Archive for category: Charity

, ,

Makeup Brands Helping Women in Poverty

Makeup Brands Helping Women in PovertyOn average, more women across the world live below the poverty line than men, facing the same issues with poverty as men with an added layer of gender-based violence to further it. Recently, different beauty organizations have stepped in to help these women. Makeup brands helping women in poverty across the world are creating and working with organizations like Project Beauty Share and the L’Oréal Fund for Women. 

These brands not only provide women with money and resources but also help to protect women from domestic violence and other issues that women face. Many of these brands do this by setting up good education systems within developing countries which help to provide young women with the education they need to provide for themselves. 

Project Beauty Share 

Project Beauty Share is an organization that was founded in 2010 with the goal of helping women by donating previously owned, but unused, makeup products to women in poverty. It was founded by a makeup artist after discussing with a client how many makeup products she buys and never uses, giving her the idea to create an organization that donates these products to homeless women and women in poverty. 

Makeup empowers women because it is a form of self-expression. It allows women to express all sides of themselves and show their own uniqueness, something that many women who are struggling with poverty do not have the luxury of doing. Makeup can help people to feel prepared, empowering them as a result. 

Project Beauty Share is currently funded by over 100 agencies that are helping to support women across the world. Some of these companies and organizations are SMILE, Ronald McDonald House, The Salvation Army and more. Project Beauty Share is a great example of an organization that is independent of the makeup companies that are helping women in poverty, and helping these women instead of actually providing makeup to them. 

Makeup Brands Helping Women in Poverty

  • L’Oréal has set up the L’Oréal Fund for Women, a charity based on helping women who are in poverty to get back on their feet and preventing violence against women. The fund was started in 2020, hoping to empower women through education. Because of this, similar to what the brand Tatcha has done, L’Oréal has funded many charities and organizations that work to set up schools for women in developing countries. 
  • Tasha has set up schools to fund girls’ education in multiple countries, like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos and more. The brand has done so continuously over the past six years, funding over five million days of schooling for girls across the world. 
  • Burt’s Bees is another brand that has given back to the women in the countries from which they source their products. The company uses shea butter sourced from West Africa to make its famous lip balms, and, in return, donates both money and resources for the improvement of the lives of women in the country. As of 2021, they have planted billions of wildflower seeds in order to restore the bee population in West Africa and have donated over $1 million, in both grants and products, to better the lives of over 14,000 women there. 

Final Thoughts

Makeup companies like L’Oréal, Tatcha and Burt’s Bees are helping to empower women living in poverty across the globe. These brands are not only offering financial assistance and resources but also tackling the root causes of gender-based violence by promoting education and empowerment. These endeavors highlight the potential for corporate resources to make a profound impact on women’s lives, breaking the cycle of poverty and violence.

– Allison Groves 
Photo: Flickr

,

Cows For Cambodia: Bringing Aid to Cambodian Families

Cows for CambodiaOver half of Cambodia’s population lives in rural areas, and many live on less than $3 per day. Owning a cow can give rural families a chance for a better life. The Australian charity Cows for Cambodia does that by providing cows to needy families.

Cows for Cambodia

Cows for Cambodia began when founder Andrew Costello visited Cambodia in 2011 and noticed the poverty level. He partnered with cattle expert Wallace Gunthorpe to bring his charity to life. By 2015, Cows for Cambodia had raised over $15,000 and given cows to 50 families. Today, it has become Cambodia’s biggest agricultural charity.

Cows for Cambodia is a cow bank. It loans pregnant cows to families who benefit from having them. The family looks after the pregnant cow, and when it gives birth, the family keeps the calf. The calf grows up, becoming worth $800 to the Cambodian family.

Many cows in Cambodia have bad reproductive performance, and calf survival rates have dropped significantly. Cambodian cattle also have poor body conditions and are susceptible to many diseases, such as foot and mouth disease and hemorrhagic septicemia. Worms, lice and flies also plague them. Cows for Cambodia’s goal is for each one of their cows to remain healthy and happy in Cambodia. Cows for Cambodia administers vaccinations and injections for each cow to ensure their health and happiness.

