UNESCO and Prada Partner To Educate African Girls

UNESCO and PradaIn March 2021, luxury brand, Prada united with UNESCO to provide young girls with education in Africa. They developed the joint campaign Keeping Girls Connected to ensure that a new generation of women has access to learning and a secure return to school. It was directed not only to give an in-class education but also to provide online learning opportunities. UNESCO and Prada together aim to create an equitable learning space for girls. This was another successful venture for the two organizations, as UNESCO and Prada had previously partnered to improve ocean literacy and preservation.

The number of girls not attending school was high in Africa even before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to UNESCO, 128 million female students did not attend any academic institution in 2020 before the coronavirus. However, COVID-19 became the reason that even more girls ceased their studies in school. Approximately 24 million additional students will now not go back to academic establishments. Moreover, around 450 million learners cannot access online materials for individual studying. 

Keeping Girls in the Picture

A previous joint project of Prada and UNESCO, Keeping Girls in the Picture, reached up to 360 million people around the world. Prada devoted the profit from the Tools of Memory auction to sponsor UNESCO’s COVID-19 Global Education Coalition’s work on girls’ learning. 

In August 2023, UNESCO and Prada launched boot camps to develop new skills for girls in Kenya. Over 200 young ladies participated in a joint campaign. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) were the main focus of the training provided by UNESCO and Prada. The goal of it was to demonstrate gender equity to the girls and to advocate psychosocial aspects associated with STEM subjects. Young learners obtained a chance to create apps, use 3D printing for their designs and acquire artificial intelligence, coding and robotics. Along with technical opportunities presented for Kenyans, they received the honor of meeting female mentors. This event was helpful to develop stronger confidence and provide a new generation of girls with experience in a male-dominated field. 

Keeping Girls in the Picture helps to equal the rights of males and females in society. Teaching STEM and ICT to a new age group of girls will help eliminate the evident gender gap in this area. 

A Look Ahead

The consequences of Prada’s joint projects with UNESCO helped to improve education for girls in Africa and contributed to narrowing the gap between historically male and female-oriented professions. Eventually, more women will have access to academic resources, which will provide the continent with an opportunity to fight poverty and gain financial independence from the Western world.

–Stephanie Len

Photo: Flickr

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Education for Native Hawaiians

Education for Native Hawaiians 
Indigenous Hawaiians face a history of educational disparities. According to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau, only 10.6% of Native Hawaiians or part-Hawaiians earn an associate degree or higher. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students only made up 0.3% of all associate degrees. Social factors such as homelessness, substance abuse, degradation of cultural values and the government not funding education for Native Hawaiians can explain the educational disparities. Different legislations and NGOs have taken action which recognize the unique need for education for Native Hawaiians.

Native Hawaiian Education Act

In 1981, the Office of Education submitted a comprehensive report, stating that Hawaiians score below parity in education, directly related to cultural factors. The passing of the Native Hawaiian Education Act in 1988 was a piece of legislation that was the start of recognizing the unique educational needs that Native Hawaiians require. The purpose of the Native Hawaiian Education Act is to develop and expand on various educational programs that aim to assist education for Native Hawaiians. These programs include early educational care, beginning literacy programs and professional development for educators. These programs focus on the idea that Native Hawaiians are a unique cultural group that requires a culturally appropriate curriculum to thrive. 

Due to the Native Hawaiian Education Act, Congress has consistently provided funding to address the educational gap between Native Hawaiians and other racial groups. In 2020, only 35% of Native Hawaiians enrolled in college upon graduation. The Native Hawaiian Education Act provides scholarship and college transition opportunities. 

Native Hawaiian Education Council

Recognizing that education for Native Hawaiians requires more support, the act called for the establishment of a council in 1994, known as the Native Hawaiian Education Council. The purpose of the Native Hawaiian Education Council is to “coordinate the educational and related services and programs available to Native Hawaiians, … assess the extent to which such services and programs meet the needs of Native Hawaiians; and provide direction and guidance, through the issuance of reports and recommendation, to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies in order to focus and improve the use of resources… on Native Hawaiian education.” In 2022, the council was able to give funding for Hawaiian language instruction, a cultural-based curriculum and address mental health needs for Native Hawaiian students. 

