As of 2022, Ethiopia has 123 million citizens, making it Africa’s second most populous country. With a fertility rate of 4.6 children born per woman, projections have indicated its population will have significant growth moving forward. This has exacerbated the problem of hunger and poverty among Ethiopians. One organization, Mary’s Meals, noticed Ethiopia’s need for support and is attempting to reduce hunger in Ethiopia.
Mary’s Meals
Mary’s Meals is a nonprofit organization that Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow founded. It works to provide school meals to impoverished communities around the world. The organization believes that every child should have one nutritious meal daily. Magnus argues that this meal should be available at school. He asks, “How can any part of the human family make progress if its children are without adequate food and access to at least a basic education?”
A meal provides nourishment, enables access to education and provides hope for a different future.
Ethiopian Outreach
Mary’s Meals spread to Ethiopia in 2017. It now supplies meals to 24,320 Ethiopian children in the semi-arid impoverished Tigray region in an effort to reduce hunger in Ethiopia.
It costs $2,794 to feed a child for a year, and people around the world share their resources to help feed these children.
School Feeding Program
Mary’s Meals has been serving Ethiopia since 2017, working with a trusted in-country partner to deliver and support the sourcing, cooking and serving of meals to children in 36 places of education. Children in Tigray recently shared what a meal and education meant to them with Mary’s Meals staff.
Making a Difference
According to reports, Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries, ranking at 32, according to the Global Finance Magazine. An estimated 36% of children under the age of five have stunted growth. Ethiopia also has a very high school dropout rate, with an estimated 66% of children not completing primary school.
Because of these statistics, children attend school where they can receive a meal and an education which can be a changing point and a lift out of poverty. It can also be a bridge to a better tomorrow. Helena Finnegan and the organization believes this is the turning point for making a difference.
She shared that it is crucial to have a partnership to make a school-feeding program possible. Mary’s Meals’ in-country partner delivers the program with the commitment of dozens of local volunteers. The volunteers prepare, cook and serve the meals, ensuring that more than 24,000 children receive a meal. For many children it is the only meal they receive in 24 hours.
Devastation in Ethiopia
Mary’s Meals believes that its ability to continue providing meals throughout a sudden two-year civil war is a very great accomplishment as Tigray has been at the center of the conflict.
Since thousands of people had to leave their homes when this sudden conflict occurred, Mary’s Meals’ trusted in-country partner was able to pivot from feeding children at school to delivering emergency food to more than a dozen centers in Mekelle where people sought refuge.
Visiting Ethiopia
When asked about their hands-on work done in Ethiopia, Helena Finnegan said, “While periodic in-country visits are needed to provide support and check on program status and impact, etc., these visits are undertaken in conjunction with other regional trips to maximize outreach efficiently. During the two-year conflict, it was not possible to travel to Tigray, and communications were sporadic, so this recent visit to reconnect and ensure support was particularly meaningful for everyone.”
Improvement
As Mary’s Meals’ founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow says, “We always want to reach the places where life is most difficult for children, where people are suffering the most…In the many countries in which we serve such as Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, that is made even more challenging due to conflict and climate shocks.”
After 21 years, Mary’s Meals has created and grown a well-organized, efficient and low-cost school feeding model for the students of Ethiopia who are unable to afford meals outside of school.
Looking Ahead
When asked about the future, Helena Finnegan said, “A visit this summer enabled us to review the situation, meet with the partner and communities to determine their needs and the best ways to move forward in re-establishing the feeding programs back in schools/places of education.
We are looking forward to partnering with the local Tigray communities as they work to re-open schools, which will be a process. In many cases, that requires repairing and rebuilding schools and the kitchens where food was prepared and cooked and coordinating the reestablishment of an in-school education program.”
Mary’s Meals will continue to grow and reduce hunger in Ethiopia using the skills it has developed over the years since establishment.
– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Flickr
The Role of Women in the Guatemalan Health Care System
In many families and homes across the globe, people consider women the primary caregivers. In rural Guatemalan communities, where health care facilities are sparse or inaccessible, women’s roles often expand beyond their front doors and into the wider community.
