Archive for category: Children

Information and stories addressing children.

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Addressing Healthcare in Nepal

Healthcare in NepalNepal is a country in South Asia, home to some 30 million people. The country is located in the Himalayas, bordering China and India. Nepal is also known for being the home of the tallest mountain in the world; Mt. Everest, as well as being the birthplace of the Buddha. Nepal is a developing country, and as a result, it still faces certain challenges when it comes to healthcare. Rural healthcare in Nepal can be particularly challenging.

About Healthcare in Nepal

Nepal is a predominantly rural country. Approximately 79% of the country lives in rural areas. As a result, there is a significant urban and rural divide in the country when it comes to healthcare. Because of the country’s hilly and mountainous terrain, expanding healthcare programs to rural areas can be challenging. Rural areas have fewer clinics, healthcare personnel and medical equipment than urban areas. Rural healthcare in Nepal faces many such challenges. The access to proper healthcare is not distributed evenly throughout the country.

A mix of public and private services provide healthcare in Nepal. The government provides basic healthcare services. Private sectors provide a larger number of services. People in urban areas rely more on the private sector for healthcare. People in rural areas rely more on public healthcare services. Pharmacies are the leading providers in the private sector. But in general, most citizens rely more on the private sector. About 63% of Nepalese relied on the private sector regardless of their economic background. Public hospitals are the primary healthcare facilities in the country, followed by primary healthcare centers, health posts, private facilities and basic healthcare service centers.

Challenges With Healthcare Access in Nepal

About 20.3% of the Nepalese population lives below the poverty line, according to the Asia Development Bank (ADB). The United Nations classifies Nepal as one of the least developed countries in the world. This makes it difficult for the Nepalese government to provide adequate healthcare, especially in rural areas. The country’s economic status makes rural healthcare in Nepal a challenging endeavor for the government.

Despite its economic situation, the Nepalese government has taken efforts to improve the country’s healthcare situation. The country’s constitution declares healthcare a fundamental human right. It also guarantees that every Nepalese citizen has a right to free basic healthcare services from the state. In addition to this, the Nepalese government has initiated a national immunization program to vaccinate the population against various diseases. In 2015, the government passed the Immunization Act, which confirms the right to vaccinations for all children by way of an efficient immunization program.

Nepal has also had programs specifically designed to vaccinate children. About 65% of 1 to 2-year-old Nepalese children have received all necessary vaccines. However, there is still room for improvement. Specifically, there are significant disparities regarding who receives vaccines. Education level and caste play a big role in vaccine distribution. People belonging to lower castes, and those who have not received any education are less likely to be properly vaccinated. The urban and rural divide comes into play here, as people living in rural and remote areas are less likely to have received proper vaccinations due to their caste or education level.

Solutions

In 2012, the country began the Reaching Every Child program to vaccinate all Nepalese children. The program is part of the broader National Immunization Program, designed to properly immunize and vaccinate citizens from deadly diseases. Through this program, the Nepalese government aims to vaccinate every child across the country, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas.

Other strides have been taken to expand rural Nepal’s access to healthcare. The Internet Society is leading an Effective Broadband for Health program for rural areas in Nepal. The program established wireless broadband services in Nepalese villages. It also provided remote villages with telemedicine solutions, and helped build proper healthcare infrastructure.

Looking Ahead

Nepal still has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to expanding healthcare to rural areas. Rural areas still lack things like healthcare infrastructure, personnel, medicine and accessibility. However, the country is actively working to improve the situation. The constitution declares healthcare a human right and gives every citizen access to free basic healthcare services. Additionally, companies like the Internet Society are also working to expand healthcare access to remote areas through wireless broadband services. 

– Samriddha Aryal

Samriddha is based in Centreville, VA, USA and focuses on Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Digital Birth Registration in Nigeria

Digital Birth Registration in NigeriaIn Nigeria, more than 50% of children under 5 years old remain unregistered at birth, leaving more than seven million children without legal identity or access to essential services. Without formal documentation, these children often cannot receive vaccinations, enroll in school or access societal protection programs. Birth registration is a fundamental right under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It plays a critical role in protecting children from trafficking, child labor and early marriage. However, digital birth registration in Nigeria is a powerful tool for addressing this gap.

