Formed in 2007, Mumford & Sons is a Grammy-nominated, British folk-rock band. Mumford & Sons members include Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane. The band’s songs including “Little Lion Man,” “I Will Wait,” and “Believe” have an international following. However, beyond the music, with the goal of making a difference to the world, Mumford & Sons supports an array of charities. Below are overviews of three charities supported by Mumford & Sons and its philanthropy, The Gentlemen of the Road Fund.
What is The Gentlemen of the Road Fund?
In 2016, Mumford & Sons and Adam Tudhope, its manager, founded the Gentlemen of the Road Fund (GOTR). For every album cycle, the GOTR supports urgent needs in the cities in which the band performs. Also, the GOTR also selects to contribute to other local and global charities.
Here is an overview of three charities supported by Mumford & Sons:
War Child UK
War Child UK is a non-governmental organization that operates in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because war affects each of these countries, the goal of War Child is to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out. Specifically, the organization focuses on the protection, education, advocacy and livelihoods of children. It demands that children are the focus of humanitarian responses.
In 2020, the organization reached 171,992 people, 73% of whom were children. Over the past 25 years, War Child has frequently partnered with musicians and labels within the music industry to record albums and produce concerts. The money and awareness raised from these events allow War Child to bring aid to children living in conflict zones.
According to Rob Williams, the CEO of War Child, Mumford & Sons has supported the organization since 2013. He noted that together, they have raised over $5 million. That funding has helped more than 50,000 children forced to live in countries brutalized by war. Also, Mumford & Sons aided War Child in launching its sister organization, Children in Conflict which is located in the United States.
Deering Banjo Company
In 1975, the Deering Banjo Company began as a San Diego family business building banjos by hand. Today it has provided banjos to over 100,000 musicians including Ashley Campbell, Keith Urban and Winston Marshall, a former Mumford & Sons band member.
Although the company isn’t a charity itself, it has partnered with Mumford & Sons since January 2013 to create specialized banjos for a number of the band’s performances. The Deering banjos are then auctioned to benefit local charities supported by Mumford & Sons. Deering Banjo and Mumford & Sons have raised over $150,000 from 2013 through 2019 from banjo auctions.
For instance, in April 2019, Mumford & Sons performed a show in Lisbon, Portugal. The banjo made for that show sold for $1,524.28 and the money went to a charity called SOS Children’s Villages Portugal. This charity works to support children who have lost parents or who risk losing their parents. In the same month, the band performed in Milan, Italy, and the banjo for this particular show sold for $2,222. The proceeds went to Banco Alimentare, the food bank of Lombardy. The GOTR website shares 70 other examples of banjos sold for charity by Mumford & Sons.
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is another one of the many charities supported by Mumford & Sons. Started in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, it produces Red Nose Day, a popular biennial event celebrated around the world. The Red Nose Day Campaign funds programs to eradicate poverty and to keep children safe, educated, healthy and empowered. It works by bringing people together with laughter while raising money for children in need. The popular image of the Red Nose acts as a way for those involved to show their support.
Comic Relief collects donations from Red Nose Day and provides grants to charities throughout the world. It takes two years to distribute the money raised from Red Nose Day events. That gives charities time to apply for grants and ensures that Comic Relief is funding worthy charities. On Red Nose Day in 2019, Mumford & Sons worked with actors Carey Mulligan and Richard Curtis to raise more than $250,000 for Comic Relief and Children in Conflict.
A Model for Support
These are only three of the many charities supported by Mumford & Sons. To learn more about the band’s impressive past and present efforts to help those in need, head to the GOTR website.
-Trystin Baker
Photo: Flickr
3 Organizations Improving Mental Health in Vietnam
Beautiful Mind Vietnam
Beautiful Mind Vietnam is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 with a goal of promoting mental health well-being across Vietnamese society. The organization offers cost-free “peer consultation” to people struggling with mental health issues. The organization specifically focuses on the mental health well-being of youth between the ages of 16 and 25 years old.
As Vietnamese society still stigmatizes mental health illnesses, Beautiful Mind Vietnam’s staff members consist of young people seeking to turn the tide of mental health stigma. From diverse backgrounds, the team “[specializes] in psychology, counseling, mental health, biomedicine and pharmacology.” Operating under the guidance of “professional psychologists and psychiatrists,” the organization aims to raise public awareness about mental health “and provide free support for people with mental health concerns.”
