Many women in India are making a difference, whether they are wealthy philanthropists giving away large portions of their fortunes to various causes or activists using their voice and creativity to advocate for matters they care about. Three of these female changemakers in India include Garvita Gulhati, Priti Adani and Daya Bai, who each stand as an example of individuals who are steadfast in their charitable ambitions.
Garvita Gulhati
Among the many notable women in India is Garvita Gulhati. Distressed over the fact that restaurant customers wasted 14 million liters worth of semi-drunk glasses of water, Gulhati, at the age of 15, founded Why Waste?, a youth-driven organization focused on preserving water in India and beyond. Why Waste?’s efforts include educating people on water conservation and motivating individuals to become advocates of the cause, connecting with volunteers globally to extend efforts internationally and creating simple solutions to resolve intricate issues, among other objectives.
Through the initiative #GlassHalfFull, Gulhati collaborated with restaurant owners to encourage waiters to only fill water glasses halfway. This movement led to less water wastage and savings for restaurants. In fact, Gulhati and the team at Why Waste? have reached 500,000 restaurants as a result of their collaboration with the National Restaurants Association of India. These efforts have preserved more than 10 million liters of water.
Gulhati’s Accomplishments
Why Waste? has grown to include an application, a nonprofit book called “The Sustainability Stories” and a video series with UNICEF. Among her accomplishments, Gulhati joined Ashoka, “a global network of social entrepreneurs,” to establish the Lead Young program across schools in India. Through this initiative, she empowered 2.5 million learners with the knowledge and inspiration to become India’s next changemakers.
On the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia-Pacific list of Social Entrepreneurs, Gulhati was the youngest person to receive recognition. Gulhati also stood as one of 17 Youth Climate Leaders at the Climate Change Conference (COP26). She also participates in efforts regarding UNICEF’s youth climate strategy. At only 21 years old, Gulhati is one of the female changemakers in India working to protect the world’s water.
Priti Adani
The current chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani, is also the wife of Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group. As chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani is determined to help the disadvantaged.
The Adani Foundation, with the aim of creating lasting results throughout India, has dedicated itself to making “strategic social investments” in India since 1996. Having a unit of “670 full-time and 600 part-time professionals,” the Adani Foundation’s influence is broad. Presently, the organization impacts 7.6 million individuals and works in 5,675 villages across 19 Indian states.
Major Projects
The Adani Foundation works to provide communities with “education, health, sustainable livelihood, skill development and community infrastructure,” its website says. Priti Adani, through the Adani Foundation, has created four main programs to reach these objectives. The Saksham initiative works to advance skills development while SuPoshan seeks to treat and prevent malnutrition/anemia. Additionally, the Udaan initiative centers around education and the program Swachhagraha prioritizes cleanliness.
SuPoshan aims to address malnutrition among vulnerable groups, including young children and pregnant women, The SuPoshan initiative trains village health volunteers, also known as SuPoshan Sanginis, to visit homes. The Sanginis activities include “spreading awareness, referrals and promoting behavioral change among the target groups to achieve the project objectives,” the Adani Foundation website says. Currently, 418 Sanginis are servicing 239,211 households and almost 35,000 undernourished children are now in better health.
Daya Bai
Daya Bai, originally named Mercy Matthew, was born in Kerala, India, and grew up in a wealthy Christian family. Initially, Daya Bai wanted to become a nun, but after she observed the struggles Indian tribal people faced, including the lack of education and health care, she dedicated herself to uplifting and empowering them.
Daya Bai has offered services to each and every village she has visited. Depending on the needs of each village, she would give medical, educational and political assistance. With a strong belief that education may support individuals in living better lives, Daya Bai has coordinated non-violent protests and other operations to push authorities to open up schools for tribal people. She also set up a school in Barul Village.
Additional Endeavors
At age 81, in October 2022, Daya Bai’s endeavors included a hunger strike that commenced after the banned pesticide endosulfan was sprayed into the air, killing more than 500 people in Kasaragod district, Kerala, and injuring 6,728 others.
The hunger strike lasted 17 days and ended only after she was handed a written pledge from the government conceding to her demands. These demands included that the government gives the best possible treatment to the endosulfan victims.
Resolutely, Daya Bai has worked to preserve the traditions and principles of the communities she supports. Often, Daya Bai gives speeches to uplift people, which has earned her even more appreciation. In 2007, Daya Bai received the Vanitha Woman Of The Year award, and in 2012, she received the Good Samaritan National Award. Daya Bai has fought for meaningful causes for many years, and at the age of 82, she is as tenacious as ever.
Garvita Gulhati, Priti Adani and Daya Bai, in their own distinct ways, are three female changemakers in India contributing to beneficial causes. Their inspiring efforts, with support, have the potential to give rise to even more progress, in India and beyond.
– Megan Roush
Photo: Flickr
Analyzing Global Poverty Reduction in 2022
As the year 2022 drew to a close recent data from the World Bank reveals that this is “the second-worst year” for global “poverty reduction in the past two decades.” The reasons for the “steep slowdown of the global economy” are many – the lingering effects of COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, debt crises and many other sub-factors that exacerbate the situation. New projections show that 7% will still be living in extreme poverty by 2030 – considerably higher than the 3% goal. Global organizations such as Oxfam America, World Bank and its partners, have acknowledged the situation and launched various initiatives to support the poorest and most vulnerable.
