According to suggestions, the key to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic could be female empowerment. The country currently ranks 84th out of 146 countries in the gender gap. Like most Latin American countries, the cultural value of machismo, the concept of male superiority and dominance over women, plays a role in the island’s gender inequality. Because of this, many in the Dominican Republic expect women to remain housewives.
Since women perform all household duties, they face limitations in their academic and economic opportunities. According to the World Economic Forum, 75% of men in the Dominican Republic participate in the labor force, while the figure for women stands at only 49%. Even though women control the affairs of the home, the expectation for men is to gain employment and provide money for the family, and this impacts female education and economic independence.
About 40% of women in the Dominican Republic carry out unpaid work at home. Due to a lack of participation in the economic sphere, the poverty rate among women is 27%, but 24% for men based on U.N. statistics.
The Impact of COVID-19
Unfortunately, COVID-19 worsened gender inequality in the Dominican Republic. During pandemic-induced school closures, females accounted for 61% of student dropouts and males accounted for just 39%. The pandemic confined female students to the household and diminished the importance of obtaining an education.
Similar to school drop-out rates, female unemployment rates as a result of the pandemic demonstrate the Dominican Republic’s levels of gender inequality. With jobs using digital technology for remote work, the number of Internet users rose throughout the Dominican Republic according to statistics from the U.N.
However, the digital gender divide restricted females from using the Internet for economic opportunities. Females are 50% less likely than men to have access to digital technology, according to the World Wide Web Foundation. Because women have minimal access to computers, they were less likely to transition to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 showed that the distribution of internet access is not even across the country. Although the government is working toward making the Internet universally accessible, the costs are still high. This excludes poor and rural populations from engaging in the digital world; therefore, only 59% of households in the Dominican population have internet access. Even though poverty widens the digital divide, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation commit to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic through female empowerment.
The Mariposa Foundation
Patricia Thorndike started the Mariposa Foundation in 2009 with the goal of educating, empowering and employing young girls ages 8 to 18 in the Dominican Republic. The organization believes that investing in women educationally and culturally encourages young girls to leave their households, make an income and pull their families out of poverty. The Mariposa Foundation gives young girls access to education alongside providing the tools required to help them gain employment. The potential long-term benefit of this is that more women entering the economic sphere and bringing money back to their families could lead to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic.
The Mariposa Center for Girls provides its students with academic enrichment and daily health and wellness activities. Before the organization opened, there was no high school in the town of Cabarete and most girls were not making it to the 8th grade. As of 2023, the school gives out scholarships and provides safe transportation to change the narrative for girls born into extreme poverty.
While the organization’s initial goal was for its students to reach the 8th grade, many have exceeded expectations; 100% of Mariposa girls are enrolled in high school. Once they graduate, the organization will continue to support them through workshops for navigating higher education, learning a trade, building a resume and starting a business.
The Mariposa Foundation also helps reduce poverty by providing economic opportunities for its students. For example, the Mariposa Foundation owns Cabarete Coffee Company, which brings in more than $100,000 in revenue to fund the organization’s programs, and Mariposa girls interested in hospitality can work for the company.
The Success Stories
One of many success stories is that of Fabiola Veraz Joazar. She works as a swim instructor and program assistant at the Center for Girls. After learning how to swim through the Mariposa Foundation, she became the first Haitian-certified lifeguard in the Dominican Republic. By encouraging girls to pursue their passions, the organization allows females born into extreme poverty to enter the economic sphere.
Not even COVID-19 slowed down the Mariposa Foundation’s efforts toward female empowerment. After announcing that the 2021 school year would be completely virtual, the organization handed out laptops and iPads to its students so all girls could continue their education. By providing the resources to close the digital gender divide, the Mariposa Foundation ensured young girls of all backgrounds could pursue their passions and be ready to enter the workforce.
What is Next?
Looking toward the future, the Mariposa Foundation is directly working toward achieving gender equality and poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic. The Mariposa Foundation provides young girls with the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the household, find their passions and enter the economic world. With the goal of female empowerment, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation play a vital role in reducing poverty for all.
– Meilyn Farina
Photo: Flickr
Colab Uses Technology to Empower Communities in Brazil
Birth of Colab
Hailing from São Paulo, entrepreneurs Paulo Pandolfi and Gustavo Maia conceived Colab in 2013. The co-founders strongly believe in technology’s potential to drive positive societal change. This vision led to the creation of an app or online platform in 2018 that facilitates connections among Brazilian communities, allowing them to report concerns and access local resources.