Beautiful Mind Vietnam raises awareness on mental health issues and provides educational information to the public “by translating and writing high quality and reliable articles about mental health, mental disorders and related issues that are relevant to Vietnamese context.” In addition to the peer counseling support the organization offers, Beautiful Mind Vietnam offers a safe space for people to express themselves and feel heard. The organizations also sets up mental health workshops and seminars within communities in order to increase mental health awareness and share practices to promote positive mental health.
BasicNeeds Vietnam
BasicNeeds Vietnam is a non-governmental organization that facilitates the elimination of stress and emotional pain and emphasizes “joy and positive energy” in the Vietnamese mental health landscape. Founded in 2010, the organization seeks “to establish a system that supports community development,” nurtures people’s mental health well-being and educates the public on mental health. Through these goals, BasicNeeds Vietnam ensures that Vietnamese people have a deeper understanding of mental health along with tools to manage their stress and mental issues.
BasicNeeds Vietnam intends to provide accurate scientific information on mental and psychological health, contribute to developing Vietnam’s mental health care and advance “basic mental health knowledge professionally.” The organization develops training workshops for the public, provides mental services to those in need and collaborates with other organizations to better facilitate the conversation surrounding mental health. Through these efforts, the organization envisions a Vietnam where everyone can access proper mental health services.
Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV)
MCNV is a non-governmental organization founded “in the Netherlands in 1968 to support health development in Vietnam.” The organization seeks to confront the mental health services gap that the Vietnamese government struggles to address while combating mental health stigma in communities. To improve the quality of life for people with mental illness and their families, MCNV partners with “the INGO Global Initiative for Psychiatry and the Provincial Health departments” to implement community-based mental health care in several districts. This community-based model involves training health workers in order to advance their mental health care skills, among other efforts.
These efforts have seen success. The mental health services of health workers who received training improved and “home-based care and counseling” ensured more people can access mental health services. The development of self-help groups in communities helped provide “social support” to people suffering from mental health conditions while reducing societal stigma associated with mental health conditions.
Together, these three NGOs are fighting to improve mental health in Vietnam. Through these combined efforts, Vietnamese people struggling with mental health issues will receive the help they need.
– Tri Truong
Photo: Flickr
The Food is Never Waste Coalition
A Closer Look at Food Waste
Food loss and waste persist for various reasons. Households may not utilize every food item they purchase and often throw out leftover food. Typically, the average household wastes roughly 74 kilograms of food per person annually. Food waste is responsible for an annual monetary loss of $1 trillion, impacting both farmers and families. The UNEP’s report finds that food waste occurs across all nations, not just low-income nations as is common belief. In fact, “at the farming stage alone,” roughly 1.2 billion tonnes of food is lost. Interestingly, middle and high-income nations account for “58% of global farm-stage food waste.” Considering these statistics, the world is searching for ways to decrease food waste and make food accessible to all.
The World’s Response
Many coalitions and campaigns are emerging to address the food waste crisis. In 2013, the UNEP began the Think Eat Save food waste awareness campaign. Now, UNEP is implementing “Regional Food Waste Working Groups in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and West Asia.” The groups share ideas and findings concerning food waste within a peer-to-peer network in order to reduce food waste across nations.
USAID is also taking a stand against food waste by investing $60 million over the next five years to research and reduce food waste. In September 2021, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced that “the United States joined the global coalition on food loss and waste” — the Food is Never Waste Coalition. The coalition aims “to halve food waste by 2030 and to reduce food losses by at least 25%.” The coalition works to fulfill the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to reduce consumer and retail food waste and loss.
The Food is Never Waste Coalition
The Food is Never Waste Coalition represents a significant step for global action against food waste. The international coalition works to reduce food loss and waste while emphasizing financial and economic sustainability. Members include G7 and G20 groups as well as more than 30 member states in addition to academic groups, NGOs, UN agencies and private sector groups.
Drawing from various sectors, including technology, energy and education, the coalition utilizes a public-private partnership (PPP). A PPP enables the coalition to look across food supply chains and intervene from multiple angles. By collaborating with governments and private businesses, the coalition invests in mutually beneficial sustainable food pathways. In Norway, a PPP strategy helped manufacturers reduce food waste by 15% in a period of just three years.
