Having sufficient time is essential for maintaining and improving all areas of life, including health, employment, education and personal well-being. However, individuals around the world face significant time deprivations, often due to unpaid labor and challenges in meeting daily survival needs. Known as time poverty, it can be understood as the lack of discretionary time that individuals experience on a daily basis.
Time poverty is especially prevalent among women and children in developing regions who perform a disproportionate amount of domestic and unpaid work. This results in a compromised ability to engage in livelihood-improving activities, such as pursuing education, securing paid employment or engaging in self-development. As a result, breaking the cycle of extreme poverty becomes increasingly challenging.
While the reality of time scarcity poses challenges for these individuals and communities, fighting time poverty is a process deeply intertwined with the fight against energy poverty.
Understanding Time and Energy Poverty
The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating energy poverty by providing access to solar power where it’s needed most. The Borgen Project spoke with Bob Freling, the executive director of SELF, to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between energy and time poverty and how solar power serves as a solution to both.
Energy poverty can be defined as the lack of access to safe and adequate energy. This condition directly fuels time poverty, particularly for rural communities disconnected from central power grids. In these energy-poor regions, the absence of reliable energy to provide necessities like clean water, electricity and fuel means individuals must go through a time-consuming process to gather the raw materials needed to produce these resources.
The task of gathering these materials often falls to the women and children within a household, becoming part of their daily domestic work. For lighting and cooking, women often gather firewood or coal to create fires. Similarly, households that lack access to clean running water often require the frequent retrieval of water from distant sources.
Often, this is a process that must be repeated multiple times a day and consumes several hours a week. The United Nations (U.N.) estimates that every day, women and girls collectively spend 200 million hours on water retrieval worldwide. In these contexts, fighting time poverty becomes inseparable from addressing energy access.
Women and Children Trapped in Poverty
This widespread loss of time among women and children engenders many social disadvantages. Particularly, these demands result in reduced economic participation among women. This tradeoff between paid and unpaid labor limits women’s ability to engage in their primary occupations and compromises the opportunity for income diversification.
As a result, these women are put into positions where they are likely to remain income-poor, contributing to ongoing cycles of poverty for themselves and their families. Freling told The Borgen Project, “Time itself is a form of power – and for many women, that power has been systematically taken away. Unpaid labor is often invisible in economic systems, but its impact is enormous.”
Indeed, though largely unrecognized, unpaid labor makes significant contributions to global and national GDPs. For instance, the U.N. estimates that this work accounts for 21.4% of the average GDP in Caribbean and Latin American economies. In addition to women’s challenges, children living in time-poor households may face similar time deprivations, often resulting in long-term consequences for their education and development.
To meet basic household needs, many children must participate in domestic and income-generating tasks. These needs often take precedence over education, negatively impacting school attendance and study time and in some cases result in complete withdrawal from schooling. This has adverse effects on these children’s future ability to attain paid employment.
In addition to working in the home, time poverty may also increase children’s participation in exploitative labor within public industries, harming their health and development.
Solar Electric Light Fund: Solar-Powered Solutions
According to Freling, SELF addresses these challenges of time poverty by “tackling the underlying energy gap.” As a solution, SELF has implemented solar-powered water systems within communities, making clean water easily accessible. Many of SELF’s solar projects produce significant time-saving effects for community members, particularly in the time spent on gathering water and fuel materials.
“What was once an hour-long journey becomes a short walk down the block,” said Freling. To reduce reliance on collecting firewood, SELF provides communities with access to clean cooking alternatives through its Solar Cooking Program. This program teaches women to cook and bake using solar-powered cooking methods within their own homes, as well as for entrepreneurial purposes.
With this reclaimed time that was once allocated to collecting raw materials, women can exercise more control over their time. Often, this transition is followed by increased economic participation and productivity. This program also provides direct employment opportunities, with many participants working in or launching their own solar cooking and baking businesses.
Impacts of the Solar Electric Light Fund
Freling explains the significant impact programs like these have on fighting time poverty: “Solar energy returns time. It gives women back hours that can be spent earning income, caring for their families, learning new skills or participating in community life.” He notes, “That shift may seem simple, but over years and generations, it’s transformative.”
Alleviation from domestic and economic tasks has similar positive implications for children and their education. As households gain access to solar cooking, clean water and reliable electricity, there is a reduced need for children to contribute to household survival needs. This reclaimed time provides children with the opportunity to attend school consistently, study at home and ultimately graduate.
As noted by Freling, energy access also supports child education by freeing up time beyond daylight hours. With improved lighting systems, children can continue to read, study and learn at home after dark. SELF enables this by implementing in-home solar power systems designed to be accessible to low-income families.
These shifts improve children’s well-being and enable improved educational outcomes, making individuals and communities better equipped to work towards collective and sustainable development.
