Though India’s overall poverty rate was 14.96% in 2019–21, in the state of Kerala, the poverty rate was only 0.55% in the same period. Although it has a low per-capita income like other developing states, Kerala has managed to maintain a quality of life comparable to developed nations, as indicated by high literacy, few infant mortalities and a low birth rate. This has been achieved thanks to the Kerala government’s unique approach to poverty alleviation, which scholars have termed “the Kerala model of development.” Here is some information about Kerala’s revolutionary approach to poverty alleviation.
Successes of Kerala’s Revolutionary Approach to Poverty Alleviation
Specifically, the Kerala model emphasizes local wealth redistribution programs amidst a political culture of fiery anti-poverty activism. Since 2016, the Left Democratic Front has led the state. Consider its Five-Year Plan 2022–2027, which emphasizes spending on housing, job creation and other progressive policies to tackle remaining poverty. One recent policy has relieved all the living expenses (health care, shelter, food, welfare) of the 64,000 remaining impoverished families in Kerala. The plan emphasizes “health, education, housing, social welfare, social justice, and gender justice.”
It is clear from this that the Left government prioritizes the needs and civil liberties of lower-income and marginalized people, thus integrating them more fully into the economy and creating productive forces. Some scholars have argued that Kerala’s success testifies to the effectiveness of Keynesianism, a school of economic thought that asserts that government intervention in the economy (via social programs, regulations, etc.) spurs growth.
During the COVID-19 crisis, international organizations and media lauded Kerala for its vigilance in mitigating COVID-induced hardships. Initiatives included tracking and tracing, increased pension benefits, subsidized loans and food rations. In May 2020, the Kerala government disbursed seven months’ worth of pension to 4.4 million households. In times of economic crisis, the people need bread; and the state of Kerala needs no reminder. It gave 15 kg of free grain to all families regardless of income status. Every month, it distributed food kits with essential staples to people eligible for rations.
Kerala’s Support for Agrarian Workers
Whereas the Kerala model emphasizes wealth redistribution and welfare programs, other states have undergone a shift toward deregulation and neoliberalism since economic reforms in 1991. The changing economic situation has negatively impacted the livelihoods of India’s small farmers, who comprise 60% of the subcontinent’s population. In order to corporatize the agricultural sector, the government has increased trade liberalization, cut down agricultural subsidies for small farmers, and — more recently under Prime Minister Modi — withdrawn credit banknotes that favored local markets. As a result, prices and small farmers’ incomes have plummeted.
Labor laws have also changed. Striking has lost its efficacy due to a 2020 law requiring 60-day notices; working duration has risen from 8 to 12 hours per day in Karnataka, which will perhaps set a precedent for other states; and unionization has become more difficult. India’s farm-dependent population has fallen from 59% in 1991 to 45.6% in 2019–20.
The crisis is so severe that 30 farm-dependent people commit suicide daily, in many cases due to unpayable debts. Ever since the Indian agrarian crisis began, Kerala has been at the forefront of the fight to protect small farmers’ interests. In 1999, multiple groups convened in Kerala, including a farmers’ union and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), to form the Brahmagiri Development Society (BDS). The BDS provides livestock farms, veterinary services and mortality insurance for farmers in Kerala and neighboring states. By bypassing corporate intermediaries, it offers livestock at fair prices and thus increases farmers’ incomes.
Even in the midst of the Indian agrarian crisis, Kerala’s social democratic style of development offers its farmers the ability to live healthy, plentiful lives. Through the BDS, Kerala has consistently challenged the Indian State’s attempted corporatization of the agricultural sector.
Lessons from Kerala’s Revolutionary Approach
From 2020 to 2021, three unpopular bills passed by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prompted a national farmers’ protest and strike that garnered 250 million people, breaking the record for the largest demonstration in human history. The bills effectively allow big agribusinesses to hoard produce and decide prices.