This online platform aims to empower citizens across Brazil’s 5,570 cities to share insights about their city’s current status. The goal is to enable local authorities and decision-makers to develop responsive public policies amid urbanization challenges. Despite well-developed urban infrastructure, major Brazilian cities grapple with issues such as traffic congestion, waste management and inadequate public services in certain areas. By tapping into the perspectives of city residents, the platform seeks to foster efficient and integrated approaches to tackle the intricate demands of urbanization. Utilizing technology, particularly the Colab app, becomes pivotal in addressing these issues and helping to empower communities in Brazil.
Reporting Empowers Communities in Brazil
The Colab app empowers users to report urban issues like potholes and broken streetlights. Colab helps to connect users with government bodies and community organizations for prompt solutions. Beyond this, its social network fosters collaboration on urban development and civic engagement initiatives. Users can track the status and progress of their reported issues, ensuring that authorities address their concerns in a timely fashion. This feature cultivates accountability on the part of local authorities.
Widespread Impact
More than 500,000 users spanning 150,000 municipalities in Brazil now use the Colab platform. Colab stands as an effective platform for the resolution of various issues impacting communities while nurturing citizen engagement, accountability and effective governance.
Colab’s success is marked by impressive achievements:
Bridging the Citizen-Government Divide
Colab’s unique characteristic lies in bridging the divide between citizens and government, nurturing transparency and responsiveness. Through a platform for voicing concerns and monitoring progress, it fosters trust and accountability between residents and public officials.
Colab stands as a notable example of how technology can empower communities, propel social change and elevate community standards. Through mobile apps, social networks and data analytics, the app establishes avenues for civic engagement, accountability and economic prospects.
Nevertheless, Colab’s success underscores the imperative for more investment and support for technology startups committed to social transformation. Addressing challenges like funding, regulations and developing-country infrastructure necessitates collaborative efforts among governments, investors and civil society.
Tackling these challenges mandates an enabling environment for tech startups, encompassing policies that foster innovation, incentives for investors and partnerships for resource and expertise sharing. Colab’s achievements hinge on society’s recognition and valuation of its contributions to societal change. By endorsing such initiatives, nations can lay the foundation for an inclusive, prosperous future, fostering equitable and sustainable development.
– Eva O’Donovan
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Leprosy in Nepal
Leprosy is curable and, if treated early, it will not cause any long-term health issues. According to The Leprosy Mission, around 200,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with leprosy each year.
Although the overall prevalence of leprosy in Nepal fell below one case in 10,000 of its entire population in 2009, there are still areas in Southern Nepal where its prevalence is much higher due to its proximity to Northern India. Nepal was still among the top ten countries affected by leprosy in 2021.
How Leprosy Affects People
If left untreated, leprosy can cause nerve damage, leading to a loss of sensation in the hands, feet and face. Due to this loss of sensation, people with untreated leprosy are less likely to notice pain from injuries such as burns and cuts, which can then lead to infections. Nerve damage to the face can also cause difficulty with blinking and can lead to eye damage and even blindness.
Due to myths and superstitions, there is a great amount of fear and stigma surrounding leprosy in many cultures. Those suffering from the disease are often isolated from their families and communities, and many lose their jobs and even their homes because of this.
Heal Nepal
Although leprosy is curable, especially when treated early, it can be very difficult to diagnose. The Leprosy Mission works with medical researchers to discover new treatments for leprosy and develops campaigns in countries affected by leprosy to help educate people about the disease. They also work with governments worldwide to ensure medical staff are educated, reducing misdiagnosis and preventing leprosy from developing.
The Leprosy Mission aims for zero transmission of leprosy worldwide and is working to improve education on how to end the transmission of leprosy in Nepal through its Heal Nepal program. Heal Nepal works with local communities and health services in 11 different districts of Nepal to educate local communities about leprosy, raising awareness of its symptoms and treatment. They also train health workers on leprosy diagnostics and encourage the early treatment of leprosy, and emphasize that it is not infectious when treated.
These efforts have significantly reduced waiting times for referrals and have allowed for a more efficient provision of leprosy treatment to patients, which has decreased the number of serious health complications in people with leprosy in Nepal. The program also provides patients suffering from more advanced cases with reconstructive surgery when necessary.
How Heal Nepal Is Supporting People with Leprosy in Nepal
Heal Nepal has recruited numerous female volunteers and trained them to identify leprosy, and due to their efforts, more than 170 new leprosy patients have been identified and given treatment. This has lowered the levels of the disease and prevented many people from developing lifelong disabilities that can occur as a result of untreated leprosy.
