Disability in underdeveloped countries has an immense impact on those who are living in extreme cases of poverty as they consistently encounter barriers to employment, education, quality of life as well and access to basic amenities. Here is some information about disability and poverty in Malawi, including what different organizations are doing to address them.
The Situation in Malawi
Currently, 52% of Malawians are living in poverty and one in five of those people have a disability. Poverty and disability have a connection, as poor sanitation, malnutrition and lack of access to safe working conditions means that people living in underdeveloped countries such as Malawi are at a greater risk of developing a disability during their lifetime.
For those who already suffer from a disability, estimates indicated that they are far poorer than their nondisabled peers, as they struggle to benefit in an economy in which agriculture is a major component. In fact, 30.2% of Malawi’s GDP is agriculture.
Furthermore, as 86.5% of the population lives in rural areas, it is particularly challenging for these people to get access to the support they need, as many disabled students miss out on the opportunity to gain a good standard of education. Statistics state that 70% of those with disabilities are not in school, and according to other research “10.4% of Malawi’s population aged 5 years and older has at least one type of disability.”
Stigmas and Barriers
While those with disabilities face physical barriers to their lives, they also face social stigmas and alienation from society. This includes widespread beliefs and misconceptions that are spread throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, where groups of individuals “have historically linked persons with disabilities with witchcraft as a component of a wider link between accusations of witchcraft and socially marginalized populations.”
Additionally, people who are “witch doctors promote beliefs that individuals and families can prosper if they perform rituals or sacrifice including abuse, mutilation and even killing children and adults with disabilities.”
Therefore, solutions must emerge in order for these disadvantaged people to get access to the help they need. For example, technological innovation and creating jobs that are easily accessible to disabled people is part of the solution that many charities have begun to investigate for those living in Malawi.
The Global Concerns Trust
An example of work that is occurring to help the disabled is through an organization called the Global Concerns Trust which has been active in the country since 2007.
The project’s aim is to contribute to the reduction of poverty through creating economic stability, whilst working to integrate disabled men and women into the community. In order to do this, the organization works in collaboration with the Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) as well as the Kuthandiza Osayenda Disability Outreach (KODO).
Funded by the Scottish Government between 2007 and 2011, the trust was able to provide vocational training and tools for adults with disabilities as well as carpentry and tailoring clubs in schools. Volunteers are still donating and refurbishing the tools and sewing machines in Scotland, and upon completion, they then ship to Malawi for KODO and MACOHA to provide vital training in carpentry, chair making, tailoring and curios carving.
Outcomes of The Global Concerns Trust’s Work
The training has been very successful as graduate trainees have started successful businesses where they have an increased income of 543% since before the training. Hence this has enabled these people to buy materials to build stronger houses, as well as being able to purchase livestock, medicine, furniture and clothes for their families.
In addition, people in Malawian communities have begun to see disabled people as valuable and skilled people in society, which demonstrates the extent to which the Global Concerns Trust has had a huge impact on creating a fairer more inclusive society, as well as providing invaluable support to those that are disabled through giving them the confidence to become more self-reliant.
Therefore, this demonstrates that disability and poverty in Malawi have inextricable links and that if more support networks and systems are available, such as support from charities like the Global Trust, then more disabled people can access jobs that are suited to their needs.
About Waisanga Chakutanda
Waisanga Chakuntada is an example of someone who has benefitted from the Global Concerns Trust. As a divorced parent with three children and paralysis in her right leg, life, before she received vital support, was tough. Chakuntada earned just £9 a month through her fish-selling business where she had to walk long distances and had the constant burden of how she would put the next meal on the table.
Since then, life has become much improved for Waisanga, as through the MACOHA in the Nkhotakota district from January to July 2014 she received training to become a skilled tailor. Upon completing her training, she received a Singer sewing machine and the materials necessary to run her small business. Her speed at completing orders, combined with the good reputation she has gained from customers, has meant that her monthly earnings are now £60.
Working from the comfort of her front yard at home, she is now able to fully care for her children and has been able to buy new mattresses and provide them with clothes. The support therefore provided in terms of supporting Waisanga with her disability has been invaluable as poverty no longer restricts her way of life to the extent it did before.
Ripple Africa
Mobility issues across Malawi are still a very prominent issue, as its infrastructure fails to provide accessibility for disabled people, as the vast majority of those who are physically immobile do not even have access to basic equipment like a wheelchair or walking assistance due to the level of poverty they are suffering from.
Ripple Africa has been beneficial to those suffering from mobility issues and has been a vital service within the country. The organization does so by running a disability and rehabilitation program that helps approximately 140 children, adults and families experiencing disabilities in the Mwaya Beach area.