The Food is Never Waste Coalition will conduct research, share knowledge on food waste reduction methods and invest in food loss reduction. The coalition tracks progress with the UNEP’s Food Waste Index Report. Tracking progress will enable the coalition to maintain goals and establish necessary initiatives. Member states benefit from participating in the coalition. For instance, investing in food waste reduction creates business opportunities for local farmers and women in low-income countries.
The coalition also offers a platform for collaboration between countries by sharing knowledge on food waste research and strategies. Through grassroots efforts, private sector involvement and research, the Food is Never Waste Coalition seeks to improve food pathways. Additionally, the group will encourage food surplus donations among members states to feed those in need.
Alleviating Global Hunger by Reducing Food Waste
Ultimately, halving food waste and loss by 2030 will be a collaborative effort. The coalition embodies the international effort to improve food systems. Resources usually lost at the production or household levels could feed the world’s hungry. By improving global food pathways and encouraging surplus donations, the Food is Never Waste Coalition works to create sustainable and accessible systems with less food waste.
– Dana Gil
Photo: Flickr
Local Rice Barter-System Fights Hunger in Bali
Effects of COVID-19 on Bali’s Economy
Tourism is an important facet of Bali’s economy. Before the pandemic, Bali welcomed over 6 million visitors per year. However, until the rates of COVID-19 in Bali had sufficiently lowered, tourists could not visit the island. While Bali’s travel ban intended to keep people safe, hunger in Bali grew due to this financial halt. Approximately 92,000 people who worked in the tourism industry were laid off during the pandemic, having little to no means of supporting their families. With this complete loss of income, many tourism employees turned to agricultural business to make ends meet, though workers would sometimes only get $4 a day, barely enough to purchase a single bucket of rice.
Development of Plastic Exchange
Vegan restaurant owner Made Janur Yasa saw the grueling circumstances of unemployed people in his home village of Ubud. He wanted to use and donate his services and resources as sustainably as possible to avoid creating more plastic waste in an already excessively polluted place. Yasa explained to CNN, “I got to thinking, inside the challenge, there is an opportunity.” Thus, the impetus and conception for Plastic Exchange or Plastic for Rice were born. Yasa’s initiative, Plastic Exchange, isn’t just a means of feeding families who couldn’t afford rice, though. It encourages participants to travel down to their local parks and beaches to collect plastic waste. Plastic Exchange upholds three core values: dignity, prosperity, and environment. The first value of dignity is a noteworthy cause, as it is important to sustain a sense of self-worth in individuals who suffered the economic effects of COVID-19 in Bali. Its second core value ties in nicely with the first since people cannot thrive in their environment unless their most fundamental needs are met. Lastly, the hands-on initiative towards alleviating Bali’s plastic waste problem teaches citizens the importance of caring for their planet, reiterating that sustainability is achievable in the direst of circumstances.
Plans for Plastic Exchange
According to a report from the Bali Tribune, in August of 2021, a Plastic Exchange initiative in a village called Saba collected two tons of plastic within a timeframe of two hours. The positive results from plastic exchange programs have inspired Indonesian villagers to embrace small-scale acts as catalysts for large-scale sustainable improvements. Not only is this exchange of plastic an excellent means of recycling — Yasa sends the plastic waste to the island of Java, with a tremendous amount of infrastructure — but it is also a means of stabilizing the island’s economy. Local rice farmers and planters receive a more consistent income again as islanders can afford larger rice supplies again, which also combats high hunger rates in Bali. With more than 500 tons of plastic collected, Yasa is eager to take his successful initiative and encourage its operation in other Indonesian villages and potentially other countries as well.
Conclusion
Plastic Exchange’s website opens with a sped-up count of how many Bali villages have participated in the program, how many kilograms of plastic were collected, and how many kilograms of rice were distributed. It is overwhelming in the best way possible. There is also a PayPal link to donate towards the cause. For example, a $50 donation can buy 50kg of rice that feeds 200 people per day. Ultimately, plastic exchanges are a promising solution to end hunger and plastic waste in Bali.