Along with readily available and highly effective treatments such as multi-drug therapy (the World Health Organization’s recommended treatment for leprosy), there have been many medical breakthroughs within the past decade that are helping people with disabilities caused by leprosy. “Clawed hands” or foot-drops caused by leprosy-related nerve damage can now be restored with surgery and physiotherapy, and reconstructive surgery can also restore eyelid muscles, allowing people to blink again. People with nerve-damaged hands and feet are also encouraged to check daily for any cuts or burns and to soak their hands and feet regularly to make them softer, which helps prevent further injuries which could cause disability. Protective shoes and mobility aids have also been made available to those who need them, improving their quality of life and allowing them to be more independent.
Not only do Heal Nepal and The Leprosy Mission help those with leprosy on a physical level, but these programs also help with the social aspects of having leprosy and work to end the stigma and fear surrounding leprosy by educating people in communities where leprosy is common. They also offer counseling and support groups to help people with leprosy feel less alone and help them cope with the negative social aspects of having the disease.
Overall, The Leprosy Mission’s Heal Nepal campaign has helped reduce transmission of leprosy by identifying and diagnosing the disease early on. This has allowed people with the disease to be treated and cured and allowed many people to return to a normal standard of life. For those with more advanced cases, their quality of life has also been improved with more advanced medical and social care.
– Molly Wallace
Photo: Flickr
Change Please is Combating Homelessness Through Coffee
Homelessness is prevalent in London. According to the homeless organization Streets of London, more than 8,000 people live on the streets. The homeless organization’s website discusses reasons for the loss of housing including abuse, addiction, mental health struggles and relationship issues. People without homes are vulnerable to violence, theft, harassment and even death. Crisis U.K., an organization dedicated to helping homeless individuals, states on its website, “People sleeping on the street are almost 17 times more likely to have been victims of violence.” In response to this issue, Change Please, a foundation that fights homelessness through coffee, offers disadvantaged people an opportunity to escape poverty.
Data from the Department for Work and Pensions reveal that 25% of London’s population lives below the poverty line. The pandemic has worsened poverty levels, leaving many families unable to meet their basic needs. Change Please helps struggling individuals in London fulfill their basic needs, including access to shelter.
About Change Please
Change Please is a foundation committed to providing housing, job training and additional resources for homeless populations. It originated in London and has expanded to various locations throughout the city. Its website states 100% of its profits go toward combating homelessness. Change Please’s founder, Cemal Ezel, expressed in the foundation’s annual report that every cup the organization brews and every bean it sells helps change the lives of homeless individuals for the better.
Ezel began the foundation in 2015 after seeing the value of providing job opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. Full-time jobs provide income, a purpose and a chance to start fresh.
Change Please is combating homelessness through coffee in several countries like the United States (U.S.), Australia and France. The foundation’s website states all of its profits go toward helping more than 85% of its trainees secure employment. Through its training programs, 500 individuals are employed as baristas. Change Please gives individuals a fresh start in the coffee business or elsewhere.
The Impact of the Change Please Foundation
Change Please’s training center equips individuals with coffee business knowledge, including customer service, coffee-making techniques and latte art. Retail training offers work experience at the foundation’s coffee franchise locations. Upon graduation, Change Please assists trainees in transitioning to future employment.
Additional Support
The foundation’s Driving for Change program provides additional support, including therapy assessments, employment support, financial literacy training and access to essential services like haircuts, dental care, showers and medical consultations. This initiative, sponsored by Colgate, Mastercard and HSBC U.K., began in 2021 and has already served 650 individuals traveling on buses across London boroughs.
Success Stories
Change Please has empowered individuals to change their lives. One woman who previously lived in a women’s refuge now works in hospitality through the foundation’s support. She expressed her gratitude in the annual report, stating that Change Please has been there for her throughout her journey, providing crucial support during difficult times.
Change Please is making a difference in the fight against homelessness through coffee, one cup at a time, by offering hope and opportunities to individuals striving to rebuild their lives.
– Ellie Bruce
Photo: Flickr
Child Poverty in Libya: Causes, Effects and Solutions
Causes
The issue of conflict has played a significant role in exacerbating child poverty in Libya. For instance, the Libyan Revolt of 2011 had a detrimental impact on health care standards, depriving parents and children of essential medical care. As a result, they experienced a reduced ability to work, and this pushed families further into poverty. The uprising also resulted in the loss or injury of many parents, further hindering their capacity to fulfill their work responsibilities effectively. The revolt caused the deaths of at least 1,142 civilians and injured over 1,000, leaving behind orphaned children and intensifying child poverty in Libya.