This occurs through the service of local carpenters who make made-to-measure devices that disabled people can use as walking aids. In more severe cases Ripple Africa has helped in terms of providing for life-saving operations, that families otherwise would not have been able to afford. Other successes of the organization also include helping children to sit up, walk and talk, as well as giving them the independence they need to be able to do day-to-day tasks.
The community-based rehabilitation coordination is able to provide the disabled people of the Mwaya beach area with this support through information from doctors, schoolteachers and other people in the local community. Then, the coordinator visits the disabled individual to assess the most suitable plan going forward to ensure that they receive the best quality care and support.
Overall, it is evident that more work is necessary to solve the issue of disability and poverty in Malawi, as, despite the help of several organizations, there are still many vulnerable individuals experiencing disabilities and cannot access the help they deserve and need in order to live a close to normal life.
– Megan Miley
Photo: Flickr
Organizations Fighting Poverty: Establishments Making a Difference
PLAN International
PLAN International is an incredible humanitarian institution that fights for human rights and justice for women and girls. The organization emphasizes that all children have the right to health, education and equal treatment. The organization produces special programs within several fields — including inclusive education, reproductive health rights, work skills and leadership. In 2022, PLAN International reached more than 50 million children across the globe and utilized approximately $161 million to create programs across 29 countries. Through advocacy, the organization has influenced changes in laws and policies regarding the rights of girls and children across the globe.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC)
The International Rescue Committee, also known as the IRC has become an enormously influential organization that responds to humanitarian crises across 40 countries. With several ancillary activities focused on health care, education, safety and well-being, the organization provides what is vital for survivors of conflict.
Similar to PLAN International, the IRC utilizes a strategy that spans more than 100 years, aiming to shape humanitarian response by creating quality programs for those in need. Just last year, the organization reached 32.9 million people in countries impacted by crises and gave more than $100 million in aid. Through persistent advocacy, the IRC influenced the spending of more than €200 million euros in aid to combat the detrimental effects of the conflict in Afghanistan, and the United Nations approved the IRC’s recommendation to create a task force for the global prevention of famine.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a well-known organization that focuses on providing inexpensive health care to poorer countries. Bill and Melinda Gates established this organization upon recognizing the significant loss of children’s lives due to preventable diseases. They swiftly took action, dedicating more than $50 billion since its inception to consistently support partner organizations and health units situated in various countries. Their aim is to foster innovation and reduce mortality rates, saving countless lives in the process.
The Gates Foundation works in countries across Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, where it collaborates with health care partners to deliver to populations in need. The foundation has created several effective vaccines that significantly impact the lives of people within the countries it operates work in. Significant treatments include Wolbachia, which directly treated mosquitos that caused the Dengue virus rather than treating the virus itself, “MenAfriVac,” which was an inexpensive vaccine that targeted the meningitis epidemic in Africa, and several funds endorsing the research of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis treatments.
BuildOn Global
BuildOn Global is an organization that staunchly believes that it is vital to educate impoverished populations to eliminate poverty. Through connections with rural communities across the globe, the organization has empowered children and adults alike to continue their education and encouraged people internationally to drive change by supporting the creation of numerous local schools in poor areas. With a focus on the eight poorest countries in the world — namely Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua and Senegal, BuildOn has supported the creation of more than 340 schools, with 302,000 students enrolled.
Several hundred BuildOn schools also include evening Adult Literacy programs that teach reading, writing, numeracy and additional crucial skills. Through these programs, around 98% of students enrolled graduated from high school, showcasing how dedicated efforts can resolve the issue of poverty being a barrier between a child and their education.
Charity Water
Charity Water is an international establishment that prioritizes the distribution of clean water throughout the planet. Sanitation situations in developing countries are often dire — data shows that at least 2 billion people lack access to clean water and sanitation, and an additional 10% of people lack the means of disposing of bodily wastes. As a result, there are high rates of resource pollution because of open defecation. This begins the vicious cycle of illness due to the germs and bacteria that are naturally present within feces.
Furthermore, the lack of water in some countries majorly contributes to water crises. This organization offers clean water and food that is more than necessary in light of suboptimal sanitation in developing countries. Through regular civil donations and advocacy, the organization has had 137,000 water projects funded through 29 countries in need, where more than 17 million people received these resources.
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is an organization that tackles all aspects of malnutrition — from sanitation to water to proper nutrition. With the help of malnourishment treatment formulas, the establishment treated millions of children across 55 countries in just the past year. Furthermore, the organization works with partners stationed in several countries to fortify health care, educate populations, promote hygiene and create effective solutions that last for sanitation, malnutrition and access to necessities.