– Maia Nuñez
Photo: Flickr
Juice Companies in Sierra Leone Empower Farmers
Poverty in Sierra Leone
Out of the nation’s population of 7 million, 53% endure conditions of poverty. According to a June 2020 report, more than 700,000 people in Sierra Leone suffer from severe food insecurity. In addition, “Only one-fifth of the estimated 5.4 million hectares of arable land is used for agriculture.” This leaves much room for agricultural expansion in the nation. The agricultural sector is underdeveloped, “dominated by smallholder farmers practicing subsistence farming with traditional methods and limited use of improved seeds and fertilizers.” As such, Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector has much potential to contribute to economic growth.
Sierra Juice
In 2013, Hamza Hashim, a cacao trader living in Sierra Leone, created the Sierra Juice company as a way to reduce food “waste and give farmers better livelihoods.” While transporting fruits to sell to markets, Hashim realized that due to a lack of cold storage facilities in Sierra Leone and the high cost and unreliable nature of electricity, fruits would start rotting before even reaching the market. Hashim came up with the idea of turning the fruits into “juice as a way to process and preserve the fruit.”
Today, the Sierra Juice company provides more than 5,000 farmers with steady livelihoods by supplying fresh fruit to the company to produce juices. The company’s goal is to provide affordable, natural juices to the community while providing farmers with an outlet to sell their produce.
The company takes it upon itself to train farmers and key equipment operators in order to keep costs low. The company is also responsible for its “own water filtration” and “electricity generation,” making Sierra Juice a “360-degree company.”
Juice Worth the Squeeze
Juice Worth the Squeeze is a 2019 project that came to a close at the end of 2020. A collaboration between Sierra Agra Inc. (Sierra Leone’s “only juice processing company”), Woord en Daad, FairMatch Support (FMS) and IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative, the project aided “mango and coconut farmers in Sierra Leone.” Sierra Agra itself was responsible for providing incomes to more than “3,500 smallholder farmers” who provided fruits to Sierra Agra, which the company then exported “to the global market.”
Women account for about 70% of the farmers providing fruits to Sierra Agra. In 2018, Sierra Agra bought more than 2,000 metric tons of fruit from these smallholder farmers. Many of these smallholder farms “have undergone organic audits by Control Union” in order to achieve organic certification that will assist these farmers in accessing “higher market prices” in order to raise their incomes further.
The Juice Worth the Squeeze project provided training and assistance to these farmers to increase agricultural productivity, raise profits and strengthen livelihoods, targeting roughly 7,000 farmers.
Juice companies in Sierra Leone support the people of Sierra Leone by strengthening their livelihoods and providing job opportunities to communities. With support and training to increase productivity and profits, these companies empower impoverished citizens to rise out of poverty.
– Makena Roberts
Photo: Unsplash
How Hip-Hop Helps Improve Education in South Africa
In schools worldwide, mathematics is a leading subject that is necessary for people to progress and complete their education. Although educational systems differ across countries, many still see math as one of the most crucial skills for developing critical thinking building blocks that drive logic and decision-making. While mathematics is held to a high standard in countries within Africa, education in South Africa lags behind its counterparts in terms of performance on international standardized assessments. With a lack of trained math teachers in schools, large class sizes and “deficient and outdated infrastructure, instrumentation and teaching materials,” many students are unable to reach their full potential. As countries seek different methods like technology to better educational outcomes, one specific school in Cape Town has adopted a unique approach: Hip-Hop. Hip-hop helps improve education in South Africa by recognizing the various methodologies of learning.
Hip-Hop Helps Improve Education in South Africa
Kurt Minnaar, a former dancer and current eighth-grade teacher, decided to test a creative approach when he saw his students struggling to grasp concepts in school. Minnaar recognizes that while the current system of education in South Africa may have worked for the older generation, it is failing today’s kids. As a student who once struggled with math himself, Minnaar believes in recognizing four different types of learning methodologies in education. Acknowledging these different learning styles, Minnaar uses music and dance in the classroom to engage students in their learning and improve math outcomes. With the rise of social media, especially music-focused platforms such as TikTok, engaging students with the activities that appeal to them can help improve their math outcomes.
The Rise of Social Media
Social media is growing in South Africa, with the rate of social media use increasing 19% since 2019. Of the current South African population, roughly 40% are active users on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Young people aged 18-24 account for 40.4% of these users.
