Globally, 244 million children and youth aged 6 to 18 remain without access to education. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous and largest economy, contributes significantly, with 20 million of its young population currently out of school, with the threat of additional millions facing the risk of dropout looms large.
Among the complex factors hindering education, one stands out prominently – “Hunger.” Childhood malnutrition disorders affect more than 42% of school children in the country and are responsible for 49% of the absenteeism of primary school-age children.
Studies by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveal a grim reality. Nigeria carries the world’s second-highest burden of stunted children under 5, with a prevalence rate of 32%. This widespread malnutrition not only impacts physical health but also hinders cognitive development, learning outcomes and future productivity.
The Vicious Cycle of Hunger and Education
Studies conducted by the World Food Programme (WFP) demonstrate a strong correlation between malnutrition and educational outcomes. Specifically, research has shown that providing daily meals at school can have several positive effects, including:
- Improved focus and concentration in children.
- Increased enrollment and attendance rates.
- Higher retention rates in educational programs.
- Enhanced cognitive abilities.
Data analysis indicates that such school meal programs can, on average, boost enrollment by 9%. This suggests that addressing hunger is a critical factor in removing barriers to education.
Enter the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme
In a 2016 attempt to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, the Federal Government of Nigeria revived the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) in 22 states nationwide. This N70 (around $0.17) per child, per day initiative aimed to boost primary school enrollment, improving students’ health and nutrition, all within a social safety net framework. To achieve this, the program targeted multiple areas: increasing farmers’ income, empowering women, fostering collaboration among ministries of education, health, justice, agriculture and budget and planning. Additionally, it actively engaged state governments, school boards, community leaders, women’s groups and parents.
Beyond Nourishment
Sourcing ingredients from 150,000 smallholder farmers, the HGSFP creates a stable market for their produce and boosts their income, fostering agricultural development. This has spurred 106,000 jobs, especially for women cooks and food deliverers, directly combating Nigeria’s unemployment rate, which stood at 33.3% in Q4 2020.
Impact Quantified
Initially aiming to reach 12.8 million primary school children by July 2019, the program currently nourishes at least 9.4 million pupils in 46,000 public schools across 31 states. These children receive a nutritious meal every school day, with menus varying across regions from moi moi (beans pudding) to beans, porridge, rice and other local staples.
The impressive scale of the program is evident in the sheer volume of ingredients used. Each week, 594 cattle, 138,000 chickens, 6.8 million eggs and 83 metric tons of fish contribute to feeding the children. This not only nourishes young minds but also stimulates domestic agriculture and food production.
The program’s positive impact extends beyond plates. In 2019, the federal government acknowledged HGSFP’s significant contribution to a 20% increase in primary school enrollment nationwide since its launch in 2016. This increase demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in attracting and retaining children in school, paving the way for a brighter future for individuals and the nation.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the HGSFP boasts impressive achievements in feeding millions of children and boosting local agriculture, it faces several hurdles that threaten its full potential. Limited funding restricts meal quality and reach, while corruption involving some cooks necessitates stricter monitoring. Inefficient management, including the lack of regular reviews, leads to unmet demand and potential mismanagement. Additionally, discrepancies exist between reported successes and experiences in specific areas, raising concerns about uneven implementation.
A Tech Boost
WFP has declared Nigeria’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) the best in Africa. It is partnering with the government to enhance its impact further. WFP will provide tablets loaded with the PLUS Schools Menus app to promote better nutrition and dietary habits, empowering nutrition officers to design budget-friendly, nutritious meals for schools. This decision stems from a joint assessment to strengthen, scale and sustain the NHGSFP.
A Plateful of Potential
The HGSFP offers a powerful antidote to Nigerians’ struggle with hunger and unequal access to education. Nurturing both minds and bodies, it illuminates a path toward a more promising future for millions of children. With continued commitment and collaborative efforts, a plate of food can truly transform lives and reshape the educational ecosystem of Nigeria.
