Singapore is one of the world’s wealthiest and most developed nations. However, despite Singapore’s economic success, income inequality and food insecurity continue to affect vulnerable populations across the country. According to local reports, some individuals struggle to meet basic necessities, such as a comfortable shelter and food.
In addition to financial limitations and the high cost of living, food insecurity remains an issue for many individuals, particularly low-income families, seniors living alone and migrant workers. The streets in Singapore are sometimes seen with people considered homeless, as they can’t afford housing, highlighting the need for charitable organizations.
While the government has contributed significantly to reducing poverty and improving the lives of the poor, gaps remain for individuals who fall below eligibility criteria or require additional assistance. As a result, charities play a vital role in supporting vulnerable communities by offering food assistance, shelter and housing, health care, counselling services and other forms of aid. The following are five charities operating in Singapore that are making a meaningful impact.
1. Willing Hearts
The first of the charities operating in Singapore is Willing Hearts. Since 2003, Willing Hearts has been supporting and improving the lives of the underprivileged and impoverished through volunteerism and teamwork. Willing Hearts has also relocated five times over the past 21 years to better reach the lives of the underprivileged and marginalized.
Established by Tony Tay and his friends, Willing Hearts is one of Singapore’s leading soup kitchens with more than 10,000 meals distributed per day to more than 70 locations in Singapore through volunteer-led kitchens. In addition to food distribution, Willing Hearts also offers a variety of services such as dental care, legal aid, bereavement and healing services.
2. Food From the Heart
Food from the Heart is an independent nonprofit food charity in Singapore that focuses on 10 initiatives that alleviate food insecurity, educate and raise funds. The community food pack program is one of the initiatives from Food from the Heart that provides seniors, low-income individuals and families with fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and bread through a monthly distribution. Through this program, the organization supports more than 10,113 families each month.
In addition to all of the programs combined, Food from the Heart has assisted and supported more than 129,877 families and individuals, distributed 143,825 food packs and supported 63,831 beneficiaries in total as of the end of 2024.
3. HealthServe
According to HealthServe, a large number of migrant workers holding work permits in Singapore face conflict regarding emotional distress, workplace peer pressure and injuries. While employers are legally required to pay for medical treatment, such as medical services, dental treatment and insurance, some individuals feel discouraged from seeking the help they need due to cultural and language barriers and peer pressure. HealthServe has helped and supported these workers by positively impacting more than 18,000 migrant workers by the end of 2024, which includes more than 5,300 medical and dental services, 6,000 casework and social services, 8,000 mental health and counselling services and 14,200 community services related to health education and outreach.
In 2024, HealthServe’s objective was to extend mental health support and awareness. Ever since the program started in 2022, HealthServe has trained more than 1,630 migrant workers with knowledge and skills to support overall well-being.
Looking ahead to 2025, HealthServe aims to expand dental sessions, strengthen support for chronic diseases among migrant domestic workers, enhance psychotherapy and counselling services and extend GP services to more sectors.
4. Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a charity in Singapore, provides direct assistance by supporting and protecting low-wage, foreign and migrant workers through food programs, medical emergency funds, social work and shelter.
One of its initiatives, The Cuff Road Project, supports workers in need by providing a free breakfast and a fulfilling dinner every weekday for each worker. On Saturdays, TWC2 provides lunch.
One of TWC2’s services is casework, which provides support and assistance to individuals to help them navigate complex social, legal and government systems. Caseworkers in TWC2 assess and evaluate the client’s needs while ensuring a suitable solution and support. TWC2 has logged about 13,630 conversations of support in 2024, including 100,887 inbound and 68,329 outbound messages.
Beyond direct assistance, TWC2 engages with policymakers, like the Ministry of Manpower. They also propose solutions, conduct research on migrant worker issues and engage with employers and businesses.
5. SPD (Society for the Physically Disabled)
Set up in 1964, SPD is a nonprofit charity that focuses on helping individuals with disabilities and those with developing disabilities. SPD provides 20 programs, offering therapy, community rehabilitation, early intervention, job placement and support.
In 2024-2025, SPD assisted more than 13,200 people with disabilities. This included 1,659 children who received early intervention, 7,940 individuals who received support with rehabilitation community programs, and 3,900 individuals who gained awareness and education from talks, events and training.
Looking Ahead
Although Singapore is widely recognized for its economic success and high standard of living, vulnerable communities continue to face social and economic challenges. These five charities operating in Singapore, play a crucial role in addressing these issues by providing food security, health care, advocacy and rehabilitation support. Together, these organizations demonstrate the importance of compassion, volunteerism and community support in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society in Singapore.