In partnership with UNICEF and the National Population Commission (NPC), the Nigerian government has launched an ambitious initiative to digitize birth registration in Nigeria. It aims to do this through an integrated Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (e-CRVS) system. The program aims to register more than nine million under 5 children and five million infants using mobile devices and a cloud-based digital database.

How Digital Registration Works

The pilot phase of the e-CRVS program was active at test sites in Nasarawa, Lagos, Kano, Borno and Enugu states, where local health facilities and mobile teams register children at the point of care. Digital tables and software allow frontline workers to capture live birth data and instantly generate certificates. The system is linked to Nigeria’s National Identity Number (NIN) platform, operated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), ensuring each child receives a permanent identity number for life.

This integration allows public institutions to cross-reference birth records with healthcare, immunization and education systems. It also makes tracking child development easier, planning vaccine campaigns and ensuring social services reach the most vulnerable.

Health Benefits of Legal Identity

A legal identity is not just a certificate but a gateway to health equity. According to UNICEF, children enrolled through digital birth registration in Nigeria are more likely to be vaccinated, receive medical care earlier and attend school. In regions with low birth registration, health systems often struggle to track and follow up with children who miss vaccines or drop off routine care schedules.

Digital birth registration allows real-time data to be shared with national immunization registries, helping ministries of health identify gaps, forecast demand and avoid supply chain breakdowns. This is particularly crucial in rural areas where children are most at risk of preventable disease and malnutrition.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

Nigeria’s digital birth registration initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9, which calls for providing legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030. The initiative also contributes to broader SDGs focused on child health (SDG 3), inclusive education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5) by ensuring that girls and boys alike are counted and protected from birth.

Final Remarks

According to the latest edition of the ID4D Global Dataset, approximately 1.25 billion people do not have a digitally verifiable identity, primarily due to documentary requirements and distance to registration points. Many of these people reported the consequences following them into adulthood through financial and technological barriers. Nigeria’s scalable model could serve as a blueprint for other low and middle-income countries seeking to close the identity gap.

By digitizing birth registration, Nigeria is improving access to basic health and education services and restoring visibility, dignity and protection to millions of children who have long been left out of the system. As implementation continues, the program could reshape how governments track child welfare, deliver public services and uphold the rights of every child, starting from day one.

– Rebecca Lee

Rebecca is based in Scotland and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Street Children in the Comoros

Street Children in Comoros

When one thinks about the issue of street children, the Comoros rarely, if ever, come to mind. Yet, the visibility of children working and living on the streets is a growing reality across the country’s three islands: Anjouan, Mohéli and Grand Comore. For many Comorians, encountering groups of children selling goods or soliciting money and cigarettes on the streets has become increasingly common.

Despite this, institutional policies, government data and international reporting on these vulnerable children remain absent. Although a few governmental programs were implemented in 2021 targeting child labor and education, they remain insufficient and fail to address the increasing phenomenon of street children. Similarly, international organizations are predominantly directing their efforts toward combating child labor and addressing de-schooling, leaving street children, especially those without family support, largely overlooked.

Street Children and Poverty

The causes behind the issue of street children in the Comoros are multifaceted. However, extreme poverty stands out as the main factor. In a country where more than 40% of the population experiences poverty, many children resort to street work to secure basic subsistence or help feed their families. Most of them have left the school system, which, although compulsory until age 15, lacks strong enforcement mechanisms to check and enforce school attendance. In 2023, more than 20% of primary school-aged children were out of school in the Comoros, excluding the high absenteeism rates.

Street Children and Parental Migration       

Another major cause contributing to this problem, closely linked to extreme poverty, is the migration of many Comorian parents to the French-administered island of Mayotte. This mass migration leaves many children homeless as their parents seek better economic opportunities.

Street Children and Mental Health

Children with disabilities and mental health conditions face higher risks of living and working on the streets. This is due to a lack of proper psychiatric care, exacerbated by the presence of only one psychiatrist in the country and the high cost of medications, alongside educational exclusion. According to the most up-to-date UNICEF report from 2015, 73% of these children did not attend secondary school and only 2.9% progressed beyond secondary education, illustrating the exclusion children with disabilities encounter.

