Information and stories addressing children.

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The UN Initiative: Ending Child Marriages by 2030

Ending Child Marriages
Child marriage is any formal marriage or informal union involving a child under the age of 18. Child marriage, or any marriage without the full and free consent on both ends of the marriage, has received international recognition as a violation of children’s rights. Ending child marriages is essential to protect children from violence, death and other challenges.

The marriage of children occurs all over the world, and the reasons differ from culture to culture. It has roots in gender inequality and the belief that girls and women are inferior to boys and men. Child marriage highly affects girls. About one in every five women aged 20 to 24 get married before their 18th birthday, compared to one in every 30 men. A lack of education, poverty, harmful cultural social norms and practices and insecurity have made the problem worse. Luckily, the UN Initiative is working towards ending child marriages.

How Does Child Marriage Cause Harm?

Twelve million girls marry before the age of 18 every year. That averages out to 23 girls every minute. Girls involved in child marriages are more likely to suffer domestic violence, contract HIV/AIDS and have a higher death rate during pregnancy and childbirth. Child marriages also have negative economic impacts, which can lead to intergenerational cycles of poverty. 

Girls who are at the greatest risk of marrying early often experience isolation from their family, friends and communities. They are typically poor and live in rural areas. 

The UN Initiative and How it is Helping

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set include global plans for 2030 that aim to protect the environment, tackle poverty and improve lives. UNICEF aims to protect millions of vulnerable girls around the world from child marriage, and hopefully put an end to child marriage by 2030. 

When child marriages do not persist, girls are more likely to reach their full potential. Putting a stop to this practice is vital to achieving gender equality, improving maternal and newborn health and improving economic development. 

According to UNICEF, tackling this issue requires recognizing factors like poverty and poor access to education and health care. Factors like these enable child marriages; however, the reasons for this practice vary from culture to culture. UNICEF’s plan focuses on 12 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East where child marriage rates are high. UNICEF reports that 45% of child brides live in South Asia, while 20% are in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Initiative’s Objective

The initiative’s objective goal is to enlist families, communities, governments and young people to help prevent girls from marrying too young, by empowering girls who are at risk as well as supporting the girls who are already married. The program follows four proven strategies: 

  1. Increasing girls’ access to education 
  2. Educating communities and parents on the dangers of child marriages
  3. Increasing economic support for families
  4. Strengthening and enforcing laws that establish the minimum age of marriage as 18 years old

Over the last decade, there has been a global drop in the number of child marriages, showing that ending child marriages is possible. In 2006, one in four women aged 20 to 24 was married as a child, in contrast to today’s number, which has fallen to one in every five women. 

Ending child marriages around the world will not only save many young girls’ lives, but will also help the economy and promote gender equality. 

– Paige Falk
Photo: Flickr

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Curbing Child Poverty in Kazakhstan

Child Poverty in KazakhstanChildren growing up in poverty face a range of challenges that affect their lives in significant ways. These challenges include problems like not having enough food, access to clean water, legal citizenship, chronic illnesses and exposure to violence. Although Kazakhstan, a relatively affluent country in Central Asia due to post-Soviet economic growth and social development, has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty from 47% in 2001 to just 2.7% in 2017, many underprivileged and displaced children still experience severe poverty.

Despite making great efforts to tackle the issue of child poverty in Kazakhstan, as of 2021, 47.2% of those living in poverty were children. One of the reasons poverty persists, despite social and economic reform, is a consequence of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which brought Russian families and children escaping the draft announcements to Kazakhstan in 2022. Also, as Kazakhstan is still a developing country, many children live in rural areas. They are in low-income households without proper access to education, water or health care. A small percentage of children between 5 and 14 experience child labor. Many of them work 13 hours daily, harvesting tobacco for international export.