Lumina Foundation Donates to the University of Hawai’i

Only 10.6% of Native Hawaiians over the age of 25 have earned an associate’s degree. To aid the effort to provide education for Hawaiians, the Lumina Foundation donated $575,000 to the University of Hawai’i in 2022. Lumina Foundation announced that the funding was dedicated to increasing the share of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos earning college credentials in Hawaii. The University of Hawai’i is set to raise attainment rates by 5% for these ethnic minorities in the next four years. The university will also use part of the funding to expand professional development to professors so they are capable of teaching Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos in a culturally inclusive way. 

– Yana Gupta
Photo: Flickr

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5 Safety Risks That Child Poverty in Paraguay Causes

Child Poverty in Paraguay
The child population in Paraguay is 2.5 million, making it 35% of the total population. Paraguay has a population of 7.3 million, with nearly 63% living in urban areas and 37% living in rural areas. Child poverty in Paraguay creates an entry point of multiple issues that risk the safety and well-being of Paraguayan children. Here are five safety risks that child poverty in Paraguay causes.

1. Child Labor

According to the Encuesta Permanente de Hogares Continua (EPHC), in 2020, 53% of children living in rural areas worked as child laborers in farmlands. Children in Paraguay experience the worst forms of labor. According to the United States Department of Labor, in rural areas, children work as child laborers on farms against their will to produce corn, beans, manioc, peanuts, peppers, sesame, sugarcane, tomatoes, lettuce, melons, sweet potato, onions, carrots, cabbages and many more crops. 

On top of producing and picking crops, children raise cattle, poultry, hogs, sheep and goats and are responsible for milk production. Children also fish using hooks and harpoons and prepare bait, exposing themselves to multiple diseases and harsh weather. 

In rural areas, children work on construction sites, exposing them to hazardous materials without any protection and dangerous conditions. Employers order children to handle heavy loads of materials and equipment, even in producing bricks.

2. Street Children

In more populated areas like the capital city, Asunción, there is a different type of child labor in street children. Impoverished children tend not to complete their education because they must provide for their families. In 2021, 75% of children enrolled in primary school and 60% enrolled in middle school, according to UNICEF and the Ministry of Education. With only 54% of students enrolled in upper secondary school. 

The children who do not attend school are working on the streets as street vendors or street performers. Parents or family members exploit their children to make money. Other street work includes sanitation, shoe shinning, newspaper vendor and begging. 

3. Child Marriages

Children of Paraguay are often subject to child marriages, which the high levels of child poverty cause. In 2020, 4% of girls 15 or younger experienced marriage or a union, according to GirlsNotBrides. 

Marriage at such a young age has severe physical and mental health issues because children are unprepared for such a commitment. Paraguay has no national plan or security in place to prevent child marriages. The main drive of child marriages is gender inequality and wealth. About 37% of women living in poor households marry at a young age. 

4. Child Exploitation

The main reason children enter marriage is the sexual exploitation of girls. In 2021, UNICEF recorded about 1,500 cases of sexual abuse. Both boys and girls are victims of sex tourism and they are often sold or given away and exploited for sexual, domestic and commercial services. 

According to UNICEF, data from Fono Ayuda 147 calculated almost 7,400 calls for cases of sexual and physical abuse from children. The organization does not know if the calls are from exploited children. Child exploitation occurs mainly through traffickers’ use of social media to recruit victims who end up on boats where others exploit them for prostitution and child pornography. 

5. Children Trafficking

Paraguay is a big contributor to child trafficking in the continent. Paraguay is a transit and destination country in the Tri-Border Area, comprising Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Children from rural-impoverished areas are often trafficked to cities and other countries. 