It is in such a context that Kerala’s social policies inspire the new generation, who are increasingly understanding the power held by the masses. But Kerala’s current leaders know that they must maintain a balance between social welfare and infrastructure. They wish to avoid the three traps of high welfare/low growth; low welfare/high growth, as shown by the Gujarat Model; and low welfare/low growth, as shown by the Uttar Pradesh Model. Since 1999, the Kerala Infrastructure Fund Board has invested $1.85 billion USD into various sectors, including IT development and electricity. The Left government demonstrates to India that high welfare and high growth are not mutually exclusive.
Kerala’s Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac, a Central Committee member of the CPI(M), said in an interview with The Tricontinental that Kerala plans to build the “Kerala-Fibre Optic Network.” This will be “a superhighway of internet owned by the state” that will ensure free Internet for every Keralan citizen.
“We are not a socialist country”, says Isaac, “we are part of Indian capitalism. But in this part, within the limitations, we shall design a society that will inspire all progressive-thinking people in India. Yes, it is possible to build something different. That’s the idea of Kerala.”
– Eric Huang
Photo: Pixabay
Kerala’s Revolutionary Approach to Poverty Alleviation
Though India’s overall poverty rate was 14.96% in 2019–21, in the state of Kerala, the poverty rate was only 0.55% in the same period. Although it has a low per-capita income like other developing states, Kerala has managed to maintain a quality of life comparable to developed nations, as indicated by high literacy, few infant mortalities and a low birth rate. This has been achieved thanks to the Kerala government’s unique approach to poverty alleviation, which scholars have termed “the Kerala model of development.” Here is some information about Kerala’s revolutionary approach to poverty alleviation.
Successes of Kerala’s Revolutionary Approach to Poverty Alleviation
Specifically, the Kerala model emphasizes local wealth redistribution programs amidst a political culture of fiery anti-poverty activism. Since 2016, the Left Democratic Front has led the state. Consider its Five-Year Plan 2022–2027, which emphasizes spending on housing, job creation and other progressive policies to tackle remaining poverty. One recent policy has relieved all the living expenses (health care, shelter, food, welfare) of the 64,000 remaining impoverished families in Kerala. The plan emphasizes “health, education, housing, social welfare, social justice, and gender justice.”
It is clear from this that the Left government prioritizes the needs and civil liberties of lower-income and marginalized people, thus integrating them more fully into the economy and creating productive forces. Some scholars have argued that Kerala’s success testifies to the effectiveness of Keynesianism, a school of economic thought that asserts that government intervention in the economy (via social programs, regulations, etc.) spurs growth.
During the COVID-19 crisis, international organizations and media lauded Kerala for its vigilance in mitigating COVID-induced hardships. Initiatives included tracking and tracing, increased pension benefits, subsidized loans and food rations. In May 2020, the Kerala government disbursed seven months’ worth of pension to 4.4 million households. In times of economic crisis, the people need bread; and the state of Kerala needs no reminder. It gave 15 kg of free grain to all families regardless of income status. Every month, it distributed food kits with essential staples to people eligible for rations.
Kerala’s Support for Agrarian Workers
Whereas the Kerala model emphasizes wealth redistribution and welfare programs, other states have undergone a shift toward deregulation and neoliberalism since economic reforms in 1991. The changing economic situation has negatively impacted the livelihoods of India’s small farmers, who comprise 60% of the subcontinent’s population. In order to corporatize the agricultural sector, the government has increased trade liberalization, cut down agricultural subsidies for small farmers, and — more recently under Prime Minister Modi — withdrawn credit banknotes that favored local markets. As a result, prices and small farmers’ incomes have plummeted.
Labor laws have also changed. Striking has lost its efficacy due to a 2020 law requiring 60-day notices; working duration has risen from 8 to 12 hours per day in Karnataka, which will perhaps set a precedent for other states; and unionization has become more difficult. India’s farm-dependent population has fallen from 59% in 1991 to 45.6% in 2019–20.