Looking Ahead
Through SELF’s dedication to affirming energy access, solar energy is fighting time poverty. It continues to dismantle the systems that perpetuate it. For women and children in developing regions, the shift to clean energy is especially transformative. As it produces significant time-saving effects for these groups, it opens doors by enabling economic participation, educational attainment and improving the quality of life.
As Freling explains, “Energy is not valuable for its own sake. It matters because of what it enables: clean water, food security, education, health care and opportunities. Over time, those gains begin to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate poverty and inequality.”
– Quinlan Bohannon
Quinlan is based in Portland, OR, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Solar Electric Light Fund: Fighting Time Poverty With Solar Energy
Time poverty is especially prevalent among women and children in developing regions who perform a disproportionate amount of domestic and unpaid work. This results in a compromised ability to engage in livelihood-improving activities, such as pursuing education, securing paid employment or engaging in self-development. As a result, breaking the cycle of extreme poverty becomes increasingly challenging.
While the reality of time scarcity poses challenges for these individuals and communities, fighting time poverty is a process deeply intertwined with the fight against energy poverty.
Understanding Time and Energy Poverty
The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating energy poverty by providing access to solar power where it’s needed most. The Borgen Project spoke with Bob Freling, the executive director of SELF, to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between energy and time poverty and how solar power serves as a solution to both.
Energy poverty can be defined as the lack of access to safe and adequate energy. This condition directly fuels time poverty, particularly for rural communities disconnected from central power grids. In these energy-poor regions, the absence of reliable energy to provide necessities like clean water, electricity and fuel means individuals must go through a time-consuming process to gather the raw materials needed to produce these resources.
The task of gathering these materials often falls to the women and children within a household, becoming part of their daily domestic work. For lighting and cooking, women often gather firewood or coal to create fires. Similarly, households that lack access to clean running water often require the frequent retrieval of water from distant sources.
Often, this is a process that must be repeated multiple times a day and consumes several hours a week. The United Nations (U.N.) estimates that every day, women and girls collectively spend 200 million hours on water retrieval worldwide. In these contexts, fighting time poverty becomes inseparable from addressing energy access.
Women and Children Trapped in Poverty
This widespread loss of time among women and children engenders many social disadvantages. Particularly, these demands result in reduced economic participation among women. This tradeoff between paid and unpaid labor limits women’s ability to engage in their primary occupations and compromises the opportunity for income diversification.
As a result, these women are put into positions where they are likely to remain income-poor, contributing to ongoing cycles of poverty for themselves and their families. Freling told The Borgen Project, “Time itself is a form of power – and for many women, that power has been systematically taken away. Unpaid labor is often invisible in economic systems, but its impact is enormous.”
Indeed, though largely unrecognized, unpaid labor makes significant contributions to global and national GDPs. For instance, the U.N. estimates that this work accounts for 21.4% of the average GDP in Caribbean and Latin American economies. In addition to women’s challenges, children living in time-poor households may face similar time deprivations, often resulting in long-term consequences for their education and development.
To meet basic household needs, many children must participate in domestic and income-generating tasks. These needs often take precedence over education, negatively impacting school attendance and study time and in some cases result in complete withdrawal from schooling. This has adverse effects on these children’s future ability to attain paid employment.
In addition to working in the home, time poverty may also increase children’s participation in exploitative labor within public industries, harming their health and development.
Solar Electric Light Fund: Solar-Powered Solutions
According to Freling, SELF addresses these challenges of time poverty by “tackling the underlying energy gap.” As a solution, SELF has implemented solar-powered water systems within communities, making clean water easily accessible. Many of SELF’s solar projects produce significant time-saving effects for community members, particularly in the time spent on gathering water and fuel materials.
“What was once an hour-long journey becomes a short walk down the block,” said Freling. To reduce reliance on collecting firewood, SELF provides communities with access to clean cooking alternatives through its Solar Cooking Program. This program teaches women to cook and bake using solar-powered cooking methods within their own homes, as well as for entrepreneurial purposes.
With this reclaimed time that was once allocated to collecting raw materials, women can exercise more control over their time. Often, this transition is followed by increased economic participation and productivity. This program also provides direct employment opportunities, with many participants working in or launching their own solar cooking and baking businesses.
Impacts of the Solar Electric Light Fund
Freling explains the significant impact programs like these have on fighting time poverty: “Solar energy returns time. It gives women back hours that can be spent earning income, caring for their families, learning new skills or participating in community life.” He notes, “That shift may seem simple, but over years and generations, it’s transformative.”
Alleviation from domestic and economic tasks has similar positive implications for children and their education. As households gain access to solar cooking, clean water and reliable electricity, there is a reduced need for children to contribute to household survival needs. This reclaimed time provides children with the opportunity to attend school consistently, study at home and ultimately graduate.
As noted by Freling, energy access also supports child education by freeing up time beyond daylight hours. With improved lighting systems, children can continue to read, study and learn at home after dark. SELF enables this by implementing in-home solar power systems designed to be accessible to low-income families.
These shifts improve children’s well-being and enable improved educational outcomes, making individuals and communities better equipped to work towards collective and sustainable development.