Child Poverty and Disability

Child poverty in Kazakhstan has significantly impacted children with disabilities. Many families have had to make the difficult decision to place their disabled children in institutions due to the lack of community resources and social support. Under Kazakh law, parents are required to relinquish their guardianship rights when a child is institutionalized. Former residents of these institutions have reported incidents of abuse, punitive measures and the denial of their rights.

In 2011, UNICEF and the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan revealed that 14,052 children were raised in 210 residential state institutions, including 1,586 infants. These organizations also found that children and staff reported cases of neglect, physical violence, hospitalization and sedation as punishment, as well as forcing older children to take care of younger children.

Efforts for Reform

To tackle the issue and decrease the number of children in state institutions, the government allocated funds monthly to support guardians and relatives in fostering children. National programs and charity events such as “Dobrota vo blago detyam” (“Goodness for the sake of children”) and “Kuan sabi” (“Cheer up baby”) were introduced to support children in orphanages and state institutions and to identify families who are willing to adopt children. These initiatives have enabled around 900 children from state institutions to enjoy summer and winter breaks with contributing families in Kazakhstan.

In 2011, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population wrote a letter on the report’s findings, promising to take legal action to protect the rights of children with disabilities who reside in state institutions. It also advised institutions to specifically train staff in the conduct and communication with children with disabilities.

The good news is that active reform is taking place in Kazakhstan, with the Human and Child Rights Commissioners and the Parliament taking massive strides together in UNICEF’s advocacy for reforms. These efforts specifically address children and focus on social protection, prevention of violence and childcare reform. Partnerships with other organizations to increase youth and volunteering programs helped achieve progress for children in gender equality, nutrition, health, safeguarding and protection and education.

Fighting for Safety

The #BeSafe volunteering program, in collaboration with UNICEF, helps tackle social safety in Kazakhstan, supporting girls’ leadership. Another collaboration is the drafting of a National Plan on Child Protection Against Violence, Suicide Prevention, Children’s Rights and Well-Being for 2023–2025, which encourages the promotion of gender equality, prevention of violence against children and women, family support services and positive parenting.

Child poverty in Kazakhstan has been decreasing. Despite being a developing nation, Kazakhstan’s collaboration with UNICEF and other organizations has resulted in significant improvements in child poverty statistics. This demonstrates that positive change is achievable, and the goal of eliminating poverty, particularly child poverty, is attainable.

– Hannah BZ
Photo: Flickr

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Child Malnutrition in Yemen: Hope Among the Conflict

Child Malnutrition in Yemen
The Middle Eastern nation of Yemen has been plagued by eight years of devastating conflict disproportionately affecting its children. The Yemeni conflict remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 11 million children in need of humanitarian assistance. Child malnutrition in Yemen, alongside food insecurity and hunger, has reached alarming levels in the heart of this turmoil. Xavier Joubert, Save the Children’s Country Director for Yemen, underscores the harsh reality facing Yemeni children:

“Hunger in Yemen is an entirely human-made legacy of this war, and the increase in child malnutrition levels around conflict lines shows the impact of this brutal conflict on children.”

Despite the ongoing conflict, hope is emerging from the efforts of numerous organizations. This article sheds light on the dire challenges these children face daily while highlighting the unwavering dedication of organizations working to mitigate their suffering. 

The Impact

Amidst Yemen’s enduring conflict, the crisis affecting its children has reached catastrophic proportions. This nation is grappling with one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, where more than 11 million children are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Child malnutrition in Yemen has surged to alarming levels, with nearly 2.2 million children under the age of five in Yemen acutely malnourished, and more than 500,000 facing severe malnutrition. 

The repercussions of this crisis on Yemen’s children are profound and enduring. Malnutrition not only jeopardizes their immediate well-being but also their long-term growth and cognitive abilities. The compounding effect of malnutrition and the ongoing conflict leaves so many children without access to essential health care, clean water and adequate sanitation. This is further exacerbated by the scarcity of essential food items and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Yemen’s children are carrying the heaviest burden amid the ongoing conflict, and the repercussions on their health and future are immeasurable.