– Bianca P. Gunawan
Bianca is based in Jakarta, Indonesia and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
How Reducing Export Tariffs Will Alleviate Poverty In India
Modi wrote on X: “When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.” The tariff reduction will provide society-wide economic benefit, reducing poverty in India. The Indian aviation industry is set to capitalize on the deal. Air India Ltd and SpiceJet Ltd are forecast to purchase $100 billion in aircraft orders from U.S. firms over the next five years. However, those most impoverished in India are expected to benefit in particular.
Tariffs and Poverty in India
High export tariffs directly impact the trade opportunities of corporate entities and governments. However, they can also be particularly detrimental to the standards of living of low-income households. Tariffs reduce the purchasing power of low-income households, both through increasing the prices of goods and services and by decreasing nominal incomes.
According to the World Bank, 5.3% of India’s population lives below the extreme poverty threshold of $3 per day. Tariffs have a significant impact on the quality of life of this sector of the population. Higher food and water prices, increased unemployment and reduced incomes decrease opportunities to escape extreme poverty and can push more of the population below the poverty line.
International Cooperation and Its Benefits
The World Trade Organization (WTO) reports that reduced export tariffs have a positive impact on low-income households and small businesses that cannot compete under high trade restrictions. Through negotiating a new tariff of 18%, Modi has lessened the economic burdens on the most impoverished sector of his population. Millions of Indians may enjoy greater purchasing power with their incomes, easing access to basic necessities. Modi’s deal also contributes to a larger trend of U.S. export tariff reductions in the subcontinent.
The U.S. and Bangladesh have reached an agreement on a 19% reciprocal tariff rate, with a plan to establish a 0% reciprocal tariff rate for textiles and other apparel goods. The textile and apparel industry is the backbone of the Bangladesh economy. The sector accounts for roughly 80% of Bangladesh’s total export revenue and employs around 4 million workers. Many of these workers are part of the 18.7% of the Bangladeshi population that falls below the national poverty line.
A reduced export tariff on this sector will lessen economic pressures on individual firms, which is expected to lead to improved working conditions and potentially higher wages. The reduction may therefore benefit the quality of life of many who experience the daily challenges of poverty.
Looking Ahead
Overall, Modi’s deal demonstrates that large-scale international cooperation, while benefiting major economic players such as governments and corporations, can also provide advantages for alleviating poverty in India. Reduced export tariffs can contribute to poverty reduction on a broader scale.
– Arthur Horsey
Photo: Flickr
5 Child-Led Inventions Addressing Global Poverty
William Kamkwamba, Masitala, Malawi
In 2001, thousands perished and many lost their livelihood in one of the worst droughts the rural village of Masitala, Malawi, had ever experienced. Crops wouldn’t grow in the dry soil and without their farming income, 14 years old Kamkwamba’s family couldn’t afford his school tuition. Nevertheless, Kamkwamba was determined to keep learning.
Discovering a book about alternative energy at Masitala’s small library, he became fascinated with windmills. Kamkwamba resolved to use the technology to bring desperately needed running water and electricity to his family. Improvising with scrap parts such as sandals, bicycle components, an old fan blade and gum trees, he successfully constructed a windmill which was able to power his home’s basic needs.
Kamkwamba gained financial support as his success story spread and he built additional windmills to bring power and water to his village, accelerating the fight against poverty. Kamkwamba’s story was adapted into a 2019 feature film titled “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.”
Jahkil Jackson, Chicago, US
Jackson felt compelled to ease the disparagement faced by the unhoused after helping deliver nourishment to displaced people in his hometown, Chicago. His passion led him to launch Project I Am (an organization that distributes hygiene kits to people without homes) in 2016, when he was just 8 years old. The kits or “blessing bags”, are filled with toiletries, nonperishable food, socks and other necessities, providing comfort and basic needs to those without.
Project I Am has distributed thousands of kits to those in poverty and to disaster victims in the U.S. and abroad. Now a member of the WE International Youth Council, Jackson encourages children to help enrich the world, emphasizing the impact of child-led inventions addressing global poverty. Heartland Alliance, a prominent anti-poverty organization and the Obama Foundation have recognized Jackson’s efforts.
Maryam Saleem, Pakistan
At age 13, Saleem was deeply concerned that much of her fellow Pakistani population was living in poverty without access to clean energy. Inhabitants would often cook their meals with firewood, which can pollute the air, cause respiratory damage and additional health problems. Suffering from respiratory issues herself, Saleem was determined to find a solution.