The Global Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had the biggest impact on the poorest people around the world. In comparison to pre-pandemic forecasts, the average income of those in the poorest 40% of the worldwide income distribution is 6.7% lower in 2021, while that of those in the top 40% is down almost 3%. The world’s poorest have not yet begun to make up for their revenue losses, worse yet the average income of the bottom 40% decreased by 2.2% between 2019 and 2021.
Due to the pandemic, an additional 163 million people live on less than $5.50 per day, bringing the world poverty rate from 7.8% to 9.1%. Moreover, an additional 97 million people live on less than $1.90 per day. The World Bank believes that three to four years’ worth of progress toward eradicating extreme poverty has been lost globally.
War in Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine has also largely contributed to the rising cost of living and the slowdown of global poverty reduction in 2022. The repercussions of the war, the sanctions imposed on Russia, such as export bans, rose energy prices and caused huge supply-chain issues pushing 51 million people to fall into poverty according to UNDP.
The war has also led to 20 million people’s daily incomes in lower-middle-income countries falling below the poverty level of $3.20, increasing the percentage of the world’s poor to 9%.
Further data from UNICEF reveals that children carry the “heaviest burden of the economic crisis.” Children make up 25% of the world’s population and 40% of the further 10.4 million suffering from poverty in 2022. Estimates show that one in three children that grow up in poverty will continue to live in poverty for the rest of their adult life. According to UNICEF, children can benefit greatly from the introduction of poverty reduction methods, job initiatives and plans for economic growth.
Global Emergency Markets
Several causes, particularly the incredibly quick economic recovery following the epidemic, caused the energy markets to tighten up in 2021. But, once Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the situation quickly worsened and turned into a full-fledged global energy crisis. Natural gas prices hit record highs, which had an impact on electricity prices in several markets. The price of oil reached its highest point since 2008.
In addition to making families poorer, forcing some factories to reduce output or even close their doors and slowing economic growth to the point that some nations are in the midst of a severe recession, higher energy prices have also led to uncomfortably high inflation.
Spate of Debt Crises
During the past year, developing countries increased debt loans in order to keep up with the rising cost of living and aggravated the debt crisis. The World Bank calculations show that 60% of the world’s poorest countries are “either in debt distress or at risk of it.”
Debt-ridden countries are incapable of making high-return investments in education, research and development, and infrastructure projects, significantly slowing down their economic growth and exacerbating global poverty reduction efforts.
Future Outlook
In the face of all the crises and uncertainties that the past few years have brought to the world arena, organizations like the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) are stepping up to “ensure the poorest aren’t left behind.” Its new $93 billion IDA20 package, which will run from 2022 to 2025, aims to help developing countries get to grips with the global crisis the world can’t ignore, the World Bank reports.
IDA wishes to prioritize investment in education and health, reinforce food security, take action on the undeniable threat that is climate change, help countries struggling with conflict and development and improve debt sustainability.
Similarly, The United Nations Secretary-General has set up a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance in the U.N. Secretariat. Its goal is to help the world’s poorest by “making reserves available to countries at risk of hunger and famine, accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and urging international financial institutions to increase liquidity and fiscal space.”
The year 2022 saw an insecure and uneven economic recovery where global development faced a crisis and poverty reduction efforts took a hard hit. However, many international organizations have united in the common goal to create an ecological, more resilient and sustainable future.
– Ralitsa Pashkuleva
Photo: Flickr
Tackling Period Poverty in Asia
The World Bank estimates that at least 500 million women and girls across the world live in period poverty. They lack access to menstrual products and safe, hygienic spaces to use them due to financial restraints. This is certainly prevalent across Asia in high and low-income countries where cultural taboos and attitudes towards women and girls prevent many from accessing the help they need to manage their periods. However, more and more governments and organizations in Asia are beginning to acknowledge the issue of period poverty. They are taking the initiative to help erase the stigma surrounding periods and improve access to menstrual products. Below are four areas of Asia that are tackling period poverty in Asia.
Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, Plan International has collaborated with a sustainable period brand Modibodi to empower almost 5,000 women and girls to safely manage their periods with dignity. Over the course of three months, the NGO has provided 1,000 pairs of reusable menstrual underwear to 333 women and girls in Indonesia alone. While in Laos, 4,500 female students have received reusable period underwear packs. Plan International reports that this initiative has come about after access to menstrual products has become increasingly limited for low-income people across the globe due to widespread inflation as well as the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both have greatly exacerbated living costs.
Despite the increase in period poverty over the past few years, women and girls in Southeast Asia have always faced challenges when it comes to accessing menstrual products and education surrounding menstrual health. Indeed, a 2015 report for UNICEF Indonesia found that only two-thirds of school-aged girls from urban areas in Indonesia changed absorbent menstrual products every four to eight hours or when the material was dirty. This is usually due to the fact that they could not afford to change their menstrual products when necessary. This issue has only been amplified in rural areas, where the amount decreased to less than half of the girls surveyed.
China
Women in China are also working to end period poverty. Despite living in high-income countries, many women and girls across China face financial difficulties and stigmas when it comes to managing periods. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this, which has led to a rise in poorer women such as students, cancer patients or women from rural areas having to buy low-cost period supplies that do not meet safety standards.
