to join the EU. The Council of Europe has also been providing assistance in Kosovo since the war ended and continues to work to help the oppressed.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia) was able to secede from Yugoslavia peacefully in 1991. A decade later, Macedonia’s Albanian minority rebelled seeking independence. This rebellion led to the realization of a peace deal. One of the continuing factors is North Macedonia’s rural development. And in 2019, the government made Albanian an official language.
Looking Ahead
Following Yugoslavia’s breakup, the former nations have made significant strides in rebuilding and achieving stability. Countries like Slovenia have experienced economic growth and international integration, resulting in lower poverty rates. Croatia has overcome past animosities and leveraged its rich history and tourism industry for recovery. Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to work towards protecting minority rights, while North Macedonia has achieved peaceful transitions and recognized the Albanian language. These nations demonstrate resilience and progress despite the challenges faced during the breakup.
– Josh Sobchak
Photo: Flickr
Education system in Cameroon
It is home not only to a diverse geographic landscape but also a complex cultural landscape that has been deeply scarred by its colonial past. Since 2017, the English-speaking minority has been waging a war against the Francophone-dominated government. The U.N. estimates that more than half of the population in the Anglophone regions are in need of humanitarian support while about 600,000 children are not able to access standard education because of the conflict.
The spread of COVID-19 across Cameroon brought with it many challenges and forced the entire population to change their habits. With the disruption to normal routines and face-to-face activities, people have become more aware of the importance of technology and how much Cameroon’s education system can benefit from these alternative solutions.
Existing Problems
Cameroon has had a complicated past; following the end of World War I, the League of Nations divided what was then German Kamerun into two new sections, with France ruling most of modern Cameroon and the Western Fifth (today’s Northwest and Southwest regions) under British rule. Tensions between Anglophone and Francophone regions have been consistent since the beginning and education has often been a key battleground in the conflict. In 2019, UNICEF reported that 855,000 children in the Northwest and Southwest regions were out of school.
These social fractures inherited from years of colonial rule have made it hard to create a coordinated countrywide curriculum, with the education system in Cameroon divided between the Anglophone and Francophone systems.
The government does not exactly consider education to be a priority. In 2020, Cameroon spent just 3.2% of its GDP on education, well below the world average of 4.5%.
Attacks that the terrorist organization Boko Haram led mainly targeted schools in northern Cameroon, and involved the killing and kidnapping of thousands of school children and the closure of hundreds of schools.
There is a marked gap between the education of the rural and urban population, boys and girls and rich and poor. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated this and forced schools to close and resort to other alternatives.
The Impact of COVID-19
As in the rest of the world, the pandemic has had damaging effects on Cameroon’s education system. This has led to worries that more people could fall into poverty, and this could further intensify the gap between rich and poor.
On the bright side, the pandemic has also been a chance for Cameroon to demonstrate its desire for technological advancements. The closure of all schools and universities in March 2020 forced students to continue their learning from home. For those with a stable internet connection and television, access to learning resources was more simple; the government transformed the national television channel, CRTV, into a classroom during certain time slots in the day and students were able to send SMS messages (in theory) for any queries they had. Unfortunately, many people, especially those in rural areas were not able to access these classes. This is because around 35% of Cameroonians do not have access to electricity, highlighting the need for other learning alternatives. In light of this, Cameroon adopted a software program known as the Avicenna Virtual Campus Network (AVCN), showing its eagerness to embrace technological solutions.
Avicenna Virtual Campus Network
In July 2019, as part of the response to the Anglophone conflict in the North West and South West regions, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the support of Education Cannot Wait, implemented an Emergency Response Plan to provide education to all children in the area. Only 20% of formal schools have been able to remain open since the beginning of the conflict. This suggests that home learning initiatives such as the Avicenna Platform have been essential in the continuation of education in Cameroon.
The aim of AVCN is to support the promotion of a more equitable education system in Cameroon with its online and offline learning platform (its Mobile Virtual Avicenna Classroom works without electricity or the Internet). The system comprises a Nano-server, a Nano-projector and solar tablets that allows students to learn even in the most isolated regions of the country. The closure of all schools across the country in 2020 meant that the Avicenna Platform became even more relevant, reaching over 21,000 children who would have otherwise struggled to continue learning.
