In Nigeria, safe, hygienic and dignified menstruation remains a privilege, not a right. In fact, as of 2021, 37% of menstruating girls and women in Nigeria do not use sanitary pads due to lack of access. This is an issue felt most profoundly by the nation’s poor. Seventy-one percent of households in the lowest wealth quintile lack access to the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities necessary for menstrual hygiene management (MHM). However, thanks to NGOs such as Pad Bank Nigeria, the mission to end period poverty has well and truly begun.
In an interview with the Borgen Project, Ibrahim Faleye Hero Aramide, founder of Pad Bank Nigeria, shared his experience learning about period poverty, insights on the importance of education and aspirations for a future where affordable, hygienic and dignified menstruation is the rule, not the exception.
The Beginning
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria as the only boy in his household, Faleye was often sent on errands to purchase sanitary pads for his sisters. Unlike most boys and men in a society where menstruation is often seen as taboo, Faleye was aware of its existence from a young age. What he was not aware of, however, was menstrual poverty.
It was in March 2019, while working as a shop assistant in a local grocery store, that Faleye realized that safe and affordable MHM was far from the norm. After helping a teenage girl feel able to purchase sanitary pads and providing her with a larger size instead of the economic sachet she was able to afford, Faleye’s mission for menstrual justice began.
A mere month later, on April 6, he organized his first menstrual health drive for his birthday, galvanizing local family and friends to the cause.
Pad Bank Nigeria
Today Faleye stands proud as the founder of the NGO Pad Bank Nigeria.
The aims of the organization are divided into two strands: advocacy and awareness, specifically for boys and men, and provision of sanitary products, particularly for the 40% of Nigerians who live below the poverty line as of 2022.
Education and Awareness
Faleye is a strong advocate for male education on menstruation. Through work in schools and other educational establishments, he aims to create a culture where boys grow up able to cater to and care for girls and women during menstruation.
In kickstarting cross-gender conversation on the issues girls face around menstruation, from the struggle to access affordable sanitary products to being forced to miss out on school and examinations, period poverty and its consequences no longer have to be endured in silence.
As Faleye remarked, raising awareness is the first step in creating a solution.
The consequences of menstrual poverty have powerful ramifications. As absence from education accumulates with each month of menstruation, so too do the adverse effects on academic performance.
With 6.7% fewer girls than boys completing lower secondary school in Nigeria as of 2010, and 18.6% fewer women aged fifteen or above possessing basic literary skills than men as of 2018, the gender gap in education is abundantly clear. This is also the case in the labor force, with female participation standing at 13.4% less than that of men as of 2022. Nigerian women are thus more susceptible to unemployment, financial instability and falling into poverty.
Eradicating menstrual poverty is a vital step to eradicating poverty on a wider scale.
The Future
Looking to the future, Faleye believes that the solution lies in a combination of grassroots efforts and advocacy to spark direct changes in government policy. He notes the sizeable impact of introducing policies to eradicate or reduce tax on local manufacturers, as well as raising awareness that such policies exist.
This work in ending period poverty also goes hand in hand with pad drives and NGO missions such as those of Pad Bank Nigeria.
This is particularly important in helping menstrual products and awareness campaigns reach rural communities and assisting the Nigerian government in implementing, monitoring and evaluating the effects of policy within communities.
Faleye has bold and transformative aspirations for Pad Bank Nigeria and indeed for the mission to end menstrual poverty across the globe.
When asked where he sees the NGO in the next five years, Faleye presents an inspiring vision. He aims to be the nation’s solution to menstrual poverty and the leading domestic organization in providing menstrual relief and period management.
Through the creation of walk-in branches for individual menstrual support and management as well as providing high-quality menstrual products and services to adolescent girls from 10-19 across all 36 states in Nigeria, to name but a few of his proposed solutions, it seems Faleye’s vision of a nation free from menstrual poverty is fast becoming a reality.