In Cambodia, a cow can be worth the same as a house, and many families only dream of owning one. Families can break free of the poverty cycle simply by owning a cow. Cattle are an important part of life in rural Cambodia, and they can become an investment for a family. Beyond just providing beef, families can use cattle as draft animals, and the cattle provide families with fertilizer so they can continue to farm. By owning a cow, a family’s finances improve, children stay in school longer and begin to lift themselves out of poverty.

Tours

In 2016, Cows for Cambodia had its first tour in Cambodia. Today’s tours center around charity work and cultural immersion in Cambodian villages. Participants of each tour have the opportunity to work with cows and families and learn about vaccinations and pregnancy testing at the cattle farm. Tours include cooking for kids and helping provide English lessons at the local village school. Tourists can also become a part of the world-famous rice run charity system and deliver over 3,000kg of rice to families who are in need.

Rice Runs

Cows for Cambodia began holding rice run donations in 2015, and they describe themselves as the fastest donation in the world. An Australian Facebook page asks people to donate $50 for a 50kg bag of rice. The donor can send a message to the Cambodian family that will receive the rice, which they write on the bag along with the donor’s name. The bag of rice reaches a Cambodian family within two hours, and the organization takes a photo of them with the rice, which they post on their Facebook page. This donation system ensures that 100% of the donation goes toward helping Cambodian families and allows the donor to see their donation’s use and who it helped.

How to Help

Cows for Cambodia offers ways donors can contribute to the cause and help these rural families. No matter the amount a donor is willing to donate, every amount can help a family. $15 can vaccinate a cow, $30 will feed a family for a month and $1000 will give a family a cow. Cows for Cambodia’s goal is to have 1,000 cows in the project, and each donation goes a long way toward achieving that goal.

– Jack Wells
Photo: Flickr

5 NGOs Fighting Poverty in Laos

NGOs in LaosSince its creation out of the remnants of French Indochina, Laos has been at the forefront of conflict. Although poverty is declining in Laos, with the poverty rate dropping to 18% in 2019 from 25% in 2013, the Lao people are still in desperate need. Some NGOs are improving conditions on the ground in Laos.

5 NGOs Fighting Poverty in Laos

  1. CARE – In Laos, CARE collaborates with civil society to create policies and strategies to combat gender-based violence, enhancing the ability of women and ethnic minority farmers to anticipate better and respond to risks and opportunities due to climatic shocks. The organization also works to improve food and nutrition security among rural households and produces sustainable agricultural outcomes at the village and household levels.
  2. Oxfam – Since Oxfam began operations in Laos at the end of the 1980s, its partnerships have substantially changed. Their objective is to assist Laos in becoming an open, just society where vulnerable women and men can participate in its development and exercise their rights to sustainable development. Since the opening up of civil society, Oxfam has supported its partner groups more in their efforts to increase citizen involvement in decisions that impact their lives. To provide disadvantaged populations with a means of subsistence, Oxfam collaborates with Lao government organizations and local authorities.
  3. UNICEF – The UNICEF Health and Nutrition program works at the national and sub-national levels to ensure that high-impact child survival interventions are reflected in national policies and budgets and reach all children and their families, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. UNICEF assists the Lao Government of Lao PDR in ensuring that all children have access to effective, secure and long-lasting immunization services. The elimination of measles, maternal and neonatal tetanus and sustaining the polio-free status are all national goals supported by UNICEF. Additionally, UNICEF works with the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR to improve health systems to deliver high-impact child survival and development interventions in communities and facilities. These interventions include postnatal newborn care, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, immunization and providing ORS/zinc to treat diarrhea.
  4. World Bank – The World Bank formed the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) in 2002. It intends to provide access to local services and infrastructure while giving the villages more control over project planning and execution. Since the PRF’s creation, the World Bank has contributed to broadening the range of sponsored initiatives benefiting 1.2 million people to date. Overall, the project emphasizes livelihood projects, market accessibility and the production and consumption of various wholesome meals, especially for expectant mothers and small children. 
  5. World Education – Through projects in education, disability inclusion, economic development, mine action and health in Laos, World Education has been committed to empowering and transforming communities, families and individuals since 1992. World Education creates these programs to enhance self-reliance. Families in rural villages now have better means of subsistence, earnings and financial stability, and they can push for the Lao government to develop social protection policies. They have managed savings and credit unions, given start-up grants, held financial literacy training, assisted the rural poor in starting micro businesses and efficiently used financial services through various projects.