Another contributing factor to child poverty was the disruption of education during the war. Despite the availability of free schooling, more than 61,000 students were unable to complete their academic term in 2011. Moreover, the destruction of 15 school buildings by bombings exacerbated the educational deficit.
Effects
The most damaging effect of child poverty is on the health and well-being of affected children. According to a U.N. report, only 14% of children aged between 6 and 23 months receive the minimum diet as of 2019. The same report reveals that 321,200 children are in need of primary and secondary health services in Libya.
The widespread malnutrition of Libyan children is incredibly damaging to the child’s growth, well-being and development. According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the negative effects of malnutrition in the first 1000 days of a child’s life include reduced brain development, a weakened immune system and visual impairment.
Another impact of living in a post-conflict and impoverished society comes from the desire to obtain funds regardless of the method. In Libya, many children living in poverty collect and sell weapons and ammunition left over from wartime to earn money for their families. Other kids pick up weapons or shrapnel out of sheer curiosity, relishing in new, shiny, foreign objects. Naturally, this is very dangerous. Unfortunately, some children have injured themselves or unfortunately lost their lives as a result.
Solutions
Concrete measures exist to alleviate child poverty rates in Libya. Since 2018, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been actively addressing malnutrition in Libya. Through monthly provisions of food and support, the WFP assists around 90,000 vulnerable individuals. Additionally, it offers financial contributions to bolster the country’s social programs. Collaborating with the U.N. and the Government of Libya, the WFP strives to implement effective solutions to reduce child poverty rates in the post-conflict era.
There has been notable progress in reducing infant mortality rates, but further advancements require attention to youth development.
Education stands as the key to breaking the cycle of child poverty in Libya. Education not only alleviates poverty at an individual level but also at a societal level. According to the World Bank, education enhances employment opportunities, fostering economic growth and innovation.
By ensuring improved access to education, this long-term solution aims to break the cycle of child poverty in Libya. In enhancing job prospects for children facing poverty, education plays a crucial role in their empowerment.
The Multi-Year Resilience Programme
There is ongoing progress with respect to addressing the challenging goal of tackling child poverty in Libya. One notable organization working towards this is ‘Education Cannot Wait‘, founded in 2016 by international humanitarian aid and development actors. Its mission is to create a safe learning environment for children affected by crisis. Education Cannot Wait has launched initiatives in crisis-affected countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Iraq and Libya.
The Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP), initiated in 2022 with an investment of $11.1 million, is part of these efforts. The MYRP focuses on improving education access by implementing various strategies. The poorest children receive cash transfers, and this helps to alleviate financial constraints on education. Investments go into training teachers to ensure the delivery of high-quality and inclusive education.
As of June 2023, the MYRP has yielded positive results in Libya. There are currently 723 teachers, and 28,000 children have benefited from additional support in schools, including improved sanitation and access to clean water. Furthermore, 2,975 children have received crucial free meals provided by the schools.
While these efforts show promise, the problem of child poverty in Libya requires further attention. There is a need for more commitment and vigilance from all involved parties working to drive change.
– Tom Eccles
Photo: Unsplash
Revolution: What Desserto Offers Sustainable Fashion
In a world, increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the fashion industry, Mexican entrepreneurs introduced a groundbreaking solution that combines sustainability, innovation and style. Meet Desserto, a remarkable material made from organic cactus plants, specifically the nopal cactus. With its exceptional properties and minimal ecological footprint, Desserto offers sustainable fashion products to customers, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.
The Eco-Friendly Alternative
Desserto’s production process is a game-changing innovation in the fashion world. Unlike traditional leather, which comes from animal hides and has a significant environmental impact, Desserto provides a cruelty-free and sustainable alternative. By using the nopal cactus, a plant known for its resilience in arid conditions, this innovative material requires minimal water and land to grow. This aspect alone distinguishes it as an eco-friendly choice, substantially reducing water consumption and land usage compared to traditional leather production.
Sustainability and Biodegradability
One of the key advantages Desserto offers sustainable fashion is its biodegradability. Unlike synthetic materials that contribute to the accumulation of waste in landfills, cactus leather naturally decomposes without releasing harmful toxins into the environment. Desserto is an excellent choice for those seeking to minimize their ecological footprint. By embracing Desserto, fashion brands and consumers can actively participate in the shift toward a circular economy, where these fashion products are designed with their end-of-life impact in mind.