Looking Ahead
The high number of organizations fighting poverty today creates a positive outlook and the possibility for a brighter future. To make a difference in today’s world, targeting prominent issues with resources, willpower and knowledge can tear down the foundations of poverty brick by brick.
– Divya Shankar
Photo: Pixabay
Risks of child begging in India
The Borgen Project recently interviewed Bandhana, a woman dedicated to aiding these children on a grassroots level by providing them with access to quality education and encouraging school attendance. She highlighted several underlying factors contributing to the issue of child begging, which are discussed below.
Poverty
Between 2015 and 2021, approximately 415 million individuals lifted themselves out of poverty, resulting in a decrease in the poverty rate from 55% to 16% over the past decade. However, due to the large population of the country, poverty remains a significant issue in impoverished households. Oftentimes, young children are compelled to contribute to their household’s finances by earning money through begging, because of their parents’ poverty. Unfortunately, in many cases, these children are subjected to abuse to appear more pitiful and thus earn more money by emotionally manipulating individuals.
Lack of Education
The poor quality of education is causing children to resort to begging, abuse and harassment. Discrimination in classrooms, caste systems and lack of resources are forcing children to take to the streets to beg for money. To address this issue, life skills should be included in the curriculum to equip children with practical skills for their daily lives. Bandhana notes that in some schools, there are no qualified teachers to teach students, leading to a lack of motivation to attend school. Additionally, the pandemic has affected education as government schools have not been able to provide online education due to a lack of resources.
Child Abduction
Children are kidnapped from their hometowns and sold in the big cities to beg on the roads. According to the Human Rights Commission of India, 40,000 children are abducted every year of which 25% remain untraced. They are brutally tortured and abused and sometimes their limbs are cut so that they can get more sympathy from the people and earn more money. The children are sold for some thousands and their families never know about their kids. Sometimes the children run away from their dealers and get united with their families with the help of the police but most of the time, they have to spend their whole life in those horrific circumstances.
Migration
India has multiple borders with countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, which often leads to illegal immigration. Many migrants, due to unemployment and poverty, force their children to beg on the streets for extra financial support. In 2015, approximately 15,000 Bangladeshis were granted Indian citizenship because they were living within Indian territories. The majority of migrants cross the border in search of better livelihoods, employment and quality of life, but their dreams are shattered when they are forced to beg for money and live in poverty.
Various begging techniques are enforced by the traffickers on the children like selling flowers, following the people on the roads and many more. The children get injured while begging on busy roads. Bandhana stated that she noticed some children giving wishes to the couples and then forcefully asking for money. Sometimes they come in groups and force people to give them money. People try to offer some food, but they decline and want only money so they can pay their traffickers.
Ongoing Efforts
Each state has anti-begging laws in place to protect children’s human rights. According to the Indian Penal Code of 1860, any form of child exploitation is a criminal offense. Section 363A specifically prohibits kidnapping and abduction of children. Additionally, each state in the country has its own set of acts and codes to prevent child begging.
The Railway Children organization is dedicated to improving the lives of street children in various states such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. They have established 24-hour helplines at railway stations to assist children who are alone and in need of help. Additionally, they offer short- and long-term accommodations where children can receive educational and medical support. They have protected 20,337 children from dangers, 20,082 have been reunited with their families and 140 children have been provided long-term care homes.
Looking Ahead
To address the serious problem of child begging, there is a need for the government to work in conjunction with the police force to prevent the exploitation of young children. With the support and awareness of the community, these children can have access to a better quality of life and education, enabling them to have better access to opportunities in the future.
– Gurjot Kaur
Photo: Flickr
Key Facts to Know About HIV/AIDS in Mauritius
In 2018, UNAIDS carried out key research on HIV/AIDS in Mauritius. The research revealed important statistics on the key populations that are affected the most by the disease. The UNAIDS report found that 44.3% of HIV-positive individuals are injection drug users, 15% are female sex workers, 17.2% are men who participate in sexual intercourse with other men, 16.5% are prison inmates and 28% are transgender individuals.
Another group that has been identified as a vulnerable group is young adults. From puberty to adulthood, young people become curious about drugs, alcohol and sexual experiences. In turn, this increases the risk of the individual getting infected by HIV.