Period Pride, a Chinese NGO focused on menstrual health, has started a series of initiatives to combat period poverty and shame. This has included inviting university students to propose prototypes for products and services which address period poverty for experts and investors to review. In 2020, they also partnered with a range of women’s organizations to create a series of policy recommendations for the China State Council Women and Children Working Committee, which included ensuring that women have access to clean water and can dispose of menstrual waste in a safe and dignified manner.
Japan
In Japan, efforts have also occurred to reduce the cost of period products, making them more accessible to all. This is particularly important because despite being an affluent country, Plan International found that one in three women in Japan had hesitated or were unable to buy menstrual products due to financial reasons when surveying 2,000 Japanese women aged 15-24.
Like many of the campaigns tackling period poverty in Asia, grassroots groups, such as the student organization using the hashtag #EveryonesPeriod, which began a petition in 2019 to lessen taxes on menstrual products, led much of the drive to end period poverty in Japan. However, members of the legislature have also begun to acknowledge the problem, with Sayaka Sasaki and Renhō Saitō, two members of the House of Councillors Budget Committee, pushing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to agree to include sanitary products in Japan’s COVID-19 emergency relief plan in 2021. As a result, local governments have started to distribute free menstrual products across their constituencies in Japan.
South Korea
Similar to Japan and China, despite residing in a high-income country, many women in South Korea also struggle when it comes to managing their periods. This issue particularly came to light after a 2016 report found that one low-income South Korean girl could not afford menstrual products and had to use a shoe insole instead.
Stories like these pushed the Seoul Metropolitan Government to launch a pilot program to dispense free menstrual products across 10 public facilities across the city in 2018. These facilities include major attractions such as the Seoul Museum of Art as well as women’s spaces such as the Seoul Women’s Plaza. This program received support from 92% of the 1,475 Seoul residents surveyed about the pilot, indicating an overwhelmingly positive attitude from the public in regard to improving access to menstrual products. Using data collected from the pilot program, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has now expanded the drive to alleviate period poverty across the city, with around 300 institutions in Seoul now providing free menstrual products.
A Better Future Ahead
Whilst a lack of access to menstrual products continues to be a major issue facing women across the globe, these programs and campaigns that are tackling period poverty in Asia provide many a reason to be optimistic about eradicating period poverty. Grassroots, NGO and government-led initiatives to improve access to menstrual products have been instrumental in uplifting the lives of low-income women across Asia. It will continue to do so with further efforts to expand awareness of and end period poverty in Asia.
– Priya Thakkar
Photo: Flickr
Human Trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire
Human trafficking refers to the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud, coercion or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit,” according to Anti-Slavery International. According to the U.S. Department of State, Côte d’Ivoire, a country situated on the southern coast of West Africa, ranks as a Tier 2 country, meaning it “does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so” as set out in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act or TVPA. However, Côte d’Ivoire has made progress over the years, upgrading to Tier 2 in the 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
The country initially ranked as a Tier 2 Watch List country, which encompasses countries that are making an effort to comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards but fail to provide evidence of this and note an increasing number of victims. Through continued efforts, human trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire can significantly improve.
The Current State of Human Trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire
According to the TIP 2022 report, the Côte d’Ivoire government has developed “a draft national referral mechanism (NRM) and provided anti-trafficking training to law enforcement and judicial officials.” Paule Marlène Dogbo, the director of the cabinet of the Ministry of Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty, says the new referral mechanism will allow the Ivory Coast to move up to Tier 1 by conforming to the TVPA.
The government also coordinated the creation of a National Committee for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons (CNTLP), with an inauguration for its headquarters held in October 2022 in Cocody-Angré.
According to the 2022 TIP report, the Ivorian government identified 1,190 trafficking victims, in contrast to the identification of 302 trafficking victims the year prior. Children accounted for most victims. Additionally, out of the total number of victims, sex trafficking victims equaled 437 people and forced labor victims amounted to 753 people.
Despite these positive efforts, the country does not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards. Although convictions of traffickers are on the rise (43 convicted compared to 12 in the previous report), Côte d’Ivoire “did not report any investigations, prosecutions or convictions of government officials complicit in human trafficking crimes,” the TIP report says. This is an issue as corruption prevents the proper enforcement of the law. Some individuals have alleged that officers situated on the border take bribes to facilitate the passage of trafficking victims in Ghana and Mali.
“Law enforcement lacked the specialized training and resources to investigate trafficking cases and identify victims,” the report highlights. Furthermore, the CNLTP, which stands as the body for leading anti-trafficking efforts, “did not meet or coordinate anti-trafficking activities and the government did not allocate a dedicated budget for the CNLTP’s operations” for the third year in a row. Additionally, “shelter and services, especially for adult victims, remained inadequate,” the report says.
Action to Address Child Labor and Child Trafficking
In terms of child labor in general and child labor arising from trafficking, Côte d’Ivoire has made significant progress. Côte d’Ivoire is the main producer of cocoa on the international market, representing 45% of all production. Unfortunately, the cocoa agricultural sector relies on child labor to achieve high levels of production.
Because of domestic and international pressure, the Ivorian government took action and passed several laws to prevent child trafficking. For example, in 2010, it passed the prohibition of child trafficking and the worst forms of child labor laws, the Guardian reports.