– Abraham Ikongshul
Photo: Flickr
The Darién Gap: Everything You Need To Know
Here is everything you need to know about the Darién Gap and the people working to keep the migrants safe.
People from all across the world access the Gap
Venezuelans are the largest nationality of migrants across the Darién Gap, with more than 440,000 people crossing since January 2022. People from other South American countries, such as Ecuador and Haiti, follow close behind. Many people also come from countries in Africa and Asia, such as Cameroon, Pakistan and China.
The terrain makes for a dangerous journey
The hostile environment of the Darién Gap is characterized by heavy rainfall, extreme humidity and muddied landscape. Migrants are often forced to leave behind any shelter they may have brought, such as a sleeping mat or tent, in favor of more dire necessities, such as food and water. Without sufficient resources, migrants are left at the mercy of the elements and experience severe illness during their journey.
Women and children are increasingly vulnerable
In 2023, more than 32,000 children crossed the Darién Gap, with more than half under 5 years old. Since the region of the Darién Gap does not have any strong rule of law, migrating families are at a higher risk of falling prey to an extreme threat of violence during their journey through the Gap. The potential dangers include exploitation, assault and trafficking, along with the innate risks posed by the jungle of the Darién Gap.
Of everything you need to know about the Darién Gap, the most important thing to recognize is that the extreme stress and danger associated with traveling through the Gap makes it a last resort for most. In their home countries, migrants are often exposed to situations of extreme violence, poverty and even persecution.
Action Against Hunger
With the lack of government intervention, several Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have made it their mission to help the migrants in their journey across the Gap. Action Against Hunger (AAH) began its work within the region in September 2023 and has already provided 3,236 primary health consultations and 266 supplements to prevent malnutrition.
Although everything you need to know about the Darién Gap can be bleak, AAH is not alone in its work to help the migrants crossing. The nonprofit works with the Columbian Health Secretary, the Mayor’s Office and local organizations to ensure that the migrants crossing the Gap receive all the care they need to have a safe journey.
– Anjum Alam
Photo: Flickr
Lasting Solutions of WhyHunger
The Approach
WhyHunger identifies that hunger exists in our world because people can neither afford to buy food nor have access to the land, water and other resources necessary to produce their food. As a result, it is often decided that hunger is the problem; however, WhyHunger takes a different approach.
Instead of deciding that hunger is the problem, something that can limit solutions to food charity and distribution, WhyHunger looks at the root causes and defines hunger as a symptom. The organization believes that taking this approach is the first step to finding lasting solutions to the complex economic, social and environmental issues that lie at the source.
The Solutions
Among the many lasting solutions of WhyHunger, three have had incredibly tremendous impacts. First, growing grassroots power lies at the core of WhyHunger’s approach to building lasting solutions to hunger. By developing partnerships and allying with grassroots leaders and organizations, the initiative can support grassroots factors committed to ending global hunger.
Second, WhyHunger believes that lasting societal transformations occur when individuals, particularly those most vulnerable, work together towards common goals and visions for society. Therefore, social movements express this shared desire to address the injustices that lead to hunger and movements that WhyHunger supports in the quest for food justice.
Third, WhyHunger frames the solution to hunger as a human right. This framing acts as a catalyst for lasting, systemic change and thus holds institutions responsible for protecting and fulfilling the right to food for all people. As a member of the Global Network on the Right to Food, WhyHunger can actively protect this right to food as a human right across the globe.
The Impact
Due to the significant impact of WhyHunger, the Duke Sanford World Food Policy Center at Duke University singles out the organization as a leader in the movement to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and in communities around the world.
Since its establishment in 1975, WhyHunger has supplied $1.2 million to support and train 103,999 farmers in 68 countries to grow nutritious food to feed themselves and their communities in need. WhyHunger also works in partnerships to connect children to free, healthy meals in the summer when childhood hunger spikes. The nonprofit has succeeded in connecting 2.4 million children to these meals. Finally, WhyHunger has granted $532,280 to 85 grassroots partners and social movements to help their communities develop lasting solutions to hunger.