Looking Ahead
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of developing digital solutions for the education system in Cameroon. Although there is still a lot of work necessary, the rate of digital penetration since the outbreak of COVID-19 has increased by 10%. The ongoing conflict, which has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 civilians and displaced millions of people is now the main problem facing further advancements in the education system. Focusing efforts on technological advancements could be a key part of ensuring a more positive future for the country’s education system.
– Almaz Nerurkar
Photo: Flickr
India’s Solution to Pollution
Indian entrepreneur Arpit Dhupar presented a solution to India’s pollution when he established Dharaksha Ecosystems in 2020. The organization’s name, which combines the Hindi words “Dhara” (earth) and “Raksha” (saving), summarizes its mission: “to save the earth from pollution.”
A Gray Sky
A graduate of mechanical engineering, Dhupar was inspired partly by an early initiative to recycle diesel smoke into reusable material. While working on the project, he visited many agricultural villages across the country, which raised his awareness of the pollution caused by crop stubble burning.
He learned that villagers felt the effects of burning much worse than those in the city. Living near the fields meant close exposure to the “highly toxic” smoke laden with hazardous chemicals. Furthermore, this smoke can ruin the organic content of local farmers’ soil.
However, Dhupar discovered that there was no crop stubble burning in Peva, a region of India that, significantly, contains a paper mill. There, rather than burning it, crop stubble residue is used to create craft paper, the raw material for cardboard. This sparked the idea that led to Dharaksha Ecosolutions. As Dhupar explained, “If we can create packaging out of crop stubble waste that can eliminate plastic and Thermocol from the market, it will be a great synergy.”
What is Thermocol?
Thermocol is a non-biodegradable material that is responsible for much of the world’s plastic pollution. It is common in everyday products like disposable plates, food containers, coffee cups and decorations. Primarily, however, Thermocol is used in packaging. A form of polystyrene, it is lightweight, shock-absorbent and versatile. Unfortunately, these benefits do not outweigh Thermocol’s damaging effects on the planet.
Most discarded Thermocol ends up in landfills and flows into rivers and oceans. The alternative, which is incineration, produces “toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and about 90 different hazardous chemicals” that can harm the eyes and nervous system.
Although Thermocol is 100% recyclable, the process is very expensive and not economically feasible. Composed of 95% air, it does not generate viable income for waste pickers who “sell their waste to kabadiwalas by weight, not volume.” Thus, Thermocol poses an ongoing environmental threat that begs for a solution.
India’s Solution to Pollution
The aim of Dharaksha Ecosolutions “is to curb stubble burning and plastic pollution by creating biodegradable and sustainable alternatives.” Dhupar and his team found their solution in a material that could reduce crop stubble burning and replace Thermocol.
Dhupar devised this solution using mushrooms. He found that mixing rice crop waste with mushrooms would break down and convert the waste into a biodegradable foam, developing an efficient packaging material. Additionally, while non-biodegradable materials decompose over hundreds of years, Dhupar’s material decomposes in just 60 days.
Producing such material on a mass scale requires collaboration, hard work and a factory. The factory is capable of converting 250 metric tons of rice stubble into usable packaging. The stubble comes from 100 acres of land in Punjab and Haryana, with the farmers who provide it now earning $30 per acre for something they used to previously burn.
A Blue Sky
“We feel we can disrupt the problem of plastic pollution and at the same time solve the problem of crop stubble waste burning,” Dhupar explained. His mission to turn India’s sky blue is well underway. Since innovating the new material, Dharaksha Ecosolutions has:
But Dhupar’s work is not done. His future plans for Dharaksha Ecosolutions include:
Aware that part of the solution to pollution starts at home, Dhupar is also a strong advocate for adopting an environmentally conscious lifestyle. He drives electric vehicles, recycles all his plastic and is working to convert all his food waste into compost. He noted, “Say what you believe in and do what you say. If there is a disconnect between those two, there is no meaning in doing anything in life.”