The Guatemalan Health Care System
Guatemala has endured a long history of political and economic unrest in recent centuries. However, since the end of the most recent civil war in 1997, the country has celebrated a vast economic incline with 8% and 4.1% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Furthermore, to date, Guatemala possesses the largest economy in Central America, including the neighboring countries of Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. Despite its seemingly stable economy, the wealth disparity within the country is one of the highest in the Latin American and Caribbean region with more than half the Guatemalan population living below the poverty threshold. Health care in Guatemala reflects this disparity.
There are three primary branches of health care in Guatemala: the public sector, the profitable private sector and the nonprofit private sector. The largest of the three branches is the public sector, which covers 88% of the population. However, facilities within this sector are often lacking vital equipment and infrastructure. This is a result of the lack of funds that the Guatemalan government has allocated towards health care — the lowest amongst Central American countries. As per the Guatemalan constitution, health care in Guatemala is a universal right of every citizen. However, in reality, health care in Guatemala is not readily accessible to everyone, particularly those who reside in rural locations.
Women in Health Care
Indigenous Mayan communities inhabit rural Guatemalan regions, where health care facilities are not only sparse but entirely inaccessible. Despite women being the most active users of health care services across the world, one in three women in these communities has no access to health care services. As a result, many women take up prominent positions to fill this void.
One such role includes presiding over local health committees that bring together women from throughout the community, often for training sessions with international aid charities such as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). These training and educational sessions often involve promoting hygiene practices and knowledge of common diseases. In turn, the women present on these committees go on to spread and impart their knowledge to other women and future generations of women. The IFRC reports that through its support of these local health committees, it has been able to provide approximately 1,250 families in the Quetzaltenango region of Western Guatemala with vital health knowledge.
In exchange for the information and resources that the IFRC provides, local women provide key insights into life within these rural communities that can be passed on to national health care authorities in the hopes of improving local health care facilities.
Conclusion
While health care in Guatemala is ostensibly universal and possesses a prominent public sector, it lacks the resources and infrastructure to reach every citizen. In those cases, it is women who extend their caregiving roles into the community to provide physical health care as well as impart health awareness information. In doing so, they continue to support their community as well as improve the overall state of the health care system in Guatemala.
– Holly Coop
Photo: FreeImages
Industry 4.0: Africa’s Pathway to Poverty Reduction
As the global community steps firmly into the era of Industry 4.0, defined by groundbreaking smart technologies, sophisticated automation and intricate interconnected systems, Africa is poised for transformative change. Historically sidelined during earlier industrial revolutions, Africa now has a golden chance to use the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a driving force to significantly mitigate poverty.
This article delves into how Industry 4.0 stands to revolutionize three pivotal sectors in Africa: agriculture, infrastructure and energy, and entrepreneurship-driven job creation.
1. Agriculture: Embracing Tech for a Greener Tomorrow
Agriculture has long been the linchpin of numerous African economies, comprising more than 60% of its workforce. Yet, this vital sector grapples with a myriad of challenges, from dwindling productivity and the looming specter of climate change to substantial post-harvest losses.
Enter the promise of smart farming. Enriched by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, this approach can help surmount existing barriers. It promises enhanced yields, predictive equipment maintenance and adept resource management. A shining example of this shift is Nigeria’s Hello Tractor, a novel start-up that not only bridges farmers with tractor owners via a mobile application but also harnesses crucial data on soil health, weather patterns and crop outputs. By morphing traditional farming methods into lucrative enterprises, such innovations can elevate food security and amplify income streams across the continent.
2. Infrastructure and Energy: Building a Brighter Future
Economic growth and societal well-being are inextricably tied to robust infrastructure and energy frameworks. Yet, Africa grapples with a yawning infrastructure deficit, demanding an annual infusion of a staggering $130–170 billion. Coupled with this, an alarming 640 million Africans find themselves in the dark, sans electricity.
The solution lies in smart grids that optimize energy distribution, coupled with 3D printing technologies that herald a new era of rapid, cost-efficient infrastructure development. A testament to this is Tanzania’s Zola Electric, which brings solar-powered smart grids to remote communities, offering them a lifeline of reliable and affordable energy. In a similar vein, Kenya’s 3D Homes leverages 3D printing to construct affordable housing within a mere 12 hours, addressing housing deficits while simultaneously spurring local employment.