Through these impacts, WhyHunger continues to lead the fight against hunger. Although this fight is ongoing, the good news is that much progress has already been made. The organization believes that a world without hunger is possible and is committed to finding lasting solutions until that world is realized.
– Olivia Pitrof
Photo: Unsplash
Freedom for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Kutupalong, located in Ukhia on the vast Cox’s Bazar complex, is one of the largest refugee camps in the world. Built on steep hillsides, the camps are susceptible to flooding and landslides, particularly during monsoon season and the bamboo structures hastily constructed to house Kutupalong’s one million occupants provide little sanctuary. Fires in the camp are also not uncommon.
A Fresh Chance at Freedom
However, as of December 2023, a new hope was presented for the camps’ occupants. After blocking any resettlement of refugees to third countries since 2010, Bangladesh agreed to allow the U.S. to resettle some Rohingya refugees after striking a deal. For the first time in more than a decade, refugees were provided with hope for a way out of the camp that didn’t involve the risk of violence and even death through illegal human trafficking.
Although only 62 refugees have been flown to the U.S. thus far, these figures are set to increase. AK Abdul Momen, Bangladesh’s foreign minister, reportedly wants developed nations to take 100,000 refugees and criticized the stagnant pace of the resettlement process, despite ultimately believing the best solution to support the Rohingya is for them to be repatriated back to Myanmar, where they face persecution.
Juliet Volls Noyce, Assistant Secretary to President Biden, also offered her support, adding that “the U.S. is proud to be able to support resettlement in our country of the very vulnerable Rohingya. This is a priority of President Biden. We are discussing with other governments and with other partners. We will be working together with the international community.”
Speaking to the Guardian, Nurul, among the first refugees afforded a chance at a new life with resettlement to the U.S., spoke glowingly of his newfound freedom. “We have escaped the prison,” he said, adding that “for 31 years, I did not even have “basic rights. All this time, we lived with only primary services – school, food, health. Nothing more than that.”
The Future?
The early success of the resettlement process demonstrates the enormous potential for the Rohingya population of Myanmar to start a new life in the West. However, there is unequivocally a substantial amount of progress to be made before the program can be labeled a success.
AK Abdul Momen highlighted that current progress represents nothing more than “just a drop in the ocean,” as Bangladesh hosts more than 1.1 million refugees. For the program to be labeled successful, resettlements will need to continue on a larger scale and continued support from the U.S. government will be significantly depended upon.
– Ethan Leyden
Photo: Flickr
The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in Nigeria
Among the complex factors hindering education, one stands out prominently – “Hunger.” Childhood malnutrition disorders affect more than 42% of school children in the country and are responsible for 49% of the absenteeism of primary school-age children.
Studies by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveal a grim reality. Nigeria carries the world’s second-highest burden of stunted children under 5, with a prevalence rate of 32%. This widespread malnutrition not only impacts physical health but also hinders cognitive development, learning outcomes and future productivity.
The Vicious Cycle of Hunger and Education
Studies conducted by the World Food Programme (WFP) demonstrate a strong correlation between malnutrition and educational outcomes. Specifically, research has shown that providing daily meals at school can have several positive effects, including:
Data analysis indicates that such school meal programs can, on average, boost enrollment by 9%. This suggests that addressing hunger is a critical factor in removing barriers to education.
Enter the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme
In a 2016 attempt to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, the Federal Government of Nigeria revived the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) in 22 states nationwide. This N70 (around $0.17) per child, per day initiative aimed to boost primary school enrollment, improving students’ health and nutrition, all within a social safety net framework. To achieve this, the program targeted multiple areas: increasing farmers’ income, empowering women, fostering collaboration among ministries of education, health, justice, agriculture and budget and planning. Additionally, it actively engaged state governments, school boards, community leaders, women’s groups and parents.