A Toxic-Free Future
In addition to being biodegradable, Desserto is entirely free from toxic chemicals commonly used in the tanning process of traditional leather production. The manufacturing of Desserto avoids the use of toxic substances like chromium and formaldehyde, ensuring a safer and healthier alternative for both the environment and the people involved in the production process. By opting for cactus leather, fashion brands play a vital role in reducing hazardous waste and safeguarding human health.
Positive Impacts on the Environment and Communities
The benefits of Desserto go beyond its sustainable production. The nopal cactus helps mitigate changing weather patterns through its exceptional carbon absorption capacity. By choosing Desserto, fashion brands reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve natural resources.
Moreover, Desserto promotes fair trade practices, has the potential of providing thousands of employment opportunities for local communities and preserves traditional knowledge. This sustainable initiative empowers local farmers and supports economic diversification, contributing to the overall well-being and development of the Mexican economy.
A Shift Toward a Greener Fashion Industry
The emergence of Desserto represents a significant milestone toward a greener and more sustainable fashion industry. Fashion brands embracing Desserto as a viable alternative to traditional leather are making a conscious decision to prioritize ethical and eco-friendly practices. This transition is crucial in reducing the fashion industry’s environmental impact and fostering a more responsible approach to fashion production.
Conclusion
Desserto, a creation of Mexican entrepreneurs, is a true game-changer in the fashion industry. Its organic composition, minimal water and land requirements, biodegradability and absence of toxic chemicals make it a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather. By choosing Desserto, fashion brands reduce water consumption and carbon emissions and promote fair-trade practices. Moreover, Desserto empowers local communities, preserves Mexican farmland and fosters economic diversification. It symbolizes a shift toward a greener fashion industry, where ethical and eco-friendly practices become the standard. With what Desserto offers sustainable fashion, the future of the fashion industry looks exceptionally promising.
– Eva Cairns O’Donovan
Photo: Flickr
Mars-Sourced Rice? Outer Space Farming Is More Likely Than Expected
Challenges for Living on the Red Planet
Outer space soil is unfit for growing crops to nourish the human body. Perchlorate salts in the soil on Mars have high levels of toxicity for plants. Luckily, the University of Arkansas may have found a solution to this problem through continuous experiments that recently yielded remarkable results. On April 26, the University of Arkansas published an official statement announcing a new finding—that rice could survive on the Red Planet.
Experiments Reinforce Possibility of Outer Space Farming
The research team’s experiments consisted of growing both standard and gene-edited types of rice into basaltic-rich soil to simulate Martian soil’s conditions. The gene-edited rice turned out to fare better in situations of drought, salinity and sugar starvation. However, all the rice types grew more, in combinations of both simulations of Martian soil and regular potting soil. This research was executed by Peter James Gann, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, Abhilash Ramachandran, a post-doctoral fellow at the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, Yheni Dwiningsih, a post-doctoral associate in plant sciences and Dominic Dharwadker, an undergraduate student in the Honors College. These findings are yet another step toward making outer space farming a reality.
A recent study conducted by Iowa State University highlighted the potential of alfalfa as a viable plant for growth on Mars. Using Martian soil simulants similar to those employed by the University of Arkansas, the research focused on cultivating alfalfa without the use of genetically modified organisms or perchlorate. While the study suggested the feasibility of direct alfalfa cultivation on Mars, concerns were raised due to the omission of perchlorate salts, naturally present in Martian soil and known to hinder plant growth. In contrast, the University of Arkansas’s findings incorporated perchlorate salts in its Martian soil simulants, demonstrating the greater resilience of genetically modified rice compared to non-genetically modified rice through root development comparisons.
Looking Forward
Newly revealed insights into outer space farming hold promise for the future of agriculture. According to NASA, this innovative farming method has the potential to enhance crop yields, increase nutritional value, and reduce water and pesticide usage. Furthermore, the experiments conducted in challenging environments resembling salty or desert-like grounds can have practical applications in improving agriculture in arid regions on Earth. By enhancing crop resilience and ensuring food security, outer space farming can play a crucial role in mitigating instances of food shortage.
The recent findings from the University of Arkansas represent a significant step forward in the ongoing scientific exploration of outer space farming. As further studies and scientific breakthroughs unfold, both Earth’s agriculture and the potential for farming on other planets can reap the anticipated benefits.