Looking Ahead
Through SELF’s dedication to affirming energy access, solar energy is fighting time poverty. It continues to dismantle the systems that perpetuate it. For women and children in developing regions, the shift to clean energy is especially transformative. As it produces significant time-saving effects for these groups, it opens doors by enabling economic participation, educational attainment and improving the quality of life.
As Freling explains, “Energy is not valuable for its own sake. It matters because of what it enables: clean water, food security, education, health care and opportunities. Over time, those gains begin to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate poverty and inequality.”
– Quinlan Bohannon
Photo: Flickr
Reducing Poverty in Latin America
Across Latin America, governments are quietly reshaping their approach to poverty. After decades of high inequality, fragile growth and political instability, several countries are moving away from short-term welfare fixes and toward broader models of inclusive development. Colombia, Chile and Mexico are among the leaders in this transition, combining income support, labor market reform and long-term social investment to narrow social and economic gaps.
Now, while these policies slowly come into effect, the direction is clear: poverty reduction is increasingly being seen as a structural issue rather than a temporary emergency.
Social Protection Programs
At the center of this shift are new generations of social protection programs, many of which are largely based on conditional cash transfers (CCTs). These programs promise cash in exchange for meeting specific goals. Latin America has been reducing poverty by pioneering these schemes since the early 2000s, with 60 programs in operation across the region.
The region continues to play a central role in national anti-poverty strategies. In Colombia, Familias en Acción provides cash payments to low-income households in exchange for tasks like school attendance and regular health check-ups for children being completed. Originally designed as a temporary measure, the program has expanded significantly, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.
With recipients receiving about $972 annually, it can be linked to improved school participation, child nutrition and household stability. For instance, there was a 6-percentage-point decline in children’s chronic malnutrition following an increase in the chances of completing secondary school. Similarly, Chile has combined cash transfers with personalized social support.
Under Chile Solidario and later Ingreso Ético Familiar, families receive not only financial assistance but also guidance from social workers to help them access public services, employment programs and health care. These frameworks help vulnerable citizens receive the care they need, with cash installments and support offered for up to two years. The aim is to address social inequalities alongside income poverty.
Mexico’s Prospera program, formerly known as Progresa, is a widely studied CCT. Its emphasis on education, maternal health and nutrition has produced long-term benefits, including higher school completion rates and better health outcomes. While political reforms have reshaped the program in recent years, its core principles continue to influence social policy and it has been replicated in more than 50 countries worldwide.
These programs rely heavily on effective public services and stable funding, both of which are unevenly available across the region. However, with significant funding from the World Bank, they were able to support more than 22 million households across Latin America. Still, they reflect a broader shift: social welfare is increasingly popular, not as a safety net, but as an investment in future generations.
Closing the Rural Divide
Geography deeply shapes poverty in Latin America. Rural areas and Indigenous communities consistently experience higher deprivation, weaker infrastructure and limited access to state institutions. However, governments are increasingly paying closer attention to these territorial inequalities.
In Colombia, rural development has become closely linked to the country’s post-conflict agenda. Investment in rural roads, agricultural support and access to credit is aimed at reducing poverty while stabilising regions long affected by violence. Land restitution efforts, though slow and politically charged, form part of this post-conflict strategy.
In 2023, the Special Assetholding Agency (SAE) of the Colombian government successfully redistributed 40,000 hectares to cooperatives under the “Land for Peace” policy. This government initiative shows promise in reducing poverty in Latin America. On the other hand, Chile has pursued a more technocratic model.
Through agencies such as INDAP, the government supports small farmers with credit, training and irrigation projects, while investing in rural connectivity. For instance, in January 2024, the Chilean government implemented a $50 million investment project to strengthen food security and modernise the technology available to farmers. These efforts have helped narrow, though not eliminate, the gap between urban and rural living standards.
Tackling Pensions and In-Work Poverty
With informal employment being widely prevalent across Latin America, pension policies have begun to shift, as traditional contributory pension systems previously excluded millions of adults from coverage. However, in response, several countries have started to expand their pension schemes. For instance, one way Latin America is reducing poverty is with Chile’s 2008 pension reform, which introduced a Solidarity Pillar, guaranteeing a basic pension to low-income and informal workers, significantly expanding coverage among older women and rural populations.
Mexico has followed a similar path, introducing universal or near-universal pensions for older adults without formal work histories. Additionally, Mexico’s AFORE pensions will provide a top-up payment to beneficiaries whose monthly pension falls below their final salary rate. This shows a commitment to citizens who were potentially vulnerable to state neglect.
Similarly, even as employment has grown, in-work poverty remains a persistent problem. In response, countries such as Chile and Mexico have turned to minimum wage increases to boost incomes at the bottom of the labor market, proving how Latin America is reducing poverty. Chile has implemented gradual, predictable wage increases linked to inflation, helping low-income workers remain above the poverty line.