Gender-Based Vulnerabilities

Girls and young women are disproportionately affected by educational exclusion and societal norms that promote submission to male authority. This often leads to mistreatment, sexual abuse, early sexual activity starting as young as 12 and unwanted pregnancies. These factors contribute significantly to the increasing number of young women living on the streets, as some parents repudiate their daughters who have terminated unwanted pregnancies.

Life on the Streets Equates Survival

Once children are on the streets, whether they return home after working or both work and live there, survival becomes the primary goal. The lack of reliable housing exposes youth to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Health issues such as parasitic diseases, pneumonia, sexually transmissible diseases and HIV are common, compounded by past and present trauma. Without adequate support, children become the perfect targets for drug dealers, both as consumers and sellers.

The absence of comprehensive systems and official data exacerbates their plight. The Comoros lacks social structures to shelter street children, with few competent host families. Children’s judges rarely place them under those families and there are not enough inspectors to follow up. The lack of official and international data on the number of children living and working on the street in the Comoros also worsens the situation, as their abuses remain undocumented and unacknowledged, leaving children vulnerable to aggressors who can commit crimes with impunity and many disappearing without anyone noticing.

Efforts Toward Empowerment

Despite the alarming situation, some organizations like Ticket to Life and MAEECHA are working to address these challenges, offering hope for street children in the Comoros. Ticket to Life provides vocational training and education to street children, children with disabilities, refugees and all of those who suffer from poverty. Since its creation in 2022, it has helped 400 children through scouting and sewing training. It enabled some students to open their sewing shops and become an integral part of their local communities, transforming their future. By 2026, Ticket to Life intends to assist another 2,000 children.

MAEECHA operates in Anjouans and focuses on education equality and support for isolated children through its Education, Care, Support and Inclusion (ECMA) program. Its center of professional insertion helps out-of-school children, including those at risk of street involvement due to family breakdown or abandonment. It provides professional vocational training in several fields, such as agriculture, sewing, electronics, carpentry and culinary arts, targeting about 60 children annually. It is supported by partnerships with French and European organizations promoting apprenticeships and certifications.

Conclusion

The phenomenon of street children in the Comoros is a multifaceted issue rooted in systemic poverty, inadequate social structures and violence. Working and/or living on the streets exposes children to sexual, physical and emotional abuse. While Ticket to Life and MAEECHA are making strides in providing support and comprehensive governmental action, the involvement of international organizations focused on this issue and American aid would help address the root causes of street children. It would also help protect the rights and futures of the Comorian children, especially as an increasing number of them attempt to join the French-administered island of Mayotte, often at the peril of their lives.

– Juliette Delbarre

Juliette is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Things To Know About Child Poverty in San Marino

Child Poverty in San MarinoSan Marino is Earth’s oldest constitutional Republic, named after the legendary stonemason Saint Marinus. Despite its rich history, San Marino continues to face challenges related to child poverty. Of the roughly 5,000 children aged 15 or younger, about 6.1% live below 50% of the national poverty line.

This statistic models an ongoing socioeconomic issue that requires persistent attention and committed action from the government. However, children are protected under the Children’s Rights Convention, which provides a vital foundation for their welfare. San Marino offers accessible resources to all adolescents to ensure that protection and stability are allotted to them. This commitment to their well-being is a cornerstone of the nation’s policy.

Justice

Criminal justice is another major issue in San Marino, particularly regarding the treatment of minors. Under the country’s Penal Code, which defines all criminal offenses, children aged 12 or younger cannot be charged with misdemeanors. Arresting a child at that age is considered both illegal and inappropriate. This legal provision reflects understanding child development and safeguarding children’s rights.

However, any child older than 12 can be prosecuted, which has sparked debate about the appropriate age of criminal responsibility. Adolescents under 18 may be granted a pardon under specific circumstances, such as limited cognitive capacity, allowing for flexibility in sentencing. While San Marino does not have dedicated juvenile detention centers, it has established separate divisions for questioning minors, ensuring a more sensitive and age-appropriate approach to handling such cases.