Acknowledging his work, the United Nations (U.N.) named Dhupar the 2018 Young Champion of the Earth for Asia and the Pacific Region, and Forbes named him one of 2018’s “30 Under 30” social entrepreneurs.
The Future
Air and plastic pollution in India are severe problems that pose dire health threats to the population, particularly those living in poverty. However, Arpit Dhupar is working to ensure that his “interventions have an impact in the real world.” At the forefront of India’s solution to pollution, Dhupar and Dharaksha Ecosolutions are inspiring hope for a brighter and bluer future for India.
– Jenny Boxall
Photo: Flickr
Assessing Humanitarian Aid Needs
Humanitarian aid is vital and often life-saving assistance provided to those most in need. Both humanitarian aid, which is emergency assistance, and development aid, which focuses on the long-term, are key to lifting people out of poverty. The primary motivations behind humanitarianism include the alleviation of suffering, preservation of dignity and the saving of lives. Also, there are four principles that guide humanitarian aid. These include neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality.
As things stand, traditional forms of humanitarianism have not taken into account the specific needs of aid recipients. As a result, those impacted often do not receive the support that they need. This not only results in a waste of time and resources but can also lead to mistrust of aid organizations among aid recipients. “The support they provide doesn’t help much at all. People don’t want any more rice and lentils. There is no more land to live on. We need better support,” said a community leader in Bangladesh.
With around 274 million people around the world needing humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022, which represents the highest figure in decades, the need for humanitarian reform has never been greater.
How Ground Truth Solutions Envisions Reformed Humanitarian Aid
In 2012, Ground Truth Solutions originated, with a view to reforming the humanitarian system and encouraging humanitarian organizations to implement a needs-based response. Ground Truth envisions “a humanitarian system that fully recognizes the agency of the people it exists to serve, and is responsive to their views, preferences and needs.”
Ground Truth Solutions has developed a methodology that uses feedback from impacted communities to hold accountable humanitarian aid providers. Its aim is to reform the humanitarian system toward a needs-based response, tailored to the specific needs of affected people. Therefore, community feedback is key in terms of designing the humanitarian aid program and ensuring that delivery is efficient and effective.
Ground Truth Solutions identified several problems with the way in which the humanitarian system functions. Aid recipients are unable to participate in decisions that impact humanitarian response, meaning that they are unable to tailor aid to fit their needs. Also, they are often unaware of the source of aid. As a result, the most vulnerable feel that the humanitarian system leaves them out or forgets them due to favoritism, or that they do not receive proper aid due to poor management and opaque decision-making.
One respondent said, “The distribution is unfair. Well-off people are getting support while poor people like us never get anything.” At the same time, humanitarian organizations are touting policies that place “people at the center,” while there are complaints about the lack of transparency.
Effective Needs-based Humanitarian Aid Response
The origin of Ground Truth Solutions was to help those experiencing humanitarian disasters. Designing an effective humanitarian response based on the views and needs of those affected, the organization uses a mixed methodology of polls, interviews and questionnaires to hear directly from the people. Using pre-existing metrics such as the Core Humanitarian Standard, which espouses agreed-upon standards such as participation, effectiveness, agency, trust, respect and information, Ground Truth Solutions ensures that the humanitarian system is representative of the needs of those it aims to serve.
The organization also ensures a coordinated response across all levels and works in partnership with humanitarian actors across a variety of themes such as cash-based assistance, climate change adaptation and health.
Ground Truth Solutions has programs across Africa, Asia and Europe, which it tailors to the specific country context. However, broadly, the programs follow the below structure:
Looking Ahead
Ground Truth Solutions has set the ball rolling for the reform of the humanitarian system. However, as Nick van Praag, founder of the organization, has recognized, this is not an overnight process. “Accountability players, like Ground Truth Solutions, have a role but responsibility must be collective and should include all those with the power, resources and operational rationale to make the difference.”
– Ottoline Spearman
Photo: Flickr
Addressing the Instability of South Asian Artisans
Artisan work is a significant source of employment in the developing world, particularly in South Asia, where it makes up a significant proportion of the workforce. South Asian artisans practice skilled trades using traditional methods and locally sourced materials, and this enables them to perpetuate their culture through their craft.