Increasing the monthly minimum wage to approximately $582 and promising a future increase for January 2026, helps ensure that Chile’s citizens can survive despite rising inflation. Mexico has taken a more aggressive approach, raising the minimum wage by 18% (on average) annually since 2018, after years of stagnation. Evidence suggests these increases have reduced workplace poverty without causing widespread job losses, as critics feared.
Now, while a minimum wage increase alone cannot solve inequality, it reflects a broader recognition that a fairer income distribution must keep pace with inflation.
A Measured Transformation
Latin America’s fight against poverty is far from over. Fiscal constraints, political volatility and deep-rooted inequality continue to limit progress. Yet, the policies emerging in Colombia, Chile and Mexico indicate a significant shift in direction. Rather than relying on short-term relief, governments are investing in education, health, rural development and social inclusion.
The approach is slow and imperfect, but it has demonstrated real-world success in transforming people’s lives. These policies effectively demonstrate changing attitudes across the region, exemplifying how Latin America is reducing poverty.
– Megan Burrows
Photo: Unsplash
The Emerging Role and Evolution of AI in the Caribbean
Professor Rohan Jowallah’s Insight
In The Borgen Project’s interview with Professor Rohan Jowallah, The Borgen Project asked him about his most recent presentation on AI in the Caribbean and how the region has used AI. The organization also questioned him on how his role as a consultant has been beneficial to the Caribbean as a whole and the impact of the policies the region has enacted.
AI has benefited a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, transportation, hospitals and agriculture. There have even been instances of people using ChatGPT to promote real estate. According to Jowallah, the Caribbean is using AI “to simulate how guests should be served” in restaurants. Meanwhile, Trinidad is using AI in education. AI has become more prominent in the education field as it can support learning by being available to students at any time of the day.
When asked about his presentation on AI in the Caribbean and how he felt about the impact of that presentation, Jowallah stated that there is a lot to keep in mind, such as “the transformation of teaching and learning, how it’s going to shape how people learn, and how it’s going to shape how content is delivered.” He also stated that the way teachers teach will not be the same in the future as new advancements occur, also noting that “critical AI literacy” is going to be a necessity in order to navigate spaces with AI.
Upon being questioned about his role as an AI consultant, Jowallah said that the main thing to consider through the use of AI is how to safeguard the future. Finally, the last question that The Borgen Project asked was about where he thinks policies are regarding ethical concerns for AI, with his main thought being that it was simply too early to tell.
Addressing Problems With AI
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten aligned itself with CARICOM to address problems with AI. It implemented AI in public administration to resolve problems like limited institutional capacity, scarce resources and heightened vulnerability. The hope is that with AI, and also knowing the opportunities and risks to worry about, there will be a greater understanding of how AI can accelerate sustainable development and resilience in the Caribbean, with many experts in their respective fields all coming together to better understand what AI can do for the region.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also has pillars already set regarding the speed at which the emerging role and evolution of AI in the Caribbean is happening. Examples of a few of these pillars include culture and creativity, safeguarding intellectual property rights and promoting AI-driven creative industries. Another pillar is education and upskilling, which aims to integrate AI education/training across sectors to best utilize AI’s potential, thus leading to economic growth. With these policies, the emerging role and evolution of AI is finding a more definite role in the Caribbean.
In the case of the emerging role and evolution of AI in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has recently opened up the door to permitting the usage of AI in exams in 2026. This is for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence with clearly defined rules and regulations in place to ensure smooth sailing.
Looking Ahead
The Caribbean is right there as far as AI discussions go, as there is a foundation in place to ensure that in any capacity AI is being used in, it can be used safely and in any imaginable sector. Experts like UCF Professor Rohan Jowallah are at the forefront of the emerging role and evolution of AI in the Caribbean, looking to continue to push boundaries and innovate. With AI being readily available to assist in education or provide training for jobs, AI in the Caribbean could transform lives.
– Amari Jennings
Photo: Unsplash
Addressing Elderly Poverty in the Solomon Islands
Elderly Poverty Rates in the Solomon Islands
As of 2012, statistics showed the elderly poverty rate in the Solomon Islands was between 27% and 32%. Since then, the population of older adults in the country has grown with about 5.6% of the population being 60 years old or older. With longer life expectancy and demographic ageing, the elderly population of the Pacific is expected to quadruple to about 2 million people by 2050.
Elderly poverty in the Solomon Islands is a major concern because they are geographically isolated. Transportation and access to physical banks are limited and the economy is mostly informal which means most seniors don’t have access to formal safety nets. This makes them especially vulnerable when resources run out. Waiting for resources to replenish puts the elderly at high risk of losing income.
YouSave Program
Older adults like Ruth are benefiting from the “youSave” program. It is a voluntary pension program the Solomon Islands Central Bank put in place specifically to help the self-employed. Launched in 2017, it allows elderly people to have a savings account designed for their retirement.