The U.S. Department of State recorded 166 trafficked victims, in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report. The report found  72 women, 46 girls, nine men and 33 boys in the victim group. Of that number, 74 victims reported being trafficked for sexual purposes and another 86 reported others forcing them into labor. 

Solutions

Ultimately, it would seem that the safety of children in Paraguay is severely lacking. However, programs and legislation are being enforced to slow down and protect the children of Paraguay. The program, Dispositivo de Respuesta Inmediata, responds to tips from a hotline and provides support for children on the streets. The program employs social workers and authorities to call for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and routes of street employment in children. 

The government also passed the National Plan for Childhood and Adolescence 2022-2024, which will foresee the protection of children’s rights and highlight child labor as a violation of those rights. Paraguay is a member of the Organization of American States. As a member, Paraguay is working to strengthen its response to sexual and physical violence and the obliteration of early marriage in children. This means there is support and answers to the security of children in Paraguay.

– Sebastian Llerena
Photo: Flickr

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The Mona Foundation: Education and Opportunities for Women

The Mona FoundationEducation is a proven pathway out of poverty, which is why several organizations center their missions around helping disadvantaged children attain access to quality education. The Mona Foundation is one of many organizations that realize the value of education as a tool for poverty reduction. This work is essential considering that after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 700 million people lived in extreme poverty in 2020.

The Mona Foundation

The Mona Foundation is an organization that believes “Education is key to alleviating poverty, hunger, inequality, and most other social ills.” The Mona Foundation supports grassroots organizations worldwide in their efforts to educate children, focusing on empowering girls and women to transform communities. The president and founder of the organization, Mahnaz Aflatooni Javid, is based out of the United States. The Mona Foundation has operated since 1999 and has donated over $17 million to its 53 partner organizations. The foundation has the support of famous American celebrity Rainn Wilson or Dwight Schrute from the American version of the series “The Office”. The story of Mona Mahmudnizhad, a young Iranian female human rights activist, inspired the organization’s name. Mona was arrested by Iranian authorities in 1983 for her outspoken nature and support for fundamental human rights and for being a member of the minority Baháʼí faith. Nine months later, at the age of 17, she was executed.

Arriba Las Manos

One of the education organizations the Mona Foundation supports is the Arriba Las Manos organization based out of Colombia. Arabia Las Manos allows children to access educational tools like toys, Legos and other things. According to the OECD, 37% of Columbian adults aged 25-64 who attended school up to upper secondary school earned less than half the average earnings in 2019. Hence, education at an early age is so important. Both organizations work to increase access to education.

The focus on education, and girls’ education in particular, is essential, considering that more than 100 million girls are out of school worldwide, according to UNICEF. Access to education can provide girls and women with the skills and knowledge required to rise out of poverty, uplift their families and empower their communities. With girls and women being a marginalized group, it is vital for all humanitarian efforts to keep girls and women at the center of their aid efforts. 

 A report was published in 2020 by the ERIC Institute on Education Sciences on education development in the Huaping Girls High School in Yunnan Province in China. Establishing the High School itself was a way to help the women living there leave one of the poorest areas in the Yunnan Province. By providing girls from that area in extreme poverty a chance to get an easily accessible education, over 1,800 girls from that school attended universities across China, helping them realize their dreams of getting out of poverty and into the world. Giving these struggling women opportunities to thrive and lift themselves out of poverty through education helped them leave one of the poorest regions in China. The School shows that giving access to education to those who otherwise would not have it can lead to success. In this case, women end up at university, thus underscoring the importance of education access to ending poverty.

Women’s Empowerment

The Mona Foundation’s efforts have had a significant impact so far. The organization’s sponsorship programs in 2023 have supported over 2,000 children. Its teacher training programs in 2022 trained over 8,000 teachers and its women’s empowerment program teaches women to think critically about their upbringing and develop skills to help them lift themselves out of poverty. In 2022, over 100,000 girls were empowered through the Mona Foundation. This organization has a significant impact on women and children in need. 