These five NGOs in Laos are significantly impacting the fight against poverty. Through their diverse approaches, they are addressing various dimensions of this complex issue and improving the lives of countless individuals.

– Jake Marks
Photo: Flickr

5 Poverty-Fighting NGOs in Mali

NGOs in MaliMali is a country located in the Sahel region of West Africa, home to 21 million people. According to the World Bank’s measurements, the Sahel is one of the only regions in the world where poverty is on the rise, and Mali is no different from its neighbors. 44.6% of the population lives below the national poverty line and 19.1% under the international poverty line of $2.15. Factors such as growing regional instability and a continuing insurrection in Mali’s northern province explain this growth in extreme poverty. Nevertheless, in the face of this great challenge, different organizations have multiplied their efforts to stem the tide and fight against the increasing misery. This article presents five such NGOs in Mali.

5 NGOs in Mali

  1. GAIA Vaccine Foundation – Since its foundation in Rhode Island in 2001, the GAIA Vaccine Foundation has fought to reduce the incidence of contagious diseases in Mali through vaccination campaigns for those most in need. The foundation has created four main sectors for its programs: education, prevention, access to care and vaccination. With the support of several U.S.-based organizations, including the U.S. embassy in Mali, it has achieved outstanding results, with more than 1,300 pregnant women receiving HIV treatment in 2020 or vaccinating 750 little girls against HPV. The GAIA Vaccine Foundation is a clear example of an NGO in Mali with international backing working to improve people’s lives and contribute to the international fight against poverty.
  2. A Child For All – ACFA began its operations in late 2008, founded as a local initiative to fight against child poverty and injustice in Mali. Today, it maintains this goal with the four main pillars of its operations: shelter, nutrition, education and health care for its children. Its operation provides these four services in its installations and through the support of professionals in each field. Among its main achievements lies the creation of a safe house complex in the village of Zorokoro, which now houses 30 children in need between the ages of 3-18.
  3. Ouelessebougou Alliance – The Ouelessebougou Alliance became the first Utah-based NGO to start operations in Mali in 1986. Its activities focus on its namesake region of Ouelessebougou and has taken a different, more inclusive approach towards its aid programs. They focus on collaboration with the local community to aid them in solving what they identify as their most urgent needs sustainably. Programs such as Preventative Health or Continuing Education have proven successful. The combined results of the programs include the vaccination of more than 14,600 women and children, the training of more than 50 health professionals, the enrollment of more than 2,000 students and 12 partnerships with educational institutions throughout the region. The Ouelessebougou alliance proves that NGOs in Mali can impact the fight against poverty.
  4. Cordaid – Cordaid is the result of a unification process of several Dutch NGOs in 2000. They expanded their operations to Mali in 2009, opening their headquarters of the West Africa division in the Malian capital of Bamako. Since then, Cordaid has been working in the field to promote local job creation, aid in conflict prevention and help reduce the impact of contagious diseases. Cordaid has achieved this goal with remarkable efficacy, with more than 32,000 farmers provided with training, 5,100 jobs created and 48,000 people increasing their income just in 2020. Cordaid is an established and respected actor in Mali and aids the local population effectively.
  5. The Alliance for International Medical Action – ALIMA, the Alliance for International Medical Action, opened its doors in 2009 in Niger to reduce child mortality and malnutrition. Nowadays, its operations span 14 countries, including Mali. Operations in Mali started in 2011 and have since achieved commendable results. In 2022, the alliance vaccinated more than 540,000 people against COVID-19, trained 153 health professionals, supplied 40 health centers, treated more than 11,000 cases of infant malnutrition and provided 153,000 medical consultations to those in need. These results illustrate how, even in the most dire of situations, a little aid can impact thousands of lives.