However, the monthly income of artisans can vary greatly due to factors such as fluctuating tourist flows, lack of access to online commerce and lack of regulation to protect their businesses and wages. These issues have stunted the potential of artisanal work to generate employment and boost incomes globally. Despite being the second-largest employer in the developing world after agriculture, the artisan sector remains largely untapped in terms of its economic development potential. Addressing these issues and promoting the growth of the artisan sector could have significant economic benefits, both for individual artisans and for their countries as a whole.
Artisans are victims of the volatility of the tourism market. In fact, tourists make up the majority of buyers, which further destabilizes the income of artisans, as the number of tourists varies greatly between the high and low seasons. This forces artisans to work several jobs in order to make ends meet, and many are giving up the trade in search of more stable sources of income. The United Nations (U.N.) estimates that 30% of artisans in India have left the trade in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accentuated this phenomenon, putting many more artisans out of work.
A Lack of Regulation Around Artisanal Professions
The volatility of tourism impacts artisans because it is not counterbalanced by stability. Across the globe, no laws specifically pertaining to artisans’ income and taxation, and they receive no legal protections against exploitative loans or partners. Consequently, approximately 95% of artisan businesses globally do not benefit from a set minimum wage, and most are compensated on a piece-rate rather than hour-rate basis.
Artisans, especially the ones living further away from big cities, are vulnerable to unregulated middlemen who try to reach more buyers. However, in many cases, the middlemen illicitly profit from the artisans’ work, further hindering their growth.
The lack of regulation also prevents the impact of artisans from being reflected on the national market, as sales go unrecorded due to the informal nature of the artisanal trade. A case in point is India where approximately 200 million people participate in the artisan economy, with 90% operating in the informal landscape.
Challenges and Potential of Women Artisans
Women make up approximately three-fourths of artisans worldwide, and over half of artisans in South Asia. Craft-based work provides a unique opportunity for women in South Asia, many of whom are unable to work outside the home due to deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and family care responsibilities. Women artisans invest 90% of their earnings back into their families, a significantly higher percentage than the 35% invested by men.
However, due to a prioritization of extensive practical training in their craft, poverty and various other factors, 90% of Indian women artisans have no formal education. Thus, despite their specialized skills, craftswomen’s incomes are very similar to those of unskilled workers. In India, the average income for an artisan ranges from just $3.40 to $4.50 a day in cities and $0.89 in rural India, whereas the minimum wage for an unskilled worker is $3.60 a day.
Solutions for Progress
For the craft industry to thrive, there is a need to empower artisans in a way that allows them to make a decent living out of their work. With this aim, the Ethik Collective created an online marketplace connecting artisans with stable business partnerships worldwide. The Collective thus works with artisans, mostly women entrepreneurs, to allow them to expand their business beyond the local market. Since its creation three years ago, the collective has supported 2,696 artisans providing for 10,595 family members. Their initiative helps create consistent work, allowing artisans to stabilize their income and invest in long-term livelihood assets.
The Business, Enterprise and Employment Support for Women in South Asia (BEES), a network set up between South Asian countries and the World Bank, also empowers South Asian artisans by providing them with capacity building, technical and financial assistance and new market opportunities. The network allows women artisans to hone important skills such as product development or marketing, contributing to the craft industry’s survival.
Looking Ahead
South Asian artisans play a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and are an essential source of employment. However, they face many challenges, such as instability caused by fluctuating tourist flows, lack of access to online commerce and a lack of regulation to protect their businesses and wages. These unresolved issues have hindered the potential of artisanal work to contribute to the economic development of their countries. Solutions such as Ethik Collective’s marketplace or BEES enable artisans to expand their businesses and stabilize their incomes while preserving their cultural heritage. Supporting and empowering artisans could have a positive impact on communities and, more broadly, the economies of developing countries. Such possibilities highlight the importance of addressing the instability of South Asian artisans.
– Hanna Bernard
Photo: Flickr