Beyond Nourishment
Sourcing ingredients from 150,000 smallholder farmers, the HGSFP creates a stable market for their produce and boosts their income, fostering agricultural development. This has spurred 106,000 jobs, especially for women cooks and food deliverers, directly combating Nigeria’s unemployment rate, which stood at 33.3% in Q4 2020.
Impact Quantified
Initially aiming to reach 12.8 million primary school children by July 2019, the program currently nourishes at least 9.4 million pupils in 46,000 public schools across 31 states. These children receive a nutritious meal every school day, with menus varying across regions from moi moi (beans pudding) to beans, porridge, rice and other local staples.
The impressive scale of the program is evident in the sheer volume of ingredients used. Each week, 594 cattle, 138,000 chickens, 6.8 million eggs and 83 metric tons of fish contribute to feeding the children. This not only nourishes young minds but also stimulates domestic agriculture and food production.
The program’s positive impact extends beyond plates. In 2019, the federal government acknowledged HGSFP’s significant contribution to a 20% increase in primary school enrollment nationwide since its launch in 2016. This increase demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in attracting and retaining children in school, paving the way for a brighter future for individuals and the nation.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the HGSFP boasts impressive achievements in feeding millions of children and boosting local agriculture, it faces several hurdles that threaten its full potential. Limited funding restricts meal quality and reach, while corruption involving some cooks necessitates stricter monitoring. Inefficient management, including the lack of regular reviews, leads to unmet demand and potential mismanagement. Additionally, discrepancies exist between reported successes and experiences in specific areas, raising concerns about uneven implementation.
A Tech Boost
WFP has declared Nigeria’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) the best in Africa. It is partnering with the government to enhance its impact further. WFP will provide tablets loaded with the PLUS Schools Menus app to promote better nutrition and dietary habits, empowering nutrition officers to design budget-friendly, nutritious meals for schools. This decision stems from a joint assessment to strengthen, scale and sustain the NHGSFP.
A Plateful of Potential
The HGSFP offers a powerful antidote to Nigerians’ struggle with hunger and unequal access to education. Nurturing both minds and bodies, it illuminates a path toward a more promising future for millions of children. With continued commitment and collaborative efforts, a plate of food can truly transform lives and reshape the educational ecosystem of Nigeria.
– Abraham Ikongshul
Photo: Flickr
Renewable Energy in Angola
While incredibly low, this is nothing compared to rural areas’ 10% electrification rate. This inequality is further widened due to rural areas’ lack of other options. With 54% of the nation concentrated in rural areas, these regions have nowhere else to turn. With the government planning to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies causing energy prices to rise, the government has begun to push for renewable energy in Angola.
Angola’s Renewable Energy Revolution
Angola is in an optimal geographical position for renewable energy production. Studies conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Water found that the nation has the potential to generate 16 GW in solar power, 4 GW in wind power and 18 GW in hydropower. Using this to its advantage, the government of Angola has created the Angola 2025 Plan, which aims to utilize renewable energy to boost its energy production.
In this plan, the nation’s electrification rate would jump to 60%, with 70% coming from renewable sources. Part of this increase will be due to the three massive solar projects that the Government of Angola recently approved. One of these projects will be a partnership between the United Arab Emirates and Angola, resulting in a 150 MW solar farm.
Transforming Lives and Igniting Economic Opportunities
The benefit is threefold. First, this shift to renewable energy can massively benefit the electrification rates and provide electricity to underserved areas. For example, projects like the Masdar solar plant can bring electricity to 90,000 homes.
Second, renewable energy in Angola opens up many job opportunities by utilizing new technologies and creating an entirely new industry. Additionally, this massive boost in the energy sector is more significant for foreign investors and creates even more job opportunities.
This double-win for the job market will help drastically reduce poverty levels and close the inequality gap. Because many of these solar projects have taken place in rural areas like the Masdar solar plant, it directly gives these opportunities to the concentrated areas of low-income households.
Conclusion
While renewable energy in Angola is still an emerging market, its potential to completely shift the country’s economy and bring electricity to millions of people highlights its importance. By harnessing its abundant solar, wind and hydroelectricity resources, Angola can meet its energy needs and emerge as a regional leader in clean energy innovation.