The crisis is so severe that 30 farm-dependent people commit suicide daily, in many cases due to unpayable debts. Ever since the Indian agrarian crisis began, Kerala has been at the forefront of the fight to protect small farmers’ interests. In 1999, multiple groups convened in Kerala, including a farmers’ union and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), to form the Brahmagiri Development Society (BDS). The BDS provides livestock farms, veterinary services and mortality insurance for farmers in Kerala and neighboring states. By bypassing corporate intermediaries, it offers livestock at fair prices and thus increases farmers’ incomes.
Even in the midst of the Indian agrarian crisis, Kerala’s social democratic style of development offers its farmers the ability to live healthy, plentiful lives. Through the BDS, Kerala has consistently challenged the Indian State’s attempted corporatization of the agricultural sector.
Lessons from Kerala’s Revolutionary Approach
From 2020 to 2021, three unpopular bills passed by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prompted a national farmers’ protest and strike that garnered 250 million people, breaking the record for the largest demonstration in human history. The bills effectively allow big agribusinesses to hoard produce and decide prices.
It is in such a context that Kerala’s social policies inspire the new generation, who are increasingly understanding the power held by the masses. But Kerala’s current leaders know that they must maintain a balance between social welfare and infrastructure. They wish to avoid the three traps of high welfare/low growth; low welfare/high growth, as shown by the Gujarat Model; and low welfare/low growth, as shown by the Uttar Pradesh Model. Since 1999, the Kerala Infrastructure Fund Board has invested $1.85 billion USD into various sectors, including IT development and electricity. The Left government demonstrates to India that high welfare and high growth are not mutually exclusive.
Kerala’s Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac, a Central Committee member of the CPI(M), said in an interview with The Tricontinental that Kerala plans to build the “Kerala-Fibre Optic Network.” This will be “a superhighway of internet owned by the state” that will ensure free Internet for every Keralan citizen.
“We are not a socialist country”, says Isaac, “we are part of Indian capitalism. But in this part, within the limitations, we shall design a society that will inspire all progressive-thinking people in India. Yes, it is possible to build something different. That’s the idea of Kerala.”
– Eric Huang
Photo: Pixabay
Water Projects in the DRC
That amount of water accounts for over half of Africa’s freshwater reserves and should be more than enough for a country topping 110 million people. The truth of the matter is that deteriorating infrastructure and lack of sufficient facilities leave almost 54% of people experiencing a lack of access to “basic water services,” according to World Vision. Several organizations are undertaking water projects in the DRC to ensure clean and safe water access for all.
Fight for the Forgotten
The DRC is home to three indigenous Pygmy peoples — the Mbuti, the Baka and the Batwa. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs says these groups are “widely acknowledged as the first inhabitants” in the region. Yet, it wasn’t until November of 2022 that the DRC government put safeguards and protections for indigenous rights in place.
Indigenous land rights now have lawful protection after decades of Indigenous communities being forced out of their homelands in favor of logging activities, and some land has even been seized for conservation. All these land infringements were carried out without compensating the displaced Indigenous communities.
Justin Wren is a former professional cage fighter who, through his foundation Fight for the Forgotten, has dedicated his life to supporting Indigenous Pygmy people. Wren started the foundation after taking a “life-changing trip” to the DRC. The foundation uses donations to provide “clean water, education and empowerment” to all Pygmy communities. Specifically, Fight for the Forgotten has built over 80 wells and purchased 3,050 acres of land that is now owned and cultivated by the Pygmy people and protected by the government. The organization’s efforts have benefited more than 52,000 people.
Other efforts include installing solar lighting and a tree replanting program of more than 12,000 trees. Well-building in the DRC has been crucial, but the education on sustainable methods will hopefully last for decades.
Global Effort
Improving water access and providing sufficient facilities would improve hygiene, improving health in the DRC. Improved hygiene would alleviate outbreaks of bacterial diseases like cholera; simply being able to wash one’s hands with soap consistently would go a long way.