In addition, the Solomon Islands launched its National Financial Inclusion Strategy to expand access to financial services across the country. It focuses on digital financial access to ensure affordable, quality financial services for all citizens. It aims to make banking more accessible, reducing elderly poverty in the Solomon Islands. The Prime Minister of the islands described it as, “an important road map to improve financial access.”
What’s more, the strategy aims to develop digital marketing tools and money innovations through partnerships with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Labor Organization (ILO), government telecommunications and postal services. The strategy increases access to savings, payments and financial empowerment for people in the informal economy including many elderly people without access to a bank.
No State Pension
Because the country doesn’t have a social protection system designed specifically for the elderly, like a state pension, these services are essential to reduce elderly poverty in the Solomon Islands. Studies show, if the government were to adopt these measures, the elderly population would find themselves in much improved circumstances. An Australian government study found spending 2.6% of gross domestic product on benefits for children and older adults could reduce the Solomon Islands’ poverty gap by 21%.
In her remarks at the launch of the strategy, Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Doctor Lachlan Strahan, said the Australian government was proud to support the strategy. “We are looking forward to seeing it being implemented and delivering safe, secure and cost-effective access to more Solomon Islanders,” she said.
Solomon Islanders no longer need to hide retirement savings under their mattresses for financial autonomy. They can save for their retirement by using “digital jam jars.” These virtual jam jars, patterned after traditional ways of saving, help people visualize their financial resources when they don’t have access to a bank. Users Of “digital jam jars” can build up their savings and be better prepared for unforeseen circumstances or save for their future.
Conclusion
Elderly people like Ruth Kamu struggle to save for their retirement in the Solomon Islands. With the elderly population expected to grow significantly in the next several years, the government is implementing programs to help. These programs go a long way towards helping the elderly of the Solomon Islands reach financial autonomy.
– Caleb Dueck
Photo: Freepik
How the Philippine Red Cross Helps Typhoon Victims
Philippine Red Cross
The Philippine Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that has existed since 1899 and has been officially active since 1947. Since its beginnings, PRC has been dedicated to supporting citizens who have endured tragic events and disasters across the Philippines. From emergency care to raising donations, PRC is committed to helping the vulnerable.
Following the destruction of Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan, PRC delivered medical aid and support to thousands of victims in highly affected communities. Hundreds of staff and volunteers from PRC supplied families with emergency services such as first aid, disease prevention, welfare assistance, sanitation and more.
Typhoon Tino
Typhoon Kalmaegi, or Typhoon Tino, affected the country from Nov. 2 to Nov. 6. In just four days, it left a trail of destruction across eight regions. Islands in the Visayas were among the most highly affected areas. As of Nov. 11, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported about:
Cebu was the most affected area, recording many casualties due to severe, abundant flooding, landslides and vigorous winds. The storm left hundreds of thousands of families displaced after homes and farms were ruined.
On Nov. 4, following Typhoon Tino, PRC delivered health services to the highest affected areas through first aid stations to assist the sick and injured. The organization held disease prevention and hygiene promotion sessions for 620 people, raising awareness to protect the health of citizens. PRC also responded to an emergency childbirth.
Aside from medical resources, PRC extended welfare support as it set up welfare desks to provide emotional and psychological first aid. Volunteers also provided 1,642 hot meals to families affected by Typhoon Tino.
The chairman and CEO of PRC, Richard Gordon, expressed his faith in PRC’s volunteers to help and support those affected by Typhoon Tino.
“Every person reached by our staff and volunteers is someone who is given hope and care in the midst of disaster,” Gordon shared. “The Philippine Red Cross remains committed to responding swiftly wherever there is a call for help.”
Typhoon Uwan
Just days after Typhoon Tino left the Philippines, Super Typhoon Fung-wong, or Uwan, hit Luzon from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. The 16 regions affected included Catanduanes, Aurora and Isabela. NDRRMC reported about:
The destruction caused extreme flooding, intense wind and mudslides, leaving many people displaced and sheltering with loved ones or in evacuation centers.
Following the devastation from Super Typhoon Uwan, PRC gathered hundreds of volunteers to reach more victims through medical services such as first aid stations that treated hundreds of patients. The humanitarian organization sent out ambulances for medical transport and rescue operations. PRC assigned three doctors and 25 nurses to provide medical consultations, medicines and antibiotics for hundreds of people in several regions.
Volunteers transported more than 200 individuals to evacuation centers from hazardous zones. PRC also provided psychological support through welfare desks and distributed meals from food trucks, delivering 8,753 hot meals to affected families. PRC used radios to allow communication in distant areas without Wi-Fi or data.
To PRC staff and volunteers, Gordon shared his appreciation for their extensive labor and dedicated effort.
“People often think that our work is limited to handing out relief boxes, but we have been working non-stop preparing hot meals and holding meetings 24/7,” Gordon said. “Thanks to everyone’s sacrifices here, the PRC can truly be always first, always ready, and always there.”