The Ivorian government made school attendance both free and mandatory for children between 6 and 16, which relieved some of the burdens on parents that had no choice but to send their children off to work as they could not afford school. School attendance in cocoa-producing regions increased from 58% to 80% from 2008 to 2019.
To combat human trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire, in 2020, the government also established six police units dedicated to reducing child labor and trafficking. The units patrol the cocoa plantations and randomly search vehicles in cocoa-growing regions. According to the government, in total, authorities have arrested more than 1,000 traffickers since 2012.
The Centre for Victims of Child Labor opened its doors in 2018 and aims to reunite children with their families, whether abroad or locally, and get the children back into the education system. Because of the trauma children have faced, a nurse and psychologist from part of the organization’s staff.
Finally, in 2021, for the first time, an Ivorian court sentenced 10 people found guilty of child trafficking in cocoa plantations to 10 years in jail.
Looking Ahead
Although improvements are visible, increased funding and resources will help strengthen anti-trafficking efforts in the country. With continued positive efforts and adequate reporting, Côte d’Ivoire can move closer to its goal of ranking as a fully compliant Tier 1 country.
– Raphaelle Copin
Photo: Flickr
Everything to Know About Poverty in Iraq
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the poverty rate in Iraq reached 31.7% in 2020. Oil and gas production dominate many countries within the Middle East and gas production and Iraq is no different. The World Bank claims that Iraq is “one of the most oil-dependent nations” in the world, with oil revenues accounting for “99% of its exports, 85% of the government’s budget and 42% of Iraq’s GDP.” Unlike other oil-rich countries, Iraq has failed to turn the abundance of natural resources into profit and benefit the average Iraqi’s life. Corruption and conflict have decimated Iraq, displacing 1.2 million Iraqis and leaving 2.4 million people in need of food and livelihood assistance, according to WFP. Here is everything to know about poverty in Iraq.
Iraqi Civil War
Iraq has long been a divided country. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) believes increased “levels of violence, sectarian and ethnic divisions, population pressure, religious extremism and intervention from outside states” as key contributors that empowered ISIS and helped lead Iraq to civil war.
“In 2014, the Islamic State advanced into Iraq from Syria” and took control of most of northern Iraq. The terrorist organization proceeded to use horrific acts of violence whilst it controlled major Iraqi cities such as Mosul. The U.S. “formed an international coalition that now includes nearly 80 countries to counter the Islamic State,” Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) states.
Whilst ISIS was eradicated from Iraq in 2017, the damage had already been done. Iraq is yet to fully recover from the conflict. CFR reports that “more than 2 million people remain internally displaced and 9 million remain in need of humanitarian assistance” following the conflict.
Many major cities face huge reconstruction due to the complete devastation caused by the war. The total reconstruction could cost at least $88 billion. This is a price that the Iraqi government simply cannot afford. Thus, much of Iraqi infrastructure is still not functional and many Iraqis are still yet to return to their original homes.
Oil and Corruption
According to Transparency International, Iraq ranks 157th in the Corruption Perceptions Index, having a score of 23/100 in 2022. The National Interest stated that Iraqi officials stole money that the country could have used to fight ISIS and rebuild the nation.
Estimates vary on how much money has gone missing in Iraq, but some suggest that the country has lost as much as $300 billion since 2003. This money could have helped rebuild Iraq after the conflict with ISIS, whilst also helping to tackle the ever-growing poverty crisis in Iraq.
With the majority of revenues generated coming from oil exports, the corruption in Iraq has significantly impeded the development of non-oil business sectors. Resulting in continual dependency on high oil prices.
Average Iraqis never seem to see the benefits of oil profits due to the ongoing corruption. The Iraqi government has seemingly failed to provide adequate basic services for the Iraqi population. Protests in 2019 appeared to engulf major cities such as Baghdad due to the failure of the government to provide jobs and life improvements to young people despite an increase in oil production.
According to AP News, overall unemployment in Iraq is 11% whilst “one-third of Iraqi youth are without jobs.” This is all while the World Bank expected Iraq’s GDP to grow by 4.6% due to increased oil exports.
Poverty and Unemployment
The World Bank stated that in 2021 Iraq’s unemployment rate was “more than 10 percentage points higher than its pre-COVID-19 level of 12.7 percentage points.” It also states that unemployment amongst the “displaced, returnees, women jobseekers, pre-pandemic self-employed and informal workers remains elevated.”
With the government’s decision to devalue the dinar against the dollar by 20%, as Iraq produces very little, the public has little choice but to buy imported goods which are now more expensive.
NPR believes that due to the government’s over-dependency on oil, it is imperative for Iraq to diversify its economy and increase its private sector. The result would be that many livelihoods would no longer be dependent on the state. Currently, when oil prices drop, unemployment and poverty increase.
Looking Ahead
Despite large oil profits generating substantial wealth, the money never appears for ordinary Iraqis who struggle to make ends meet. The failure to rebuild Iraq, large unemployment and violent conflict against ISIS have held Iraq back from becoming a more prosperous nation. A lack of action from the Iraqi government alongside systemic corruption has not helped the ever-increasing poverty epidemic in the country.