Working for Change

Amidst the seemingly bleak landscape, various organizations have stepped forward to combat the malnutrition epidemic to alleviate the suffering occurring within this nation. The organization War Child is a prime example of the life-changing work occurring to improve these children’s lives. War Child has been tirelessly working to provide access to healthcare, clean water and nutritional support to children in need. UNICEF is also a notable organization instrumental in providing health care, education and nutrition support to the vulnerable young children in Yemen. Continued is their unwavering efforts to save young lives and build a better and sustainable future. 

Stories of Hope

Despite the immense challenges and continued conflict within Yemen, stories of hope and resilience are emerging. Children who have received critical support from these organizations are on their way to recovery. Their strength and the unwavering commitment of these organizations showcase the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of the harshest circumstances. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has played a crucial role in this effort. WHO has trained almost 400 health workers on managing medical complications in children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. To increase families’ awareness and knowledge of basic nutritional and preventive health requirements for children, as well as to promote the importance of the continuity of breastfeeding, WHO trained 1,277 community health and nutrition volunteers and midwives. These trained individuals communicate key health and nutrition messages to the most affected vulnerable communities in 28 districts. 

In addition to this, WHO has developed awareness messages for TV and radio, ensuring that these important messages reach a wider audience. It has also engaged communities through various platforms, including religious, youth and women’s groups. These comprehensive efforts are making a tangible difference in the lives of Yemen’s children — offering them hope and the prospect of a brighter and healthier future. 

Moving Forward

While child malnutrition in Yemen remains a pressing issue, and the ongoing conflict only exacerbates the situation, the dedicated efforts of organizations working in Yemen provide a glimmer of hope. With continued support and awareness, there exists a possibility for positive change in the lives of Yemen’s children. The world must remain engaged in addressing this crisis, as the future of Yemen’s children depends on it. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to a nation facing immense challenges.

– Phoebe Abrahams
Photo: Flickr

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How Heart for Lebanon is Addressing the Economic Crisis in Lebanon

Economic Crisis in Lebanon
Since 2019, Lebanon has been in an ongoing struggle as a nation. What started as an economic crisis in Lebanon has now pushed more than 80% of the population into poverty. Of this population, poverty has most significantly impacted marginalized groups including migrant workers, children and the elderly. One of the many organizations fighting for the citizens living in poverty in Lebanon is Heart for Lebanon. Post-COVID-19, Heart for Lebanon continues to fight for its home country as its economic crisis continues. 

Heart for Lebanon

Following the elections of new government officials, when the prime minister could not agree on the cabinet mandate, this, in turn, led to obstruction. They continued to obstruct the domestic investigation into the Beirut blast in 2020, which took 220 lives and injured more than 7,000. This blast disrupted electricity and these issues have continued to spiral as the country dealt with the COVID-19 virus. 

The country is in a humanitarian crisis, deemed “the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II,” and organizations such as Heart for Lebanon have offered their aid. Heart for Lebanon’s new center is designed to lower these numbers of poverty, providing aid for families and children as well as Christian education. Located in the heart of Bekka Valley, their facility features a warehouse for packaging aid items, a chapel room, a clinic, a cafeteria and dormitories. 

Hope on Wheels

One thing it has provided to the community is its mobile ministry truck, called “Hope on Wheels.” The truck travels to different parts of Lebanon, spreading biblical messages in the form of skits, games, songs and puppets. Hundreds of children gather around every week to stay for a few hours and distract themselves from the everyday terrors they face in their current situation; it lets them enjoy being children again. The Hope Ministry is equipped to handle and educate more than 12,000 refugees each year, and as it continues its efforts, it is helping children working through the current poverty crisis in Lebanon. 

The H.O.P.E Program

The H.O.P.E program, Helping Overcome Poverty Through Education, provides a proper education to children in multiple communities in Lebanon struggling from poverty. Due to the poverty that has affected the majority of the population during the economic crisis in Lebanon, children have not had access to formal education, but the H.O.P.E program has offered informal education for children during this time. Children not only learn about biblical content, but the curriculum covers the essentials they need such as math, English, Arabic and art.