The Mona Foundation has helped many people through its programs and partnerships. Through sponsorships and teaching drills to partnering with organizations that share their values and goals, this organization plays an essential role in the fight against poverty.

– Calder Miller
Photo: Flickr

Broadening Internet Connectivity in Kenya

Internet Connectivity in KenyaKenya’s government is set to begin constructing 100,000km of fiber-optic cable throughout the country as part of a nationwide project to broaden internet connectivity in Kenya. Their approach implements a unique blend of private- and public-sector construction that has caught the eye of many experts in the field.

Internet Access in Kenya

According to the World Bank, less than a third of Kenyans had internet access in 2021. The largest data service provider in Kenya, Safaricom, still remains largely inactive in most rural areas. Internet connectivity in Kenya is strongest in Nairobi.  
 

To address Kenya’s internet deficiency, the government has begun Phase 1 of the multi-phase Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project, a plan to broaden internet connectivity in Kenya. From this year to 2028, 100,000km of fiber-optic cable will be built across all 1450 wards in the country, targeting areas outside major cities. Furthermore, this cable network will be connected to 25,000 public “Digital Village Smart Hubs,” ensuring more citizens living in rural communities can access internet services. 

Rather than working alongside the private sector in a joint national venture The ITC, Kenya’s Ministry of Technology and Communication, has commissioned private-sector companies like Safaricom to construct about half of the cable network itself, while the government oversees construction of the remaining 50%. Though structurally complex, experts believe this approach could speed up construction, lower costs and create over 1.5 million jobs. Additionally, the fiber-optic cable uses quartz fiber, which is lightweight, resilient and loses 100 million times less transmit power than traditional cables. 

Safaricom has already completed 27% of its share of the construction. Moreover, the World Bank has committed nearly $400 million of the $600 million needed to complete the network. 

All Africa Digital Economy Moonshot (Bigger Plans for Africa)

A broader conduit for funding is the joint All Africa Digital Economy Moonshot of the World Bank and African Union. This is a broad goal of bringing Africa online, as well as a digital overhaul of African financial and public services by 2030. 

Phase 2 of the KDEAP will run from 2026–2030 and involve building the infrastructure and digital environments to digitize government services. By 2030, the Kenyan government should be able to offer e-services like 3-minute digital credit lines and digitized fingerprint/photo records of citizens, enabling secure, speedy access to thousands of planned public services. 

Economic Benefits

About a quarter of Kenya’s population currently lives in extreme poverty. Increasing internet connectivity in Kenya could reduce poverty by improving education and expanding job opportunities. Furthermore, many African leaders note that there is a strong desire amongst African countries to strengthen trade between each other, not just internationally. However, the lack of digital payment systems, credit lines, speedy internet connection and other information technologies has hampered efforts to build trade networks on the continent. Hopefully, as more countries are brought online this decade, they will be able to reap the economic benefits of improved trade and production.

The push for greater internet connectivity in Kenya looks to be going well. Hopefully, the government and its private-sector partners will continue to be successful in the future.

– Finneas Sensiba
Photo: Pixabay

Fog Nets Capture Hope

Fog NetsOne of the biggest challenges that many remote and impoverished communities face is access to food and water. Fog nets, in some places, have become the solution to both of those problems. Strung up across hillsides, these nets collect water for crops and people in places like Peru, Morocco, Bolivia, Columbia, Mexico and the South African Kalahari Desert, among others. 

The Nets

Fog nets are made out of a dense mesh material and put in the air between two poles. They collect the microscopic water droplets that are in fog and condense them. They drip down the net and are siphoned into pipes, which all usually congregate into one large container for all of the nets in an area. Depending on the climate and net type, each fog net can catch up to 400 liters of fresh water per day. 