– Luciana Mena
Photo: Flickr
Disability and Poverty in Colombia
Disability and poverty are often inextricably intertwined. While poverty can be the source of disabilities (for instance, malnutrition during childbirth causing deformities), disabilities can also force someone into poverty through various means. Physical and mental impairments can limit access to transportation, job opportunities and much more. Thus, one cannot fully address one issue without the other. In Colombia, the government has been moving in accordance with this knowledge to address the links between disability and poverty in Colombia.
The Situation
According to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, as of 2020, about 1.3 million people in Colombia lived with disabilities, typically resulting from general sickness or accidents. About 15% of these disabilities have resulted from the armed conflict that has plagued parts of the country. A 2022 study by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), found that only one in five persons with disabilities in Colombia are employed. The government and organizations are taking action to improve the lives of people with disabilities and safeguard their rights.
Disability Law in Colombia
The Colombian government passed comprehensive legislation protecting the rights of the disabled in 1997. Businesses may not discriminate against job applicants on the basis of how able-bodied they may be. Products and services must also accommodate the needs of the disabled when possible. These pieces of legislation are a crucial first step for any country in allowing the disabled to have access to resources and opportunities.
The Colombian government has also signed onto the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2011, which affirms its commitment to “[protecting] the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,” on an international scale.
Current Challenges
Colombia has long struggled with internal conflict in the form of guerilla war. While recent peace accords have begun a process of reintegrating ex-combatants into society, this process has often overlooked the needs of those with disabilities. As a result, many former fighters are now facing disability and poverty in Colombia. This is particularly relevant in rural areas, where new infrastructure, medical assistance and economic opportunities have failed to reach those most in need.
Successes in Advocacy
Within Colombia and throughout Latin America, people with disabilities have been utilizing incluyeme.com, a website launched in 2013 that seeks to empower people with disabilities from both ends of the labor market: the employee and the employer. More than 20,000 Latin Americans with disabilities have found employment through the website. More than 600 companies that have endorsed the organization provide many of these jobs. Overall, the organization takes pride in its ability to connect people facing disability and poverty in Colombia with opportunities regardless of the withstanding handicaps.
On a more local scale, organizations such as Corfrodis (Corporation Frontineño for people with disabilities) have worked to provide economic resources to the disabled. According to ReliefWeb, in one instance, a woman by the name of Patricia Valderiama received 10 chickens to help kick-start a business, seeing as her disability prevented her from working. After making quite a profit, the money she made was donated back to the organization to fund the next batch of chickens for another person with disabilities. In general, Corfordis has helped the disabled in Frontino to manage money and become entrepreneurs.
Looking Ahead
These projects serve as great reminders of how simple and achievable it can be to improve the circumstances of those in need. Downsizing poverty can begin with just providing people with the right website (as is the case with incluyeme.com) or even a few chickens. While it appears that there is still room for much more progress in order to fully uphold the rights of people facing disability and poverty in Colombia, the path ahead seems promising.
– Sophia Cordoba
Photo: Flickr
The Impact of COVID-19 on Barbados
Amid the global pandemic, nations faced numerous challenges in various areas such as the economy and public health. The impact of COVID-19 on Barbados was profound, affecting the lives of its citizens and causing significant economic setbacks. In June 2021, the World Bank approved a $100 million relief effort to address the economic downturn that the pandemic in Barbados caused.
Impact on the Economy
Due to Barbados having been a popular travel destination, it comes as no shock how the halt in tourism was one of the leading factors to the increase in poverty. Its heavy dependence on the tourism industry resulted in around 40% of the workforce becoming disadvantaged; mostly women dominated in this industry.
In 2020, there was an estimated 18% decrease in the economy, accompanied by a 4% inflation rate. This inflation impacted the prices of essentials like vegetables and fish, which increased by 4.5%. Prior to the pandemic, Barbados was already grappling with GDP issues. However, the impact of COVID-19 led Barbados to act quickly. The plan to contract the real GDP to 3% is what eventually helped Barbados bounce back from what could have been devastating to the economy. In June 2021, the World Bank gave a $100 million stimulus package to Barbados in response to the pandemic’s health-related, economic and social impacts. This package also included a vaccination strategy and a program to support employment in the tourism sector.
Equity in Education
Like many other countries, the rapid impact of COVID-19 led to school closures with some schools never opening up even after the end of the pandemic. Unfortunately, for developing countries such as Barbados, the lack of infrastructural resources did not even give students the chance to continue their education remotely. This is where the challenge of equity in education presents itself.
Estimates determined that in the Caribbean alone, school closures affected at least 1.7 billion children across 21 countries. Thankfully, through the help of private-public partnerships, it did help to support access to the internet to help continue the education for most students. Though not everyone in Barbados was easily able to access this resource, it ensured 100 schools got access.