– Izzy Grout
Photo: Flickr
Rural Disconnection in Chile: A Barrier to Regional Development
Chile is a nation with immense biodiversity and culture and an example of economic growth in Latin America. Nevertheless, Chile finds itself with the glaring issue of over-centralization. The South American nation is one of the most centralized nations globally, leaving rural governments, businesses and people with significantly less access to funds, critical resources, educational opportunities and economic growth.
Centralization as a Barrier to Rural Progress
Chile finds itself as one of the most centralized countries in the world, where regional governments function in deconcentrated and decentralized municipalities. These municipalities rely significantly on the central government yet receive a fraction of their funding. Only 3% of Chile’s GDP, or 13% of the total public investment, was allocated to local government expenditure. These figures leave Chile as one of the countries with the lowest local public investment of all OECD nations. Local governments outside the nation’s capital are left short-staffed and underfunded, thus, fewer resources for rural Chileans.
Economic Concentration and Territorial Disparities
Rural disconnection in Chile also lives beyond the public sector. Chile ranks among the highest levels of territorial inequalities within the OECD. The nation ultimately reached the second-highest GDP concentration level in the OECD in 2013. A financial restriction has exacerbated such pronounced disparities. As it stands, Chile is the sole OECD country where local borrowing is illegal. Thus businesses, citizens and local municipalities are restricted from accessing prime financial resources. There is an immense consolidation of economic opportunities in Santiago, the nation’s capital. Santiago garnered a tremendous 69% of GDP growth and the majority of labor productivity advancements from 2000 to 2013.
Limited Rural Higher Education
Educational disparities are also prevalent in Chile due to its over-centralization, especially in higher education. In 2020, more than 70% of all higher education enrollments occurred in three regions, with 50% of the total enrollments in the metropolitan region where the capital resides. The lack of higher education outside of the most populated regions further propagates inequality, stagnates the possibility of growth and hordes the nation’s human capital. Human capital drives economic stability, employment and innovation. Rural disconnection in Chile has led to a concentration of half of the individuals with the highest human capital and job opportunities in one region.
Rural Poverty
The majority of the regions of Chile are overlooked and lack opportunities, access and investment. Rural disconnection in Chile has led to noteworthy levels of child poverty. The 2020 National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN) saw a pandemic-induced economic downturn. The year 2020 witnessed a 1.7 increase in percentage points for children and adolescents living in poverty, where rural residents were one of the four most vulnerable groups, with 18.1%. Those living in rural areas have less access to critical means for economic improvement and are thus exposed to harsher pitfalls in times of crisis.
Fundación 99
While Chile’s rural population finds itself in a state of vulnerability with its lack of investment and access to essential services, there are organizations passionate about reducing these deficits. Fundación 99 is an NGO determined to tackle social inequalities in order to achieve long-lasting social progress. The organization fights to help people in need with gender equity, inclusion and community participation as the guiding principles. The foundation intervenes in three key areas: education, public spaces and infrastructure and local economic development.
Fundación 99 has been channeling a lot of its efforts into empowering rural education in Chile for the last five years. The organization implements strategies that look for sustainable impact after their intervention is finalized. Two ongoing projects are communities of learning and educational bridges. These endeavors strive to foster enriching educational experiences for underdeveloped communities. Communities of learning look to create academic-minded communities where education is not limited to the classroom. Educational bridges equip educators with contemporary practices and innovative teaching techniques, encouraging strong student involvement. Their commitment to these communities is pursuing a society where development and opportunity are available to all.
Rural disconnection in Chile leaves countless individuals with unequal availability of funds, critical resources and educational opportunities. The human capital of rural Chile limits the potential of numerous people and deprives the country of reaching its maximum level of development potential. However, with strides such as those carried out by Fundación 99, lasting and genuine progress is being pursued.