Although the future does not look too bright for the Iraqi people, the government has announced a reform plan. Finance minister Ali Allawi unveiled a plan to encourage investment by improving Iraq’s infrastructure, bumping up tax revenues and stimulating agriculture, NRP reports.
If the government has the will and determination to see through the reform plan instead of relying on oil money, there is a chance that the government can improve the livelihoods of many Iraqis. This could significantly reduce poverty in Iraq and many of the displaced people could return home.
– Josef Whitehead
Photo: Flickr
3 Female Changemakers in India
Many women in India are making a difference, whether they are wealthy philanthropists giving away large portions of their fortunes to various causes or activists using their voice and creativity to advocate for matters they care about. Three of these female changemakers in India include Garvita Gulhati, Priti Adani and Daya Bai, who each stand as an example of individuals who are steadfast in their charitable ambitions.
Garvita Gulhati
Among the many notable women in India is Garvita Gulhati. Distressed over the fact that restaurant customers wasted 14 million liters worth of semi-drunk glasses of water, Gulhati, at the age of 15, founded Why Waste?, a youth-driven organization focused on preserving water in India and beyond. Why Waste?’s efforts include educating people on water conservation and motivating individuals to become advocates of the cause, connecting with volunteers globally to extend efforts internationally and creating simple solutions to resolve intricate issues, among other objectives.
Through the initiative #GlassHalfFull, Gulhati collaborated with restaurant owners to encourage waiters to only fill water glasses halfway. This movement led to less water wastage and savings for restaurants. In fact, Gulhati and the team at Why Waste? have reached 500,000 restaurants as a result of their collaboration with the National Restaurants Association of India. These efforts have preserved more than 10 million liters of water.
Gulhati’s Accomplishments
Why Waste? has grown to include an application, a nonprofit book called “The Sustainability Stories” and a video series with UNICEF. Among her accomplishments, Gulhati joined Ashoka, “a global network of social entrepreneurs,” to establish the Lead Young program across schools in India. Through this initiative, she empowered 2.5 million learners with the knowledge and inspiration to become India’s next changemakers.
On the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia-Pacific list of Social Entrepreneurs, Gulhati was the youngest person to receive recognition. Gulhati also stood as one of 17 Youth Climate Leaders at the Climate Change Conference (COP26). She also participates in efforts regarding UNICEF’s youth climate strategy. At only 21 years old, Gulhati is one of the female changemakers in India working to protect the world’s water.
Priti Adani
The current chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani, is also the wife of Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group. As chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani is determined to help the disadvantaged.
The Adani Foundation, with the aim of creating lasting results throughout India, has dedicated itself to making “strategic social investments” in India since 1996. Having a unit of “670 full-time and 600 part-time professionals,” the Adani Foundation’s influence is broad. Presently, the organization impacts 7.6 million individuals and works in 5,675 villages across 19 Indian states.
Major Projects
The Adani Foundation works to provide communities with “education, health, sustainable livelihood, skill development and community infrastructure,” its website says. Priti Adani, through the Adani Foundation, has created four main programs to reach these objectives. The Saksham initiative works to advance skills development while SuPoshan seeks to treat and prevent malnutrition/anemia. Additionally, the Udaan initiative centers around education and the program Swachhagraha prioritizes cleanliness.
SuPoshan aims to address malnutrition among vulnerable groups, including young children and pregnant women, The SuPoshan initiative trains village health volunteers, also known as SuPoshan Sanginis, to visit homes. The Sanginis activities include “spreading awareness, referrals and promoting behavioral change among the target groups to achieve the project objectives,” the Adani Foundation website says. Currently, 418 Sanginis are servicing 239,211 households and almost 35,000 undernourished children are now in better health.
Daya Bai
Daya Bai, originally named Mercy Matthew, was born in Kerala, India, and grew up in a wealthy Christian family. Initially, Daya Bai wanted to become a nun, but after she observed the struggles Indian tribal people faced, including the lack of education and health care, she dedicated herself to uplifting and empowering them.
Daya Bai has offered services to each and every village she has visited. Depending on the needs of each village, she would give medical, educational and political assistance. With a strong belief that education may support individuals in living better lives, Daya Bai has coordinated non-violent protests and other operations to push authorities to open up schools for tribal people. She also set up a school in Barul Village.
Additional Endeavors
At age 81, in October 2022, Daya Bai’s endeavors included a hunger strike that commenced after the banned pesticide endosulfan was sprayed into the air, killing more than 500 people in Kasaragod district, Kerala, and injuring 6,728 others.
The hunger strike lasted 17 days and ended only after she was handed a written pledge from the government conceding to her demands. These demands included that the government gives the best possible treatment to the endosulfan victims.
Resolutely, Daya Bai has worked to preserve the traditions and principles of the communities she supports. Often, Daya Bai gives speeches to uplift people, which has earned her even more appreciation. In 2007, Daya Bai received the Vanitha Woman Of The Year award, and in 2012, she received the Good Samaritan National Award. Daya Bai has fought for meaningful causes for many years, and at the age of 82, she is as tenacious as ever.
Garvita Gulhati, Priti Adani and Daya Bai, in their own distinct ways, are three female changemakers in India contributing to beneficial causes. Their inspiring efforts, with support, have the potential to give rise to even more progress, in India and beyond.