3. Entrepreneurship and Job Creation: Unlocking Boundless Potential
Entrepreneurial ventures and job opportunities are the cornerstones for uplifting communities out of poverty and fostering inclusive growth. Yet, a multitude of African entrepreneurs are shackled by hurdles, including limited financial avenues, restricted market access and skill gaps.
The digital realm offers a panacea. Platforms like Jumia are democratizing market access, linking local vendors to a sprawling African consumer base, while also offering auxiliary services to bolster these nascent businesses. On the educational front, Andela stands out as a hub, training African software enthusiasts and linking them to international firms, all while cultivating a nurturing community for enhanced learning and collaboration.
Industry 4.0 and the Future of Africa
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is not just another buzzword for Africa — it is a clarion call for a brighter, more prosperous future. Yet, harnessing its full potential demands meticulous investments in digital frameworks, nurturing human capital and fostering innovative ecosystems. Equally paramount is the need for robust governance and regulation, ensuring that the benefits of Industry 4.0 are widespread, ethical and sustainable. With visionary leadership and concerted action, Africa can metamorphose its latent potential into tangible, transformative outcomes.
– Yudi Zhang
Photo: Flickr
Awaaz-e-Sehat: AI Health Care in Pakistan
Mothers and Children at Risk
Even among other developing nations, Pakistan stands out as having alarmingly low pregnancy outcomes. Poverty plays a major role in this situation as a lack of education in underdeveloped areas and poor socioeconomic conditions exacerbate the problem. Low literacy rates in underdeveloped areas contribute to an unawareness of the importance of contraceptives, check-ups, blood testing and nutrition. Women in these areas also have difficulties improving their socioeconomic standing and young, unmarried women often face discrimination due to taboos surrounding contraceptive use.
Adequate health facilities and staff can similarly determine the outcome of pregnancies. A general lack of quality health care services places pregnant women at a disadvantage. Other factors, such as the distance to facilities in rural areas, make dangerous home births a common occurrence. One of the most significant challenges is a lack of medical records. Without documented background information, medical professionals cannot make accurate diagnoses and prepare personalized care plans that factor in lifestyle and socioeconomic components.
Funding from Gates
Earlier this year, philanthropist Bill Gates remarked on artificial intelligence’s ability to improve health care for developing nations. He believes AI can perform everyday tasks, such as filing insurance claims and preparing doctors’ notes, reducing the workload for medical professionals.
Determining the severity of medical conditions through AI-linked devices to lower child mortality rates is another endeavor he hopes to achieve in the future. Gates has already developed an ultrasound tool utilizing AI software to determine whether a pregnancy is high-risk, which has the potential to save the lives of both mothers and children.
On Aug. 9, 2023, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the 48 recipients of its Grand Challenges grant. The $5 million grant gives each recipient $100,000 to fund projects that tackle global health and development issues using AI in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Maryam Mustafa, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan, is one such recipient. Her work is set to pioneer maternal AI health care in Pakistan and decrease the country’s high mortality rates.
AI as a Solution
Dr. Mustafa and her team are developing an AI assistant called Awaaz-e-Sehat, meaning “voice of health.” Health care workers will use the voice-enabled conversational AI assistant on mobile phones to electronically create and file medical records. Developed using a large language model (LLM), Awaaz-e-Sehat utilizes an intuitive user interface, speech recognition and text generation modules. The assistant will cut down paperwork, leaving more time to address patients and create the valuable records that Pakistan’s maternal health care system has been sorely lacking.
The innovation will be tested for its ability to collect data from 500 patients at Shalamar Hospital in Lahore. The AI assistant will initially be distributed to maternal health care workers in rural areas, but Mustafa hopes it will eventually be used in all maternal health facilities in Pakistan. Mustafa says, “It has the potential to significantly improve not just patient treatment but also create datasets to train diagnostic AI tools that tackle maternal health outcomes in Pakistan.”
With the help of Dr. Mustafa’s innovation and Gates’ funding, AI health care in Pakistan could become a lifesaver for expecting mothers. Establishing electronic medical records changes the field of medicine in Pakistan for the better and Awaaz-e-Sehat is the first step toward a bright future.
– Isabella Rothe
Photo: Flickr<
Renewable Energy Stimulates Economic Growth in Cambodia
Background
75% of the population lives in rural areas, but less than 7% can access electricity. Population growth has led to a need for economic growth, which has led to electricity demand increasing tenfold.