Looking Ahead

Though a few other reputable organizations are helping with the poverty crisis in Lebanon, Heart for Lebanon is actively helping to serve the vulnerable demographics of the population. From donations to offering educational material/lessons, it is helping many children across Lebanon to escape from the stress of their day-to-day lives. 

More than one in 10 families have had to send their children to work to help with the inflation that has taken place in Lebanon. Alongside this fact, 15% of families have had to halt their children’s education as many can no longer afford it. With these facts in mind, it can be difficult to see a child undergoing these huge life changes but having something to look forward to whether it be school or fun puppet shows, is one of the simple ways to care for the children of Lebanon. 

– Isabella Polo
Photo: Flickr

Addressing Child Poverty in Bhutan

Child Poverty in BhutanIt is quite common when thinking about the countries in Asia to immediately think about the ones that are often in the news, such as China, India and Japan. Thus, some other countries and the challenges that they face are often overlooked, especially by people living on the other side of the world. The nation of Bhutan is an excellent example of this phenomenon. Bhutan is an incredibly small nation with a population of only 770,400 people. 

Part of the reason it is not a very well-known nation is because for much of its history, until the 1970s, outsiders were not allowed into the nation. The next few decades were a struggle for the nation due to unrest and corruption within the government. The nation is behind the curve in many areas, and as a result, citizens have faced severe challenges with unemployment and poverty. 

Child Poverty Statistics in Bhutan 

As is the case in many nations that face economic struggles, child poverty in Bhutan is a serious area of concern. The Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network released a report in 2022 that included some alarming statistics about the current situation in regard to poverty throughout the nation. The data in the report outlined that one of every five children lives in poverty in Bhutan and that number increases to one of every four if the child is between the ages 10 and 17. A large part of this issue is that the poverty rate in rural areas is much higher than in cities in Bhutan. More than half of the population of the nation lives in rural areas and have a difficult time accessing basic health and education services. 

How NGOs Are Tackling Child Poverty 

While these numbers are concerning, there is good news coming out of Bhutan. Nonprofit organizations are working to address child poverty in Bhutan. One of these organizations is called Save the Children. This group has been working in Bhutan for several decades and has made a massive impact in the region. As a result of their work, 141,000 people have been lifted from child poverty in Bhutan. They are working extremely hard to increase access to basic services and address the issues of health and education. 

Save the Children has realized that one of the largest obstacles keeping young people from getting out of poverty in Bhutan is a lack of access to education. It is common for people in Bhutan, especially women and girls, not to know how to read or write. The team at Save the Children has done an incredible service to the nation by establishing preschools and other programs that allow young children to learn to read and write at a young age. This is crucial to their development and has been shown to increase their likelihood of moving out of poverty later in life. As the nation continues to develop and organizations such as Save the Children continue to do incredible work, child poverty in Bhutan will continue to be less and less of an issue. 

– Dylan Lyons
Photo: Flickr

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The Invention Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies

Micronutrient Deficiencies
More than 2 billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient malnutrition due to their food lacking essential vitamins and minerals for development as their diets lack variation and they consume predominantly processed foods. The absence of vital nutrients like vitamin A, iron, iodine or folic acid in their diets means 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, which is the primary cause of intellectual disability in children due to iodine deficiency. Those suffering from micronutrient deficiencies are at an increased risk of blindness due to a lack of vitamin A and complications during childbirth and pregnancy due to iron and folic acid deficiency. Luckily, an invention called the Sanku Dossifier is addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

About Micronutrient Deficiencies

As micronutrient deficiencies impact brain development and immune systems, those affected are less likely to succeed in school and, therefore, less likely ever to escape the poverty cycle. According to The Micronutrient Initiative and the World Bank, the hardest-hit countries could see their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per year decrease by as much as 2–3%, demonstrating how micronutrient malnutrition perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