Prospects for the Future

While Mali’s situation might be worsening, the actions of the aforementioned NGOs prove that localized success is possible and that the fight to end poverty is not a lost cause. In the despair of poverty, these NGOs bring hope to those most in need.

– Daniel Pereda
Photo: Flickr

,

5 Charities Operating in Syria

Charities Operating in Syria
Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war which to date has claimed more than 230,000 civilians. The destruction of Syria’s economy and society means that today, 90% of its population lives in poverty. Here are five charities operating in Syria currently working to change this.

5 Charities Operating in Syria

  1.  Syrian Arab Red Crescent: Founded in 1942 and admitted into the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1946, the organization supports the victims of conflict in Syria. In 2022 alone, in collaboration with the ICRC, the organization helped repair vital infrastructure that war destroyed. This included giving 16.5 million people improved access to clean water, and 447,000 better reach to health care services.
  2. Islamic Relief Worldwide: The faith-based organization, Islamic Relief Worldwide, is one of the largest operating in Syria today. Its program includes distributing food aid, supporting social services and assisting refugees who have moved beyond Syria. Since 2012, more than 3 million people have received food packages through Islamic Relief’s Ramadan and Qurbani distributions.
  3. Save the Children: War has left 2.5 million school-aged children out of school, and a further 1.6 million at risk of dropping out. Save the Children are providing temporary learning pathways, to ensure Syrian children receive the quality education needed for them to ultimately re-enter formal education opportunities. It also works with community members to enhance knowledge about child protection and strengthen community-based systems.
  4. Christian Aid: Another faith-based charity, Christian Aid has been operating in the country since 2015. It played a key role in the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to distribute more than 8,000 hygiene kits to camps in the northwest of the country. Alongside this, it has worked with the European Union on a project: “Creating Alternative Futures: educating Syrian adolescents.” This has involved setting up four community centers as safe spaces for young people through education, psychological support and community involvement.
  5. International Rescue Committee (IRC): More than half of all Syrians are displaced from their homes, making Syria the world’s largest displacement crisis. With teams in both Syria and the neighboring countries of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, the International Rescue Committee has been able to reach close to 1.2 million people. Its work has included training health workers to manage cholera and COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as creating safe spaces for women and girls who have been victims of trauma and violence.

Looking Ahead

 While the Syrian civil war has had a destructive effect on its population, these charities operating in Syria have been working hard to improve the lives of ordinary Syrians. With current UN estimates suggesting that 13.1 million Syrians are in need of assistance, its work will continue to be vital moving forward. 

– Jack Arrowsmith
Photo: Flickr

,

Treat People With Kindness: Harry Styles’ Recent Charitable Efforts

Treat people with kindnessIn a world often marked by self-interest, few figures stand out as beacons of compassion and change. However, the British singer and songwriter Harry Styles’ commitment to making a positive impact on the world has become as notable as his musical talents. Beyond his artistry, Styles has consistently demonstrated a profound dedication to philanthropy, embodying his personal mantra: “Treat people with kindness.” While Styles has a history of charitable efforts, his recent endeavors underscore the breadth of his commitment to creating a better world.

Responding to Crisis

In April 2020, amidst the global uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Harry Styles unveiled a gesture that resonated deeply with his “Treat people with kindness” ethos. He released a t-shirt featuring the message “Stay Home. Stay Safe. Protect Each Other.” on the front and “This T-shirt fights COVID-19. Treat people with kindness.” on the back. All proceeds from the shirt sales were directed to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Fund. Styles aptly reminded his fans of the power of human connection during challenging times, urging those who could, to contribute and support the fight against the pandemic.

In that same year, Styles extended his support to the Black Lives Matter Movement, advocating for change and justice. He made significant donations to help post bail for arrested organizers and shared a resounding call to action: “Look inwards, educate yourself and others. LISTEN, READ, SHARE, DONATE and VOTE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. BLACK LIVES MATTER.”

MusiCares Charity Relief Auctions

In a testament to his belief in the healing power of music, Styles donated a signed Gibson guitar to the MusiCares Charity Relief Auction in 2020, where it became one of the top-selling items at $28,125. MusiCares, a foundation that supports musicians in times of hardship, benefited from the proceeds. Styles’ dedication to fellow artists and the music community echoed his commitment to kindness and solidarity.