– Aman Chaudhary
Photo: Flickr
Improving Africa’s Infrastructure: Top 5 Projects
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Ethiopia)
Under its original name, Project X, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam began construction in April 2011. Its construction immediately brought jobs into the region and, upon completion, would create a bridge allowing safe passage over the Blue Nile River. The project would be instrumental in improving Africa’s infrastructure by distributing water to Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. The dam would also handle significant floods in the area and help irrigation by watering 500,000 hectares of land (1 million acres).
Lekki Deep Water Port (Nigeria)
This aquatic marvel was started in 2003 to allow for more efficient trading and storage for the West African region. The Lekki Deep Water Port construction was granted non-recourse project financing, meaning the loan is paid back with profits from the finished project. With a capacity to hold 15,000 containers and handle 2.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, the port has been critical in improving Africa’s infrastructure. The port has increased import and export turnaround times and reduced the delays of supplies and materials to the region.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery (Nigeria)
In addition to the country’s water port is the Dangote Petroleum Oil Refinery. Nigeria is the second biggest oil-rich country in Africa, but the country is reliant on imported petroleum products. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery broke ground in July 2017 with the expectations of meeting 100% of Nigeria’s gasoline needs and doubling the country’s refining capacity. With a capacity to produce 650,000 barrels of oil daily, the refinery is undoubtedly Africa’s most significant.
Siemens Mobility High-Speed Rail Lines (Egypt)
Egypt and Siemens are working on a project to lay 2,500km (1400 miles) of high-speed tracks through 60 cities in the coming years. The project began in September 2021 and is scheduled to conclude in 2027. The trains will significantly improve Africa’s infrastructure by linking cities and trade routes along the Red and Mediterranean Seas. This project is full of promises and will contribute substantially to the region’s growth.
Google Equiano High-Speed Internet
Google and its reach knows no ends and the Equiano High-Speed Internet project is just another example. This 12,000km subsea internet cable was dropped in April 2022 and operational by December 2022. The cable runs from Lisbon, Portugal, down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town, South Africa. The cable provides high-speed internet access and a digital connection to the outside world for many African countries.
This cable passes through several countries, vastly improving Africa’s infrastructure and creating substantial job markets in each area. Namibia is projected to add 21,000 jobs and South Africa is looking to add around 180,000 jobs, all thanks to Google Equiano. Additionally, Nigeria will see the greatest influx in job opportunities as the country is projected to add 1.6 million jobs. Fittingly, the high-speed cable was named after Nigerian-born writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano.
Looking Forward
Africa is preparing for and entering into the next incarnation of its development. Projects like those mentioned above are scattered across the continent and help assist with the transitions and new additions to the region. These projects help connect Africa to its neighbors near and far.
– Ryan Johnson
Photo: Pixabay
Helping Women: Nonprofits in Lithuania
The Lithuanian Women’s Lobby
The Lithuanian Women‘s Lobby Organisation (LWLO), an integral member of the European Women’s Lobby Organisation (EWLO)—the largest umbrella group for women’s rights in Lithuania and the EU—was established in 2004.
This organization advocates for gender equality and women’s rights across various societal sectors. In addition, the organization actively influences policy-making processes, raises awareness about gender issues and promotes women’s participation in decision-making at all levels. It focuses on addressing issues such as:
Additionally, the organization’s annual “Blossom of Hope” campaign has raised more than 300,000 euros for buying medical supplies for Lithuanian women diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Vilnius Women’s House
The Vilnius Women’s House is a nongovernmental, nonprofit in Lithuania that collaborates with women who have encountered violence and provides diverse avenues of assistance. In 1996 the organization opened the first crisis center for survivors of gender based violence in the history of the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
In addition, it primarily focuses on providing support and assistance to women who have experienced violence. The organization offers various services and resources to help these women rebuild their lives and overcome the challenges women face due to violence such as:
An article from the European Scientific Journal in 2015 reported that women involved with Vilnius Women’s House displayed higher trust in governmental competence.