Goma houses about 2 million people and is assumed to be well-situated due to its eastern position and proximity to Lake Kivu. The issue is that the water from the lake is not safe to drink. The International Committee of The Red Cross is currently implementing the Goma West Resilient Water Project, which aims to provide clean water to over 330,000 people by 2026. Reservoirs and water treatment plans with long-term sustainability goals are in the works.
Join For Water is an NGO working in multiple provinces in the country, designing and constructing drinking water systems, including wells. It produces ecological toilets that separately collect feces to be reused as fertilizer, improving sanitization services and supporting agriculture. Some aid comes into the country through cash or funding for projects, but Join For Water stays in the country and ensures the infrastructure it has put together is maintained.
There is no shortage of fresh water in the DRC, and it is up to the government, with the help of partners and organizations, to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to allow access to clean water for all.
– Benett Crim
Photo: Pixabay
The Constellation Coalition: Empowering Women Globally
According to the U.N., the poverty rate of women in developing nations is on track to increase significantly in the next seven years. Their numbers will increase from 388 million to almost 450 million by 2030. That is also nearly 20 million more than the projected number of men in poverty by 2030.
There may seem to be little hope in curbing this increase in women’s poverty. However, organizations are working to address this exact issue. One organization, in particular, would be The Constellation Coalition. The Constellation Coalition is based out of Ohio in the United States. Founder Ashley Johnson was inspired to create this organization after the birth of her son and after considering what an impoverished mother could do if she had difficulty providing food for her newborn. In 2020, The Constellation Coalition launched but was quickly forced to scale back operations due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Do They Do?
The goals of The Constellation Coalition are to connect and empower women. They do this by sponsoring a female entrepreneur in a developing nation and giving her what she needs to “lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty,” according to their website. Providing sponsors is not the only strategy that they employ. The organization has smaller goals that tie into entrepreneurship as a whole.
Vocational Skills
One strategy the organization uses in addition to entrepreneurship is teaching women vocational skills. One of the essential aspects of entrepreneurship is having specific skills that a person can use in a business setting. The Constellation Coalition teaches women in developing nations proper vocational skills based on their desired fields. They can design their own business and help lift their communities out of poverty. For example, being adept at fixing electronics would serve someone who wants to start their own technology repair business.
Building Relationships
The crux of what The Constellation Coalition stands for is building relationships. They believe that building relationships among women can help change the world. Whether through entrepreneurship or any other venue, they know that the key to fighting poverty in developing nations is to work together to achieve goals.
The Effect of the Organization and Women’s Entrepreneurship on Poverty
Women who pursue opportunities in entrepreneurship have an unquestionably positive effect on poverty as a whole. Studies from the U.S. State Department show that having economically successful women in an area translates to protecting natural resources and increasing the quality of health and education. That is what The Constellation Coalition is aiming to do. In 2021, they provided over 15 entrepreneurs in developing nations with the sponsorship they needed to help alleviate the effects of poverty on their communities while also collecting over $10,000 in sponsorship funds. In total, they raised close to $20,000 for various costs. In 2022, The Constellation Coalition provided scholarships to 15 women from Guatemala for an entrepreneurship class.
It is no secret that women are affected by poverty at a higher rate than men are. The numbers show that. The Constellation Coalition aims to curb that trend and give women opportunities through business to thrive and support their communities. Their impact may not necessarily be as far-reaching as that of other organizations, but that does not mean they are not making a difference.
– Calder Miller
Photo: Flickr
Charities in Italy Stepping Up Post Pandemic
COVID-19 first arrived in Europe in Italy, with the first case confirmed on February 21, 2020. Since then, the country has been one of the hardest hit by the virus, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring almost 26 million confirmed cases and 190,782 deaths between January 2020 and June 2023.