She created a portable biodigester that converts household organic waste into cooking biofuel. Saleem’s invention won her the 2023 Citi Foundation’s Skills for Success Challenge in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) World Series of Innovation. With her award money, she is able to provide free biodigesters for the impoverished in Pakistan through “GoClean,” the organization she co-created.
Hannah Herbst, Florida, US
In 2015, at age 14, Herbst vowed to help her Ethiopian pen pal, who lived without basic necessities like running water and electricity. Herbst worked to invent a small turbine that generates electricity from ocean currents. Constructed of affordable, recyclable materials, her design is compact and floats above the water, while existing systems can be bulky and sit on the ocean floor.
Herbst’s invention, ideal for use in developing areas due to its low cost and accessibility, won her the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” in the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Herbst shared some of her prize money with her pen pal, enabling her family to buy a generator. Herbst plans to add water purification capability to her system and open-source the design so that electricity and purified water are readily available to shoreline communities worldwide.
Her invention demonstrates the power of child-led inventions addressing global poverty.
Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López, Chiapas, Mexico
Much of the population in Chiapas, Mexico, lives in poverty without access to conventional plumbing. Inhabitants often use firewood or oil to heat their water, fuels that can release contaminants and pose respiratory hazards. In 2018, at 8 years old, inspired by scientific workshops and by her concern for the environment and her fellow citizens, López decided to build an environmentally friendly, affordable water-heating system.
She used discarded items such as painted plastic bottles, a hose, wood scraps and pieces of glass from cooler doors. She and her father installed the finished device, capable of heating 10 liters of water, on the roof of her house. Her invention was a success and led to López becoming the first girl to receive an honor typically awarded to adults: “Recognition of the Institute of Nuclear Science for Women.”
López plans to make her invention available to all of Chiapas to help improve the lives of those living in poverty.
Conclusion
These five child-led inventions addressing global poverty demonstrate what fearless, determined youth can accomplish. Filled with the desire to help those less fortunate and enabled by education, scientific programs or simply the belief in a cause, children of the world see endless possibilities for helping the planet’s impoverished populations. With little help, young people can turn those possibilities into reality.
– Debbie Barto
Photo: Flickr
Higher Education in Portugal
The Accessibility of Higher Education in Portugal
Historically, Portugal was not known as having easily accessible education. From the 1950s to 1970s, a dictator ran Portugal who took away freedom of education, expression, health and security. Literacy rates and job security were at an all-time low. The country was known for providing agricultural resources, but the dictator took away any factory or industrial jobs to minimize competition, strikes and those gaining knowledge of the poor work conditions and decisions he was making. With the lack of education and accessibility for jobs, the citizens were not able to protest against or understand the immense poverty or deprivation they were facing.
The fight to create a better system in Portugal is not new. Back in 2005, the country witnessed legal movements aimed at making higher education more accessible to young people. It first created the new credit system, which created more opportunities for students to study abroad and hold clearer records on their diplomas, according to the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
When it comes to studying abroad, there are diverse ways that students can achieve that. There are different programs they can join like Erasmus+ and the Almeida Garrett program. These programs allow students to look at different internships, schooling opportunities or work studies to experience life abroad. Since Portugal is a part of the EU, studying abroad is relatively easy as options are more accessible.
Improving Accessibility
Flash forward to 2009-2010, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa described how it implemented a new system to clarify expectations on knowledge, credits and hours students must have in their undergraduate and graduate degrees. This created that much-needed organized system, which helps to guide students by setting clear expectations and goals.
Knowing these new laws, it is also important to know the different types of universities they apply to. Higher education in Portugal has both private and public entities. Public structures are less expensive, while private structures are more expensive, often involving smaller schools. Both hold their pros and cons, but fit different students’ wants and needs.
Higher education in Portugal includes both universities and polytechnics. Attending a university gives someone more research and educational opportunities, a way for students to learn more about their major and concentration. Polytechnics are a space for students to learn more about their focused career. It is often more practical, helping students focus on working toward a specific job.
Poverty in Portugal
Poverty has existed in Portugal for many reasons, including the country being late to industrialization and having wars and inadequate infrastructure affecting its economy. Initiatives like the Child Guarantee National Action Plan are addressing poverty among children and helping them access the same opportunities as those who are not impoverished.
Portugal’s economy has grown, which has resulted in more jobs, higher wages for those with higher education and a large market for recent graduates. According to the Human Development Index, Portugal is now a highly developed country, ranking high in many aspects and 40th overall. Education plays a crucial role in people understanding their rights, gaining equal pay, shifting and creating gender norms and making a life for oneself. From 1990 to 2023, the HDI states, “expected years of schooling changed by 5.6 years and mean years of schooling changed by 4.4 years.” This overall plays a role in the HDI, helping to make Portugal’s change as pivotal as it was, preventing it from falling into poverty while working towards an outstanding economy.