– Agustín Pino
Photo: Flickr
Lack of Support for Autistic Children in Africa
Acceptance for autistic children in Africa currently stands at an extremely low point, characterized by a dearth of clinicians possessing knowledge about the condition and the inability to diagnose it, leaving numerous children and families grappling to cope.
The challenges faced by individuals with autism are compounded by the paucity of available support, as prevailing societal stigmas often label neurodiverse individuals as “mentally retarded” or “psychotic.” Consequently, parents find themselves with no alternative but to confine their children at home, resulting in devastating consequences.
Locked Away
One mother, identified as “Demas,” recounted to the “Independent” that she had no choice but to tether her autistic child, named Firikte, for eight hours without access to food, water, or bathroom breaks. Firkte’s severe condition rendered her incapable of self-care.
Regrettably, such heartbreaking cases are not isolated incidents, as many parents across Africa are compelled to resort to similar measures due to the absence of viable alternatives.
Furthermore, it is reported that in Ethiopia there are “only 60 psychiatrists,” with coping mechanisms for those suffering from the condition being limited to whether an institution is accepting of the person and is willing to help them to support their needs.
Desperation From a Family in South Africa
In South Africa, a family shares a heart-wrenching story of withdrawing their child from a special school for autistic children due to the unaffordable costs involved.
In May 2020, my husband and I received the most shocking and unexpected news, our second son who is 4 years old, has autism, he is unable to speak and only communicates through using body language and a few signs, he has uncontrolled bible [sic] and strange mannerisms no one can understand.
Due to the fact that there was little to no support in the rural area of Mtubtuba, the family was referred to an autistic school which was around 55 km from their house. However, upon evaluating the school’s monthly fees, they concluded that this option was entirely unattainable.
This realization left the family profoundly disheartened, as they understood that their child would not experience a typical upbringing. Helping him communicate verbally and express himself properly necessitated the support of a mainstream school, which, unfortunately, had to be free of charge.
The child’s mother also reports consistently and tirelessly surfing the Internet to see if she could find government institutions that could help in the area, only to discover that there was nothing.
Moreover, the state of poverty the family was suffering from was also a huge barrier, as a private school in Richards Bay approached the family to offer the child a position at the school, but they were forced to turn it down due to being unable to successfully apply for a loan.
The boy’s mother also reports how she “can’t believe how intolerant and impatient people are towards disabled people and children, this is so sad to me, desperate and saddened.”
Organizations That Are Currently Helping in Africa
Looking Ahead
Overall, to support those living with autism in Africa, more innovations must be made so that families are no longer forced to hide their children away and can instead live with the hope that they are receiving an inclusive upbringing in society, without consistent financial worry and strain.
– Megan Rose Miley
Photo: Flickr
Addressing the Top Diseases Impacting Uganda
Here is more information about these diseases, and what is being done about them.
Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread through mosquitoes that feed on humans, with symptoms such as high fevers and shaking chills. As one of the top diseases impacting Uganda, it is a risk to over 90% of the Ugandan population and is a leading cause of sickness and death, especially in children. Uganda has the highest malaria incidence rate worldwide, with 478 cases per 1,000 people per year, and malaria is estimated to have caused between 70,000 and 100,000 deaths per year, exceeding even the death rate of HIV.
In Uganda’s Ntungamo District, one of the districts most heavily affected by malaria, people have taken action to combat its spread. Village Health Teams (VHT) have been trained by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF to support Ugandan communities in fighting against diseases and assisting health care workers in providing health services. The teams also educate communities on malaria prevention methods, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and prescribe Coartem, an anti-malarial medication that destroys the malaria parasites, to those affected by malaria. The efforts of the VHT have resulted in a remarkable decline in malaria cases — from 8,297 cases in December 2022 to 3,995 cases in March 2023.