More than 8,200 children under 5 die daily from micronutrient malnutrition, causing 3 million children to die yearly. These deaths are preventable if people can access the nutrients they need. Since the 1920s, food fortification has addressed micronutrient deficiencies as consumers gain a nutritional benefit without changing where they buy their products or what products they buy. Staple food products like flour, salt, sugar, rice and vegetable oil are fortified in developing nations so people will consume nutrient-rich food. Food fortification is one of the most cost-effective approaches to combat malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers food fortification a powerful, evidence-based and cost-effective intervention to address vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

The Sanku Dossifier

The Sanku Dossifier received recognition as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2019. It fortifies food, adding an exact amount of necessary nutrients, such as iron, B12, folic acid and zinc to flour. By distributing the Sanku Dossifier to small African flour mills, locals can purchase nutrient-rich food even in remote villages, improving their development and growth. Sanku – Project Healthy Children (SPHC) provides millers with a dossifier and an appropriate amount of premix at no extra cost by selling them empty flour bags for the same price they would have bought elsewhere.

Committed to ensuring their dossifiers effectively reduce micronutrient malnutrition, SPHC remotely monitors the dossifiers and will check on mills if they see the dossifier is not being used or needs repairing. It is a cost-effective method as providing fortified food for one person for an entire year costs only $1.32. So far, Sanku – Project Healthy Children has reached 55 million people and is on target to reach 100 million by 2025. 

SPHC is an innovative leader against malnutrition. Felix Brooks-Church, CEO of Sanku, was named a Laureate of Rolex Awards for Enterprise thanks to the Sanku Dossifier’s prospects to reinvent the future. Using the Rolex prize fund and the unrestricted MacKenzie Scott grant they received will allow them to improve the nutrition of 200,000 people in Tanzania while helping Sanku – Project Healthy Children achieve their greater goal of helping 100 million people. 

Moving Forward

In conclusion, the Sanku Dossifier innovation is a groundbreaking solution that is effectively addressing the pervasive issue of micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. By fortifying staple foods with essential vitamins and minerals, this innovation is providing a sustainable and cost-effective approach to improving nutrition and reducing the prevalence of malnutrition-related illnesses.

 – Alice Isola
Photo: Flickr

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How Nickelodeon is Helping Children Globally

Nickelodeon is Helping Children
Throughout the history of the popular children’s network, Nickelodeon, it has made multiple attempts to assist children around the world with various initiatives. One of these is its community outreach program called The Big Help, which originated in 1994. In 1997 alone, The Big Help reached 28 million children all around the world with the message of the importance of community service, thanks to the help of Nickelodeon tie-ins such as daily service messages and telethons related to the TV channel itself. This is in addition to the endorsements of many public figures of the time, such as basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, actress Whoopi Goldberg, former president Bill Clinton and former general Colin Powell.

Another initiative the TV station took was with their international program, Together For Good, which began operation in 2015. Its mission was to inspire and empower young viewers of Nickelodeon to get active in their communities and create positive changes in the world. Furthermore, the network thought that children have a voice and can contribute to the improvement of their communities, the creation of a more inclusive society and the impact of their future. Additionally, the program has been in partnership with various nonprofit organizations such as the African Wildlife Foundation, Plan International, Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef and Kids’ Rights, tackling such issues as ocean and wildlife conservation and gender equity. Here are more specifics regarding how Nickelodeon is helping children globally.

Our World

Nickelodeon is helping children through its newest initiative, established in 2023, which is called the Our World program. It has the purpose of digitally connecting children, parents and caregivers internationally to developmentally appropriate activities, as well as partner organizations with extra resources. The program emphasizes healthy youth development as a critical component of a successful childhood. This program aims to effect systemic change so that every child grows up believing they have the potential to make a difference in the world. It also assists children in gaining skills to deal with the fast-changing environment around them and fosters youth agency, with the hope of turning them into a coalition of community-led social innovators.