Some nets are less durable than others, and there has been some struggle to find affordable and durable nets. Many have used nets made of grocery packaging, but they break easily in extreme weather and do not collect as much water as more expensive ones. However, there is academic work being done to increase the strength and productivity of fog nets. A net called the Kirigami fog net is a perfect balance between affordable and strong, and produces optimal water from low-hanging fog. 

The Communities

Different communities are able to use this water for different purposes. Many use it for crops and animals. In Lima, Peru, which has dry land but high fog coverage, these nets are used for people who live on the outskirts of the city, who would otherwise need water driven to them in trucks. However, the water that they are able to get from the nets is not fit for human consumption, as Lima is one of the capitals of pollution. Because of that, Lima is one of the cities that uses fog nets to water their crops, but does not drink it. With only slightly over half of Peru’s population having access to clean drinking water as of 2018, this new way of collecting water for crops frees up resources to transport more potable water to communities that need it.

In Morocco, a remote Amazigh community has begun using fog nets. At first, the women were wary of this new method. As it was the women’s responsibility in this community to collect and watch over the water and its distribution, it seemed like the water coming from fog nets might take away some of their power. They also feared that it would eliminate time that was essential to the young Amazigh girls; time for women to talk about ways of life, and teach each other. Despite their misgivings, the wells were far away and drying up. Now, though, they are able to take advantage of their extra time, and they still have the power over water distribution and taking care of the nets. The nets have empowered local women, and the water can now be used in schools and agriculture.

These fog nets are used extensively for drinking water and agriculture, producing many crops in areas across the world that would otherwise be devoid of fruit. One in four people in the world does not have access to clean drinking water, but these nets could help to change that for many communities. In a time when potable water is becoming harder to come by, and weather is becoming more extreme, this adaptation is a hopeful sign for many.

– Ren Pratt
Photo: Unsplash

The Diabetes Epidemic in India

The Diabetes Epidemic in IndiaLike many low-income countries, India has struggled to battle its diabetes epidemic, particularly over the last decade, with some areas in India such as Goa having an alarming prevalence of 26.4% in 2021. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 77 million people are suffering from diabetes. About 12.1 million of these individuals are 65 or younger, which should rise to a figure of 27.5 million by 2045. Therefore, meaning India has the second highest prevalence of diabetes, lagging just behind China. 

As its population continues to grow, the diabetes epidemic across India’s 1.42 billion population remains a concern. With this in mind, the government of India and other organizations have developed initiatives to alleviate the diabetes epidemic in India and create better health outcomes in the country. 

Defining Diabetes

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is defined as a chronic, metabolic disease, which is characterized by higher levels of blood sugar. Diabetes prevents or restricts the pancreas from producing the hormone insulin. 

Insulin maintains the human body’s blood sugar level, which is important for human processes, such as metabolism, to ensure the body has enough energy. The pancreas produces insulin to regulate the amount of sugar, or glucose, the body requires; the body stores the remaining amounts of glucose.  

Without the pancreas producing insulin or becoming resistant to insulin, excess amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream. This can lead to significant damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves over time. 

Diabetes in India

According to a 2017 report by the Indian Council for Medical Research, diabetes prevalence has rocketed by 64% over the last 25 years. The cause for this diabetes epidemic in India may be perhaps due to a lack of awareness surrounding lifestyle choices and optimal diets. 

The increase in diabetes incidence is not only indicative of an aging population, it also represents lifestyle changes that are linked to increased wealth which impacts every age group. Those on higher incomes have more accessibility in terms of incorporating processed food, containing high levels of salt into their diets. 

A 2023 report published by Nature highlights that diabetes prevalence significantly increased in richer areas, such as Goa with a 26.4% prevalence, in comparison to poorer states like Uttar Pradesh with a 4.8% prevalence. 

The article also touches on increased prevalence when going from those without formal education to those with higher levels of education; those from urban areas are more likely to have diabetes than those from rural areas.

An analysis reveals that awareness, treatment and control of diabetes are lower among the impoverished and less educated people in India. For those living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment and health care is essential to manage the disease. Logistics issues, lack of diabetic medications and sub-optimal public health care systems can also contribute to the unknown diabetes ratio in rural areas. 