Looking Ahead
All of this being said, improvements are still needed in Portugal’s higher education system. However, focusing on that discredits what Portugal has accomplished so far, which has resulted in it moving in a positive direction.
– Daniella Johnson
Photo: Flickr
Child Soldiers in Mexico
The Problem
In February 2026, Red Hands Day once again reflects on a year where children, the world over, have had their youth cut short by military recruitment. One nation where this tragic scenario is both prevalent and unconventional is that of Mexico, one of the largest and most developed of the Central American nations, whose youth are engaged in a fight both for and against organized crime.
The U.S. Bureau of International Labor Affairs estimates that 30,000 minors work in criminal organizations in Mexico. A troubling statistic that doesn’t also account for the potentially thousands of child soldiers operating in local community militia against cartel violence. On both sides of the struggle for regional control, children are fighting in conflicts, suffering trauma, injury and death, all before they are able to reach adulthood.
Poverty and the Recruitment of Child Soldiers in Mexico
The scale of this problem reflects the continued issue of multidimensional child poverty in Mexico where around 38% of the under 17 population live in poverty. In fact, it is this 0-17 age group that makes up the nation’s largest impoverished demographic.
The desperation bred by this form of early-life deprivation is a major contributor to the frequency of child criminal recruitment where a guarantee of food, family and employment are often too tempting to resist. However, this potentially fatal arrangement between cartels and their so-called ‘pollitos de colores’ (’colorful chicks’) is a growing phenomenon with an estimated 200,000 further children vulnerable to recruitment.
This crisis means that some of Mexico’s poorest families and children face an impossible choice, stay where they live and risk either attacks or forced cooperation with organized crime, or flee and join the more than 100,000 other children living in internal displacement.
However, both domestic and multinational organizations are making efforts to intervene in the communities most affected and petition the government to do more to end a practice that condemns many Mexican boys and girls to continue living in a cycle of poverty and violence.
The major organizations operating on the crisis of child soldiers in Mexico are UNICEF Mexico and Tejiendo RedesInfancia which work with local groups in supporting at-risk children and call on the government to crack down on recruitment.
UNICEF Mexico
Addressing poverty, education and social stability in these communities is essential to preventing the practice of enlisting child soldiers in Mexico. To this effect UNICEF Mexico supports the vital social programs and protection systems that keep children in education. Operating in the nation since 1947, UNICEF Mexico has contributed to efforts in child protection, health, hygiene, and education, providing a vital voice for the most vulnerable of the developing country’s population.
UNICEF Mexico’s backing to programs such as Mi Beca para Empezar, that assists low-income families with financial aid on the condition of their children’ s school attendance, is essential in keeping the youth in the classroom and out of violent and exploitative environments. Since 2023, these efforts have helped ensure that 1.2 million Mexican children stay in education and build a better, safer and more prosperous future.
However, much more work is needed on a national structural level, so UNICEF also supports major legislative change for transformative federal intervention. Most vitally, it is actively pressuring the Mexican state to enact a “permanent national prevention and recruitment care policy” that would recognize enlisted children’s role as forced participants in crime and violent activities and seek to end their exploitation through increased interventions and improved legal classification.
Tejiendo RedesInfancia
Tejiendo RedesInfancia, a Latin and Caribbean children’s rights organization, is similarly using its network of advocates and communities to push for greater federal action. Since it received UN recommendations on the ‘Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict,’ the Mexican state has remained largely passive against the continued practice and widespread childhood criminality.
Tejiendo RedesInfancia is therefore also compelling the Mexican State to proactively adopt of these recommendations which one can summarize in three core statements:
Looking Ahead
Human rights groups operating on the crisis of child soldiers in Mexico unanimously agree, government action is imperative to make a real difference in the lives of the children suffering from poverty and military recruitment. Following UNICEF’s example on poverty prevention, enacting the policy that can have a revolutionary impact on the lives of the most vulnerable and adopting the statements above may be the start of ending this tragic and destructive practice for good.
– Evan Meikle
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Tunisia
5 Charities Operating in Tunisia
Looking Ahead
While Tunisia has made significant improvements since 2011, economic instability, food insecurity and social inequality continue to affect millions. The charities operating in Tunisia remain essential in addressing urgent humanitarian needs while promoting sustainable development and social inclusion. As the country navigates ongoing political and economic challenges, the continued work of these organizations will be critical in building a more equitable and resilient future.