More about Nickelodeon’s Our World Program

Starting on July 21, the Our World program began an international-only campaign with its initial campaign partner, Plan International, across Nickelodeon platforms in 150 countries and territories. Plan International is one of the world’s largest and most established children’s development organizations. It has performed extensive, long-term child-centered work in communities throughout the world to break the cycle of poverty for millions of children and their families.

Together for Good’s Collaboration

In 2021 and through to today, Nickelodeon is helping children through Together for Good, a collaboration with a prominent global nonprofit organization called OneSight. OneSight has committed itself to providing eye care to 1.1 billion individuals who do not have access to it. It launched the Framing the Future campaign to educate kids and families on the significance of eye health, worldwide access to vision care and clean vision through original short-form and digital content. 

The content aims to inspire action, empathy and advocacy by broadcasting in more than 67 million households in 69 areas across Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Latin America, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Additionally, through the campaign’s digital hub, eyes.nickelodeon.tv, children can take a pledge to protect their eyes from the sun and take breaks from devices and can receive the title Junior Glasses Champion for their commitment to advocating for healthy eyes and excellent vision.

President and Executive Director of OneSight, K-T Overbey, commented that their organization encourages children to care for their eyes and teach them about the significance of routine eye exams, saying that children can learn up to twice as much when they wear the proper glasses as the children often do not know they have a vision impairment.

Conclusion

To this day, Nickelodeon continues to help children through its international ventures to help people around the world, with no sign of stopping in sight.

– Deon Roberts
Photo: Flickr

The Top 4 Facts About Child Poverty in Bhutan

Child Poverty in BhutanIn Bhutan, 25% of children from the ages of 10 to 17, and 20.7% of children of all ages live in poverty. Though Bhutan has made great strides to help end poverty, 39.50% of the total population still lives on less than $5.50 a day. Children living in poverty often have large families, lack access to education and participate in child labor. 

Top 4 Facts About Child Poverty in Bhutan

  1. Lack of Education – Bhutan had no formal schools until the 1960s. Despite the country’s education budget now accounting for one-fifth of its total expenditures, working towards creating adequate, free learning instruction, many Bhutanese children do not go to school. The greatest issue that keeps children from school in Bhutan is the financial burden that education creates on families. Many families cannot afford the cost of school supplies, and since school is not required for children in the country, many families send their children to work and provide for the family, instead of earning a thorough education, because it is their only option. Therefore, 17.9% of children do not complete their primary education.
  2. Child Labor – In rural areas in Bhutan, children ages 7–17 are twice as likely to work underage as their urban peers. As children enter their young adult life, many are expected to earn profits to support their families, and around 20% of all 17-year-olds work in Bhutan. The fields in which Bhutanese children work are agriculture, industry, services and forced labor, often facing sexual exploitation and compulsory domestic work. The primary issue regarding child labor in Bhutan is that their labor laws are not in compliance with global standards and permit children under the age of 14 to work.
  3. Inadequate Child Disability Protections – Disabilities in Bhutan are stigmatized, and children with them are effectively put at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts. Of disabled populations, 53% of children with a disability do not have access to schools, with girls being at a greater disparity than their male peers. Additionally, children within this population lack access to social services regarding their health and well-being.
  4. Discrimination – Socially, migrant children in Bhutan face the most scrutiny. In order to be considered of the Bhutanese nationality, a child’s parents must both be from Bhutan, which keeps many children from belonging to the Bhutanese state. Due to this, it is harder for non-nationals to gain rights to public services, including education and health care. These same social stigmas also apply to minority children in minority populations. With provisions against discrimination, but no laws regarding civil rights, it is hard for many migrants and mixed-ethnicity children to obtain their full legal rights in Bhutan.