Styles continued his support through another MusiCares auction in 2022 by offering another signed guitar, along with a signed copy of his hit song ‘Watermelon Sugar’ and exclusive photos from its music video shoot. Through these contributions, Styles reinforced his dedication to fostering a resilient music industry.

Music as a Catalyst for Change

In 2022, Styles collaborated with Apple Music for a commercial. However, he agreed to participate on the condition that his payment for the ad would be entirely donated to the International Rescue Committee. This organization addresses global humanitarian crises, extending a helping hand to those affected by major conflicts and disasters. Styles’ decision exemplified his conviction that art and compassion should intertwine for the greater good.

Harry Styles’ benevolence extends to the heart of his music — his tour, “Love on Tour,” stands as both a celebration of his artistry and a platform for philanthropic action. Having raised over $6.5 million for various charitable causes, including but not limited to Save the Children, CARE and Rebuild Foundation, the tour serves as a testament to the communal spirit that Styles cultivates among his fans. At his final performance in 2023, Styles expressed gratitude for the atmosphere of togetherness his fans created, reaffirming the transformative power of music and kindness.

Harry Styles’ journey from a chart-topping artist to a champion of compassion exemplifies the potential for celebrities to wield their influence for good. His motto, “Treat people with kindness,” is more than just words — it’s a call to action that he embodies through his charitable efforts. Styles’ recent initiatives, coupled with his consistent past contributions, underscore his belief in the collective strength of humanity. In a world that often craves inspiration, Harry Styles serves as a shining example of how a simple message can spark meaningful change.

– Mari Caitlin Riggles
Photo: Flickr

4 Charities Operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Charities Operating in the Democratic Republic of the CongoBy 2030, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will have the second-highest number of people who are living in extreme poverty (on less than $2.15 per day) in the world. Because so many of the world’s extremely poor will be living in the DRC, poverty reduction efforts in the DRC are increasingly crucial.

Fortunately, although a great deal of work remains to be done, there are already charities doing excellent work to alleviate extreme poverty in the DRC. Here are the top four charities operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including their ratings by charity watch groups and the needs they are addressing. 

Doctors Without Borders

Severe conflict and instability have pervaded the DRC since the 1960s. This violence has created an overwhelming need for health care while simultaneously making it incredibly difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate safely in the area. Doctors Without Borders is leading the medical charge by operating in some of the most dangerous regions of the DRC and providing both physical and psychological care to the people in the war-torn eastern area of the country. They also provide other life-saving necessities (such as water and cooking kits) to people in the areas they are in. In 2022, Doctors Without Borders:

    • Was the first to respond to last year’s cholera outbreak in the DRC.  
    • Fought a measles flare-up and vaccinated two million children against measles.
    • Administered 2,116,500 outpatient consultations. 
    • Treated 757,800 malaria cases. 
    • Fought HIV, tuberculosis and malnutrition.

Doctors Without Borders has a 98% score on Charity Navigator and a Platinum status on GuideStar.

ABFEC/Action Kivu

The second of the four charities operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ABFEC began with a single couple who live in the DRC. Nevertheless, it now transforms the lives of people affected by violence in the area. As it grew, Action Kivu was developed to support the important work that ABFEC is doing. ABFEC teaches local women entrepreneurial skills and sustainable agricultural techniques while educating the community about HIV/AIDs. Additionally, ABFEC established the Peace School, which teaches nonviolence and is open to disadvantaged children. Although this organization had humble beginnings, it is doing great work in the community.

Action Kivu by the numbers: 

  • More than 300 women have been provided with vocational education through ABFEC’s programs.
  • 100% of Peace School’s high school seniors in 2023 passed the national exam required for them to graduate, outpacing all other schools in the region.
  • 1,400 people were tested for HIV.

Action Kivu charity has a Charity Navigator rating of 97% and a GuideStar rating of Silver.