Moving Forward
In the face of the life-threatening typhoons that devastated millions of people in November, PRC remained dedicated to immediate aid for communities in need across the Philippines. PRC reached Filipino victims in the areas most affected, despite rising water levels and powerful winds. Along with accommodating the health of hundreds of people, PRC supported the well-being of families who lost everything. The people of the Philippines faced disaster, loss and grief, but PRC’s humanitarian relief provided care and support during recovery.
– Caydie Tampac
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mobile Technology & Community Health Care in Malawi
Limited access to health care increases the risk of death among young children in Malawi, as people who live far from health centers are less likely to receive medical care. This also affects pregnant women who live farther away from those facilities, as they are less likely to get prenatal checkups or professional help during childbirth. To address these challenges, Malawi has increasingly relied on Community Health Workers (CHWs), locally known as Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), who serve as important links between communities and health systems.
Recently, the introduction of mobile technology has paved the way for more effective health care delivery. Using mobile phones, digital reporting tools and health apps, CHWs can now track patient data, communicate with clinics and respond more quickly to medical needs and emergencies. These digital efforts are supported by organizations such as the Malawi Ministry of Health, which oversees community health programs and digital health systems and VillageReach.
This global nonprofit organization strengthens supply chains and digital health tools for frontline health workers in Malawi. Together, these technologies improve access to health care, support health education and strengthen health systems in rural communities.
Mobile Technology Strengthening Community Health Work
Mobile technology has become an important tool in strengthening HSAs across Malawi. Smartphones, tablets and SMS-based platforms enable HSAs to collect patient data, monitor symptoms and communicate directly with health facilities. One of the most widely used systems is the Malawi Ministry of Health’s mobile system, which enables live disease surveillance and medicine stock monitoring.
The Integrated Community Health Information System (iCHIS) is a mobile system implemented by the Malawi Ministry of Health. It supports HSAs by enabling them to record patient data digitally and submit accurate, up-to-date reports. This system replaces paper-based reporting and data collection, improving accuracy and speeding up communication with district health offices.
By helping track diseases and monitor maternal and child health, iCHIS strengthens community-level health care and improves response times in rural areas of Malawi. In a published report, Malawi’s Ministry of Health emphasized that digital reporting systems such as the iCHIS have reduced delays in community-level data reporting and improved decision-making at district health offices. Officials noted that real-time digital data allows faster responses to disease outbreaks and improves monitoring of maternal and child health services, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas.
In addition, digital systems support health education by providing HSAs with updated information on nutrition and disease prevention. These tools strengthen communication between health workers and communities, improve trust in local health services and help ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate care. Overall, mobile technology has become an important tool for strengthening community-based health care delivery in Malawi, particularly in rural areas.
Organizations Supporting Digital Health Initiatives in Malawi
Through the combined efforts of these organizations, the workload of CHWs has been greatly reduced. These efforts show how combining community health work with mobile technology can expand health care access and improve outcomes even in developing regions.
Looking Ahead
As Malawi continues to invest in digital health, mobile technology is becoming an important tool for improving health care delivery. Indeed, expanding mobile network access, strengthening digital skills among health workers and improving data systems will help ensure progress. With continued support and partnerships, mobile health systems can address health care challenges, improve patients’ well-being and strengthen the country’s health system.
By giving HSAs better digital tools, Malawi shows how technology can help to reduce challenges in health care access. These systems support CHWs and provide a practical example for other low-income countries seeking to improve rural health care in affordable, effective ways.
– Emmanuel Fagbemide
Photo: Unsplash
Everything To Know About Hunger in Rwanda
The State of Food Security in Rwanda
Rwanda has made notable progress in reducing hunger, however food insecurity continues to affect a significant portion of its population. According to data obtained in 2022, food insecurity remains a reality for approximately 20.6% of the population, with the majority experiencing moderate levels of insecurity. In 2024, the overall Dietary Energy Supply gradually increased by 1.7%, indicating some “improvement in national food energy availability.” Currently, 32.4% of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Root Causes of Hunger
Hunger in Rwanda is driven by a complex combination of environmental and economic factors:
Who Is Most Affected?
Rural populations, women and children are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. Children under the age of five are increasingly vulnerable to chronic malnutrition, which may chronically impact physical and cognitive development.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, refugees fleeing Rwanda’s neighboring countries also face acute food insecurity. Limited access to land and employment opportunities around refugee camps leads many to heavily depend on humanitarian food assistance. However, due to a lack of funding, refugees are at a greater risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Government and Policy Responses
The Rwandan government has invested in programs and policies to strengthen food security and agricultural production, including:
International Support and Challenges
By supporting refugees, assisting vulnerable rural communities and working with farmers, international partners like the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) play a crucial role in addressing hunger in Rwanda by providing “specialized nutritious food, for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition, to vulnerable groups.” However, funding gaps and global crises have strained humanitarian assistance, leading to ration cuts for refugee camps.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
As aligned with Sustainable Development Target 2, Rwanda has seen measurable successes regarding access to food, but progress remains uneven as the changing climate, inflation and demographic trends continue to pose significant risks. According to the WFP, to sustain gains and close the gap, it is critical to boost agricultural activity, invest in infrastructure and improve nutrition education.