Those from lower-income backgrounds also have trouble controlling and managing diabetes, due to a lack of awareness surrounding symptoms linked to diabetes, notes leading diabetologist V Mohan in an interview from July 2017.

“Before knowledge and awareness levels improve across India, the disease is likely to spread across these communities,” he said.

Furthermore, the current trends in India show that the diabetes epidemic will continue to grow, however, this is preventable through dietary adaptations and education. Treatments such as insulin and other anti-diabetic medications are costly, therefore it is crucial that emphasis is placed on prevention. 

The Impact of Diabetes Continues Across Generations 

Studies have recognized that Indians have higher insulin resistance due to an inherent genetic predisposition, increased disease incidence and lower body mass index. Despite healthier behaviors in terms of smoking and exercise, a higher prevalence of diabetes is reported among Indians living in the United States due to higher levels of obesity. 

A 20-year longitudinal study based in the United Kingdom notes that diabetes prevalence is three times higher in Indians compared to their European counterparts. Likewise, a high prevalence of diabetes in immigrant Indians was reported in a study investigating diabetes among communities living in Singapore.  

These studies suggest a growing challenge and represent a public health challenge to tackle insulin resistance and the diabetes epidemic in many Indians globally.

Organizations Addressing Diabetes in India

One organization helping alleviate the diabetes epidemic in India is the Nityaasha Foundation. The organization was established in 2013 and focuses on individuals from lower-income backgrounds who are suffering from diabetes. Most families they provide support to are illiterate and daily wage workers. 

The Niytaasha Foundation has a mission to “bestow healthy life by fulfilling the medical needs of the underprivileged through holistic support.” One way the Foundation meets this mission is by providing free medical aid, such as insulin and glucose meters, along with diet and social counseling. They also monitor health on a regular basis as well as aiming to provide educational sessions. 

Currently, the Niytaasha Foundation helps 130 type 1 children, of which 70% of children come from rural areas. 

Diabetes in India is a persistent, ongoing issue impacting many Indians around the globe. Despite there being a need for better public health care systems in India, organizations such as the Niytaasha Foundation aim to improve the health outcomes for many patients suffering from diabetes in India.

– Rupinder Kaur
Photo: Rawpixel

AI for Development? That is What the UK thinks

AI for Development
At the latest meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the U.K. Foreign Secretary announced a partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), to launch a programme called ‘AI for Development’. The goal of the program is to build local skills in AI, initially in Africa, to help combat the causes and symptoms of poverty. The program will launch around the U.K.-hosted AI Safety Summit in November.

A Credible Record

The IDRC has already enjoyed significant success in using AI for Development in Africa. In 2020, it launched the Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D Africa) program in partnership with Sweden’s government agency for development cooperation (Sida). This four-year, $20 million CAD partnership has dedicated itself to a future where Africans across all regions create and use AI to lead healthier and happier lives. The program promotes excellence in applied research and using AI technologies to solve development challenges and improve the livelihoods of those living in poverty. It invests in Africa’s existing science and policy communities to enable them to maximize their research and development opportunities in the AI field. Its track record in this area makes it an excellent partner for the U.K. government’s new project. 

It has already run six calls for funding and invested in several organizations, including the African Centre for Technology Studies, Research ICT Africa and Strathmore University.

One of the main challenges that those below the global poverty line face is poor access to health care. For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), annual out-of-pocket health care expenditure is only $15. 

To respond to this challenge, the IDRC launched ‘Artificial Intelligence for Global Health,’ an $15.5 million CAD investment to strengthen health care systems in the Global South. National health care systems in the Global South can work with Artificial Intelligence to identify threats and formulate effective responses, allowing them to use the limited resources they have more efficiently. 