– Ines Wargui
Photo: Pixabay
How REgrow Yirga is Reshaping the Coffee Industry in Ethiopia
Many farmers lack access to basic necessities such as potable water, a proper education and electricity. Rural and remote coffee farmers produce 95% of the coffee while owning less than five acres of land. A disconnect between the coffee supply chain and smallholder coffee farmers prevents them from receiving fair pay. This causes intermediaries to control the flow of money. REgrow Yirga is reshaping the coffee industry in Ethiopia to address these issues.
REgrow Yirga
The USDA, JDE and Peet’s Coffee started REgrow Yirga to change the Ethiopian coffee sector. Their goals include enhancing competitiveness, increasing productivity, improving supply chain performance and strengthening market conditions, according to TechnoServe.
The program targets the Gedeo Zone in southern Ethiopia, an area widely known for its Yirgacheffe coffee. This project supports 45,000 smallholder coffee farmers and 45 private wet mills by addressing the root problems hindering growth in the coffee sector.
How It Works
The program prioritizes addressing the gap in education on agronomy for Ethiopian coffee farmers. This involves a two-year agronomy training program from the TechnoServe Coffee Farm College, which is responsible for teaching farmers how to adopt regenerative agronomic practices through practical and knowledge-based training. REgrow Yirga equips coffee farmers with the necessary equipment and support to begin independently increasing their incomes.
Another issue that the program is tackling is the replacement of outdated coffee trees. Many of the current coffee trees are more than 20 years old, limiting coffee production. REgrow Yirga is reshaping the coffee industry in Ethiopia by teaching farmers the benefits of cutting coffee trees at the stump in a process called rejuvenation.
The process removes trees from production for one year while they regrow. Many farmers avoid doing this because they cannot afford to lose a year’s worth of income, but this process creates a more productive tree and a higher yield of coffee over time.
Gaining Independence
Through education on renewable practices, and by providing the resources to increase productivity, REgrow Yirga is reshaping the coffee industry in Ethiopia by allowing smallholder farmers to gain independence. This project brings equity to the coffee industry. Farmers gain a fair share of the value that their coffee creates. These long-term sustainability efforts will serve as a model for changes that are driving reform for equality for marginalized farmers worldwide.
– Sachin Kapoor
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Singapore
Singapore is one of the world’s wealthiest and most developed nations. However, despite Singapore’s economic success, income inequality and food insecurity continue to affect vulnerable populations across the country. According to local reports, some individuals struggle to meet basic necessities, such as a comfortable shelter and food.
In addition to financial limitations and the high cost of living, food insecurity remains an issue for many individuals, particularly low-income families, seniors living alone and migrant workers. The streets in Singapore are sometimes seen with people considered homeless, as they can’t afford housing, highlighting the need for charitable organizations.
While the government has contributed significantly to reducing poverty and improving the lives of the poor, gaps remain for individuals who fall below eligibility criteria or require additional assistance. As a result, charities play a vital role in supporting vulnerable communities by offering food assistance, shelter and housing, health care, counselling services and other forms of aid. The following are five charities operating in Singapore that are making a meaningful impact.
1. Willing Hearts
The first of the charities operating in Singapore is Willing Hearts. Since 2003, Willing Hearts has been supporting and improving the lives of the underprivileged and impoverished through volunteerism and teamwork. Willing Hearts has also relocated five times over the past 21 years to better reach the lives of the underprivileged and marginalized.
Established by Tony Tay and his friends, Willing Hearts is one of Singapore’s leading soup kitchens with more than 10,000 meals distributed per day to more than 70 locations in Singapore through volunteer-led kitchens. In addition to food distribution, Willing Hearts also offers a variety of services such as dental care, legal aid, bereavement and healing services.
2. Food From the Heart
Food from the Heart is an independent nonprofit food charity in Singapore that focuses on 10 initiatives that alleviate food insecurity, educate and raise funds. The community food pack program is one of the initiatives from Food from the Heart that provides seniors, low-income individuals and families with fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and bread through a monthly distribution. Through this program, the organization supports more than 10,113 families each month.
In addition to all of the programs combined, Food from the Heart has assisted and supported more than 129,877 families and individuals, distributed 143,825 food packs and supported 63,831 beneficiaries in total as of the end of 2024.