Infant Mortality Rate

San Marino’s low infant mortality rate is a critical health indicator that demands ongoing attention to prevent any potential rise. Between 2013 and 2023, the mortality rate for children under the age of five stood at 1.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). At that time, the population was approximately 33,733. By 2025, it has declined slightly to around 33,572, reflecting a gradual decrease over two years.

Respiratory infections are the most common cause of under-5 mortality in San Marino, with children experiencing symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In response, UNICEF reported that local health clinics have taken action to stabilize rates by providing targeted treatment. For instance, children experiencing diarrhea are given oral rehydration solutions, including fluid-based or pre-packaged treatment packets. These proactive health care measures support the well-being of San Marino’s youngest residents and help lay the foundation for a healthier future generation.

Conclusion

San Marino stands at a critical point, ready to tackle pressing challenges. Issues like child poverty in San Marino, complexities within the criminal justice system and managing mortality rates highlight the nation’s commitment to its youth. With the country introducing the Children’s Rights Convention and with UNICEF’s support, initiatives and instruction have been adhered to with great commitment. Furthermore, the public remains focused on expanding and improving communities, an essential goal for the country’s future. By addressing these concerns with practical solutions, San Marino can reinforce its legacy as the world’s oldest republic and build a more prosperous, equitable society for all its citizens.

– Janae Bayford

Janae is based in Centennial, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unspalsh

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Addressing Diseases Impacting New Zealand

Diseases Impacting New ZealandNew Zealand is one of the many nations across the world that is suffering from a wave of harsh diseases, diseases that unfortunately impact the most vulnerable. Here is information about the diseases impacting New Zealand.

Diseases Impacting Children in New Zealand

Children in New Zealand are facing risks of disease. In 2020, immunization coverage of children six months or younger was at a healthy 80%. However, in 2022, that number has fallen to a dangerous 67%. This decline is especially concerning because the six-month mark is when government-funded vaccines typically protect children from serious illnesses like polio, pertussis (whooping cough) and diphtheria.

In certain parts of New Zealand, there has also been a large outbreak of measles. In 2019, measles infected more than 2,000 people in Auckland, and more than 5,000 people were infected in Samoa; most of the people affected by this were young children. Many of these children also live in the most impoverished, broken areas of the country and thus do not have access to the care they need. 

It is not just children at risk of these diseases. Cardiovascular disease has impacted New Zealanders’ lives to the point where it accounts for one-third of all deaths in the country and almost one million people there live with cardiovascular disease. Other risk factors include a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Solutions

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, known as the ESR, is a branch of government that is directly responsible for protecting the health of people across the country. It works quickly to detect diseases that are ravaging local communities and broadcast early warnings of outbreaks. They also monitor the environment around them to catch imbalances in food and water supply to make sure that resources are being given to those who need them the most.

The New Zealand government has also worked quickly to address poverty in the nation, just as quickly as they have worked to combat diseases. In 2018, the government passed the Child Poverty Reduction Act, a “goal to halve child poverty and reduce it to 10% of children (on one measure) over 10 years – ie by 2028.” This legislation mentions improving the lives of young children by providing better access to primary care, food security and better household conditions. With these incentives in place, young children living in poverty have bright futures ahead of them.

– John Menechino

John is based in Marietta, GA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Grassroots Movements Are Shaping Pro-Poor Policies in Brazil

Pro-Poor Policies in BrazilBrazil is incredibly diverse, comprising 26 states, more than 5,000 municipalities and 205.3 million people of diverse races, ethnicities and gender identities. Stark contrasts mark the nation. While it exudes cultural diversity, systemic discrimination and inequalities perpetuate intergenerational poverty in Brazil. According to the World Bank, as of 2021, 12.5 million Brazilians lived below the international poverty line. Against this backdrop, grassroots organizations have emerged as key agents of change. By focusing on community-driven solutions, these organizations are reshaping the pro-poor policies in Brazil and creating tangible improvements for its most vulnerable citizens.

National Union for Popular Housing (UNMP): Housing Justice

Brazil faces a severe housing crisis, with a deficit of more than six million homes and 25 million Brazilians living in inadequate conditions. This includes overcrowding, limited access to water and insufficient sewage systems. The city of São Paulo alone has more than 400,000 families residing in precarious housing. The UNMP, founded in 1989, has become one of Brazil’s leading advocates for addressing poverty and its housing crisis. The organization currently has mobilized 350,000 members across 23 Brazilian states.