COVID-19’s Effect on the Italian Economy
The Italian government took measures to cap the spread of COVID-19. Lockdowns, the closure of non-essential businesses and social distancing changed the shape of Italians’ daily lives. Heavy bureaucracy and inefficiencies in the public sector meant significant delays in government payments to families and businesses worst affected. Further, public sector resources were stretched. Consequently, many businesses closed their doors for good, and have not since reopened. The pandemic triggered the worst recession since World War II, which saw Italy’s economy shrink by 8.9% in 2020, and with it an increase of families in absolute poverty.
Today, Italy is still recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic. Approximately 5.6 million people experienced food insecurity in 2021, meaning they could not afford essential goods and services needed to meet the accepted minimum standard of living. This is the worst rate of absolute poverty since 2005, with 5.6 million, or 9.4% of the population, experiencing absolute poverty. Before the pandemic, in 2019, the figure stood at 7.7% of the population. Moreover, 22% of the Italian population is at risk of food poverty.
Further, a study from Eurostat shows the extent of poverty in Italy compared to other EU countries. Eurostat defines poverty and social exclusion as those who are either at risk of poverty (determined by disposable income) and/or face severe social and material deprivation (determined by their ability to afford a set minimum of items or social activities in addition to the employment of a household).
Eurostat found that 21.6% of the population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion — Italy ranks highly above the EU average. These figures show that poverty is on the rise in Italy. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Italian economy and thus the most financially vulnerable groups.
Mission Bambini
As the Italian economy faces the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, on the ground, there are an array of organizations working to alleviate poverty in the country. Mission Bambini focuses on the health and education of children across the country by working to expand employment and educational opportunities. Some projects include the Scintilla project which aims to make childcare and nurseries more accessible. Mission Bambini also created ‘Second Chance Schools’ for traditional school dropouts. As a result, 12,978 children have accessed early learning services, while 1,239 young people have joined job counseling and training programs.
La Ronda Della Solidarietà
Further, La Ronda Della Solidarietà ODV of Rome has supported Rome’s homeless by providing food, blankets and medical supplies to those on the street. As the number of the city’s homeless has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, so too have its efforts and resources.
Cooperazione Internazionale
Similarly, in Milan, the Cooperazione Internazionale has been aiding families in poverty by distributing food, baby products and necessities to those in need under the Fighting Poverty in Italy Project. Additionally, the project helps families by seeking legal and parental support to families where necessary. The organization works closely with the municipality of Milan to identify those most vulnerable to offer them aid. The project has been a massive success, with 35 million tons of food distributed by August 2022.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created economic hardship for millions of vulnerable Italians. However, in the wake of increased food insecurity and both relative and absolute poverty, charities in Italy have expanded their resources to help mitigate the worst effects of poverty.
– Lucy Wing
Photo: Unsplash
Progress on Poverty Reduction in Kenya
In the fight against global poverty, there is a lot of talk about problems and less about progress and good news. Kenya is one nation that has been making progress in improving the health and well-being of its society, something in which it takes great pride. One can attribute the progress on poverty reduction in Kenya to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. The work towards achieving the goals of this agenda, combined with other strategies, has resulted in a significant decrease in poverty.
What is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an initiative that began in 2015 and was agreed upon by all member states that make up the United Nations. The project serves as a roadmap of what needs to be accomplished in order for all people to have the opportunity for peace and prosperity in the future. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), representing challenges and opportunities for all member states of the U.N. to act on, including issues that cause poverty, food insecurity and low wages. The goal is to recognize that economic growth goes hand-in-hand with reducing poverty, hunger and income inequality.
What Steps Has Kenya Made Towards Achieving Progress?
Kenya has made huge strides in improving the health and well-being of its citizens on multiple fronts. Several accomplishments were made between January 2016 and January 2017 that helped to reduce hunger and poverty. According to InDepthNews, poverty levels decreased from 46.8% in 2007 to 45.2%. The Kenyan government also instituted the Equalization Fund, which provides funding that has resulted in free primary and secondary schooling. In addition, the fund expanded technical and vocational educational training institutions at the grassroots level. The fund also includes provisions that help women, young people and people with disabilities procure preferences and reservations through an affirmative action policy. All these things together serve to help the most vulnerable of society while simultaneously achieving progress on poverty reduction in Kenya and promoting equity.