Protecting People With HIV/AIDS in Mauritius
In the last decade, there has been great progress in protecting the human rights of individuals who have HIV/AIDS in Mauritius. The current protections in place for these individuals are as follows:
Recent Progress
The most recent progress is in alignment with the wishes of the Joint United Nations Programme. By 2021, the Mauritian government aimed to meet the targets known as 90-90-90. This means that 90% of Mauritian citizens know their status, 90% of positive individuals are on cART treatment and 90% of the individuals following cART treatment are virally suppressed. Mauritius must call attention to various interventions to achieve these targets.
Looking Ahead
Improving the social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in Mauritius is a significant component of reaching the 90-90-90 target. The most recent report on HIV/AIDS in Mauritius establishes how the Ministry of Social Integration has set criteria to ensure that Mauritian citizens who have HIV/AIDS have social protection available to them. With developments in education on HIV/AIDS, Mauritius is showing great promise and progress.
– Poppy Harris
Photo: Unsplash
What Universal Vaccination Could Mean for the Global Poor
Sickness and Poverty
Around the world, illness wreaks havoc on impoverished people. Poor health is rooted in political, social and economic injustices — making poverty both a cause and effect of poor health. The poorer one is, the more likely they are to fall ill. If someone is ill, the more likely they are to deal with unrealistic financial burdens, trapping them in poverty.
There are a few diseases in particular that disproportionately affect low-income populations, called poverty-related diseases, or PRDs. Two out of three deaths among children in Africa and Southeast Asia are due to just six diseases: tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, measles, pneumonia and diarrheal disease. Combined with childbirth complications, these diseases kill 14 million people annually. The three largest PRDs, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, make up 18% of all diseases in poor countries. Yet, approximately 30% of the global population, and 50% of the poorest parts of Africa and Asia, do not have regular access to necessary medicine. This statistic staggers even higher for marginalized groups and vulnerable individuals, who are often deprived of information, money or access to health care that would help them treat each disease. Essentially, although the poorest parts of the world are most impacted by illness, they have the least access to necessary care.
Vaccine Access for the Global Poor
Vaccines are a treatment for many PRDs, though they too are difficult for the global poor to access. Taking the COVID-19 vaccines as an example, as of October 2022, only 25% of the population living in low-income countries have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Meanwhile, high-income countries enjoy a rate of 72%.
Similarly, cholera vaccines are internationally available but seldom used in public health settings in developing countries where they are vitally needed. The HPV vaccine shares similar statistics, as it has been introduced in only 41% of low-income countries but 83% of high-income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines for diseases associated with “markets that are deemed to have little commercial value remain neglected.” According to the WHO’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “The right to health includes the right to vaccines, and yet this new report shows that free market dynamics are depriving some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people of that right.”
There have been efforts to share vaccines with the global poor that show just how beneficial access can be. Since 2019, Malawi, Ghana and Kenya have participated in the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), coordinated by the WHO and funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Unitaid to deliver the malaria vaccine in their respective countries. The vaccine has been administered to more than 1.7 million children, leading to a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a decrease in child deaths.
Universal Vaccination
Universal vaccination would change the world — access to preventative care against PRDs would allow low-income communities to transform their livelihoods, no longer nearly as consistently devastated by death and disease. Vaccinating the world helps prevent new emerging variants, support health systems and save countries from lasting economic damage. In fact, if low-income countries had the same vaccination rate against COVID-19 as high-income countries in September last year (around 54%) they would have increased their GDP by $16.27 billion. Again, COVID-19 acts as an example of what universal vaccination against all PRDs and EIDs could do. Beyond good health, fair access to vaccines allows a chance for development in many areas.
– Char Nieberding
Photo: Unsplash
Innovative Solutions for Clean Water Access
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet millions of people in developing countries still lack safe and reliable water sources. The scarcity of clean water poses serious health risks, perpetuates poverty and hinders socio-economic development. The following is an exploration of innovative technologies and approaches that are revolutionizing solutions for clean water access in resource-limited settings, offering hope for a sustainable future.
Challenges of Clean Water Access in Developing Countries
In many developing regions, limited infrastructure for water supply and sanitation leads to inadequate access to clean water and increased waterborne diseases. Unsafe water sources often become contaminated with pollutants, pathogens and dangerous chemicals, posing severe health risks to communities relying on them for drinking and daily needs. Additionally, the impact of climate change exacerbates water scarcity in certain regions, making it crucial to find adaptive and resilient solutions for clean water access.
Moreover, resource-limited settings often face financial barriers to implementing and maintaining clean water solutions, hindering progress in improving water access. Further to this, the high costs associated with traditional water treatment plants and distribution systems may not be feasible for communities with limited funds and resources.