Prices and Employment
In December 2019, the unemployment rate in Barbados stood at 10.1%. However, the pandemic caused a significant increase in unemployment, particularly in the tourism sector, which accounted for 26% of the labor force. The exact number of job losses in this sector has not been fully accounted for, indicating that the actual unemployment rate is higher than reported.
Prior to the impact of COVID-19 on Barbados, unemployment was averaging around a 10% rate but following the lockdowns this number skyrocketed to 24-26% from 2020 to 2021. Barbados took account of this percentage during the 23rd week of lockdown and tourism did not restart until 2022.
The impact of closing the tourism sector was significant, even if the economy opened back up; this is based on models predicting how the GDP would look after reopening. Experts predicted that the GDP would only move to 6% in 2021 from its previous decline of 7% in 2020 during the lockdown, showing that unemployment would remain high. They also predicted that unemployment would average 12% in 2020 and decrease to only 10% in 2021.
Positive Future
Despite the challenges, Barbados has shown resilience and received support from other nations. While it will take time for the country to fully recover from the impact of COVID-19, the government is dedicated to assisting its citizens during this difficult period. The tourism sector, which the pandemic halted, is a vital source of income for Barbados. To combat the pandemic’s impact on poverty, the DCI program collaborated with Barbados to introduce the “12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp” visa. Leveraging the remote work trend, this program became the world’s first remote work visa initiative, promoted through an aggressive earned media campaign.
The Barbados government announced this program in June 2020, resulting in more than 4.8 billion impressions and 2,000 applications. The official Visit Barbados website provides information on how to apply and highlights the benefits, including the option to reapply if individuals enjoyed their initial year. This program has been successful and the website offers resources for various categories, including families, individuals and even pets, showcasing why Barbados is an ideal destination.
Looking Ahead
The impact of COVID-19 on Barbados has been significant, affecting various aspects of the country’s economy and society. The heavy reliance on tourism led to a sharp increase in poverty, as two years prior to the pandemic it was at 15% and had a 2% increase afterward. However, with international support and the resilience of its people, Barbados is taking steps toward recovery. Initiatives such as the 12-month visa program and the country’s unique cultural offerings have helped revive the tourism industry and overall economy. While the road to full recovery may be long, Barbados remains committed to supporting its citizens and welcoming visitors from around the world. Through media campaigns and highlighting its distinctive experiences, Barbados aims to rebuild its tourism sector and regain economic strength in the post-COVID-19 era.
– Isabella Polo
Photo: Flickr
Creating a Digital Economy in Vietnam
With Vietnam’s thriving economy, the country finds itself ready to take on digitalization to aid in smart rural development. Despite its transition from a low-income to a middle-income country and showcasing a shift in the global market arena, rural poverty remains a significant issue. Around 70% of the population resides in rural areas, with more than 14% belonging to ethnic minorities, facing economic vulnerabilities and unforeseen shocks. Here is how the country is creating a digital economy in Vietnam.
The Situation
Most of the rural communities are located in mountainous to highland and central coastal regions where people mainly generate income through agriculture production. Because of their geographic location, some resources such as water and health care, can be difficult to find. While Vietnam has made progress in gender equality, ethnic minority women still face disadvantages due to a lack of education and literacy.
The initiation of “The New Rural Development and Sustainable Poverty (NTPSP) Program-for-Results Project” in Vietnam aims to enhance economic opportunities and accelerate digital modernization in rural areas. The main idea for this digital transformation is to offer “service equality” to both rural and urban areas while bettering the livelihoods of rural communities. The program will officially carry out by 2025 in all rural communities.
Program Goals
The program aims to develop the rural economy by creating a digital economy in Vietnam. In other words, it will aim to create more attraction and concentration by applying technological advancements in all agricultural productions and rural infrastructure. For instance, in Bac Giang province, an e-commerce platform will support rural farmers and agricultural cooperatives, facilitating digitalization in agriculture. Around 70% of these communes will be able to access agriculture businesses online in order to provide a more efficient collaboration between the production and selling of farm products. Another important feature that will accelerate the rural economy is digitally showcasing the landscape and cultural aspects of communities to improve tourism in local areas.
By 2025, about 100% of all administrative processes and documentation at all district levels will operate electronically. This will improve communication efforts for people living in rural communities and participate in online meetings with other provincial and district actors. To acquire an accurate assessment of the program, the government will initiate citizen feedback regarding how they are adapting to this new digital platform and make improvements accordingly, for the period of 2026-2030.