Rural areas often experience rolling blackouts contributing to reliable energy issues, along with health care and clean water accessibility in Cambodia. Power and gas prices remain extremely high, and citizens are forced to walk miles to find water or sources of energy to fuel their lives. One-quarter of the population lives off the grid, using their own homes to provide power.
However, technological advances have proven to stimulate economic growth in Cambodia, providing several solutions to the energy crises that provide renewable energy. In 2021, just over half of the country’s energy came from renewable sources, 44.17% from hydropower and 7% from solar and biomass. Renewable energy in Cambodia has increased generation to 372 megawatts by 362 since 2017, to reach 1815 megawatts of solar energy by 2030.
In the past five years, Cambodia has reduced its diesel and fuel oil consumption from 89% to 9%. In 2021, Minister for Mines and Energy, Suy Sem, shut down approvals for new power plants powered by coal. Authorities intend to focus on “making fossil fuels cleaner, developing batteries and energy storage systems and focusing on energy efficiency. Through such measures, authorities aim to target the energy supplies’ security, accessibility, affordability and reliability across Cambodia,” according to Energytracker Asia.
In 2020, access to electricity in rural areas increased to 97%. Areas that have not received electricity are difficult to reach, but solar-powered mini-grids provide a more reliable and affordable source of renewable energy in Cambodia.
Renewable Energy Sources in Cambodia
Solar power is an easy solution for this area because Cambodia is one of the few countries that experiences up to eight full hours of sunlight every day. It is a low-cost solution with the business community embracing it as a way to cut the high electricity costs of the rest of the country.
Wind power may also be a solution, but it is vastly underused. Hypothetically, it could provide 3,665 GWh in the way of total annual electricity capacity.
China was the main source of coal to fuel Cambodia, but with its decision to stop overseas coal exporting, Cambodia has been able to reach more green sources of energy. Major companies such as H&M, Nike, Adidas and Puma have urged the government to find cleaner energy sources as well.
There are more possibilities for employment in the move to a resource-efficient society, creating jobs in environmental services including organic farming and sustainable production. The economic growth for Cambodia in this sector has increased significantly. In 2017, only 0.3% of the population was employed in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning, but only a year later, nearly 5.5% of people were employed in hydropower. This growing sector of renewable energy in Cambodia is an opportunity for job growth for both men and women.
Due to COVID-19, the Gross Domestic Product hovered around 6%, but in 2022 decreased to 4.8%, placing Cambodia back on the path toward economic stability. Exports remain largely the cause of this growth.
Final Thoughts
Capitalizing on renewable energy resources is one of the best ways to stimulate economic growth in Cambodia due to the accessibility of solar, wind and even hydropower because of climate conditions in the area. Growing awareness has paved the way for generating accessibility for rural areas, a crucial resource for farmers. This not only helps lift them out of poverty due to investment opportunities for businesses, but it also provides possibilities for future generations to take advantage of natural resources to create a cleaner environment for all.
– Jennifer Arias
Photo: Unsplash
The Importance of Early Childhood Development in Afghanistan
Background
Afghanistan has faced sustained armed conflict since the 1970s. In their profile on Afghanistan, Encyclopædia Britannica explains how this Middle Eastern country “became a pawn” in political conflicts and disagreements over market domination. What began with Soviet occupation 40 years ago resulted in warfare, the rise of multiple warlords, and various changes in the regime.
Britannica explains that one notable group that rose to power was the Taliban, which fell in 2001 “in the wake of a sustained U.S.-dominated military campaign.” What followed was “a period of transitional leadership” and further uncertain times. These decades of conflict between opposing powers, changes in regime and general civil unrest have left Afghanistan’s public services with a lack of stability.
UNICEF says the likelihood of receiving an education in Afghanistan is a “distant dream.”
In their profile on the Middle Eastern country, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported that Afghanistan’s school system “has been devastated” by this prolonged armed conflict. The “socio-political and humanitarian” struggles that plague Afghanistan have strained its infrastructure. As a result, these issues have severely impacted the quality of early education in Afghanistan.