Innovative Solutions for Clean Water Access
Conclusion
Access to clean water is vital for economic development and poverty alleviation. Therefore, it is important that we understand the importance of finding solutions for clean water to address these critical needs.
The challenges of providing clean water in developing countries demand innovative and sustainable solutions. Solar-powered purification, water ATMs, fog harvesting and other emerging technologies could go a long way to ensure clean water access for all.
Embracing these innovative approaches alongside community engagement and international cooperation has the potential to give developing nations a brighter future. One in which clean water is readily available to every person, regardless of their socio-economic status.
– Mihir Naik
Photo: Flickr
UK’s Aid to the DRC
The UK’s Involvement in the DRC
The U.K. has for years been actively involved in the DRC to help protect those who are financially vulnerable and those vulnerable due to continuous conflict across the country. There are many ways in which the U.K.’s aid to the DRC has happened.
Between 2014 and 2022, the U.K. actively implemented the ‘Supporting Peace and Stability in Eastern DRC‘ program, which yielded significant contributions toward conflict reduction and community stabilization in the region. Throughout the program’s duration, it allocated more than £55 million in funding across various critical areas. These areas encompassed civilian peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution, security system management and reform, rural development and active participation in international peacekeeping operations. Notably, the program prioritized the promotion of gender equality as one of its overarching objectives.
The New Humanitarian Program Aiding Conflict
In recent times, the U.K.’s aid to the DRC has continued. In May 2023, the U.K. government announced that it would provide a humanitarian package for the DRC worth £21 million to support the citizens of the DRC who have been negatively impacted by their surroundings. The conflict has taken place in the form of internal and external conflict, with regional tensions leading to the displacement of 465,000 people in 2022 in the Kivu region. The external conflict has risen through the political problems between the DRC and Rwanda. The U.K.’s constant support has proven to be of massive help to those who need it within the country.
There has been continuous work by the U.K. government throughout the years. It has continued to work with the government of the DRC to create national strategies in alignment with government objectives.
Non-Government Organizations
The U.K.’s aid to the DRC has also come from non-government organizations with success. ActionAid U.K. has worked in the DRC since 1987. In addition, it has continued its long-term program, especially in North and South Kivu provinces, focusing on preventing the occurrence of sexual violence and providing agricultural tools to help communities build and stabilize themselves to be able to produce. It has provided training throughout the years, teaching women about sexual health and the police and military about stopping sexual violence. Overall, Action Aid actively works to ensure that communities can sustain themselves.
Aid from non-government and governmental bodies in the DRC tends to focus on the provision of basic needs and facilities, such as helping the education sector by encouraging more children to get into education, the provision of health care where many do not have access to it in due to the citizens of DRC not having the money to afford health care and the lack of health care in areas experiencing conflict. So far, the U.K.’s aid to the DRC has positively impacted the citizens of the country.
– Christelle Wealth-Mukendi
Photo: Flickr
Sanitation Services: New iThrone Provides a Solution
Human waste that is not disposed of properly can come into contact with other humans, usually by contaminating drinking water, causing diseases like cholera, dysentery and polio. Poor sanitation causes almost 450,000 deaths each year as a result of diarrhea in addition to contributing to malnutrition. While it is true that the number of people who openly defecate has almost halved in the past two decades, there is still a dire need for sanitation services to become accessible to all.
In fact, even the idea of adequate sanitation services in developed countries is not at all sustainable: it is estimated that 5 billion people will be unable to flush their toilets in the next decade so as to not flood centralized sewer systems.
One invention, the iThrone, is a portable toilet that hopes to provide a solution for the issue of substandard sanitation that persists in the developing world and is encroaching on developed nations.
Background
Diana Yousef is the founder and CEO of change:WATER Labs, a startup launched in 2015 that is focused on inventing and investing in solutions that address the inadequacy of current sanitation standards in many developing countries. The iThrone is the startup’s primary product. Yousef first found inspiration for the iThrone in 2009 while working with NASA to create a water treatment initiative. She wanted to see if the techniques that they conceptualized for the project, an attempt to develop a method of recycling water for space agriculture, could extend to water sustainability in poor countries. Since securing early funding from MIT, change:WATER Labs has received financial support from organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UN Development Program.
How It Works
The iThrone is able to circumvent many of the existing barriers to quality sanitation services. Firstly, it does not require any water to function. For communities that face a scarcity of nearby water sources, the iThrone is an invaluable form of sanitation. It can work without water because it operates by dehydrating human waste, which is mostly water, and converting it to water vapor rather than flushing it away into a sewer system.