Tuberculosis
TB is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. It is caused by a type of bacteria and is spread through the air when TB-infected people cough. TB is a leading cause of death worldwide, and Uganda is one of the countries with the highest burden of TB. Every day, around 30 people die of TB, and 240 people fall sick with TB in Uganda. Uganda is designated by the World Health Organization to be a TB and HIV high-burden country, with over 12,000 deaths to TB every year, and around half of those deaths are among those who are HIV-positive. Children under 15 account for an estimated 12% of TB cases, with young children vulnerable to developing a more severe version of TB.
Since 2015, the Ugandan government has made significant progress in improving the coverage of TB preventive treatment that targets those living with HIV, made available at no cost for TB patients. Scaling up the coverage of preventive treatment has resulted in nearly 600,000 people living with HIV initiating this treatment from 2015 to 2019, and from 2016 to 2022, TB preventive treatment coverage for people living with HIV increased from 0.6% to 88.8%. Over the years, Uganda has successfully scaled up the provision of TB preventive treatment to those living with HIV, and the government has pledged to end TB by 2030 by continuing to accelerate the delivery of TB treatments.
HIV/AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV attacks the human immune system, leaving it vulnerable to infection and disease. Around 1.4 million people in Uganda live with HIV, among whom women are disproportionately affected. About 17,000 people die per year due to AIDS, 22% of whom are children under the age of 15.
The nonprofit organization mothers2mothers (m2m) contributes to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and has virtually eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV among its clients. It supports mothers who live with HIV by helping pregnant women access antiretroviral treatment (ART). In 2021, m2m took in and improved the lives of over 150,000 new clients; among these clients, 100% of HIV-positive women have been given lifetime ART, and 100% of HIV-exposed infants have been treated with ART as protection from infection. m2m has also intervened to end child marriage in Uganda’s Kamuli District, protecting adolescent women who are more susceptible to getting infected and increasing access to HIV care.
Looking Forward
The measures taken to combat some of the most deadly diseases impacting Uganda have led to a decrease in mortality rates over the years. With continued efforts from organizations like m2m and local communities, Uganda will continue to make strides in minimizing the impact of malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
– Stephanie Chan
Photo: Unsplash
Poverty Alleviation via Health Care Investment
Lack of access to health care is one of the key signs of a poverty-stricken or developing nation, but few realize that the affordability of what health care may be available also plays a significant part in what makes and keeps people poor. The World Bank estimates that health care costs alone forced or pushed further more than a half-billion people into poverty in 2021.
The Need for Poverty-Improving Health Care Investment
Folks who have to spend more on health care are far less likely to spend that money on their other needs, such as nutrition or the education of their family. Poor health alone is estimated to claim 15% of the world’s GDP each year in unnecessary deaths and the subsequent loss of productive potential. People’s lack of access to affordable health care not only has a profoundly negative effect on their personal lives but also subtracts from their social and economic involvement. Though a problem at every income level, the effect that poor health care can have on the developing world is more profound — it stunts their economic growth and leaves them further in danger of extreme poverty.
In this way, health care investment plays a crucial role in the reduction of poverty. When poorer citizens are less concerned with their access or ability to pay for health care, they are able to contribute more meaningfully to the workforce and are far more likely to spend their money on other needs. Notably, good health can encourage savings and is a major proponent in business investment, both beneficial activities for economic growth. This pattern played out in the recent past, in the latter half of the 20th century.
As hygiene and health improved, the improvements in avoidance of health complications led to a longer life expectancy and an improved quality of life — something that contributed heavily to the “rapid expansion of the labor force and labor productivity.” Though health care remains a limitation to the economic growth of both the developing and the developed world, the effects of good health care upon the economy and the necessity for further investment are historically evident.
Tangible Benefits of Health Care Upon Poverty
Health care investment has a real-world benefit for those suffering from poverty. Some estimates remark that more than 60 million lives could be saved in the next decade if “annual spending on primary health care in low and middle-income industries” was increased by just 5%. Beyond the loss of life, the economic consequences of mass illness are devastating to the developing world’s economy — the SARS epidemic produced a loss of more than $40 billion in productivity, and the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak created a loss of $53 billion. Put in the most simple of terms — when people are happy and healthy, so is the economy, and the developing world benefits the most from this form of growth.