– Megan Roush
Photo: Flickr
Ghana’s Blue Economy
More than half the population of Ghana gains their income in one of three industries; agriculture, forestry and fishing. The waters of Ghana are rich with different types of fish such as tuna, barracuda, cape hake and more. The fish is present in the local market and locals export it around the world as well, which could improve Ghana’s blue economy.
Economic Crisis
One might wonder if the ocean could be more useful to Ghana than it already is. Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority and current maritime consultant and legal practitioner, believes that Ghana’s blue economy could possibly save Ghana from its economic issues. Currently, Ghana is experiencing an economic crisis that it has not seen since the 1980s. Consumer prices have risen more than 40% and there have been widespread food shortages nationwide. The country’s currency continues to depreciate and is currently one of the worst-performing currencies. With that, 3.4 million people in Ghana are living in extreme poverty in 2022.
Blue Economy
Dr. Mbiah is urging the Ghana government to take a severe look at capitalizing on the blue economy to help alleviate some of the economic turmoil the country has been facing. The blue economy is an economic term that is linked to the exploitation and conservation of the maritime environment. He believes that the economic resources that come from the ocean can lift Ghana out of its economic turmoil. Mbiah stated that the ocean and its resources could be worth “over $24 trillion.”
In 2020, the United States of America had 1.7% of its GDP from its ocean economy – which amounts to more than $360 billion. Meanwhile, the ocean economy is worth about €500 billion for the European Union. For these people, they realized long ago the potential of Ghana’s blue economy. Not only does Dr. Mbiah believe that the fishing industry can produce more than it already does, but he also noted that Ghana could use the ocean for its energy power. With renewable energy becoming the new way of the world, Dr. Mbiah wants the government to look into how it can use the power of the ocean for its energy as well.
The Future
By capitalizing on Ghana’s natural resources, the country can help alleviate some of the economic hardships plaguing the country over the last few years. The government should take the potential that the industry has with serious thought. With the proximity to the ocean and the skills that Ghana has, the sea leads to endless possibilities and opportunities.
– Olivia MacGregor
Photo: Flickr
Investing in International Mental Health Aid
Although widely underreported in many countries, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2022 World Mental Health Report, identifies one in eight people in the world currently living with mental illness. Between 2000 and 2019, people living with mental disorders increased by 25%. Mental illness is a burden on both the person experiencing mental illness and on society. Those who live with mental illness deal with impacts on their education and relationships and can lead to disability. The broader economic impact of mental health disorders and illnesses includes the costs associated with individuals, communities and nations. These costs relate directly to health services, as well as the indirect costs resulting from loss of work, education and social opportunities, which lead to “stigma, discrimination and reduced life expectancy.”
Reasons to invest in international mental health aid include lowering the costs for nations and individuals and protecting peoples’ quality of life while increasing healthy years lived. In addition, mental health conditions continue to increase across the world as global threats like growing social and economic equality and public health emergencies remain prominent, according to WHO.
The Costs of Mental Illness
The global cost of mental illness was $2.5 trillion in 2010 with projections of the cost to increase to $6 trillion by 2030, according to WHO. A 2020 cost-of-illness global study found that the annual average societal cost of mental illness is between $1,180 to $18,313 per person treated. These costs include the cost of treatment and other costs like lost production and income. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy $1 trillion a year, yet the median of government health expenditures toward mental health globally is less than 2%. Other costs of mental illness include loss of life and opportunities.
The burden of mental health and substance use disorders is best described as a “disease burden,” which focuses on the impacts of both mortality and morbidity. Disease burden is measured by Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), which measures deaths plus the years lived with the disease. The metric of one DALY equates to losing one healthy year. According to Our World in Data, in 2019 mental disorders caused 125.31 million DALYs globally. Global DALYs attributed to mental illness have increased to 4.9% in 2019. In addition to the loss of healthy years and opportunities, as of 2019, about 703,000 people lost their lives to suicide globally making the global suicide rate nine per 100,000, according to WHO.
Global Benefits of Investing in Mental Health Aid
International mental health aid reduces human suffering, advances public health and stops human rights violations experienced by those living with mental health conditions. According to WHO. improving people’s mental health also improves educational outcomes and leads to more participation and productivity in the workforce, which benefits all of society. It also improves people’s physical health, which expands people’s lifespan, ability to work and general happiness. Investment in mental health means ensuring access to quality, affordable mental health care, addressing stigma, discrimination and abuse and addressing the underlying economic and social inequalities that shape citizens’ mental health.
Investing in international mental health aid is that it leads to extra years of a healthy life, which generates productivity gains for the country that is investing in mental health care. The countries to benefit the most from investing in mental health care are lower-middle-income countries. Jamaica, a middle-income country, is an example of a country that invested in mental health care and received economic benefits. Jamaica invested $115 million into treatment for depression, anxiety and psychosis from 2015 to 2030. The benefits of this investment include an increase in psychosocial treatment from 15% to 50%, WHO reports. The economy has seen $434 million in saved money due to mental health care.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
According to WHO, not only is providing mental health aid beneficial to a country’s economy, but it also supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 1 to eliminate global poverty. Mental illness and poverty create a “cycle of disadvantage” because those living in poverty lack the finances to maintain basic necessities, have fewer educational and employment opportunities and are less likely to have access to quality health care. All of these stresses lead to a higher chance of experiencing a mental health condition. In addition, those experiencing severe mental health conditions are more likely to experience poverty due to increased health expenses and stigma and discrimination in the workforce, which leads to unemployment. “More than 80% of all people with mental disorders live in low- and middle-income countries,” WHO reports. These people lack access to welfare and effective treatment.