How UNICEF Helps Children in Bhutan Living in Poverty

UNICEF has created Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers to help aid populations of children living in poverty. By implementing schools to focus on the development of children ages 3 to 5 in rural areas, UNICEF has raised the ECCD attendance rate by 22%. Furthermore, they have recognized the struggles of children living with disabilities, and have created programs to keep young girls with disabilities in school. Through creating 200 ECCD centers, and 16 centers to help children with disabilities, UNICEF has provided children living in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas access to education.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, child poverty in Bhutan remains a significant challenge that requires urgent attention. Despite the country’s progress in reducing overall poverty rates, children continue to suffer from lack of access to basic necessities such as education, health care and proper nutrition. Addressing child poverty in Bhutan requires a multi-faceted approach that includes targeted government policies, increased investment in social programs and collaboration with international organizations. It is crucial to prioritize the well-being and future of Bhutan’s children, as they are the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society. By addressing child poverty, Bhutan can ensure a brighter future for its youngest generation and contribute to the overall development and well-being of the nation.

– Nadia Soifer
Photo: Flickr

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Helping Orphaned Children in Iraq Through Al-Ayn

Children in IraqIraq is a nation tarnished by on-and-off wars for the last 30 years. International sanctions and conflict have led to millions suffering due to these wars, tanking the economy and leading to a high poverty rate within the country. People’s entire lives have been disrupted by conflict, hunger and unstable political situations. Unsurprisingly, all these issues have contributed to Iraq’s massive poverty problem. When faced with these obstacles, it is no wonder the Iraqi people are struggling to get by.

Another factor that has led to a high poverty rate in Iraq is the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is most evident in the rate of impoverished people who are children. According to the Ministry of Planning, nearly 10 million people live below the poverty line in Iraq, accounting for 25% of the population. Of those millions of people, almost 5 million of them are children. In addition, the Iraq wars have displaced more than 1 million people. This issue must be solved because it prevents children from enjoying being children. They have to grow up quickly. 

The Situation

With so many children needing care, the situation may seem hopeless. However, some foundations specialize in helping these children get back on their feet. They provide education, medical care and other needs to help the children recover and break the poverty cycle that has gripped Iraq for years. Al-Ayn is an organization specializing in giving children whatever they need to get back on track.

Al-Ayn is an organization that primarily focuses on sponsoring Iraqi children displaced by war and deals with poverty and many other issues. Founded in 2014, Al-Ayn has been at the forefront of trying to help children who need it most. It does this work in coordination with its sister organization based in Iraq. The primary way they help these children is through sponsorship agreements so people can support the children in lifting themselves out of poverty.

How the Sponsorship Works

As mentioned, Al-Ayn operates by sponsoring children and giving them whatever they need. Whether medical assistance or educational or financial needs, children can look forward to having their basic needs taken care of. First, a child must apply for sponsorship. Once approved, they will have three basic sponsorship packages available to them. They range from the standard option to medical to academic. These sponsorships ensure that no child has the resources to lift themselves out of poverty. Al-Ayn distributes a monthly donation to the child’s mother or a legal guardian if they are orphaned. Al-Ayn makes sure that their futures look much brighter.

What the Organization Has Done to Help

According to its website, Al-Ayn has had a significant impact in helping poverty-stricken children in Iraq. It feels it has “created a measurable, repeatable and systematic method to ensure that orphans are educated, fed, loved and safe.” As of January 2022, they have helped more than 70,000 orphans out of the more than 100,000 registered with their organization. Hopefully, this organization will continue to do great things in the future.

Al-Ayn is an organization that has done countless good for the orphaned and destitute in Iraq. This organization is making a massive difference for a country with too much hardship over the past three decades. Whether through education, basic needs or medical needs, this organization has the best interests of the poverty-stricken children of Iraq at heart. May they be continuously successful in their fight against poverty.