IWAV
The International Women’s Association of Vilnius (IWAV) is a nonprofit organization located in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, dedicated to fostering friendship, cultural exchange and personal development among women of diverse backgrounds. IWAV provides a platform for members to connect, share experiences and build meaningful relationships. Additionally, the association promotes cultural exchange and integration through language exchange sessions, cooking classes and workshops, allowing members to learn about different cultures while sharing their traditions.
IWAV also engages in charitable initiatives to support local communities and organizations in need. This includes fundraising events, donations and volunteering efforts aimed at benefiting causes such as education, health care and social welfare. Furthermore, the association offers opportunities for personal and professional development through workshops, seminars and skill-building activities focused on topics like career advancement, entrepreneurship, health and wellness and intercultural communication.
Moterys Kalba (Women Speak)
Moterys Kalba, translating to “women speak”, is one of the nonprofits in Lithuania dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equality in the country. Through social projects, the organization seeks to draw attention to gender-related issues and uplift and empower women.
Furthermore, it organizes workshops, events and creative online campaigns to raise awareness about issues such as sexual and domestic abuse, as well as advocate for women’s rights and enduring social and political change. One particular video project entitled #Mudusuang (#ManyofUs) won the People’s Choice Award for Gender Equality in 2016 for respecting diversity, encouraging social dialogues and preventing discrimination and violence against women.
Looking Forward
Investing in empowering women is vital to the success of a developed, progressive nation. According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, when women occupy more than 30% of political seats in a country, it is deemed “more inclusive, egalitarian and democratic.”
These nonprofits in Lithuania ensure empowered women are better able to participate in decision-making processes. They can advocate for their rights and challenge discriminatory norms and practices, fostering positive change for years to come.
– Bella Simokaitis
Photo: Flickr
Lack of Technology for Education for Bolivian Students
Root Causes of the Lack of Technology in Education
The lack of technology for education for Bolivian students can be attributed to a mix of factors, painting a complex picture of the challenges facing their education system. One significant contributor is the economic disparity prevalent in the country, where a considerable portion of the population faces financial constraints hindering their access to modern educational tools.
Limited infrastructure, especially in remote and rural areas, accelerates the problem, making it difficult to establish reliable internet connectivity and access to electronic devices.
Much of Bolivia’s citizenry remains poor, thus lacking widespread “Information and Communications Technology” (ICT) use.
According to Bolivia’s telecoms authority’s data, only about 40% of Bolivians and only 3% in rural areas have internet access. These households experienced the region’s worst connection speed. Therefore, it is uneasy to introduce ICT in secondary schools in this kind of setting, knowing the issue of the lack of technology for education is prominent.
Challenges of Lack of Technology for Education
The absence of advanced technological tools in classrooms hinders students’ access to current information and interactive learning experiences. This digital divide perpetuates inequality, as students in impoverished areas face disparities in educational opportunities compared to their counterparts in more affluent regions. Educational disadvantage translates into a workforce needing more digital skills for contemporary jobs, perpetuating low-income employment opportunities. Insufficient access to quality education perpetuates a cycle of poverty, limiting opportunities for individuals and communities.
Solving Lack of Technology for Education
Help Bolivia Foundation – Started in 2018 as a prominent foundation incorporated in Canada, it aims to alleviate poverty resulting from the lack of technology by funding educators and equipment to teach basic computer skills to 24 students over a year. With the purchase of six new computers for the dedicated computer room, the initiative provides a vital opportunity for these students to acquire fundamental computer skills, internet knowledge and proficiency in software packages such as Office. The Help Bolivia Foundation has made strides in providing a platform for these students to access technology, empowering them with the tools necessary for future success and socioeconomic advancement.
One Student, One Computer – Operating since 2014, “One Student, One Computer” strives to address the adverse impact of technological poverty on education and subsequently alleviate poverty. With an emphasis on improving access to information and technology, the program, aligned with the Patriotic Agenda 2025, aspires to enhance the quality of education in Bolivia.