Further Accomplishments and Progress Made
The Kenyan government has been committed to improving the lives and conditions of its people, as well as promoting economic growth, and there are milestones to show for that effort. According to the 17th edition of the Kenya Economic Update, in 2005 and 2006, the proportion of Kenyans who were living below the international poverty line was 46.8%. Fast forward to 2015/2016, and that number decreased to 36.1%. The economic update also shows that Kenya is performing better than most sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries when it comes to both monetary and non-monetary poverty indicators. If one were to step back and look at the overall picture involving the poverty rate and income levels, one would see that human development indicators for Kenya are high. This means that Kenya performs highly compared to other SSA countries when it comes to the non-monetary aspects of poverty.
Kenya’s Strategies
The Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) is a Kenyan government program with a number of medium-term objectives. One is strengthening the macroeconomic framework, as well as fully embracing both private sector participation and investment. According to imf.org, in terms of improving equity and poverty reduction, the program seeks to focus on some very specific issues: “…universal primary education, improved access to basic health, expanded productive capacity in agriculture and upgrading the living conditions for urban dwellers that have suffered from poor urban infrastructure and social services mainly due to high urbanization rates.” Also, part of the program involves the Kenyan government working towards meeting Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Conclusion
Kenya has made tremendous progress on poverty reduction in Kenya while working to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Millenium Development Goals. The commitment to working to improve the well-being of citizens while promoting economic growth has produced a number of milestones that fight food insecurity and increase sanitation services and access to education, all of which play a role in reducing poverty. However, this is only the beginning. Kenya still lags behind other lower-middle-income countries.
The progress made so far is vulnerable to climate disasters such as droughts, which can drive poverty back up. Additionally, though Kenya has made tremendous strides in poverty reduction, it is not on track to eliminate poverty by 2030. To achieve that goal, they will have to accelerate the pace of poverty reduction. This is just a further reminder that the effort and progress towards fighting poverty, hunger and food insecurity in Kenya and around the world is a steady and ongoing process that will not be achieved overnight. It takes constant effort, work and attention.
– Gary Williams
Photo: Flickr
The Impact of Food Banks in India
In the last year, India has seen a 250% increase in the volume of food distributed through food banks. Donation banks are essential lifelines for millions of people living in poverty in India. These organizations provide food and clothing to those who cannot afford to buy them, helping to reduce hunger and malnutrition and improve the lives of the poor.
The Potential for Food and Clothing Banks to Reduce Poverty
Food donation banks have the potential to play a significant role in reducing poverty in India. By providing free food and clothing to the poor, these organizations can help to reduce hunger, improve health outcomes and increase educational attainment.
Here are a few examples of food and clothes banks in India that are making a difference:
Challenges
Food loss and waste are major social challenges in India. Although India has recently become a net food exporter, despite the expansions in agricultural production, 40% of all the food produced remains wasted in India. Government agencies have developed strategies to divert food waste to mitigate food access issues.
Food banks in India face several challenges, including:
Final Thoughts
Despite the challenges, food banks have the potential to play a significant role in reducing poverty in India and improving the lives of millions. However, they face many challenges, including limited funding, lack of awareness and logistical challenges.
It is essential to support food and clothes banks in India by donating food, clothing and money. Raising awareness of these organizations and advocating for policies supporting their work could significantly impact them. By working together, India could create a future where its citizens can access the food and clothing they need to thrive.
– Brijesh Goel
Photo: Flickr
3 Diseases Caused by Malnutrition
Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor is a disease that stems from malnutrition and severe protein deficiency. Kwashiorkor causes fluid retention and swelling, especially in the abdomen. This disease most commonly affects children, especially in developing countries where there is food insecurity and high levels of poverty.