Going Forward
A focus on health care investment saves lives and alleviates one of the major causes of poverty in the developing world. The subsequent social and economic gains are not only a benefit to the people who receive them, but further introduce these nations onto the global economic stage. With the investment of affluent nations into the health care systems of developing parts of the world, the entire globe stands to benefit.
– Marc Federici
Photo: Flickr
Full-time Children and Poverty in China
Youth Unemployment
According to recent figures, the youth unemployment rate in China has gone up to a record high of 21.30% in June 2023. More than one in five young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 years are unemployed. It is speculated that the actual rate of unemployment is even higher.
Young Chinese students are feeling defeated and stuck in a system that undervalues them, with working conditions that are more than overtaxing. The grueling “996 work culture” has become the norm in China, with employees working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Workers feel that they are underpaid and exploited. Many young Chinese graduates are increasingly dissatisfied with the system that tells them that their hard work will pay off. Some of these graduates and other young people have chosen to become full-time children in China.
This system is often referred to as the “rat race.” In China, the race starts the minute you are born, with pressures to get into a good school and a prestigious university and then secure a job. The traditional ideals of success are being put under scrutiny as people question the little to no reward they are getting for their hard work and effort.
Tang Ping
Talks of labor protection are common with the recent “tang ping” movement taking place on Chinese social media. “Tang ping” translates to lying flat. Photos on social media apps show graduates in their ceremonial gowns ready to throw away their newly awarded degrees or hiding their faces behind mortarboards.
Young people feel the need for a change in their toxic work lifestyle. The movement aims to highlight and expose the high pressures of finding a job in the competitive market. The movement has been censored by Chinese authorities to prevent the increasing scale of the trend.
The economy has also grown a lot slower than expected as compared to the previous year. The lack of job opportunities is another reason for the emergence of full-time children in China. The situation is likely to get worse with 11.5 million students graduating in the summer of 2023. Students are being encouraged to go to rural farmlands to work instead of being given opportunities to use their degrees and education to get jobs with a proper work–life balance.
Not only that, people in their 30s are also worried about the so-called “curse of 35.” Employers do not want to hire people older than the age of 35 because they believe they can exploit the younger population by paying them less and making them work overtime. Job insecurity is a problem not only for younger graduates who are looking for a job but also for those reaching their 30s.
The Future
The growing discontent among the younger generation has reached a tipping point. They are calling themselves “the last generation.” People are unwilling to have children only to see them grow up in similar conditions and become another rat for the seemingly endless race.
If the situation is not improved and working conditions remain the same, the movement of full-time children in China will have long-term consequences on the economy and increase the poverty rate. Young people will soon become unemployable because they have been out of work for a long time, which will put them at risk of poverty. The government must boost the faltering economy by implementing reforms to provide better opportunities for its younger citizens.
– Sharvi Rana
Photo: Pixabay
Ibrahim Faleye Hero Aramide on Pad Bank Nigeria
In an interview with the Borgen Project, Ibrahim Faleye Hero Aramide, founder of Pad Bank Nigeria, shared his experience learning about period poverty, insights on the importance of education and aspirations for a future where affordable, hygienic and dignified menstruation is the rule, not the exception.
The Beginning
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria as the only boy in his household, Faleye was often sent on errands to purchase sanitary pads for his sisters. Unlike most boys and men in a society where menstruation is often seen as taboo, Faleye was aware of its existence from a young age. What he was not aware of, however, was menstrual poverty.
It was in March 2019, while working as a shop assistant in a local grocery store, that Faleye realized that safe and affordable MHM was far from the norm. After helping a teenage girl feel able to purchase sanitary pads and providing her with a larger size instead of the economic sachet she was able to afford, Faleye’s mission for menstrual justice began.