Confirming the rise in social media use, a survey of 200 South African university students shows that 88% of students identified as users of social media. This illustrates the large role and the growing influence of social media on the lives of the current generation of students. Although some see the increase in the use of social media as unhealthy, young educators like Minnaar see it as an opportunity to use the current culture and trends to make learning enjoyable for all.
Creative Learning
Since Minnaar began teaching, he has created several rap beats that stimulate the minds of his students while increasing their ability to retain information. Some of his pieces include “Cre-eight,” “Trick-onometry” and “Van Guard,” all of which address multiplication tables through catchy hip-hop beats. To ensure that students are gaining the most out of his classes, Minnaar has students rap the songs to the beat of the music he plays off his laptop and encourages students to dance during class. He sees creative activities like singing and dancing as essential to helping students enter a headspace conducive to learning. Thus far, Minnaar has only created content for multiplication tables. However, the results have been so positive that he is currently working on new material and lesson plans to address different areas of education in South Africa.
While Minnaar enjoys creatively interacting with his students, he also recognizes the importance of scholastic performance and his role as an educator to ensure students’ progress. Thus far, he has seen success in helping his students in their academic achievements. He also recognizes, however, that some students respond best to traditional methods. Minnaar’s only hope is that people remain open-minded to the many approaches to education in South Africa. After all, the approaches of some of the greatest individuals of all time were once met with skepticism. Thus, perhaps mathematics and hip-hop are not the most unusual pair after all.
– Chloe D’Hers
Photo: Flickr
Three Charities Supported by Mumford & Sons
What is The Gentlemen of the Road Fund?
In 2016, Mumford & Sons and Adam Tudhope, its manager, founded the Gentlemen of the Road Fund (GOTR). For every album cycle, the GOTR supports urgent needs in the cities in which the band performs. Also, the GOTR also selects to contribute to other local and global charities.
Here is an overview of three charities supported by Mumford & Sons:
War Child UK
War Child UK is a non-governmental organization that operates in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because war affects each of these countries, the goal of War Child is to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out. Specifically, the organization focuses on the protection, education, advocacy and livelihoods of children. It demands that children are the focus of humanitarian responses.
In 2020, the organization reached 171,992 people, 73% of whom were children. Over the past 25 years, War Child has frequently partnered with musicians and labels within the music industry to record albums and produce concerts. The money and awareness raised from these events allow War Child to bring aid to children living in conflict zones.
According to Rob Williams, the CEO of War Child, Mumford & Sons has supported the organization since 2013. He noted that together, they have raised over $5 million. That funding has helped more than 50,000 children forced to live in countries brutalized by war. Also, Mumford & Sons aided War Child in launching its sister organization, Children in Conflict which is located in the United States.
Deering Banjo Company
In 1975, the Deering Banjo Company began as a San Diego family business building banjos by hand. Today it has provided banjos to over 100,000 musicians including Ashley Campbell, Keith Urban and Winston Marshall, a former Mumford & Sons band member.
Although the company isn’t a charity itself, it has partnered with Mumford & Sons since January 2013 to create specialized banjos for a number of the band’s performances. The Deering banjos are then auctioned to benefit local charities supported by Mumford & Sons. Deering Banjo and Mumford & Sons have raised over $150,000 from 2013 through 2019 from banjo auctions.
For instance, in April 2019, Mumford & Sons performed a show in Lisbon, Portugal. The banjo made for that show sold for $1,524.28 and the money went to a charity called SOS Children’s Villages Portugal. This charity works to support children who have lost parents or who risk losing their parents. In the same month, the band performed in Milan, Italy, and the banjo for this particular show sold for $2,222. The proceeds went to Banco Alimentare, the food bank of Lombardy. The GOTR website shares 70 other examples of banjos sold for charity by Mumford & Sons.
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is another one of the many charities supported by Mumford & Sons. Started in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, it produces Red Nose Day, a popular biennial event celebrated around the world. The Red Nose Day Campaign funds programs to eradicate poverty and to keep children safe, educated, healthy and empowered. It works by bringing people together with laughter while raising money for children in need. The popular image of the Red Nose acts as a way for those involved to show their support.
Comic Relief collects donations from Red Nose Day and provides grants to charities throughout the world. It takes two years to distribute the money raised from Red Nose Day events. That gives charities time to apply for grants and ensures that Comic Relief is funding worthy charities. On Red Nose Day in 2019, Mumford & Sons worked with actors Carey Mulligan and Richard Curtis to raise more than $250,000 for Comic Relief and Children in Conflict.