Eastern Congo Initiative

The Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) is the third of the four charities operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ECI addresses the DRC’s ongoing conflict by fighting to reform three areas of life: security, maternal and newborn care and economic opportunities within the DRC. If these issues are properly addressed, the DRC will be well on its way to becoming a stable state. The initiative focuses on advocacy work for the DRC within the U.S., with the goal of bringing the country’s unique issues to the forefront and the light. The ECI also attempts to bridge gaps in information about the DRC’s issues so that a lack of information will not reduce the help that the DRC receives. Further, it assists the people of the DRC by providing grants to local organizations so that they can make a difference in their communities. 

In 2021-2022, the Eastern Congo Initiative: 

  • Started five centers to legally support displaced people. 
  • Helped start two businesses in the DRC. 
  • Delivered emergency aid after Mt. Nyiragongo erupted.
  • Provided 58 million liters of clean water to people living in the DRC.

The Eastern Congo Initiative has a 97% Charity Navigator rating and a Gold rating on GuideStar.

The Panzi Foundation

Various armed groups that are fighting in the DRC consistently use rape as a weapon. The Panzi Foundation provides holistic care to the women affected by conflict-related rape in one hospital. This Congo-specific organization has been in operation since 1999, and its methodology has four main elements covering physical, social, economic and legal care. 

The Panzi Foundation’s impact by the numbers: 

  • 85,000 women have been treated by the hospital since it opened. 
  • 3,500 babies are delivered by the hospital per year. 
  • The Panzi hospital has a 99.1% live birth rate. 
  • Almost 500,000 people have been treated for non-specific health issues.  

The Panzi Foundation has a 92% rating on Charity Navigator and a Platinum rating on GuideStar.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces many challenges on the road to reducing its high levels of extreme poverty. However, because so many of the world’s poor are set to reside in the DRC by 2030, focusing on the DRC is critical to reducing global poverty. Doctors Without Borders, the Panzi Foundation, Eastern Congo Initiative and Action Kivu are four charities operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to fight poverty and its contributing factors in the DRC. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the organizations that are already in the DRC are doing fantastic work. 

– Abigail Leland 
Photo: Flickr

,

Burna Boy’s History of Charity Work in Nigeria

Burna BoyRenowned Nigerian Afrobeats artist Burna Boy is actively contributing to the betterment of his homeland, Nigeria. In celebration of his 2021 Grammy win for Best Global Music Album with “Twice as Tall,” he generously provided food packages to 300 families in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Burna Boy is committed to addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including extreme poverty and issues of police brutality. He actively supports charitable endeavors, such as the Global Citizen’s Demand Equity campaign based in the United States (U.S.). Additionally, he has established the Project Protect fund, which focuses on assisting protesters wrongfully detained in cases of police brutality. Through these efforts, Burna Boy is making a significant impact on his country and advocating for positive change.

In reference to his charity work, Burna Boy also released his very own 16-minute documentary in December 2022 called “Whiskey” about the pollution and poverty affecting his Nigerian hometown of Port Harcourt that features interviews with locals about how crude oil waste has polluted the city’s water and its negative effects on the health of the local population and is in collaboration with the Nigerian charity Reach Every Available Communal Household (R.E.A.C.H.), which will donate all of its proceeds to help provide the community itself with food, clean water, medication and other necessities in general.

Burna Boy’s Comments on His Documentary

At a screening of the documentary “Whiskey” in December 2022, Burna Boy commented that the run-down way that the Nigerian area of Port Harcourt looks in the film is the same type of environment that people from where he is from live in every day of the year. Additionally, he also stated that he hopes the accompanying song he made for the film, titled “Whiskey,” which centers on the area’s problems with poverty and pollution, helps bring forth change and awareness relating to the area itself and other places around the world that are suffering from extreme poverty in general, such as other parts of Africa and the Caribbean.

Burna Boy’s Thoughts on Police Brutality in Nigeria

In response to the surge in incidents of police brutality in Nigeria in October 2020, which reignited calls for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian police force, Burna Boy conveyed his stance on the matter via Twitter. He asserted that police brutality has been a persistent issue in Nigeria, resulting in harm and loss of life among its citizens. Burna Boy emphasized his commitment to leveraging his platform to advocate for his fellow countrymen, striving to bring about meaningful progress and change within his homeland.