The little waste that is left over can then be used as fertilizer for farming. Due to this aspect of its design, the iThrone is extremely low-cost and efficient, only needing to be emptied every few weeks rather than every day like other non-flushing toilets.
Even more impressive, four iThrones can be installed for the same price as one communal toilet. As a whole, the iThrone is completely off-grid and needs neither access to plumbing nor power. This means that installation is possible in practically any location, no matter the state of its infrastructure. Due to the simplicity of its construction, it is able to fit in crowded areas, eliminating the need for people to travel long distances just to go to the bathroom. The toilet is also capable of deodorizing deposited human waste by utilizing a biobattery that uses that waste to power a ventilating fan.
Gender Imbalances
Open defecation presents a particular risk to women and young girls, as having to go to the bathroom in the open, and often in remote locations, makes them vulnerable to sexual assault. In order to relieve themselves without attracting the attention of men, some women restrict their water and food intake so that they need to go to the bathroom very late at night or early in the morning. The iThrone’s ability to provide proper sanitation even in crowded locations reduces the risk of sexual violence, providing women and girls with a sense of safety when they are performing one of their most private tasks and allowing them to eat and drink freely.
Open defecation also increases the possibility for women and girls to contract reproductive and urinary infections and also renders the entire process of menstruation frustrating and degrading. Girls in regions without adequate sanitation will often skip school during their period, meaning that they miss weeks of instruction. The iThrone acts as an answer to these problems and effectively supports the health and well-being of women and girls in developing countries.
Future Distribution
Before COVID-19, the iThrone was distributed during its first pilot deployment to a district school and hospital in Uganda. The toilets wound up servicing more than 400 people and received a wholly positive reception from locals. The pandemic unfortunately prevented further distribution from occurring, though the Turkish government expressed interest in purchasing a number of toilets for use in refugee communities in late 2021. The iThrone has also been eyed by construction companies in Central America and Indian companies wanting to test out the toilets in port-a-potties and on transportation and maritime equipment.
Yousef and her team spent the duration of the pandemic refining their product, ensuring that when distribution does restart, the iThrone can help as many people as possible as effectively as possible. Though the iThrone has yet to be fully deployed, it is clear that it represents exactly the kind of innovation that is required to combat global poverty.
– Sofia Oliver
Photo: Unsplash
Disability and Poverty in Malawi
Disability in underdeveloped countries has an immense impact on those who are living in extreme cases of poverty as they consistently encounter barriers to employment, education, quality of life as well and access to basic amenities. Here is some information about disability and poverty in Malawi, including what different organizations are doing to address them.
The Situation in Malawi
Currently, 52% of Malawians are living in poverty and one in five of those people have a disability. Poverty and disability have a connection, as poor sanitation, malnutrition and lack of access to safe working conditions means that people living in underdeveloped countries such as Malawi are at a greater risk of developing a disability during their lifetime.
For those who already suffer from a disability, estimates indicated that they are far poorer than their nondisabled peers, as they struggle to benefit in an economy in which agriculture is a major component. In fact, 30.2% of Malawi’s GDP is agriculture.
Furthermore, as 86.5% of the population lives in rural areas, it is particularly challenging for these people to get access to the support they need, as many disabled students miss out on the opportunity to gain a good standard of education. Statistics state that 70% of those with disabilities are not in school, and according to other research “10.4% of Malawi’s population aged 5 years and older has at least one type of disability.”
Stigmas and Barriers
While those with disabilities face physical barriers to their lives, they also face social stigmas and alienation from society. This includes widespread beliefs and misconceptions that are spread throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, where groups of individuals “have historically linked persons with disabilities with witchcraft as a component of a wider link between accusations of witchcraft and socially marginalized populations.”
Additionally, people who are “witch doctors promote beliefs that individuals and families can prosper if they perform rituals or sacrifice including abuse, mutilation and even killing children and adults with disabilities.”
Therefore, solutions must emerge in order for these disadvantaged people to get access to the help they need. For example, technological innovation and creating jobs that are easily accessible to disabled people is part of the solution that many charities have begun to investigate for those living in Malawi.
The Global Concerns Trust
An example of work that is occurring to help the disabled is through an organization called the Global Concerns Trust which has been active in the country since 2007.
The project’s aim is to contribute to the reduction of poverty through creating economic stability, whilst working to integrate disabled men and women into the community. In order to do this, the organization works in collaboration with the Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) as well as the Kuthandiza Osayenda Disability Outreach (KODO).