A Model for Support
These are only three of the many charities supported by Mumford & Sons. To learn more about the band’s impressive past and present efforts to help those in need, head to the GOTR website.
-Trystin Baker
Photo: Flickr
3 Organizations Working to Empower the Roma
The Roma represent a previously nomadic group of people who are now scattered throughout Europe. Since their initial migration from India to Europe in the 10th century, the Roma have endured persecution. As a result, an estimated 80% of Roma people located in Europe live in poverty. Fortunately, several organizations are working to empower the Roma people throughout Europe.
How Discrimination Drives Poverty
The Roma have faced discrimination in Europe for centuries — an issue that persists even today. Data from 2016 reveals that, at the time, one out of every four Roma encountered some form of discrimination in the past year. Discrimination often restricts people’s opportunities and limits their capacity to escape poverty. For example, the Roma often struggle to find housing and face forced evictions in countries like Bulgaria and Italy. Thus, advocating against anti-Romani discrimination is imperative to alleviating poverty among the Roma.
3 Organizations Fighting for the Roma
Moving Forward
For years, the Roma have faced persecution and marginalization across the world. As a result of this discrimination and exclusion, many Roma people have fallen below the poverty line. However, organizations are working to empower the Roma while fighting for their rights to live a life free of discrimination. By supporting organizations that empower and protect the Roma, even an ordinary individual can make a difference in the lives of this marginalized group.
– River Simpson
Photo: Flickr
Vaccine Aids in the Fight Against Malaria in Malawi
Malaria in Malawi remains a top concern for public health and the safety of the country. On a global scale, Malawi accounts for 2% of all malaria cases, placing it in the leading “20 countries with the highest malaria prevalence and mortality rates.” In 2019, Malawi’s population totaled more than 19 million. That same year, health facilities in the country reported almost 5.2 million cases of malaria. The sheer amount of malaria cases in Malawi is alarming in comparison to the total population number.
Malaria-endemic Regions
Looking at malaria objectively helps explain its high prevalence throughout Africa. As the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2019, Africa accounted for 94% of the 229 million malaria cases and 409,000 deaths worldwide. WHO notes that children younger than 5 made up 67% of these deaths. The transmission of the deadly parasite allows it to thrive in many countries throughout Africa, specifically after the spike in annual rains in November. The malaria parasite thrives in very humid, often hot and wet conditions, making Malawi a prime location for the spread of the parasite. While the country has worked to control rates of malaria in Malawi by offering health services, the country still struggles to control the sheer amount of cases present.
The Beginning of the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Program
In 2019, Malawi welcomed the world’s first malaria vaccine pilot program. The vaccine, referred to as RTS,S, targeted children ages two and younger. GlaxoSmithKline is the producer of RTS,S, which underwent clinical trials after 30 years of refining. The vaccine trials found that RTS,S was able to prevent about four out of every 10 cases of malaria. The pilot project in Malawi aimed to gather observations and evidence of actual vaccine implementation to guide WHO in its policy recommendations for the use of RTS,S on a broader scale. The criteria observed included child mortality, vaccine follow-up and vaccine safety. Although the intention of the vaccine is not to replace other preventative measures, WHO hopes to add it to its bundle of malaria prevention recommendations.
The World Health Organization Approves the Vaccine
On October 6, 2021, WHO officially endorsed the use of the RTS,S vaccine worldwide, now called the Mosquirix malaria vaccine. This approval comes after two years of trials in three African countries (including Malawi) where more than 800,000 children received the vaccine. The vaccine can prevent severe and fatal cases of malaria at a rate of 30%. Since the pilot program implementation in 2019, WHO has been able to justify the ability of countries to roll out the vaccine safely. Although the vaccine itself is not 100% effective, it works as a preventative measure, reducing the likelihood of contracting a deadly case of malaria in Malawi. The rollout of this vaccine comes after decades of unsuccessful attempts to find a form of protection against malaria.