A mere month later, on April 6, he organized his first menstrual health drive for his birthday, galvanizing local family and friends to the cause.
Pad Bank Nigeria
Today Faleye stands proud as the founder of the NGO Pad Bank Nigeria.
The aims of the organization are divided into two strands: advocacy and awareness, specifically for boys and men, and provision of sanitary products, particularly for the 40% of Nigerians who live below the poverty line as of 2022.
Education and Awareness
Faleye is a strong advocate for male education on menstruation. Through work in schools and other educational establishments, he aims to create a culture where boys grow up able to cater to and care for girls and women during menstruation.
In kickstarting cross-gender conversation on the issues girls face around menstruation, from the struggle to access affordable sanitary products to being forced to miss out on school and examinations, period poverty and its consequences no longer have to be endured in silence.
As Faleye remarked, raising awareness is the first step in creating a solution.
The consequences of menstrual poverty have powerful ramifications. As absence from education accumulates with each month of menstruation, so too do the adverse effects on academic performance.
With 6.7% fewer girls than boys completing lower secondary school in Nigeria as of 2010, and 18.6% fewer women aged fifteen or above possessing basic literary skills than men as of 2018, the gender gap in education is abundantly clear. This is also the case in the labor force, with female participation standing at 13.4% less than that of men as of 2022. Nigerian women are thus more susceptible to unemployment, financial instability and falling into poverty.
Eradicating menstrual poverty is a vital step to eradicating poverty on a wider scale.
The Future
Looking to the future, Faleye believes that the solution lies in a combination of grassroots efforts and advocacy to spark direct changes in government policy. He notes the sizeable impact of introducing policies to eradicate or reduce tax on local manufacturers, as well as raising awareness that such policies exist.
This work in ending period poverty also goes hand in hand with pad drives and NGO missions such as those of Pad Bank Nigeria.
This is particularly important in helping menstrual products and awareness campaigns reach rural communities and assisting the Nigerian government in implementing, monitoring and evaluating the effects of policy within communities.
Faleye has bold and transformative aspirations for Pad Bank Nigeria and indeed for the mission to end menstrual poverty across the globe.
When asked where he sees the NGO in the next five years, Faleye presents an inspiring vision. He aims to be the nation’s solution to menstrual poverty and the leading domestic organization in providing menstrual relief and period management.
Through the creation of walk-in branches for individual menstrual support and management as well as providing high-quality menstrual products and services to adolescent girls from 10-19 across all 36 states in Nigeria, to name but a few of his proposed solutions, it seems Faleye’s vision of a nation free from menstrual poverty is fast becoming a reality.
– Izzy Grout
Photo: Flickr
Improving Health care Access in Rural Mali Via Mobile Clinics
In a major stride towards improving health care access and combating poverty in rural Mali, a groundbreaking initiative featuring mobile clinics and telemedicine has taken center stage. Rural Mali has long faced the challenges of limited health care infrastructure, scarcity of medical professionals and inadequate resources. For years, these barriers have hindered communities from receiving timely medical attention, leading to preventable illnesses, lost productivity and a cycle of poverty that has been difficult to break.
Mobile Clinics Reach Remote Villages
Mobile clinics have done miracles for health care access in rural Mali. In the regions of Gao and Mopti, where access to medical facilities was limited, Première Urgence Internationale, a local NGO partnered with the Malian government to deploy mobile clinics. These clinics, staffed with medical professionals, traversed difficult terrains to reach isolated villages that were previously cut off from health care services.
The impact was evident as villagers received critical medical attention for conditions like malaria and respiratory infections. In addition to treating acute illnesses, the clinics focused on preventive measures, such as vaccinations and health education. This approach led to a decrease in preventable diseases, resulting in a healthier and more productive population.
Furthermore, mobile clinics’ regular visits ensured better nutrition and early detection of health issues among children. This in turn leads to better school attendance rates which allows parents to devote more time to economic activities, breaking the cycle of poverty.