Through initiatives like providing Quipus computers with tactile screens, rotating cameras and wireless connectivity, the program aims to make classes interactive, bridging the digital gap. These computers, costing $410 each and assembled locally, cater to the needs of private high schools and garner interest from countries like Argentina, Ecuador and Peru. The success of initiatives like the “Yes I Can” program has played a pivotal role, culminating in UNESCO declaring Bolivia free of illiteracy in December 2008.
Conclusion
Researchers and education organizations alike have become more conscious of the critical need to address the use of technology in the classroom. Efforts like the “One Student, One Computer” program gained traction. There is hope for bridging the technological gap and fostering a more equitable educational environment, paving the way for enhanced socioeconomic development in Bolivia.
– Mahima Bhat
Photo: Flickr
4 Ways To Help the Congo
Health Care
The U.S. continues to provide extraordinary aid to those help people living in the Congo. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. has contributed over $1.7 billion to the Congo to provide health assistance. Health Care aids help the citizens of the DRC fight against infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola and measles. While this has made a groundbreaking impact on the DRC’s inhabitants, these diseases have not completely disappeared and the country is still fighting against the spread of infectious diseases to this day.
Agriculture
An overreliance on agriculture is expected in a country as rich in natural wealth as the Congo. Agriculture has an impact on the country’s prosperity by employing its inhabitants while providing essential food supplies for families. Agriculture production accounts for 42.5% of the DRC’s gross domestic product by providing food security and sustainable economic development. The U.S. aims to support agricultural success by offering loans to Congolese enterprises. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has recorded that 70% of the population has been employed in agricultural practices. This is a huge part of the country’s population. However, the issue remains to exist. Only a tiny portion of the land is properly farmed, although a sizable portion of the people are employed in agriculture. This is where USAID comes in. USAID supports farmers to improve cultivated land and food security for its population.
The DRC benefits as a Feed the Future (FTF) country. This means that it is one of a select group of countries that is committed to improving its sustainability in agriculture. USAID assists in improving household income and enabling men and women to participate in the market.
USAID’s work focuses on fostering Congolese women’s empowerment by providing women with the necessary tools to improve the lives of their families. A huge portion of women account for agricultural work within the DRC. Therefore by empowering Congolese women, USAID is significantly contributing to the improvement of family life and nutrition among the poorest parts of the country.
Humanitarian Support
Over 600,000 people were forced to leave their homes in 2022 due to an ongoing conflict crisis. This brings displacement rates to nearly 6 million. This is the highest rate of displacement amongst other African countries and a significant increase from the 5.5 million displaced people in 2021. USAID aims to build the foundations of peace in a country that has suffered a long history of conflict. This is being achieved through supporting community-led efforts to prevent conflict and provide holistic services to survivors of gender-based violence. The goal is to advance peace in the DRC and Do No Harm. USAID continues to provide essentials to those impacted, such as food aid, health care and shelter to those who have been forced to flee their homes due to the crisis of conflict and violence. Thus helping the economy to recover and improve the lives of families across the country.
Education
The DRC’s education system fights to survive against the displacement and poverty caused by ongoing conflict. The government provides a free education scheme that gives thousands of children from low-income families access to a well-rounded primary education.
Teachers and parents battle against an inequality of resources, which favors urban over rural schools. This inadequate provision of school resources causes issues such as overcrowded classrooms and irregular salaries for teachers. Thus making the continuation of certain rural schools a challenge that is faced by teachers, students and parents alike.
This is accompanied by the ongoing threat of armed conflict. Studies show that more than 2 million school-aged children are missing out on education due to the impact of violence and due to the lack of school provisions and equality of resources, the quality of education in some schools remains poor. More than 420 schools were affected by attacks and conflict within eastern and western DRC. Therefore, to help the Congo, protection and resources for school-aged children are needed, to allow them access to real education.