Moving Forward
In 2019, WHO began the Special Initiative for Mental Health: Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health, which works to make affordable, quality mental health care accessible in nine countries, covering 100 million people. This program focuses on the prevention of mental disorders, suicide prevention, mental health policy and legislation, mental health support in humanitarian emergencies and workforce development for mental health.
In Jordan, WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health is supporting the Ministry of Health’s efforts to implement Jordan’s National Mental Health Plan. This involves increasing community-based services and expanding the Caregiver Training Skills organization for families of children living with developmental disabilities. In addition, Jordan’s Special Initiative for Mental Health is supporting inpatient units in general hospitals and scaling up the implementation of the WHO regional School Mental Health program.
With more legislation, prevention, intervention and support for mental health conditions, mental health aid internationally could decrease lives lost, productivity losses and DALYs for countries, as well as increase productivity and economic gains, increase quality of life and further the SDGs.
– Arden Schraff
Photo: Flickr
The Walk for Water Campaign Increases Global Water Access
Turning an everyday walk into vital support for the world’s most vulnerable is possible through the United Kingdom’s WaterAid campaign, Walk for Water. The campaign encourages the public to participate in a walking challenge that raises funds for pipe installations, well constructions, menstrual hygiene sessions and the building of school toilets in countries with a high count of people living in poverty. Clean water is vital for good health, thriving communities and flourishing economies. Challenging people to walk this month will contribute to improving the lives of women and girls who have to walk up to 12 kilometers every day to collect clean water.
Inequality in Access to Water
A 2019 report by UNICEF and World Health Organization reveals that “2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services, 4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services and 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities.”
These statistics make it clear that mobilization efforts need to pick up the pace in order to meet the U.N. drinking water, sanitation and hygiene targets by 2030. The U.N. asserts that the world’s progress in this area must increase fourfold in order to meet these goals.
Water and Poverty
Rapid population expansion, urbanization and growing water demands from the “agriculture, industry and energy sectors” have put a strain on global water resources. Access to safe and affordable water and sanitation plays a key part in poverty reduction and well-being. Meeting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this area would safeguard the lives of 829,000 people per year, who would otherwise die from illnesses arising from contaminated water, improper sanitation and inadequate hygiene.
According to Healing Waters, about 84% of people who lack access to clean water live in rural areas, meaning they rely on agriculture to meet their nutritional needs and secure an income. In cases of water contamination, crops are detrimentally affected and communities end up consuming contaminated food, exposing them to a multitude of preventable diseases and illnesses.
The obvious way that clean water reduces poverty is by improving physical health and well-being. Proper water and sanitation access prevents the spread of water-borne illnesses — the cause of 80% of illnesses in poverty-stricken countries, Healing Waters says.
Access to clean water also reduces poverty by easing the physical burden placed on females of all ages as gender roles prescribe that girls and women bear the role of water collectors. Females must undertake strenuous journeys, sometimes of up to 12 kilometers, carrying heavy buckets of water back to their homes after collection. One of the goals of the Walk for Water initiative is to lift this burden off of females so that young girls can engage in education and women can rest or partake in other productive tasks rather than spending hours collecting water, thus improving the lives of women and girls.
Looking Ahead
It is becoming more and more obvious that properly managed clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services are essential to maintaining human health as the COVID-19 pandemic carries on. However, billions of people would still lack these basic amenities in 2030 unless progress accelerates significantly. Many other aspects of sustainable development depend on water, and in order for the current trend to change, immediate action is necessary.
– Ralitsa Pashkuleva
Photo: Flickr
How Coding is Helping Fight Gender Inequality in Africa
Women in Africa are less likely to work in technology than their male counterparts. In 2019, around 22% of women in Africa used the internet. Due to the fact that men oftentimes have higher incomes than women, they are more likely to purchase a mobile device with internet capabilities. In West and Central Africa, four in 10 girls enter child marriage before the age of 18. This allows gender inequality to grow and prevent economic autonomy for young girls and women in Africa. Here is an organization that is actively fighting gender inequality in Africa by advocating for and providing for African women in tech.
African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)
The project has been able to help women and young girls in gaining access to work in tech. The initiative aims to train at least 2,000 girls from ages 17-25 to help them gain economic independence and an advantage in the rising tech industry. In the camp’s first phase, girls learn about mainstream ICT. The program created an e-webinar to help keep the program intact during the pandemic. Awa Ndiaye-Seck, U.N. Women Special Representative to the African Union and UNECA, says that the AGCCI’s goal is to “address not only the policy-level bottlenecks related to access to technology and finances but also the gender-based harmful norms and practices that hinder women and girls from pursuing STEM fields.”