Sustained investment, enhanced regional cooperation and targeted programs could help build a more food-secure Rwanda. Community leaders and international partners must continue collaborating to ensure that everyone in Rwanda, citizens and refugees, have access to enough nutritious food that supports long-term health.
– Sara Aboulela
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
How Surf Tourism is Helping Fight Poverty in Bali
Tourism and Inequality in Bali
Over the past two decades, tourism has driven extraordinary economic growth in Bali. Before the pandemic, the island welcomed more than six million international visitors a year, generating jobs, foreign investment and global visibility. But this growth has not been evenly shared.
As tourism expands, wealth tends to concentrate in already-popular areas, widening the gap between those who benefit from the industry and those who are left behind. Developers have increasingly converted agricultural land, including Bali’s iconic rice terraces, into hotels, beach clubs and shops aimed at foreign tourists. For many rural and working-class communities, this shift has meant higher living costs, fewer traditional livelihoods and mounting pressure to adapt or relocate.
Surf Tourism in Bali
What surf tourism in Bali occasionally reveals is not a solution to poverty, but a different way tourism value can circulate at the margins. At Kima Surf, the surf camp embeds charitable work into its everyday operations. Kima Surf instructors bring children from the Bali Orphan Day Center into the water for surf sessions, while guests and staff take part in beach clean-ups that address the environmental pressures tourism generates.
Beyond the beach, Kima Surf supports initiatives such as the NF Kinder Foundation. The foundation funds health care, research and aftercare for families facing the high and ongoing costs of Neurofibromatosis, helping them avoid financial strain that could push them deeper into poverty. Similarly, Bali Green Surf School supports educational access by providing food, clothing, toys and essential school supplies to local orphanages, helping reduce material barriers to learning for children from low-income backgrounds.
Fundraising for SurfAid’s Make a Wave Challenge and awareness campaigns promoting disability inclusion in Bali also support groups that are often excluded from tourism jobs and social services. These interventions remain limited in scale and cannot offset the structural inequalities that tourism development produces; however, they illustrate how surf tourism can contribute, albeit incrementally and unevenly, to poverty alleviation. It eases access to care, skills and resources where state support is often insufficient.
What This Means for Poverty Reduction in Bali
Examples like Kima Surf and Bali Green Surf School show how surf tourism in Bali can intersect with poverty in ways that are often overlooked. Rather than transforming the economy or reversing gentrification, surf tourism can create smaller, more immediate forms of support. These include reducing financial vulnerability by improving access to health care and educational resources that might otherwise push families further into poverty.
These impacts are limited and uneven, but they matter in a place where tourism dominates everyday life. Surf tourism in Bali does not solve poverty. However, when its benefits reach local people, it can make everyday life more affordable for some families.
– Iona Gethin
Photo: Flickr
The Productive Safety Net Program Combats Poverty in Ethiopia
Background
The Climate Policy Initiative reports that Phase V of the PSNP began in November 2020 under the Strengthen Ethiopia’s Adaptive Safety Net Project. This project received a $200 million credit and a $312.5 million grant. It also received $430 million from USAID, $281 million from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and $600 million from the Government of Ethiopia.
This phase aims to expand the geographic scope of the program, improve PSNP implementation and strengthen disaster response efforts. These objectives support broader policy goals. According to the European External Action Service, this focuses on reducing extreme poverty in targeted rural areas and strengthening household resilience to recurrent shocks.
It also aims to prevent harmful coping mechanisms, promote sustainable livelihoods and improve food security and access to essential services for vulnerable populations.
Project Components
The PSNP includes a range of components and policies. The European External Action Service reports that this program provides cash or food payments to about seven million people who participate in public works initiatives. Participants receive benefits for up to six months while engaging in community-building tasks.
One million people identified as chronically impoverished or unable to work receive unconditional benefits for 12 months. The program implements public works projects in both livestock-based and non-livestock-based areas to protect residents from resource losses linked to poverty and disasters. These projects focus on strengthening infrastructure, improving soil and water conservation and supporting environmental protection efforts.
Some policies include developing roads and schools, planting seedlings for reforestation, preventing soil erosion and creating or rehabilitating irrigation systems. PSNP provides financial and social services to beneficiaries. This program facilitates grants and loans for farming and nonfarming activities to support poverty reduction.
This program connects beneficiaries to social support services across nutrition, health and education. The Shock Responsive Safety Net administers assistance to beneficiaries facing food insecurity, particularly those affected by droughts and other shocks.
Environmental Shocks
Environmental policy plays a key role in the PSNP. As stated by the European External Action Service, integrating climate shift adaptation into public works projects helps minimize the impact of climate shocks on food insecurity. For example, watershed rehabilitation and area closures can promote vegetation growth for livestock feed.