UNICEF says these issues impact school enrollment rates from all angles. Not only does ceaseless unrest in the country “critically affect” its unstable school system, but safety factors associated with the conflict “raise parental concerns,” and ultimately compel parents not to send their children to school. Now, UNICEF estimates that around 3.7 million school-age children are not receiving an education.
The Afghan Literacy Foundation
The Afghan Literacy Foundation is working to bolster early childhood development in Afghanistan. According to its website, Adita Arya founded The Afghan Literacy Foundation (AFL) in 2009 with a partner. Arya says she was born in Afghanistan and remembers seeing just how much her classmates went without in her early education. She says she founded the AFL with “the idea of wanting to give back” and feels like she owes it to those who did not have the same opportunities. Arya wants Afghanistan to “rebuild from within” and believes providing the country with “the tools to be able to do that through literacy” is essential.
Now, The AFL’s chief purpose is encouraging children to remain in school. It accomplishes this mission by working to end child labor. The foundation provides much-needed donations to students’ families to reduce children’s need to work instead of school.
The foundation is now achieving its goals in real-time. The AFL’s website also details its use of sponsor donations for education resource campaigns in Afghanistan. With these, The AFL purchases supplies for students, builds classrooms and upgrades schools’ technology. The AFL announced that in 2022, $111,000 in relief funds were dispersed, and 10,000 families in Afghanistan received aid through its efforts.
Additionally, the foundation’s mission statement says that providing an education to a child “not only brightens their own future, but it also serves as a beacon of hope and support for their families and communities.” This philosophy rings true as a testimonial on their website from ALF-sponsored student Suhelia Mohammad Noor explains what getting her education has meant for her. Noor says she is “grateful” for the opportunity the AFL’s support has given her to become a nurse. She ends her testimonial with three powerful words: “I am helping.”
Final Thoughts on Early Childhood Development in Afghanistan
Despite the challenges faced, such as limited resources and cultural barriers, initiatives like The Afghan Literacy Foundation are making significant strides in expanding access to quality early education for Afghan children. Through their dedicated efforts, including establishing schools, training teachers and providing educational resources, The Afghan Literacy Foundation is helping to break the cycle of illiteracy and empower the youngest generation with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.
– Rosemary Wright
Photo: Flickr
Daariz: The App Improving Literacy in Somalia
Education in Somalia
Access to education in Somalia is a significant issue, as is the length of time individuals stay in school. The average Somali child is estimated to remain in school for 1.72 years, which is much lower than the 7.7 years that the rest of individuals in Africa spend in school. In addition to this, according to the Somalian Ministry of Education in 2022, the gross enrollment rate is 24% in primary schools among students aged 6-13. Overall, the number of children in Somalia getting a good education and staying in school is low. This is an essential reason why Daariz has the potential to be a big help to anyone in Somalia who wants to get a start-back-up in education.
The Daariz App
Daariz is an app created by the Sahamiye Foundation, which supports literacy and education in Africa. The organization was founded in 2021 by Ismail Ahmed to provide more accessible education to African people whose lives have been tarnished by war and famine. The organization operates out of London and Hargeisa. The organization’s main goal is to use technology to increase access to education in Africa in what is known as the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia). Giving people essential skills like reading and writing will help them break the cycles of poverty so prevalent in Somalia and other parts of Africa.
Access to education gives people better reading and literacy skills. People then use those skills to understand basic instructions on any job or task, like operating machinery or making contracts. Reading is a necessary skill to function in daily life. Without reading skills, opportunities to gain employment drastically decrease. Daariz’s work to increase Somalia’s literacy is crucial for these people.
Daariz uses games and puzzles to make learning to read and write more enjoyable for those who use the app. Daariz also has awards and badges that users can achieve through repeated app use. The main goal of Daariz is to make learning accessible to as many people as possible. That is why they include several features that make the app more operable. Having an easy-to-operate app that is also fun is key to increasing literacy in Somalia through Daariz.
One such feature would be that Daariz does not need an internet connection. A user truly could learn anywhere and anytime. This is especially useful for a nation where, as of 2021, only 14.5 % of the population used the Internet. Lack of access to educational tools that require an internet connection is not an option for people struggling with literacy in Somalia. Another feature of Daariz that makes it easy to operate is its audio instruction feature. This ease of access is significant because it allows those who cannot read to follow the instructions for the games auditorily. Increased accessibility to learning is a game-changer when lifting people out of poverty and increasing literacy in Somalia.