If left untreated, Kwashiorkor can be fatal. This disease can cause immune system failure, liver failure, growth and development delays in children and can lead to starvation and death.
Kwashiorkor primarily affects children, especially from ages 3 to 5. This disease is widely spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa and is also common in Southeast Asia and Central America. Kwashiorkor affects both girls and boys equally and remains a major threat in food-insecure countries.
Marasmus
Marasmus is a severe form of malnutrition. While kwashiorkor is a deficiency in protein, marasmus is a deficiency of all the macronutrients in the body. Marasmus causes the wasting of fat and muscle under the skin, making one look depleted and visibly underweight.
Marasmus can be caused by starvation or not having enough nutrients. The body will start feeding on its own fat and muscle, then begin shutting down some functions to conserve energy. Marasmus causes low heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. This form of malnutrition can be fatal, leading to heart failure. It also compromises the immune system making malnourished people more prone to infection and illnesses.
It is thought that there are 18 million children living in low or middle-income countries who are suffering from Marasmus. It is more common in developing countries like some areas of Asia and Africa. Unfortunately, people in the nations have poor access to food, making it difficult to get the correct amount of nutrients, which leads to Marasmus.
Rickets
Rickets is a condition that affects bone development in children. It specifically softens and weakens the bones typically due to an extreme deficiency of calcium and vitamin D. This condition only occurs in growing bones, so it occurs most commonly in infants and young children.
Any child who lacks these vitamins can develop rickets, however, children in areas of low food income may be more affected. Rickets is common in regions of Asia where there is pollution and a lack of sunlight or low intake of meat. Rickets is also common in Africa, partly because people tend to have darker skin, which reduces vitamin D absorption.
In severe and untreated cases, the bone becomes more fragile and prone to fractures, and some children may develop heart diseases that can be fatal.
All in all, malnourishment is a direct cause of 300,000 deaths per year while contributing to 50% of deaths in younger children. It’s thought to be around 852 million people globally that are starving, with the majority (815 million) in undeveloped countries.
Victims of suffering hunger around the world can be threatened by many different variables. These are just a few examples of syndromes and diseases that can stem from malnutrition.
However, in 2019 a plan to reduce malnutrition in Africa was adopted by WHO. The strategic plan includes specific goals to be met by 2025 and strives to develop evidence-based policies and national capabilities. Priority interventions include enforcing laws and food safety regulations, utilizing financial incentives to promote healthy food selections, and incorporating crucial nutrition acts into systems for delivering health care services to reduce malnutrition and ultimately, reduce diseases caused by malnutrition.
– Paige Falk
Photo: Flickr
5 Active Nonprofits in Ukraine
5 Active Nonprofits in Ukraine
Working for Ukraine
In the ongoing crisis, these nonprofits in Ukraine have emerged as vital pillars of support. United24, Nova Ukraine, World Vision, Razom for Ukraine and Dzygas’s Paw Charity Fund have collectively raised millions and impacted thousands of lives through medical aid, emergency relief, child welfare and armed forces support. These organizations exemplify the power of collective action and stand as beacons of hope in challenging times.
– Jake Marks
Photo: Flickr
NGOs Helping Women in Ethiopia
With the second largest population in Africa, the country is still feeling the effects of the initial conflict that began over two years ago. At least 5.1 million people were displaced in 12 months, which is “the most people internally displaced in any country in any single year.”
Two years on, in 2023, the U.N. requested $4 billion to provide aid to twenty million people still affected by the conflict, including more than four million internally displaced people.
The Impact of Conflict on Women
With such destructive conflict there always comes a surge in gender-based violence. In the last civil war, nearly 26,000 women and girls reported experiencing sexual violence. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic as well as powerful social stigma, the majority of cases are not reported meaning that this number is thought to be much higher.
With the absence of strong welfare services and the intense conflict in Ethiopia aggravating this need, many women rely on nonprofit organizations that are committed to helping women and girls affected by the violence.