Government Initiatives
The Vietnamese government has acknowledged the challenges that rural communities have in acquiring the necessary resources to acquire a better livelihood. Moreover, the prime minister recognized that digital modernization is beneficial for labor productivity and business in Vietnam. The development of “smart cities” will continue to prioritize better quality of living and offer efficient social services for rural communities.
Looking Ahead
While Vietnam progresses in creating a digital economy in Vietnam, effective management, funding and planning are crucial for achieving desired outcomes. Prioritizing and improving the rural economy is key to enhancing well-being and providing better social resources to rural communities.
– Alessandra Amati
Photo: Flickr
The Mariposa Foundation and Poverty Reduction in the Dominican Republic
Since women perform all household duties, they face limitations in their academic and economic opportunities. According to the World Economic Forum, 75% of men in the Dominican Republic participate in the labor force, while the figure for women stands at only 49%. Even though women control the affairs of the home, the expectation for men is to gain employment and provide money for the family, and this impacts female education and economic independence.
About 40% of women in the Dominican Republic carry out unpaid work at home. Due to a lack of participation in the economic sphere, the poverty rate among women is 27%, but 24% for men based on U.N. statistics.
The Impact of COVID-19
Unfortunately, COVID-19 worsened gender inequality in the Dominican Republic. During pandemic-induced school closures, females accounted for 61% of student dropouts and males accounted for just 39%. The pandemic confined female students to the household and diminished the importance of obtaining an education.
Similar to school drop-out rates, female unemployment rates as a result of the pandemic demonstrate the Dominican Republic’s levels of gender inequality. With jobs using digital technology for remote work, the number of Internet users rose throughout the Dominican Republic according to statistics from the U.N.
However, the digital gender divide restricted females from using the Internet for economic opportunities. Females are 50% less likely than men to have access to digital technology, according to the World Wide Web Foundation. Because women have minimal access to computers, they were less likely to transition to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 showed that the distribution of internet access is not even across the country. Although the government is working toward making the Internet universally accessible, the costs are still high. This excludes poor and rural populations from engaging in the digital world; therefore, only 59% of households in the Dominican population have internet access. Even though poverty widens the digital divide, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation commit to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic through female empowerment.
The Mariposa Foundation
Patricia Thorndike started the Mariposa Foundation in 2009 with the goal of educating, empowering and employing young girls ages 8 to 18 in the Dominican Republic. The organization believes that investing in women educationally and culturally encourages young girls to leave their households, make an income and pull their families out of poverty. The Mariposa Foundation gives young girls access to education alongside providing the tools required to help them gain employment. The potential long-term benefit of this is that more women entering the economic sphere and bringing money back to their families could lead to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic.
The Mariposa Center for Girls provides its students with academic enrichment and daily health and wellness activities. Before the organization opened, there was no high school in the town of Cabarete and most girls were not making it to the 8th grade. As of 2023, the school gives out scholarships and provides safe transportation to change the narrative for girls born into extreme poverty.
While the organization’s initial goal was for its students to reach the 8th grade, many have exceeded expectations; 100% of Mariposa girls are enrolled in high school. Once they graduate, the organization will continue to support them through workshops for navigating higher education, learning a trade, building a resume and starting a business.
The Mariposa Foundation also helps reduce poverty by providing economic opportunities for its students. For example, the Mariposa Foundation owns Cabarete Coffee Company, which brings in more than $100,000 in revenue to fund the organization’s programs, and Mariposa girls interested in hospitality can work for the company.
The Success Stories
One of many success stories is that of Fabiola Veraz Joazar. She works as a swim instructor and program assistant at the Center for Girls. After learning how to swim through the Mariposa Foundation, she became the first Haitian-certified lifeguard in the Dominican Republic. By encouraging girls to pursue their passions, the organization allows females born into extreme poverty to enter the economic sphere.
Not even COVID-19 slowed down the Mariposa Foundation’s efforts toward female empowerment. After announcing that the 2021 school year would be completely virtual, the organization handed out laptops and iPads to its students so all girls could continue their education. By providing the resources to close the digital gender divide, the Mariposa Foundation ensured young girls of all backgrounds could pursue their passions and be ready to enter the workforce.
What is Next?
Looking toward the future, the Mariposa Foundation is directly working toward achieving gender equality and poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic. The Mariposa Foundation provides young girls with the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the household, find their passions and enter the economic world. With the goal of female empowerment, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation play a vital role in reducing poverty for all.
– Meilyn Farina
Photo: Flickr