Results of the App
According to the Sahamiye Foundation’s website, users can reduce the time it takes to achieve success in literacy in a fraction of the time it would take through conventional means. In addition, users can read an average of just under 90 words a minute with almost complete accuracy. The results speak for themselves. Daariz has a real impact on real people. People can now realize that literacy in Somalia is growing.
Daariz is a creation that has impacted many people’s lives and driven up literacy in Somalia. People can now learn to read and write without an internet connection, without worrying about whether they can comprehend the instructions given to them, which is easy to operate. As awareness of this app grows, so will the lives that are changed positively through it. Many people are now better equipped to lift themselves out of poverty because they better understand how to read and write, thanks to Daariz.
– Calder Miller
Photo: Flickr
Mary’s Meals is Reducing Hunger in Ethiopia
Mary’s Meals
Mary’s Meals is a nonprofit organization that Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow founded. It works to provide school meals to impoverished communities around the world. The organization believes that every child should have one nutritious meal daily. Magnus argues that this meal should be available at school. He asks, “How can any part of the human family make progress if its children are without adequate food and access to at least a basic education?”
A meal provides nourishment, enables access to education and provides hope for a different future.
Ethiopian Outreach
Mary’s Meals spread to Ethiopia in 2017. It now supplies meals to 24,320 Ethiopian children in the semi-arid impoverished Tigray region in an effort to reduce hunger in Ethiopia.
It costs $2,794 to feed a child for a year, and people around the world share their resources to help feed these children.
School Feeding Program
Mary’s Meals has been serving Ethiopia since 2017, working with a trusted in-country partner to deliver and support the sourcing, cooking and serving of meals to children in 36 places of education. Children in Tigray recently shared what a meal and education meant to them with Mary’s Meals staff.
Making a Difference
According to reports, Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries, ranking at 32, according to the Global Finance Magazine. An estimated 36% of children under the age of five have stunted growth. Ethiopia also has a very high school dropout rate, with an estimated 66% of children not completing primary school.
Because of these statistics, children attend school where they can receive a meal and an education which can be a changing point and a lift out of poverty. It can also be a bridge to a better tomorrow. Helena Finnegan and the organization believes this is the turning point for making a difference.
She shared that it is crucial to have a partnership to make a school-feeding program possible. Mary’s Meals’ in-country partner delivers the program with the commitment of dozens of local volunteers. The volunteers prepare, cook and serve the meals, ensuring that more than 24,000 children receive a meal. For many children it is the only meal they receive in 24 hours.
Devastation in Ethiopia
Mary’s Meals believes that its ability to continue providing meals throughout a sudden two-year civil war is a very great accomplishment as Tigray has been at the center of the conflict.
Since thousands of people had to leave their homes when this sudden conflict occurred, Mary’s Meals’ trusted in-country partner was able to pivot from feeding children at school to delivering emergency food to more than a dozen centers in Mekelle where people sought refuge.
Visiting Ethiopia
When asked about their hands-on work done in Ethiopia, Helena Finnegan said, “While periodic in-country visits are needed to provide support and check on program status and impact, etc., these visits are undertaken in conjunction with other regional trips to maximize outreach efficiently. During the two-year conflict, it was not possible to travel to Tigray, and communications were sporadic, so this recent visit to reconnect and ensure support was particularly meaningful for everyone.”
Improvement
As Mary’s Meals’ founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow says, “We always want to reach the places where life is most difficult for children, where people are suffering the most…In the many countries in which we serve such as Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, that is made even more challenging due to conflict and climate shocks.”
After 21 years, Mary’s Meals has created and grown a well-organized, efficient and low-cost school feeding model for the students of Ethiopia who are unable to afford meals outside of school.
Looking Ahead
When asked about the future, Helena Finnegan said, “A visit this summer enabled us to review the situation, meet with the partner and communities to determine their needs and the best ways to move forward in re-establishing the feeding programs back in schools/places of education.
We are looking forward to partnering with the local Tigray communities as they work to re-open schools, which will be a process. In many cases, that requires repairing and rebuilding schools and the kitchens where food was prepared and cooked and coordinating the reestablishment of an in-school education program.”