3. HealthServe
According to HealthServe, a large number of migrant workers holding work permits in Singapore face conflict regarding emotional distress, workplace peer pressure and injuries. While employers are legally required to pay for medical treatment, such as medical services, dental treatment and insurance, some individuals feel discouraged from seeking the help they need due to cultural and language barriers and peer pressure. HealthServe has helped and supported these workers by positively impacting more than 18,000 migrant workers by the end of 2024, which includes more than 5,300 medical and dental services, 6,000 casework and social services, 8,000 mental health and counselling services and 14,200 community services related to health education and outreach.
In 2024, HealthServe’s objective was to extend mental health support and awareness. Ever since the program started in 2022, HealthServe has trained more than 1,630 migrant workers with knowledge and skills to support overall well-being.
Looking ahead to 2025, HealthServe aims to expand dental sessions, strengthen support for chronic diseases among migrant domestic workers, enhance psychotherapy and counselling services and extend GP services to more sectors.
4. Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a charity in Singapore, provides direct assistance by supporting and protecting low-wage, foreign and migrant workers through food programs, medical emergency funds, social work and shelter.
One of its initiatives, The Cuff Road Project, supports workers in need by providing a free breakfast and a fulfilling dinner every weekday for each worker. On Saturdays, TWC2 provides lunch.
One of TWC2’s services is casework, which provides support and assistance to individuals to help them navigate complex social, legal and government systems. Caseworkers in TWC2 assess and evaluate the client’s needs while ensuring a suitable solution and support. TWC2 has logged about 13,630 conversations of support in 2024, including 100,887 inbound and 68,329 outbound messages.
Beyond direct assistance, TWC2 engages with policymakers, like the Ministry of Manpower. They also propose solutions, conduct research on migrant worker issues and engage with employers and businesses.
5. SPD (Society for the Physically Disabled)
Set up in 1964, SPD is a nonprofit charity that focuses on helping individuals with disabilities and those with developing disabilities. SPD provides 20 programs, offering therapy, community rehabilitation, early intervention, job placement and support.
In 2024-2025, SPD assisted more than 13,200 people with disabilities. This included 1,659 children who received early intervention, 7,940 individuals who received support with rehabilitation community programs, and 3,900 individuals who gained awareness and education from talks, events and training.
Looking Ahead
Although Singapore is widely recognized for its economic success and high standard of living, vulnerable communities continue to face social and economic challenges. These five charities operating in Singapore, play a crucial role in addressing these issues by providing food security, health care, advocacy and rehabilitation support. Together, these organizations demonstrate the importance of compassion, volunteerism and community support in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society in Singapore.
– Bianca P. Gunawan
Photo: Flickr
Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil
Decade of Stagnation
When the Olympics came to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Gini Index score, which measures income inequality, had been steadily falling for decades — from more than 60 in 1990 to around 52 in 2015 — prompting experts to celebrate the country as a beacon for social progress.
But its Gini score actually increased in subsequent years, before returning to 52 again in 2023, the most recent year of available data. That’s almost double the SDG 10 goal, of 27.5, and represents a decade of stagnation.
‘World’s Most Socially Regressive Austerity’
The economic crisis that hit in 2014 largely explains that lack of progress, after a slump in prices for Brazilian commodities such as iron ore, a major corruption scandal at the national oil producer and a raft of fiscal and monetary policies that undermined confidence in the government’s ability to manage the country’s finances.
Increased borrowing costs followed, along with legislation freezing social spending for 20 years, which one UN official described as the “most socially regressive austerity package in the world.” Millions slipped back into poverty in the aftermath of the pandemic and there has been a surge in homelessness across major cities.
Highly Regressive Tax System
Brazil’s regressive tax system is another major cause of inequality. Several millions live in poverty, but there is also more than 400,000 millionaires (in U.S. dollar terms), with the richest 1% of Brazilians earning 27% of the nation’s income.
The country’s income concentration is significantly higher than previously thought, according to a recent report by a group of Brazilian and international economists, with ultra-wealthy individuals paying relatively little tax compared to other nations.
Using a new method of calculating wealth, officials from the Brazilian tax agency and researchers from the EU Tax Observatory found those earning at least $1 million per year have far lower effective tax rates (20.6% on average) than the average citizen (42.5%).
Many other countries reverse this pattern, including the U.S., where the effective tax for million-dollar earners is 36%, compared to 29% for the average American.
Brazil’s tax system is therefore highly regressive, as the tax burden for middle-class households is significantly higher than for the very rich, which hampers efforts to reduce inequality.
New Leadership and Legislation Brings Some Relief
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return to the presidency in 2023, replacing the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, has provided greater hope and funding support to social programs, including the flagship Bolsa Família program, which offers direct cash transfers to low-income families. Lula’s government has also passed legislation reducing the tax burden on low and middle-income households, with a minimum rate established for higher earners. In particular, the new laws ensured new levies on dividends and company profits that were previously exempt.