– Éadaoin O’Leary
Photo: Pixabay
Humanitarian Aid International: Addressing Poverty in India
About Humanitarian Aid International
Humanitarian Aid International started like any other NGO. It was formed by a team of professional humanitarian workers and academics whose purpose was to alleviate poverty in the local communities of India. After realizing how international NGOs often neglect the opinions of local NGOs while making critical decisions, HAI broadened its purpose to include the representation of local NGOs in national and international humanitarian circles. HAI’s model for providing aid to communities prioritizes understanding the local context, which includes the communities’ cultural beliefs and practices behind their poor conditions. The organization determines the aid it provides with this local context in mind.
Working at the Local Level
India is one of the world’s most religiously and ethnically diverse countries. Therefore, Indian communities often suffer from unique economic problems shaped by their cultural traditions and history, one example being the severe income inequality between higher and lower castes. HAI considers factors such as discrimination and equity in determining aid for impoverished communities. Consequently, the nonprofit can develop multifaceted responses to complex issues.
In the case of Hindu refugees fleeing persecution in Pakistan, HAI was able to gain a profound understanding of the refugees’ plight by constantly interacting with them respectfully and inquisitively. Realizing that the refugee camps lacked not just electricity but also educational facilities and clean running water, HAI actively provided resources to satisfy these needs; they adapted the aid to reflect the non-Western reality of these camps, evident in the Hindi lessons for children and adults alike.
Interview With David Leitner
David Leitner, a professor of Cultural Anthropology at Las Positas College, Livermore, California, explains how communities perceive the world in unique ways. According to Leitner, these perceptions shape the communities’ material needs. Humanitarian organizations like HAI need to understand these material needs to optimize the aid they provide.
“Culture is both a sort of lens through which you interpret your experiences and also a tool kit you have available to react to the world in response to your needs and wants,” said Leitner. HAI also utilizes its model of understanding local context to promote and advance children’s and women’s rights, ideas that vary locally and nationally based on cultural and social differences.
Why This Is Important
According to Leitner, no two communities share everything in common. Therefore, utilizing a universal model to provide aid to local communities can be ineffective since “If both sides have different assumptions about the problem that needs to be solved, it can lead to some serious misunderstandings.” Additionally, understanding a community’s specific economic and cultural conditions can reveal hidden sociopolitical structures that may help explain systemic poverty.
“Coming in from the outside, there’s oftentimes a lot of information that you can only get if you have had a chance to first allow the local people to trust you. This can sometimes reveal hidden power structures that you may not be aware of,” said Leitner. This knowledge can also be applied to HAI’s advocation for the representation of local NGOs in international humanitarian discussions. International NGOs regularly neglect these organizations despite often being the only ones who provide direct aid to impoverished communities worldwide.
Consensus has been reached during events such as the World Humanitarian Summit 2016 to provide more funding to local NGOs and include them in discussions on humanitarian issues. However, non-Western local NGOs have neither been provided the necessary amount of aid nor the representation in international coalitions that Western organizations largely dominate. To diversify international humanitarian networks, earning the trust of local NGOs is necessary, as each deals with different communities with unique causes behind their impoverishment. HAI intends to do just that with active advocacy of its model and local NGOs in national and international spheres.
The Future
HAI has done much good work advocating for its model within the international humanitarian sphere. It has hosted the international secretariat of Charter4Change and signed the Climate Charter, signaling a dedication to supporting local actors and communities. It is also a member of large NGO networks like the World Humanitarian Action Forum and Sphere India, among other accomplishments.
The organization’s work in local communities is a continuous and ever-changing process. It runs multiple campaigns, ranging from providing educational resources to students from poor neighborhoods with insufficient education facilities to laying out ways for people to sponsor individual children whose circumstances have disproportionately disadvantaged them. Ultimately, HAI’s work has humanized the impoverished communities that are often unheard of by universal models of providing humanitarian aid. Thanks to NGOs like HAI, the hope for increasing local NGO participation in humanitarian efforts is on a positive trajectory.
– Parth Mishra
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