Mary’s Meals will continue to grow and reduce hunger in Ethiopia using the skills it has developed over the years since establishment.
– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Flickr
Noma: The Disease That Should Not Exist
What is Noma?
Noma, also known as gangrenous stomatitis, is a rapidly progressive bacterial disease that affects the mouth, nose and lips. It is most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa and mainly affects children, with most cases occurring under the age of 10. If detected at an early stage, noma is easily treatable through basic hygiene, antibiotics and nutrition.
The Symptoms
The word noma stems from the Greek word “nomē,” meaning “to devour,” and looking at the disease, it is easy to see why. The disease starts in the mouth, with gingivitis developing in the gums over one to two days. In three to four days, ulcers develop within the mouth, along with swelling in the gums and cheeks. These ulcers spread rapidly and before the end of the week, the disease begins to eat away at the soft tissue within the mouth and cheeks, leading to a hole developing in the face. The infection continues to spread over the following days and gangrene sets in in the affected areas, causing devastating damage to facial tissue and bones. Depending on where the infection began, the jaw, lips, cheeks, nose or eyes are quickly destroyed, leading to severe disfigurement and life-threatening impairments.
The Causes
The exact cause of noma is unknown, but certain factors can influence the development of it within patients.
The Fight Against Noma, a Disease That Should Not Exist
Noma, a disease that should not exist, has left a devastating mark on many children and adults in developing countries, both mentally and physically. There are, however, those out there who are fighting to lessen the impact of the disease. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), supports one of the world’s only dedicated noma hospitals. Based in Sokoto in Northern Nigeria, the hospital is a haven for victims and survivors of noma.
Founded in 2009, the hospital offers four main components of care. They offer intensive care, such as wound treatment, medication and oral hygiene. It also offers continuous care, such as surgical interventions and post-operative care for survivors. Finally, it offers integrated hospital and community-based services that provide support for patients and lessen the stigma that often comes with the facial disfigurements left by the disease. The hospital admitted nearly 500 patients between 2014 and 2019 and continues to help those in need today.
Through continuous efforts, hopefully, noma will disappear completely. Until then, MSF is making a significant difference.
– Jodie Donovan
Photo: Unsplash
How Foreign Aid in Afghanistan Helps
On October 7, 2023, a powerful earthquake hit the grounds of Afghanistan and wreaked havoc. Violent shakes hit the city of Herat three times. More than 2,000 people lost their lives due to the natural disaster. The quakes reduced whole villages to rubble, burying families and leaving many homeless as winter arrived. After the earthquakes in Afghanistan, global aid groups and rescue teams have issued warnings. With the recent seismic activity, an escalating humanitarian crisis amid war and a collapsed economy requires attention. What is even more concerning is the human recovery aspect. The earthquakes reduced entire villages to debris, and inadequate funding, coupled with limited global awareness, hampers foreign aid efforts in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan in Relentless Crisis
On August 15, 2021, Taliban rule looked over Afghanistan as NATO and U.S. forces left the country. This year, the country is entitled to no growth territory by the World Bank. The private sector appears weak, with no opportunity for growth. The industrial and agricultural sectors also saw sharp decreases in GDP. This decline is due to harmful gender policies that have shut down women-run businesses and weather conditions with no resources for the farmers to adjust.
Following the Taliban takeover, civilian and security aid abruptly ceased, amounting to more than $8 billion annually, roughly 40% of Afghanistan’s GDP. This sudden economic shock, compounded by sanctions, the freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves and the reluctance of foreign banks to engage with the country, placed an unparalleled strain on Afghanistan’s economy. Afghanistan’s GDP is a challenge, but estimates suggest a roughly 20% decrease in the aftermath of August 2021. Hunger and hardship are continuously increasing in Afghanistan.
How the Earthquake Has Worsened the Condition
The reduction in Afghanistan’s foreign aid after the occupation of the Taliban for two years and much international assistance has also stopped. This change had a dire effect on the country’s health care system. The consecutive earthquakes in Afghanistan have made this problem more grave.
Residents report that after the earthquakes in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters barricaded the streets leading to the hospital, preventing anyone from seeking medical assistance and subjecting those searching for loved ones to beatings with pipes and guns.