– Calder Miller
Photo: Pixabay

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Policy Reform Needed for Bidoon Children in Kuwait

Bidoon ChildrenKuwait is known for its wealth, hovering around the top five wealthiest countries. Kuwait’s geographic location and access to oil reserves have boasted Kuwait to be one of the highest per capita GDPs globally, at roughly $43,000. However, not all residents within Kuwait enjoy the same privileges as its citizens. As a developing country with a fast-paced, growing market, many people residing in Kuwait have been less fortunate.

Citizens in Kuwait are allowed many freedoms, but not all those who live in Kuwait are citizens. A group of people known as “Bidoon,” short for Bidoon Jinsiya, meaning in Arabic “without nationality.” In Kuwait, this means those of Bidoon descent are stateless and illegal residents of the government. About 110,000 stateless people are living in Kuwait. Many of those who are Bidoon come from generations of Nomad families who were there before Kuwait declared independence in 1961. Some Bidoon didn’t understand the concept of registering for citizenship in 1961.

In the 1980s, a change happened in legislative terms where Bidoon were considered ‘illegal residents’ and lost further rights such as free public health care, education and housing. Others labeled Bidoon are those of families who served in the Gulf War and are from neighboring countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria. The government rejects Bidoon who have tried to gain citizenship.

The Hardship of Being Bidoon

Bidoon individuals face significant hardships due to their stateless status. They lack political rights, access to land, business registration, employment, public health care and public education. Bidoon people experience many hardships as they are technically illegal and have temporary identification cards. These cards are vital as they are necessary for employment. Many Bidoon face the challenge of acquiring a job, resulting in many Bidoon individuals living in poverty compared to Kuwait citizens. From being illegal persons in Kuwait, they have been discriminated against, harassed and exploited. Bidoon people face job discrimination because they are not deemed legal residents; job security and salary are significantly lower.

Education Policy Currently in Kuwait for Bidoons

Those of Bidoon descent face many obstacles, such as access to education being a significant prevailing problem. Education is a pillar of Kuwait and its citizens, but in the 1980s, Bidoon children could not attend public schools. Now, Bidoon children struggle to find a private school that most families cannot afford, and these private schools provide a lower quality of education.

Parents must pay up to 30% of the Private school tuition; the state financial assistance covers the rest for Bidoons. Those privileged Bidoons can afford this, but many children end up not going to school and skipping years to save money. Boy children will go more to school than girls as boys’ education is a higher priority and because Bidoon families cannot afford to send all of their children to school.

Journey of Policy Reform

The lack of education is enormous as it impacts their lives daily. Access to quality education would uplift many Bidoon and their children from impoverished lifestyles. The private schools are known to be inferior places of learning — much of the policy reform movement is from the human rights efforts. Having the denial of citizenship creates a loop where they cannot gain proper education because of no citizenship, which inhibits their life further. Policy reform for the Bidoon people would include desegregation of education and allowing Bidoon children to gain an equal public education.

In 2019, the speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly announced a proposed law amendment for Bidoons to gain proper education, medical care and ID papers. Yet, three months after the proposal, the jurisdiction committee denied the new amendment, which would have made non-Kuwaiti citizens eligible for more rights.

Advocating for a new amendment is to help the people and Bidoon children gain a quality education and better their lives from the risk of impoverishment. Prosecution is a reality for protesters who advocate for Bidoon’s rights, as many have been fined or jailed. To end the fight for the Bidoon people, the National Assembly must enforce and uphold the amendment for naturalization rights.

Looking Ahead

Many still need citizenship due to the history of the independence of Kuwait and the movement of other peoples from other countries to Kuwait. Even if generations of these people lived in Kuwait, they must be considered legal citizens with proper documentation. This status of statehood has disproportionately affected their lives and has restricted their access to resources. Bidoon children do not have naturalization rights in practice. The education disparity for Bidoon people is vast as they have no access to public schools, looking towards private schools that require tuition and have worse quality. Advocating will help end this disparity as policy reform for an amendment or the naturalization amendment will help save the Bidoon people from impoverishment.

– Ariana Wauer
Photo: Flickr