Economic Benefits of a Preventative Measure
Access to the Mosquirix vaccine will not only protect public health and safety but will also relieve the stress on Malawi’s economy. For years, programs focused on treating malaria in Malawi reactively. Given that treatment options are more widely available than prevention methods, health system responses have centered on reactivity rather than proactivity. As a result, the first response to malaria cases is often drugs. Drugs are both expensive and difficult to obtain. Furthermore, the malaria parasite adapts over time, becoming resistant to medications and decreasing the efficacy of drugs. Access to a proactive vaccine addresses the issue beforehand, saving costs in both healthcare visits and treatments in the long run.
Moving Forward
Malaria is a unique illness in that it involves a parasite that can strike an individual several times. In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, this reality is concerning. On a yearly basis, children average a total of six malaria infections. The continued attacks on their immune systems leave them susceptible to other diseases. However, with the new vaccine comes new hope in the fight against malaria in Malawi. While the approval of the vaccine is only the first step in widespread change, the next few years present a strong opportunity for progress in some of the most vulnerable communities.
– Chloe D’Hers
Photo: Flickr
IMANA’s SaveSmile Initiative in Sudan
Every three minutes, a child is born with a birth defect called a cleft lip and/or palate. These cleft defects “occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy.” The impacts of clefts go deeper than just physical appearance as clefts can also have major effects on eating, “speech, hearing, dental development, facial growth” and psychological well-being. Surgery can repair a cleft lip or palate. Medical teams often perform these within the initial two years of a child’s life, however, some adults seek these surgeries as well. Despite the far-reaching impacts of clefts, many parents cannot afford the costs of the surgery their child desperately needs to lead a normal life. In Sudan and many other developing countries, a cleft lip can be the sole cause of extreme shame and ridicule. Those with facial deformities are subject to mockery, ostracism and isolation. Due to severe social stigma, many are unable to leave their homes, gain an education or marry. The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) spearheaded the SaveSmile initiative to help people with cleft defects in Sudan. Through surgical mission trips and free, high-quality care, IMANA is changing the lives of those afflicted with clefts, one surgery at a time.
IMANA and SaveSmile
Over the span of 156 medical missions, IMANA has helped more than 2.6 million patients in impoverished countries. Not only does IMANA do medical relief work but it also aids many health professionals in gaining an education and volunteering their talents to those in need.
In an interview with The Borgen Project, former president of IMANA and current chair of the IMANA Medical Relief program (IMR), Dr. Ismail Mehr, said that IMANA is blessed to have gained recognition for its medical humanitarian work from USAID, the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and President Obama. “SaveSmile is just one little part of our work. We’re present in [more than] 36 countries around the world where we carry out medical-surgical missions,” said Mehr. While SaveSmile is only a small part of IMANA’s impact, the initiative has completely transformed the lives of more than 1,500 patients suffering from cleft lips and palates.
Dr. Mehr and his team have carried out 11 annual missions to Sudan to provide free surgical correction to patients who otherwise would not receive the care that they need. Although these surgeries usually cost around $200 and each mission costs about $35,000 in total, IMANA strongly believes that financial status should not decide who can or cannot receive surgery. IMANA has made these surgeries accessible to Sudan, a country with no other medical relief teams working there due to Sudan’s placement on several sanctions and embargo lists. All donations fund surgical care and materials; the volunteers even pay for their own travel expenses to ensure that all donations go directly toward helping patients.
The Importance of Cleft Surgeries
Those with cleft defects often face extreme social ostracism from their communities. In Sudan, there are many stories of children whose families do not allow them to go to school or leave the house because families fear embarrassment. This ostracism has social and psychological impacts. Cleft lips can also be detrimental to the patient’s health. Firstly, a newborn infant with a cleft lip is usually unable to properly suckle, leading to extreme malnutrition. As they age, they still have trouble eating as it is difficult to chew with this disformity. Cleft lips also often create a speech impediment, subjecting the individual to even more ridicule and difficulty expressing themselves. Lastly, those with cleft lips are more prone to ear infections and other respiratory tract infections, which are especially difficult to treat when the patient does not have access to proper healthcare.
The Origin of Project SaveSmile
Noting the poverty and lack of proper healthcare in Sudan, IMANA took action, setting its sights on repairing cleft lips, mainly among children. The first team flew to Sudan in 2009, and since then, a team has traveled to perform surgeries in Sudan every year other than 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions.