Funded by the Scottish Government between 2007 and 2011, the trust was able to provide vocational training and tools for adults with disabilities as well as carpentry and tailoring clubs in schools. Volunteers are still donating and refurbishing the tools and sewing machines in Scotland, and upon completion, they then ship to Malawi for KODO and MACOHA to provide vital training in carpentry, chair making, tailoring and curios carving.
Outcomes of The Global Concerns Trust’s Work
The training has been very successful as graduate trainees have started successful businesses where they have an increased income of 543% since before the training. Hence this has enabled these people to buy materials to build stronger houses, as well as being able to purchase livestock, medicine, furniture and clothes for their families.
In addition, people in Malawian communities have begun to see disabled people as valuable and skilled people in society, which demonstrates the extent to which the Global Concerns Trust has had a huge impact on creating a fairer more inclusive society, as well as providing invaluable support to those that are disabled through giving them the confidence to become more self-reliant.
Therefore, this demonstrates that disability and poverty in Malawi have inextricable links and that if more support networks and systems are available, such as support from charities like the Global Trust, then more disabled people can access jobs that are suited to their needs.
About Waisanga Chakutanda
Waisanga Chakuntada is an example of someone who has benefitted from the Global Concerns Trust. As a divorced parent with three children and paralysis in her right leg, life, before she received vital support, was tough. Chakuntada earned just £9 a month through her fish-selling business where she had to walk long distances and had the constant burden of how she would put the next meal on the table.
Since then, life has become much improved for Waisanga, as through the MACOHA in the Nkhotakota district from January to July 2014 she received training to become a skilled tailor. Upon completing her training, she received a Singer sewing machine and the materials necessary to run her small business. Her speed at completing orders, combined with the good reputation she has gained from customers, has meant that her monthly earnings are now £60.
Working from the comfort of her front yard at home, she is now able to fully care for her children and has been able to buy new mattresses and provide them with clothes. The support therefore provided in terms of supporting Waisanga with her disability has been invaluable as poverty no longer restricts her way of life to the extent it did before.
Ripple Africa
Mobility issues across Malawi are still a very prominent issue, as its infrastructure fails to provide accessibility for disabled people, as the vast majority of those who are physically immobile do not even have access to basic equipment like a wheelchair or walking assistance due to the level of poverty they are suffering from.
Ripple Africa has been beneficial to those suffering from mobility issues and has been a vital service within the country. The organization does so by running a disability and rehabilitation program that helps approximately 140 children, adults and families experiencing disabilities in the Mwaya Beach area.
This occurs through the service of local carpenters who make made-to-measure devices that disabled people can use as walking aids. In more severe cases Ripple Africa has helped in terms of providing for life-saving operations, that families otherwise would not have been able to afford. Other successes of the organization also include helping children to sit up, walk and talk, as well as giving them the independence they need to be able to do day-to-day tasks.
The community-based rehabilitation coordination is able to provide the disabled people of the Mwaya beach area with this support through information from doctors, schoolteachers and other people in the local community. Then, the coordinator visits the disabled individual to assess the most suitable plan going forward to ensure that they receive the best quality care and support.
Overall, it is evident that more work is necessary to solve the issue of disability and poverty in Malawi, as, despite the help of several organizations, there are still many vulnerable individuals experiencing disabilities and cannot access the help they deserve and need in order to live a close to normal life.
– Megan Miley
Photo: Flickr
Generating Renewable Energy in Lebanon
The Lebanese Civil War, lasting from 1975 to 1990, damaged the country’s electricity supply. That, coupled with years of mismanagement, corruption and neglect, has led to Lebanon’s unreliable electricity system. It only provides two to three hours of electricity a day, leaving many to rely on diesel-powered generators.
Many have lost hope in the government to solve the problems of electricity shortages. However, a conscious investment in renewable energy in Lebanon may improve the country’s energy system and the livelihoods of its citizens.
Transitioning to Renewable Energy
Over the past 10 years, renewable energy and smart energy have been on the rise in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s government largely depends on oil plants and diesel generators, both of which are economically and environmentally unsustainable. However, in 2018, the Lebanese government adopted a target to obtain 30% of its energy from renewables by 2030.
According to the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, “Lebanon went from generating zero solar power in 2010 to having 90 megawatts of solar capacity in 2020.” There are now more than 800 registered solar companies operating in Lebanon, from small household projects to university campuses. With over 300 days of sunshine, renewable energy has a high chance to thrive in Lebanon and provides environmental benefits.
Solar panels are one of the many renewable energy sources that can provide a reliable source of electricity to Lebanese citizens. The Lebanese Foundation for Renewable Energy works to shift focus from fossil fuels to wind and hydro in addition to solar.