Telemedicine Bridges the Gap
Telemedicine has played a pivotal role in providing specialized care to remote regions, reducing the burden on urban health care centers and providing essential health care access in rural Mali. In Kayes, a city with limited medical facilities, a telemedicine network was established to connect local clinics with medical experts in the capital city of Bamako.
Expectant mothers in Kayes, who previously had to travel long distances for prenatal care, could now receive remote consultations with obstetricians. Complications during pregnancy were swiftly identified and early interventions saved lives.
Moreover, telemedicine enabled the management of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. UNDP-led project SanDi has helped patients with virtual check-ups in regions like Sikasso which has its challenges accessing regular health care. Improved disease management means fewer medical emergencies and reduced health care expenses, freeing up resources for other essential needs.
The Nexus Between Improved Health Care and Poverty Alleviation
The marriage of mobile clinics and telemedicine is proving to be a powerful tool in the fight against poverty. Here is how this solution-oriented approach is making a tangible difference:
Looking Forward
The success of improving health care access in rural Mali through mobile clinics and telemedicine is a testament to the power of innovation and collective action. With continued support from governments, non-governmental organizations and global partners, this initiative can be scaled up to bring lasting change and create a healthier, more prosperous future for all Malians.
– Valentin Lyazov
Photo: Flickr
5 Anti-Poverty Charities Operating in Colombia
Anti-poverty improving health care or the education system, or simply building infrastructure and low-cost housing for people living below the poverty line. The World Bank reports that 19.6 million (or roughly 39.3%) of the Colombian population lives below the national poverty line.
This shows the importance of the nonprofit organizations working within the country; they contribute heavily to improving the Colombian way of life. Here are five charities operating in Colombia.
5 Anti-Poverty Charities Operating in Colombia
Looking Ahead
The above anti-poverty charities operating in Colombia have all worked to eliminate poverty in numerous ways. Through their continued work, one can expect to see further improvements in education access, health care and more in Colombia.
– Marc Federici
Photo: Flickr
Facts About Child Poverty in Uzbekistan
Declining Child Mortality Rate
Uzbekistan has significantly reduced the infant and under-5 mortality rates over the past four decades. According to World Bank data, the infant mortality rate fell drastically from 98 per 1,000 live births in 1980 to just 13 per 1,000 live births in 2021. Likewise, the under-5 mortality rate reached an all-time low of 14 per 1,000 live births in 2021.
Child Poverty in Uzbekistan
Nonetheless, child poverty remains a pressing issue in Uzbekistan. UNICEF’s 2019 report, “Building a Better Future: A Child-sensitive Social Protection System for Uzbekistan,” stated that 30% of young children and 24% of children between five to 14 years old belong to the poorest quintile of Uzbekistan. While the general poverty in Uzbekistan is 21%, the child poverty rate stood higher at 24%.
As of 2019, 57% of children in the country lived on less than 10,000 UZS per day, approximately 1.5 times the minimum wage. The minimum wage in Uzbekistan also serves as the income eligibility threshold for families to receive child benefits. The prevailing circumstances signified that many children lived in households struggling to provide adequate child care.
UNICEF currently estimates that children in Uzbekistan are one and a half times more likely to be poor than adults.
Malnutrition
Many young children in Uzbekistan experience undernutrition. Another 2019 UNICEF report, “Building a National Social Protection System Fit For Uzbekistan’s Children and Youth,” reported that 9% of children are stunted, causing irreversible damage to the children’s cognitive development. The report also highlighted that stunted children were likely to earn 26% less as adults than their non-stunted peers, further exacerbating a cycle of poverty and inequality.
However, from 2002 to 2017, the stunting rate in Uzbekistan dropped from 21% to 8.7%, thanks to Uzbekistan’s immense strides in reducing malnutrition and expanding social welfare.