In the United States, stores, schools and businesses shut down in March 2020. Fortunately, the SaveSmile team operated in Sudan just a week before international travel came to a halt, giving the team the ability to complete a mission trip in 2020. However, due to a lack of vaccinations in Sudan and the Delta variant, the team had to cancel its March 2021 trip. The team has yet to decide whether it is safe to visit Sudan in 2022 as their number one priority is keeping both patients and volunteers healthy.
Dr. Mehr’s Message
Dr. Mehr emphasizes the importance of medical relief work. He notes that medical relief work is not the most significant focus of humanitarian efforts. There are many organizations focusing on important aspects such as shelter, food and education, but few that work in the realm of medical relief. “People need access to healthcare and that is why we feel so strongly here at IMANA about the work that we do,” said Mehr. Often, medical relief organizations such as IMANA do not receive enough funding, which creates barriers in procuring surgical supplies and travel funds to carry out medical missions.
By supporting organizations like IMANA, an ordinary individual can play a role in transforming the lives of thousands of people who would otherwise end up in the outskirts of society simply because of a repairable birth defect. Supporting the SaveSmile initiative allows IMANA “to fly those miles and heal smiles.”
– Mariam Abaza
Photo: Flickr
Rescued Food Market Fights Hunger in Canada
According to the United Nations, almost half of all fruits and vegetables produced worldwide go to waste. The world’s total wasted food “is enough to feed about three billion people.” In the city of Vancouver in Canada, food waste is a rising issue along with food insecurity. The Rescued Food Market aims to tackle hunger and food waste at the same time.
Food Waste in Canada
In Canada, about $30 billion worth of food goes to waste annually. As a consequence of this food waste, Canada is responsible for a significant carbon footprint of “56.6 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions.” Yet, in Canada alone, roughly $49.5 billion worth of “food waste can be avoided by taking specific measures.” According to the Food Stash Foundation, every one in six children in British Columbia goes hungry. With less food wastage, “consumers and society at large will be able to save money, support efficiency in the food and agriculture sector, improve food security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Rescued Food Market
A local Vancouver market seeks to aid in the fight against hunger by reducing food waste. Launched in October 2021, the Rescued Food Market is open every Friday to people from every income background. The market is the product of a larger organization that David Schein started in 2016 called the Food Stash Foundation. Rescued Food Market’s webpage describes the market as “a zero-waste grocery store that is stocked with nutritious surplus food from farms, grocers and wholesalers.”
Before the Rescued Food Market’s opening on October 1, 2021, the Food Stash Foundation collected surplus food and delivered it to charities and households in need. The Rescued Food Market itself operates through a “pay what you feel” policy and only asks shoppers to bring reusable bags to collect the food. By using the terms “pay what you feel” instead of “pay what you can,” the market aims “to eliminate any shame associated with not being able to afford the rising cost of food.”
The Success of the Market
Carla Pellegrini, the current executive for Food Stash Foundation, told Good News Network (GNN) that the Rescued Food Market aims to assist the Food Stash Foundation in distributing roughly 70,000 pounds of surplus food that the organization collects monthly. About “85% of that 70,000 pounds of food doesn’t even make it back to our warehouse, it goes right back out the same day with our drivers to other organizations,” Pellegrini tells GNN. However, at the end of a week, the organization still sometimes has surplus food that needs distributing. The Rescued Food Market assists in this regard.
In June 2021 alone, the Food Stash Foundation rescued more than 74,000 pounds of perishable foods, which, in turn, prevented almost 64,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere. The overwhelming success of this food redistribution initiative not only helps protect the environment but also instills a sense of mindfulness on a local, community-based level through the Rescued Food Market.
Worldwide Communal Markets
Besides relying on the Food Stash Foundation’s surplus of food received from farms and grocers alike, the Rescued Food Market also encourages families in Vancouver to donate food that will otherwise go to waste. Indeed, community markets and fridges, as indicated by Katherine Oung in her article “Community fridges are lifelines for the neighborhoods they serve,” are especially crucial in areas “where traditional forms of food assistance are difficult to access.” Low-income families without cars, for example, would have an easier means of acquiring food at a community market than at a more remote food bank location. Community fridges are located throughout the world.
The Rescued Food Market brings to the forefront an innovative way to combat two issues at once. Reducing food waste is a significant step in fighting a more extensive, prevalent world injustice.
– Maia Nuñez
Photo: Flickr