Impact and Second Stage
Since the camp began in 2018, 600 girls have received training nationally and regionally. The Coding camp has participants from a large and diverse set of countries such as Ethiopia, Burundi, Côte D’Ivoire, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The aforementioned e-learning platform provides mentorship, coursework, training tools and job opportunities. In 2022, the Belgian government spearheaded phase two of the camp by funding the project. The project will also partner with U.N. Women, UNICEF and UNESCO. The second stage involves selecting a pool of trainers to train 11 more selected countries, thereby setting up more AGCCI learning centers in participating countries and providing learners with adequate technology (phones, laptops, computers, etc.).
Continuing to Reduce Gender Inequality in Africa
A 2016 report suggested that women launched only 9% of tech startups. Low levels of female participation in the tech industry further strengthen and reinforce the inequalities women in Africa face. The African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy has set a mission to provide “digital inclusion for every African by 2030.” This means that there will be more African women in tech positions. It is an ambitious goal that will without a doubt receive help from existing programs such as the AGCCI. Consistent efforts to include women in the field of technology will alleviate existing barriers and inequalities for African women and girls.
Final Thoughts
Programs like the AGCCI are helping to alleviate gender inequality in Africa by providing women opportunities to learn about and work in tech. African women in tech is just one example of positive programs aiming for a better future for African women.
– Anna Richardson
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Mental Health in Aftermath of Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Following the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake on February 6, 2023, both governments and NGOs alike have begun mobilizing much-needed aid to the most affected areas. What one cannot overlook, however, is the trauma and mental health effects that the earthquake induced. The psychological impact that devastating natural disasters can have is significant on its own. Together with previous traumas, including war, disease and other natural disasters, mental health support becomes a crucial part of providing aid to victims, which is the case in both Turkey and Syria.
Natural Disasters and Mental Health
According to a review of various studies by the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, a sudden disruption of victims’ lives, which “brings loss for individuals, families and communities,” heightens the despair and shock that often follows the immediate aftermath of a devastating natural disaster. Individuals’ roles in their respective communities are also experiencing disruption, which can lead to a loss of identity. A lack or loss of resources and a disruption in daily routine further worsen acute psychological stress, which often results in overwhelming stress, grief and sadness, leading some to turn to substance abuse to cope with their new conditions.
The experiences of natural disaster victims can manifest into serious prolonged psychological issues, including “emotional instability, stress reactions, anxiety, trauma and other psychological symptoms.” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is also very common and coexists with feelings of “unnecessary fear, hopelessness, worthlessness and helplessness.” Although the journal notes that “most affected individuals recover with time” when they receive care, some individuals have a far more difficult path to recovery and can even begin experiencing persistent and severe psychotic symptoms.
Trauma in Children
The psychological impacts of the Turkey-Syria earthquake are present in both countries, particularly among children, who are perhaps the most vulnerable population that the natural disasters affect. According to Save the Children, numerous psychologists showed concern about the mental well-being of the roughly 7 million children that the earthquake affected, citing various indicators of acute stress, including “nightmares, aggression or being withdrawn.” The potential long-term effects are concerning as well, as these stressors can impact school performance and overall quality and enjoyment of life. Save the Children also stresses that mental health aid is evermore crucial considering that many caregivers do not have information or resources on how to treat or manage these symptoms.
Pre-Existing Mental Health Crisis
The Turkey-Syria earthquake only adds to pre-existing mental health issues in Turkey and Syria. Significant numbers of people in both countries suffer from mental health disorders. In Turkey, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 17% of Turkey’s population faces mental health issues, while only about 10.8% seek mental health treatment each year. WHO also states that cases of anxiety and depression have significantly increased in recent years, citing “repeated natural disasters, migration, economic downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic” as primary causes.
In 2022, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) conducted a study that demonstrates the severity of the mental health crisis in Syria. The results showed that male household members showed signs of distress in 60% of households surveyed, with that number being 58% for women. Additionally, 27% of households report psychological stress in their children, and 26% of children stated that the reason they do not want to attend school is because of depression, unhappiness and/or lack of motivation.
Syrian refugees in Turkey are also at risk of mental health disorders. According to 2020 data from the World Health Organization, the depression and PTSD rates among Syrian refugees in Turkey who have experienced the conflict were 11% and 15%, respectively. WHO also estimates that 22% of overall suffer from a mental disorder.
Potential Solutions
Providing much-needed mental health services to those who the Turkey-Syria earthquake affected is a crucial aspect of aid. Enhanced Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assitance (ELRHA) has recommended its own Community-based Disaster Mental Health Intervention (CBDMHI) manual as a relevant and potentially useful tool for mental health support. Developed in October 2016 following a devastating earthquake in Nepal in April 2015, the manual aims to teach mental health service providers about various self-care practices, as well as how to effectively treat mental health symptoms in earthquake survivors. The organization distributed more than 2,000 manuals to local governments and NGOs and found that the intervention helped both mental health service providers and vulnerable community members alike, reducing depression and increasing job satisfaction for the former and reducing depression and PTSD for the latter.
Save the Children is also mobilizing mental health aid to areas that the Turkey-Syria earthquake affected. It currently has mental health support teams in the region who are instructing caregivers on how to support their children through their trauma. The organization is also “setting up child-friendly spaces and child-focused psychosocial support activities” along with other forms of assistance to children and families.
Providing mental health services during this time is crucial to ensuring that victims can return to their pre-disaster lives as soon as possible. The work of NGOs, as well as funding from the U.N., will be valuable in achieving this.
– Adam Cvik
Photo: Flickr