Meeting Africa’s Needs

As the initial target of the project, Africa is an area where people will feel the benefits of this technology the most. Currently, its 33 million smallholder farms contribute up to 70% of the continent’s food supply. These farms are severely exposed to droughts and shortages. Experiences in Ghana by the nonprofit AGRI-WEB have shown that AI can model these fluctuations, allowing farmers to plan their seasons more effectively. This can reduce shortfalls in both farmers’ incomes and food for local populations, lifting both groups out of poverty. 

Lack of education in Africa is another cause of poverty, which artificial intelligence might be able to help. Currently, there are still countries in sub-Saharan Africa with literacy rates below 50% among their youth population. AI can help to change that. It can help translate educational programs into local languages, removing a key barrier in education. In Tanzania, ed-tech startup Mtabe is using AI to analyze students’ learning styles and progress, to generate personalized learning content that is tailored to each student’s individual needs. 

Looking Ahead

The U.K.’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, hopes to build on achievements of this kind with this new program. While AI is currently enjoying significant growth in high-income countries, Cleverly wants the project to ensure that “the fulfillment of (AI’s) enormous potential is shared globally.” That will start by bringing cutting-edge technologies to the regions of the world where they will have the biggest impact on the lives of people living in poverty.

– Jack Arrowsmith
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Updates on SDG 8 in Lebanon: Employment and Gender Equality

SDG 8 in LebanonLebanon is currently facing a severe crisis. COVID-19 and the Beirut Port Explosion have worsened years of political and economic mismanagement. The country is now in a financial downturn that the World Bank has described as “the worst since the mid-19th Century.”

As a result, many Lebanese and Syrian Refugee women are unable to find enough decent work to meet their basic needs. However, via important interventions such as Cash for Work programs development organizations are collaborating with the government to provide important funds to empower them and secure their futures. 

What Are the Issues in Lebanon?

Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) calls for countries to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” SDG 8 is crucial because through decent work governments can eradicate poverty and help address social issues like gender inequality. However, because of prevailing sociocultural norms that have been worsened by the crisis, many women in Lebanon suffer labor market marginalization and cannot access decent work to support their needs. For example, traditional gender norms dictate that women should be responsible for childcare and domestic work.

Syrian migrants and refugees also experience oppression, as many of them, under the oppressive kafala system, must live with their employers with no legal protections. As a result, they regularly suffer from exploitation and abuse. As indicated by the latest reports on SDG 8 in Lebanon, the unemployment rate among women could rise. This, in turn, puts an increasing number of women at risk of experiencing poverty.

Potential Solutions: Cash for Work

In recent years, the U.N. in partnership with NGOs and national governments has sought to address the work issues in Lebanon by advocating for economic empowerment. Economic empowerment is critical to achieving poverty reduction, gender equality and the country’s sustainable development goals more broadly. As part of economic empowerment, the central tool for making this happen is the idea of Cash for Work (CfW). CfW interventions play a crucial role. They create chances to enhance the economy by giving people short-term job opportunities. Moreover, these programs provide valuable on-the-job learning and skill development, improving one’s chances of finding employment in the future.

In times of crisis, these interventions are also effective at delivering humanitarian aid and supporting local authorities where they provide basic key services such as urban waste management and road maintenance. 

Why Are Cash-For-Work Programs Effective in Helping Women?

Specifically, cash-for-work programs are good at helping marginalized women in Lebanon because well-devised and gender-sensitive CfW interventions can provide a valuable opportunity to overcome the traditional sociocultural barriers to employment that many women face. For example, according to updates on SDG 8 in Lebanon from the Economic Development Policy Unit, many women have been excluded from the labor market because they are expected to take care of domestic tasks like childcare.

However, through flexible CfW programs, women work when it suits them and earn money based on their productive output rather than by a traditional hourly rate. Moreover, aside from providing them with vital entrepreneurial skills and useful business acumen, CfW can also empower them with a stable currency like the US Dollars. This can significantly boost a household’s income due to the devaluation of the Lebanese Pound. 