Children With Disabilities
In 2019, 13% of children with disabilities between the ages of 7 and 15 were not enrolled in school. Nearly one-third of young people with disabilities could not attain any diploma, limiting their educational and employment opportunities.
Moreover, UNICEF also determined that 52% of children with severe disabilities lacked access to services from the Child Disability Benefits program, indicating the limited reach of social support for vulnerable children and their families in Uzbekistan.
Social Insecurity
52% of Uzbekistan’s impoverished households are excluded from any support by the national social protection system, leaving many families with children without benefits and social services. Subsequently, only 17% of children living in households have access to child benefits, only 23% of children under two gain Child Allowance, and only 10% of children between 2 to 14 years old collect the Family Allowance.
Ongoing Efforts by UNICEF
Currently, UNICEF’s global interventions emphasize child-sensitive social protection programs and investing in early childhood and adolescent development. For example, UNICEF is helping Uzbekistan develop a cash benefits program to address household income poverty. The organization plans to further invest in childhood education, health care access, clean water and sanitation to provide impoverished children with the needed care, security and nutrition. The organization hopes to establish sustainable social investments and integrate child-poverty-reduction policies into government budgets.
Addressing child poverty, improving social security systems and ensuring better access to education and health care for children with disabilities are crucial areas that require concerted efforts from the government, civil society and international organizations to improve the well-being of children in Uzbekistan.
– Freya Ngo
Photo: Flickr
Organizations Working to End Child Marriage in Nepal
The global organization Girls Not Brides defines child marriage as an issue “rooted in gender inequality,” which is ultimately “made worse by poverty, lack of education, harmful social norms and practices, and insecurity.” The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal has one of the highest rates of child marriage in South Asia, and Plan International suggests that “37% of Nepali women aged 20-24 years are married by the age of 18 and 10% of those are married before 15.”
Reasons for the Prevalence of Child Marriage in Nepal
Child marriage in Nepal, as well as across the globe, is a clear violation of a child’s human rights. There are many factors that contribute to the prevalence of child marriage, and poverty is one of those significant factors. In some countries, deeply entrenched cultural and social traditions stand as a reason for child marriage. For instance, some families marry their daughters off young in order to preserve their “purity”—a girl who marries young will be less likely to engage in sexual relations outside of marriage and bring shame to the family.
Families experiencing extreme poverty see child marriage as a way of relieving their economic burdens, as the girl’s husband will take on the financial burden of care. Additionally, the child bride’s parents may receive money or gifts that will bring relief to their economic struggle.
Champions of Change
Plan International is a humanitarian organization that advocates for the advancement of “children’s rights and equality for girls.” Plan International implements several girl-led and youth-centered campaigns to promote gender quality in the country. For example, through Plan International’s Champions of Change, the organization aims to utilize youth engagement to advance gender equality and address issues that disproportionately impact females in the country, such as child marriage. Child marriage is, in fact, one of the main focuses of the Champions of Change program.
Asha is a 22-year-old female who is a facilitator for Plan International’s Champions of Change program in Nepal. Having avoided child marriage herself, Asha aims to help young girls understand their right to make decisions regarding their futures and bodies. On weekends, Asha facilitates training sessions on gender equality for young girls in Nepal between the ages of 10 and 24. “I want all the participants to learn about their bodies and their choices. This will help them to understand why child marriage is a harmful traditional practice,” Asha says to Plan International.
Looking Ahead
Unfortunately, child marriage is not uncommon. Young girls who find themselves in this situation face a threat to their futures and well-being. UNICEF recognizes that in order to find a lasting solution to child marriage, the world must address the factors that enable it. Campaigning for gender equality remains the most effective way to transform the lives of girls across the globe. Educating younger generations about the harmful nature of child marriage should be a necessary requirement for all schools. Organizations continue to promote the significance of education around this topic, for both young girls and boys, while also running campaigns with the aim of helping young females understand their rights.
– Olivia Taylor
Photo: Flickr