What’s Next?

Burna Boy is still standing up for his country of Nigeria by combating its pollution, immense poverty and police brutality to lead the country down a path of progress.

– Deon Roberts
Photo: Flickr

, , ,

The USAID Budget for 2024

The USAID Budget for 2024
In March 2023, the President released a Fiscal Year 2024 Budget, reserving $63.1 billion for foreign aid, as well as $32 billion specifically for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The USAID Budget for 2024 is an important step up, with an increase of $3 billion, or roughly 10% from the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. This allows the agency to further address the important development goals that it has set, bettering the lives of those globally and domestically.

The Budget

The USAID Budget for 2024 addresses a wide range of topics with regard to global poverty and quality of life. The largest portion of this budget is reserved for food security and humanitarian aid, $10.5 billion to address rising crises and natural disasters around the world as well as $1.11 billion to Feed the Future to address food insecurity throughout the world, specifically Ukraine.

With the war in Ukraine, more than 14 million families have had to flee their homes and cities from February 2022 to February 2023. This has had an increasingly detrimental effect on Ukraine’s economy, which shrunk by roughly 30% last year, forcing millions into food and economic insecurity. The USAID budget reserves an additional $522 million to address the food and economic insecurity in Ukraine. 

Additionally, the budget aims to address health insecurity, which is an important part of addressing global poverty, with $4.1 billion for USAID programs aimed at addressing health issues around the globe, where vaccines and prenatal care may be difficult to find. 

Implementation

This money is deployed in a variety of ways, and implementation is an important aspect of the USAID Budget for 2024. Feed the Future, which is administered by USAID, works to reduce food security in 20 countries throughout the world. In many of the world’s developing countries, agriculture is integral to food security as well as the economy, and resiliency is imperative to feed rural communities. Feed the Future’s efforts in Mali, where 80% of the country relies on agriculture in some form, including improving resiliency through supplying better seeds for farmers as well as improved water conservation, can make sure that farmers can continue to earn a living, feed their families and feed the community. These efforts have been extremely successful, and in 2021, more than 2 million children under 5 were helped through Feed the Future’s efforts in Mali.

Since the beginning of the war, USAID has spent more than $1.4 billion on humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. One of these ongoing efforts is the AGRI-Ukraine initiative. AGRI-Ukraine is meant to provide assistance to farmers, who may have difficulty growing, storing and transporting their crops due to the war. This will help maintain an important sector of the economy, as well as assist in feeding millions of Ukrainians. An additional, often overlooked, impact of the war is access to important, life-saving medications for Ukrainian citizens. USAID efforts have helped to ensure that Ukrainians still have access to those medicines. 

Outlook

USAID’s efforts throughout the world have been imperative in helping many efforts to eliminate global poverty. It has addressed food, health and economic insecurity throughout the world, ensuring that millions of the world’s poor have access to lifesaving medications, inventions and technologies. This helps to reduce poverty globally, while also working towards U.S. interests around the world. The USAID Budget for 2024 will ensure that these efforts are able to continue in full.

– John Rooney
Photo: Flickr

, ,

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Poverty Reduction in South Africa

Poverty Reduction in South AfricaIn 2015, all United Nations (U.N.) members adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which outlines 17 Goals in an urgent call to action by all states. The primary focus was on poverty reduction, sustainability, hygiene education and quality education. In 2019, the South African government finalized the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2020-25, which includes a multidisciplinary approach to tackling poverty in South Africa through consultation with civil society, academia, the private sector and others.

No Poverty

Goal 1, No Poverty, is a priority for many nations because of its pressing nature. Goal 1 includes eradicating all extreme poverty, to ensure people are living on at least $1.25, the benchmark, per day. In South Africa, there has been concern, as elsewhere in the continent, that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more people into poverty and has created more inequality between the rich and the poor.

The World Bank estimates that poverty in South Africa was 63% in 2022, based on the upper-middle-income country poverty line. Severe electricity shortages caused by ‘power rationing’ by the government of up to nine hours per day have also impacted and halted the economy since many sectors such as IT, water and service delivery cannot function. Alongside this, South Africa’s history of Apartheid still lingers today through inequality and poverty. For example, the 2020 multidimensional poverty report by UNICEF revealed that Black children were almost seven times more likely to live in poverty.