Efforts From Organizations

In updates on SDG 8 in Lebanon from UNICEF, the restaurant industry shows CfW in effect. UNICEF, in collaboration with the German Development Bank and the Government of Norway, is funding CfW programs in Lebanon. These initiatives are equipping young Lebanese women with professional cooking skills. These programs are essential as they provide these women with valuable skills, enhancing their employability and enabling them to earn income to meet their basic needs. For instance, Iman, a 21-year-old participant, shared that a CfW program at a local restaurant not only granted her access to employment in a traditionally male-dominated field but also equipped her with the knowledge and skills to prepare specialty Lebanese food items like Labneh and aged cheese. Importantly, this experience empowered her, giving her the freedom and knowledge to consider future self-employment or starting her own business.

Looking Ahead

Therefore, while the restoration of Lebanon’s economy looks to be a slow and painful one, updates on SDG 8 in Lebanon suggest there are reasons to be positive. As has been shown, newly formed partnerships between non-governmental organizations and national governments can provide the necessary training and cash benefits to ensure that vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis get the specialist support they require. It is through innovative CfW programs such as those in the Lebanese restaurant industry that women can obtain decent work and help the country progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8.

– Cameron Mason
Photo: Unsplash

3 Ways the NGO SAI Improves Venezuelan Lives

NGO SAIIn Venezuela, many challenges persist, mainly political instability and hyperinflation. These issues have hurt most Venezuelans, resulting in many other challenges. Extreme poverty is common, affecting three out of every four citizens, and if citizens aren’t in extreme poverty, they are on the brink. Many daily struggles Venezuelans face include inadequate health care infrastructure, limited food access and economic instability.

Many products are scarce in the country, including necessities like essential medicines, clean water and affordable food. Approximately 76% of Venezuela’s population lives on $1.90 per day. This economic climate has led an estimated 5 million citizens to relocate.

The South American Initiative (SAI), a non-governmental organization (NGO), is doing much groundwork for the Venezuelan community. SAI’s mission is to help assist the country’s Venezuela’s vulnerable, including mothers, orphans, children, seniors and even dogs.

Addressing Health Care Challenges

SAI’s commitment to the Venezuelan people is to provide adequate health care. Over the past three months, SAI has provided more than 800 citizens with medical care through their free clinics. The services include specialized care in gynecology and obstetrics, EKGs, ultrasounds, nutrition counseling, regular monthly checkups and medicines. SAI’s mission to help the community continues as they have partnered with five orphanages since 2022. The orphanages receive their health care services, too. 

Alleviating Hunger

Unfortunately, many Venezuelans have to deal with hunger, particularly orphans and children. The Venezuelan government’s funding for children and orphans is shrinking due to hyperinflation and reallocation of funds. The NGO SAI has taken the initiative from November 2022 to February 2023 to provide food deliveries to orphanages. In those three months, they delivered 9,850 meals to children in need nationwide. These meals provide the nutritional requirements and assortment to meet daily dietary needs. Like food, SAI has also provided essential medicines and vitamins to boost children’s health. SAI’s adaptability remains vital as they have had challenges from the lockdowns and rising prices to deliver the meals. However, SAI has continued doing meal deliveries despite roadblocks.

Compassion for Canines

SAI’s mission extends not only to humans but also to animals’ lives. In the first quarter of this year, the organization distributed over 4,000 pounds of dog food at their SAI A&G Sanctuary, with an additional 1,000 pounds provided to neighboring shelters. The SAI A&G Sanctuary, in partnership with allied shelters, is on a mission to rescue malnourished, sick and abandoned dogs from the streets of Venezuela. These rescued dogs often arrive with parasites, malnutrition and other severe medical conditions. SAI provides many services for these dogs, such as food, clean water, vaccinations, spaying/neutering and medications. 

Venezuela is a country that needs hope, and the South American Initiative (SAI) provides it. Their commitment to alleviating the suffering of Venezuelans, both human and animal, offers relief for the population.

– Ariana Wauer
Photo: Unsplash