In addition, environmental management efforts can lessen the risk of landslides, floods and soil erosion. According to the World Bank, a significant portion of Ethiopia’s population depends on rain-fed agriculture. The country has endured recurrent droughts in previous decades, historically occurring every three to five years.
While the frequency of environmental shocks has varied over the years, they remain a consistent concern that has shaped Ethiopia’s social protection response. The World Bank further states that droughts and famines have affected millions of people over multiple periods. Environmental degradation, weak resource management and shrinking landholdings driven by constraints in policy implementation have worsened the effects of droughts.
These factors have led to the degradation of productive assets and the erosion of household and community resilience.
Economic Impacts
Programs like the Productive Safety Net Program help stabilize incomes and productive assets, enabling households to participate in local and regional markets. By reducing financial uncertainty connected to recurrent shocks, PSNP helps create a predictable economic environment that supports trade and investment. Over time, these factors can expand consumer markets and reinforce supply chains, creating trade opportunities for companies based in the U.S. and the U.K.
– Sasha Banaei
Photo: Flickr
Creations for Charity: Brightening Children’s Holidays With LEGO
This is the mission of Creations For Charity (CFC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks by uniting fans from around the world. Nannan Zhang is an adult fan who has been active in the online community for eight years. Initially, a college student with a lot of free time dedicated to LEGO sets, he wanted to see fellow builders in the community use their extensive building skills to give to others.
As such, Zhang founded the CFC in 2009 with the intent of showcasing the talents of fellow LEGO fans and giving to needy youths.
How It Works
The CFC is entirely volunteer-run and hosts an annual fundraiser. The nonprofit prides itself on its unique fundraising strategy, which involves selling one-of-a-kind creations donated by volunteers from around the world from October 15 to November 30. Coordinators then use the funds to purchase new LEGO sets for underprivileged children.
In hopes of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks, the CFC’s coordinators travel around the world and use these funds to purchase brand-new LEGO sets, donating them to local organizations of their choice that serve underprivileged children. Such organizations include shelters, orphanages, hospitals and impoverished schools. People can also make monetary donations through the organization’s website.
Zhang has acknowledged the high prices of the creations displayed in the CFC’s store. He explained that those who have put in immense effort into their creations deserved recognition. Near the end of the sale, discounts are made for remaining items.
The CFC has collaborated with popular LEGO event organizers, including Brick Convention and Beyond the Brick. Brick Convention is a long-running event that features numerous LEGO attractions, including massive creation displays, retired LEGO sets and life-size models. A portion of the money raised during the convention goes to the CFC, supporting its goal of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO.
Beyond the Brick’s YouTube channel, hosted by Joshua Hanlon, houses the CFC’s annual 24-hour livestreams. Hanlon founded Beyond the Brick in November 2011, initially as an audio-only podcast. It is usually held on the day after Thanksgiving.
Many LEGO fans from around the world have participated in the livestream since 2014. In 2025, Beyond the Brick delivered sets to Transformation Ministries, an organization that provides food and other necessities to underprivileged children.
Successes and Contributions
The Creations for Charity has traveled to both developed and developing countries in support of its cause. For example, the team has traveled to Hungary, Kenya, Brazil, Chile and Japan. Since 2009, CFC has raised approximately $17,000 annually, which it used to donate more than 1,100 new LEGO sets to organizations such as Make-A-Wish and children’s hospitals.
In 2024, CFC donated 150 LEGO kits to refugee children in Nairobi, Kenya, where more than 800,000 refugees sought shelter from war, famine and natural disasters. In 2025, the CFC raised $25,906, with $4,500 from the sale of custom creations and $7,000 from the live stream. The rest came from donations from the Brick Convention, Brickworld and the Great Palia Charity Hunt.
LEGO builders and event organizers alike have collaborated for the sake of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO sets. As of now, the CFC plans to travel to 17 locations around the world, which have yet to be fully disclosed.
The Impact of LEGOs
It may seem surprising how the Creations for Charity’s mission focuses on brightening children’s holidays with LEGOs. However, the truth is that the language of play is universal. As freshman computer science major Jenna Curtis put it: “That’s why they’re so relevant, because you don’t have to change the formula. You can just rearrange what pieces you use and create something different.”
Not only do LEGO bricks encourage creativity, but they also help to hone fine motor skills, vocabulary, cooperation and problem-solving abilities. Approximately 90% of brain growth occurs before the age of 5. LEGO kits facilitate learning through imagination and independent play. A 2022 study found that LEGO sets have been used for developmental art therapy for children.
These building blocks are versatile and can enhance social and behavioral skills in children, which are crucial to a child’s future.
Conclusion
Through his simple love for LEGO bricks, Zhang has built the Creations for Charity into a foundation for fostering creativity and brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks. When children play with LEGO blocks, they aren’t just building for fun. They’re also building their futures with one brick at a time.
– Cindy Nguyen
Photo: Flickr