Taking Action

The South African government has taken some steps toward poverty reduction in South Africa. In 2012, the government adopted Vision 2030, a National Development Plan (NDP) aiming to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. In the NDP, 74% of the SDG targets are directly addressed, showing a good alignment of the plan in tackling poverty in South Africa.

Focus areas of the National Development Plan included poverty reduction in South Africa, alongside the creation of employment and sustainability. The government administered financial assistance to around 17 million people, including grants to pensions, child support, disability and more, within the NDP. Despite these attempts, poverty continues to persist.

The Intervention of Charity Organizations

Charities have also been extremely important in realizing and helping to implement the SDGs. The Borgen Project spoke with Iris Salemi, an International Intern for the charity Where Rainbows Meet, who spent a month working in South Africa and witnessing first-hand the impact of poverty. Where Rainbows Meet provides weekly computer, sewing, gardening and business lessons, alongside CV and child education workshops to increase the employability of young people in the Vrygrond area in Cape Town. Daily power cuts have hindered the ability of charities such as Where Rainbows Meet to carry out crucial work that impacts poverty reduction in South Africa. For example, charities cannot provide computers during power cuts, the kitchen is out of use and the education programs cannot happen without electrical power. For Iris, charities need more government support in order to fight unemployment in a community-based manner.

Other charities also operate and work to reduce poverty in South Africa with the SDGs in mind. These include Nkosi’s Haven, which supports HIV-infected mothers and children through residential and holistic care and provides education to affected communities. For example, it developed Nkosi’s Haven Village, a 2.5-acre plot of land south of Johannesburg that accommodates 22 mothers and 121 children. Operation Hunger also operates in the country and provides food parcels all over South Africa for the most vulnerable. While these are just a few examples, they show the meaningful and crucial ongoing work to address poverty-related issues in South Africa in line with the SDGs.

The Interlinkage of the SDGs

The connection and overlapping of the SDGs are extremely important in addressing multidimensional poverty. For example, quality education (Goal 4) is linked to reducing poverty (Goal 1), as is decent work (Goal 8) and reduced inequalities (Goal 10). Salemi outlined this during her work in the Vrygrond community, saying that “tackling youth education is, as I see it, the most effective way to fight poverty”.

In South Africa, the 2020 multidimensional poverty report revealed that, as of 2021, 50% of individuals aged 15 to 24 were without employment. In her research, Salemi discovered that many individuals grappled with issues related to self-confidence, belief in their abilities and a lack of understanding about what constitutes success. For instance, some young learners struggled to discern the value of education, while others found themselves drawn into negative influences such as gangs. Additional factors contributing to this predicament encompass subpar educational opportunities and skill development, insufficient career guidance within educational institutions and the financial burdens associated with job-seeking, particularly for those residing in rural regions.

Where Rainbows Meet set up workshops in order to help more young people realize their ambitions and see their own value. With better work opportunities and quality education, there is hope for achieving poverty reduction. The role of the government and the work local charities do are consequently imperative in helping South Africa achieve the SDGs.

Taytin’s Experience

The interlinkage of the SDGs is shown in the case of Taytin, whom Iris met during her internship. Coming from a family engaged in drugs and gangs, Taytin’s only option to avoid engagement in this was the street, where he, his brother and father spent all of Taytin’s childhood. Taytin went to Where Rainbows Meet and is now a computer teacher at the charity, and Iris states, “he has helped so many kids and so many adults find a brighter path.” This personal story allows one to observe the importance of achieving the SDGs, all of which influence each other.

Looking Ahead

The pursuit of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a complex and urgent task. Exacerbated by the pandemic, its historical inequalities and electricity shortages, South Africa faces challenges in reducing poverty. Charities have made meaningful and impactful strides toward addressing poverty-related issues, in line with the SDGs. In addressing poverty and implementing the framework necessary for its alleviation, South Africa can work toward meeting many of the other SDGs simultaneously, as underscored by the work of charities in the country.

– Rosie Lyons
Photo: Flickr