Observers debate the extent to which this can be celebrated, however, as some warn the highest earners are able to shield their income due to flaws in the legislation, while the changes are only expected to produce modest improvements to the Gini coefficient, of just 0.3%.
Tathiane Piscitelli, a professor of financial law at the Rio-based think tank, Fundação Getulio Vargas, has acknowledged the limited impact of the changes, but said: “It is an improvement to our system, something that has been needed for a long time… Income tax is supposed to be progressive. We had the opposite situation, where those who earned more paid less. So even if this is not the ideal reform, overall it is a major relief.”
Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil
Ultimately, tax reforms can only go so far, and Brazil will need to find ways to strengthen its economic performance to place itself in a fiscal position to dramatically increase social spending. With the government’s debt levels standing at more than 80% of GDP, up from 58% in 2016, and spending is still severely constrained, Brazil is unlikely to achieve the SDG 10 target in anything but the very long term.
Oxfam estimates it would take more than 75 years to match the income inequality levels of the United Kingdom, at the current rate of progress, which would still fall short of the targeted Gini index score of 27.5.
Reasons for Optimism
There are reasons for optimism, however, with analysts at Boston Consulting Group suggesting Brazil’s economy is “impressively resilient” and well placed to navigate the shift in global power structures. Political neutrality on the world stage helps Brazil continue to enjoy warm relations with most Western countries, while its membership of the BRICS+ group of nations provides a key leadership role among the world’s fastest growing economies.
The huge domestic market and vast natural resources should also help shield Brazil from sharp trade barrier changes, said BCG, while a vast clean energy sector and robust digital infrastructure provide solid foundations for sustainable economic growth. If growth can return and the government can respond with increased social spending and continuing improvements to the tax system, inequalities should again start to fall.
International and Non-Government Support
Brazil’s international connections should also bring foreign and non-governmental investment. Last year, for example, the World Bank agreed to fund a major project to re-introduce the Bolsa Verde Program, which offers cash assistance to rural families that commit to environmental conservation, and should benefit 55,000 families in the Amazon by December 2026. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Lemann Foundation are working to draw attention to Brazil’s challenges within influential academic circles, with major investments to establish research centers within some of the world’s leading universities.
Momentum Can Return
The fight to achieve SDG 10 in Brazil may have stalled after earlier gains, but recent policy reforms and global shifts that should favor its economy suggest momentum can return. If growth strengthens and reforms continue, Brazil should again make significant progress in narrowing its deep inequalities.
– Lawrence Dunhill
Photo: Unsplash
The Face of Hunger in Lebanon
The issue of hunger in Lebanon is multifaceted and a variety of factors influence it. According to the World Bank, hunger in Lebanon has begun to worsen, dating back to the severe economic crisis in 2019. During this crisis, the Lebanese pound lost around 90% of its value. Another impactful event was the devastating Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020. Reports have shown that 17% of the Lebanese population struggles with food insecurity. Here are five factors that lead to excess hunger.
What are 5 Factors Leading To Excess Hunger?
How are Lebanese People Dealing With Hunger?
This situation has resulted in fragile households. The vulnerability of food insecurity is prominent due to the multiple factors that have contributed to this increase. In these circumstances, residents had no choice but to reduce the size of their meals or skip meals altogether. Moreover, with the economic collapse, farmers have been greatly affected. They had to decrease their harvest, which caused less production, revenue and ultimately, less food security.
What are Some Organizations That Can Help Improve the Situation?
Despite the circumstances surrounding hunger in Lebanon, it is not a hopeless matter by any means. On the contrary, there are programs that are providing effective help.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is an organization that has proven useful. In 2024, it provided food supplies and shelter with special attention on displaced people. The World Food Programme (WFP) does this through donations and fundraising efforts. The organization also has future plans to help Lebanese citizens who are victims of conflicts.
Another program is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which Lebanon joined in 1945. FAO and WFP worked together to create the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). With IPC’s results, FAO realized the instability of the rural regions in Lebanon and worked on advancing the situation. FAO, WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture are focusing on new recovery programs to improve the infrastructure of agriculture. FAO aims to raise its emergency as well as resilience assistance in order to support citizens in rural areas.
Looking Ahead
Many factors contribute to the situation of hunger in Lebanon. From the economic issue to the circumstances of displaced people, Lebanon has suffered from food insecurity. Despite these negative conditions, the state of Lebanon is capable of improvement. With the help of impactful organizations such as WFP and FAO, the struggles and challenges associated with hunger are on the road to getting better.