Within the hospital, survivors from homes reduced to rubble now occupy beds in the courtyard or sit on the floors. Fatigued health care personnel are making valiant efforts, but supplies are dwindling, and the oxygen reserves are nearly depleted. Patients endure agonizing waits of hours or even days for critical medical care without access to pain relief. In this case, Afghans desperately need foreign aid to survive.
Foreign Aid in Afghanistan Aids in Crisis
The first to respond and send immediate help after the earthquakes in Afghanistan was The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). Additionally, the IFRC and another partner Red Cross Red Crescent Societies also came. They worked rapidly and provided emergency medical aid, along with non-food supplies. The survivors received temporary shelter while rescue and search operations in the affected provinces also occurred.
The United States, via USAID, is offering $12 million in immediate humanitarian aid. Seeing the devastation, along with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aid was supplied to earthquake-affected individuals with emergency shelter kits, cooking and water collection materials, blankets, solar lamps, clothing and household items. Considering the possibility of disease outbreaks like watery diarrhea, IOM is also working on rehabilitating water sources in villages with damaged infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water access.
Despite the challenges that Afghanistan has faced, these foreign aid efforts in Afghanistan are making a considerable impact. Through the work of The Afghan Red Crescent Society, USAID, IOM and more, quality of life for Afghanis should only improve.
– Asra Mairaj
Photo: Flickr
Committee for Women’s Rights in Monaco Integrates App-Elles
With one-third of its residents being millionaires and a lack of income tax, the principality does not track poverty rates. Economists state that due to the high wealth of Monaco’s residents, poverty is nonexistent. But that does not mean every citizen of Monaco is ultra-wealthy. Monaco, with a population of approximately 9,000 native Monégasques and limited housing options in its small 1-square-mile area, faces unique circumstances. The nonexistent poverty rates have led the government to prioritize social programs for the benefit of its residents.
The Committee for The Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights
The Sovereign Order of Monaco created the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights on October 25, 2018. The goal of this committee is to promote gender equality and combat all forms of violence against women. The Principality of Monaco and its Prince, Albert II, consider women’s rights an important issue. It is a core priority since Monaco accepted the United Nations and the Council of Europe’s conventions on women’s rights and protection.
Female Abuse
The Committee for Women’s Rights in Monaco conducts an annual report with Monaco Statistics to track key data on the abuse of women in the principality. In January, the report’s findings showed that there was an increase in abuse against women. The number rose from 23 in 2021 to 33 in 2022 and approximately half were cases of physical abuse. While there hasn’t been a significant increase in the number of cases, this data aims to emphasize the importance of protecting women’s rights in Monaco. It underscores the need to take necessary measures to address and prevent domestic violence.
While the laws are helpful in criminalizing domestic violence within the courts, the Committee wanted a resource for victims and witnesses to use. The Committee partnered with the Resonantes Association to integrate “App-Elles” into Monaco’s emergency response network.
App-Elles
“App-Elles” was originally launched in 2015 to bring all of France’s resources and emergency contacts into one place for easy access. The app is currently available in 15 countries and has multiple languages available. This integration of the app into Monaco’s emergency landmark represents a significant step in Monaco’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and ensuring their safety within the principality.
This app aims to help victims and witnesses of domestic violence call for assistance when they require it. The app gives users quick access to all of Monaco’s emergency contact numbers and resources. Additionally, the app can quickly alert trusted relatives and geolocate users during a crisis.
Other services that the app provides include sound recordings starting from the moment the user triggers an SOS alarm. The recordings and geolocation tags are stored on a secure server for 15 days. If users want to keep these recordings, then they must download the files. These recordings are admissible as evidence in Monaco’s courts.
On September 26 and 27, the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights in Monaco and the Resonantes Association conducted workshops to introduce the app to the residents and educate them on how to use the application to its full potential.
Looking Ahead
“App-Elles” represents one of Monaco’s many initiatives in line with its commitment to advancing women’s rights and addressing violence against women. Monaco’s legal framework has been structured to criminalize acts of violence against women. The incorporation of “App-Elles” into Monaco’s emergency network offers crucial resources and evidence for individuals facing domestic violence during moments of crisis. Should this application prove effective in the coming years, it could serve as a model for other countries seeking to integrate similar tools into their emergency networks across Europe and, potentially, on a global scale.
– Komalpreet Kaur
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