The Impact of Renewable Energy on Poverty
The lack of reliable electricity in Lebanon pushes people into poverty. This occurs because an electrical drought impedes access to necessities like water and food.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the average Lebanese household uses 44% of their monthly income for generator bills. For homes in the bottom quintile, generator bills constitute 88% of their monthly income. This leaves poor families unable to make ends meet and forced to choose between electricity or food.
Furthermore, in a survey that HRW conducted, they found that “nine out of ten households said the cost of electricity affected their ability to pay for other essential services.”
The lack of electricity has a direct effect on the standard of living in Lebanon. The electricity crisis in Lebanon also leaves many unable to carry out day-to-day tasks like cooking or participating in work or school activities. This is where renewable energy can be utilized to ease this wealth disparity and offer all Lebanese families the ability to more reliable sources of energy like solar panels.
Efforts to Increase Renewable Energy in Lebanon
As the crisis still plagues Lebanon’s economy and society, renewable energy proves a hopeful long-term solution in turning around Lebanon’s energy sector.
Efforts to improve Lebanon’s energy system include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNDP has been working alongside the Lebanese government to supply and promote private sector investment in renewable energy sources. This ambitious goal proves how the Lebanese government can use renewable energy to help lift people out of poverty.
In addition, the United States Agency for International Development announced its plan to invest $20 million to help Lebanon.
On June 23, 2023, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health successfully revamped 150 primary healthcare centers. They now fully rely on solar energy, ensuring access to essential public health services and immunization. The project was completed in 13 weeks so as to provide crucial support to families amidst the ongoing electricity crisis in Lebanon.
Currently, UNICEF is assessing the feasibility of solarising over 300 dispensaries and widening support to more families.
Looking forward
The future of renewable energy in Lebanon holds huge potential. There are hopeful solutions to Lebanon’s energy and electricity crisis and reducing poverty. Lebanon’s advantageous climate and innovative projects, and domestic and international support prove that the goal of obtaining 30% of its energy from renewables by 2030 is possible.
However, there needs to be more government focus on relieving poverty through renewable energy in Lebanon, as well as increased international support and funding initiatives for this to be an achievable goal.
– Amber Hamed
Photo: Flickr
Everything to Know About the Kinshasa Economic Forum
The first-ever Kinshasa Economic Forum occurred in March 2023 which included the DRC, the EU and, most notably, France. The leaders of both DRC and France, Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Emmanuel Macron, respectively, met at the forum alongside multiple international investors and CEOs. The meeting took place at the Palace of the Nation in Kinshasa.
Discussion on Conflict
First, Macron condemned the ongoing conflict occurring in the DRC and the M23 rebel group, saying that there will be sanctions in place for any party who supports the group. The EU also announced at the Kinshasa Economic Forum that they would be setting up a humanitarian air bridge to help the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict in Eastern DRC, to ensure that aid can reach those who are harder to reach.
The violence between government and non-government groups has been a significant ongoing issue that has, as previously mentioned left many Congolese people in the eastern region displaced. The UNCHR reported that in February, 200,000 people had to flee their homes in the province of North Kivu. A total of 800,000 people experienced displacement between March 2022 and March 2023 alone. The EU has given about 47 million euros in humanitarian aid to the DRC.
Discussion on Other Investments
Though there was a focus on conflict as this is currently the most pressing issue in DRC and an important factor that has impacted the growth of the economy, people discussed and pledged on other matters in the Kinshasa Economic Forum as well.
The European Union (EU) announced that it would invest 50 million euros into DRC’s mineral sector and its infrastructure. DRC’s mineral sector is a key part of their economy. In 2020, the DRC was the largest cobalt miner in the world, producing 41% of the globe’s cobalt. The DRC’s copper industry is also growing, with the nation having some of the highest-quality copper reserves in the world. Despite the drawbacks that the COVID-19 pandemic brought and ongoing conflict in the DRC, their mineral sector proves to be of great aid to their economic growth. The EU’s investment in this sector will prove to be of great help to ensure further expansion of the DRC’s mineral sector. Many investors are also interested in the DRC’s mineral sector, notably American firms, seeing potential in DRC’s mineral market which is worth trillions of dollars.
Concluding Thoughts
The Kinshasa Economic Forum, though being the first of its kind, brought together many people to see the potential to help the DRC in different ways. With international investors tapping into the potential that the DRC mineral sector has, and Macron wants to see an end to those supporting those who are playing a role in conflict and the EU wants to provide aid to those who need it the most.
– Christelle Wealth-Mukendi
Photo: Flickr