– Lara Ibrahim
Photo: Pixabay
Health Improvements and Reducing Poverty in Uganda
Food insecurity and undernutrition reinforced these vulnerabilities, contributing to poor health outcomes and limiting educational attainment among children. In response, the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) implemented a range of initiatives to address both the immediate and structural drivers of poverty and poor health in Uganda.
WFP Initiatives: School Feeding, Nutrition and Food Security
Between 2016 and 2020, WFP implemented its Uganda Country Program, which prioritized food security as a foundation for long-term development. A central pillar of this strategy was the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program, which provides daily meals to schoolchildren while sourcing food directly from local smallholder farmers. This approach was designed to address child hunger and education outcomes while simultaneously strengthening rural livelihoods.
According to a WFP interview with a WFP Uganda program officer, the HGSF initiative has reduced hunger-related absenteeism among schoolchildren while improving household income stability for farmers through predictable local procurement. The interview emphasizes that by linking schools to nearby agricultural producers, the program treats food assistance as both a nutritional and economic intervention rather than short-term relief. WFP reports indicate that school feeding programs reached hundreds of thousands of children annually, particularly in food-insecure regions such as Karamoja, where chronic hunger has historically undermined educational outcomes.
In addition to school meals, WFP expanded maternal and child nutrition programs, targeting pregnant women and young children during critical stages of development. Evaluations of WFP’s Uganda Country Strategic Plan found improvements in household food consumption scores and dietary diversity among participating communities.
UNDP Initiatives: Inclusive Growth and Health Infrastructure
While WFP’s interventions focused on food systems and nutrition, UNDP addressed the broader economic and infrastructural determinants of poverty and health. Through its Inclusive Growth and Resilience programs, UNDP supported job creation, micro-entrepreneurship and access to renewable energy, factors closely linked to long-term poverty reduction.
One of UNDP’s most impactful interventions has been the solarization of rural health facilities. The organization supported the installation of solar power systems in 26 rural health facilities, improving health care access for more than 700,000 people. Before electrification, many facilities relied on unreliable grid power or diesel generators, limiting their ability to provide consistent care.
UNDP reports that solar-powered facilities improved vaccine storage, expanded nighttime emergency services and strengthened maternal health care. By strengthening health infrastructure, these initiatives reduced the economic burden of illness on households. They enhanced the overall resilience of rural health systems.
Measurable Impact: Poverty Reduction and Health Improvements
The combined effects of WFP and UNDP initiatives are reflected in national development indicators. Between 2016 and 2020, poverty in Uganda declined to 20.3%. While multiple factors contributed to this trend, UNDP and WFP reports identify improved food security, social protection and service delivery as key contributors.
Nutrition and health indicators also improved over the same period. National stunting rates among children under 5 declined from roughly 29% in 2016 to 26% in 2022, reflecting gains in maternal nutrition, child feeding practices and health care access. In refugee-hosting districts, WFP-supported cash transfers linked to nutrition and health services improved dietary diversity.
They reduced reliance on negative coping strategies. The WFP interview-based video evidence further reinforces these findings by illustrating how school feeding programs improved attendance and learning outcomes, thereby demonstrating the long-term poverty-reduction potential of investing in child nutrition and education.
Challenges and Ongoing Constraints
Despite measurable progress, significant challenges persist. Funding volatility poses a major threat to program sustainability, particularly in refugee-hosting areas. WFP evaluations warn that reductions in donor funding have led to ration cuts in some regions, reversing gains in food security and nutrition.
Climate shocks, including droughts and floods, further undermine agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, placing additional strain on food systems. UNDP reporting also notes capacity constraints at the local government level, which can limit the scaling and institutionalization of successful initiatives. These challenges highlight the need for sustained investment and stronger national ownership of development programs.
Conclusion
UNDP and WFP initiatives in Uganda demonstrate that poverty reduction and health improvement are most effective when addressed through integrated, multi-sectoral strategies. These programs linked school feeding to local agriculture. They expanded nutrition-linked social protection and also strengthened the health care infrastructure through renewable energy.
Together, these efforts addressed both immediate vulnerabilities and long-term development needs. The measurable declines in poverty and child malnutrition between 2016 and 2022 suggest that coordinated development interventions can deliver tangible results even in complex and resource-constrained contexts. As Uganda continues to confront climate risks, demographic pressures and funding uncertainty.
However, the UNDP–WFP model offers a compelling example of how development and humanitarian action can work together to deliver sustainable, inclusive outcomes.
– Akash Ramaswamy
Photo: Flickr