Ethiopia Aid and AWSAD’s Safe Houses
Ethiopia Aid is dedicated to “breaking the cycle of poverty by enabling the poorest and most vulnerable to live with dignity,” as stated in their mission. Over 80% of the adults that they help are women, and their projects have aimed to tackle the lack of education for girls, poor menstrual health resources and female genital mutilation (FGM).
The organization’s current appeal is focused on ensuring the maternal health of the thousands of women who have been displaced by the conflict in Ethiopia and are living in crowded camps with too few resources.
The organization has partnered with The Association for Women’s Sanctuary (AWSAD) which provides nine safe houses for women and girls at risk of violence or who have fled and suffered traumatic experiences. These safe houses not only provide a space for women and their children to recover but allow them to socialize with others whilst also providing quality care, support services, therapy, basic literacy and numeracy classes and legal follow-up.
UN Women
U.N. Women have partnered with Norwegian Church Aid to address social attitudes and norms that contribute to gender-based violence. The initiative was started by Tegenie, a gender-based violence expert in 2021 after he saw the impacts of child marriage on his sisters. He explains how such violence “has spiked amid the brutal two-year conflict, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have trapped women and girls in vulnerable conditions.”
To tackle this spike, the initiative aims to social norms at the roots by holding community conversations led by trained facilitators, where the ramifications of child marriage and violence against women are discussed. They have also made it their priority to rally community leaders who have a significant social influence, as well as faith leaders to ensure that they are not promoting harmful practices. By creating open conversations, Tegenie and his team hope to engage all members of the community with these issues, and insight meaningful, long-term social change.
Women for Women’s Conflict Response Fund
This organization’s Conflict Response Fund (CRF) worked with three other organizations: Agar Ethiopia Charitable Society, Association for Women’s Sanctuary and Development and Mums for Mums. Each works to support survivors of sexual violence as a result of war and the conflict in Ethiopia and has reached thousands of women, providing safe housing, psychological support and health care.
While there is no immediate end to the turbulence in Ethiopia in sight, these organizations and their dedicated members will continue working tirelessly to support the women affected and continue to have an immense impact on the lives of thousands.
– Maia Winter
Photo: Flickr
Competition Tackles Energy Poverty in Developing Countries
Competition Criteria
The EUSIC is open to anyone who resides in an EU member state. The competition highlights four main categories:
A creation with all four qualities has a higher chance of being recognized.
Energy Poverty in Developing Countries
In 2023, the European Social Innovation Competition is tackling energy poverty. There are now 15 finalists. The idea is to “Repower the EU” with affordable and sustainable innovations. Energy poverty refers to insufficient access to reliable and efficient energy sources or when one spends sufficient income on providing energy. In many developing countries, citizens lack access to affordable, safe energy to support themselves. A lack of energy can contribute to food insecurity, illness, an unsafe environment and a shortage of education opportunities. About 13% of the population has no access to electricity.
Energy poverty has improved in recent years compared to the early 2000s, but it still disproportionately affects developing countries. In 2022, the IEA predicted that the number of people living without electricity worldwide would rise by about 20 million. The pandemic severely set back the world in having sufficient energy. Social innovation is essential in solving energy poverty. This year’s creations include energy shares, social housing, energy poverty detection technology and many more brilliant ideas. The EUSIC highlights the importance of social innovation and the need for solutions to energy poverty.
Looking Toward the Future
The European Innovation Council will announce the competition’s three winners on November 14 at the EUSIC awards ceremony. The EUSIC demonstrates how social innovation can create a positive change. The ideas and innovations that come out of the competition showcase Europe’s intelligence and creativity. The world must nurture and support these innovators who want to make a difference in the world. There is so much to learn from these innovations and the minds behind them. They are building a more prosperous and sustainable future for Europe and the world. This year, the European Social Innovation Competition tackled energy poverty. The future is bright for this competition and the transformations it will continue to make.
– Madison Rogers
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