The UNMP combines action and negotiation, aiming to provide affordable housing for the most vulnerable in Brazil. The UNMP’s strategies include occupying buildings, shaping housing laws through policy advocacy and collaborating with the government to develop cooperative housing projects under programs such as My Home My Life (MCMV). One of the UNMP’s most notable achievements was including Article 183 in the 1988 constitution. It guaranteed that the social aspect of property would take precedence over profit-driven motives, thus enshrining the right to suitable housing as a human right under Brazilian law.

Pastoral da Criança (PDC): Tackling Child Malnutrition

Child health remains a critical issue in Brazil. Undernutrition, stunting and dental caries disproportionately affect Black and low-income children, whose stunting rates are approximately 11% higher than those of white children. The pandemic and economic crises have worsened these challenges as food insecurity reached 15% in 2022, reversing earlier reductions in poverty in Brazil. Poor-quality parental education, low income and inadequate housing have perpetuated the unfavorable conditions experienced by Brazilian children.

Founded by Dr. Zilda Arns Newman, the PDC is a Catholic social organization that seeks to improve this. It focuses on developing children below 6 years old, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances. Volunteers for the PDC visit homes to monitor child malnutrition, arranging Weigh Days to ensure that children develop steadily. They teach families how to properly nurture their children’s growth, demonstrating how to cook affordable yet nutritious meals.

They also inform mothers how to recognize and treat common illnesses in children. These efforts have significantly reduced infant mortality rates, helping Brazil meet a U.N. Millennium Development Goal ahead of schedule. Thus helping to shape pro-poor policies in Brazil. However, rising poverty and food insecurity threaten to undo this progress, underscoring the need for sustained grassroots intervention.

Marielle Franco Institute (IMF): Empowering

The brutal assassination of Marielle Franco (a Black, favela-born councilor and fearless human rights defender) in 2018 sent shockwaves throughout Brazil and became a galvanizing moment in the fight for social justice. Her legacy endures through the IMF, which has evolved into one of Brazil’s most vital organizations combating systemic oppression through three key pillars of action.

The Institute acts as a watchdog against police brutality against marginalized communities and advocates for climate justice, particularly for those living in the urban peripheries. The IMF offers programs and opportunities to marginalized groups that aid the development of their leadership skills and teach them how to exercise their political rights. This multifaceted approach demonstrates how the Institute goes beyond traditional activism, building an entire ecosystem for structural change.

Looking Forward

Grassroots initiatives such as the UNMP, Pastoral da Criança and the IMF exemplify how organized communities can influence pro-poor policies in Brazil. Their achievements illustrate that change is achievable when marginalized voices lead. Nevertheless, Brazil’s shifting poverty rates highlight the vulnerability of these advancements.

Ongoing progress necessitates grassroots activism and a steadfast commitment from the government toward equity. These movements demonstrate that the quest for justice is ongoing, but it is a struggle that can be won.

– Emilia Bartle

Emilia is based in Watford, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Spain Leads Infant Health Breakthrough Against RSV Infections

rsv infectionsSpain has emerged as a global leader in protecting infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), launching a successful immunization campaign that dramatically reduced hospitalizations and intensive care admissions. According to Salut, the campaign cut ICU admissions by 90% and hospitalizations by 87%, while the overall number of RSV infections dropped by 68.9%.

In 2022, the European Union (EU) authorized the use of nirsevimab, the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to prevent lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV in newborns and infants during their first exposure to the virus. Carlos Rodrigo, clinical director of pediatrics at Germans Trias I Pujol Hospital in Badalona, praised the campaign’s acceptance rate. “The population’s acceptance rate was very high, as shown by the 87.7% coverage in Catalonia,” Rodrigo said. “If not surpassed, the expectations have been completely fulfilled.” Children under 6 months of age carry the highest risk and economic burden from RSV infections in Spain, making early prevention efforts especially critical.

Understanding RSV and Its Global Impact

RSV stands as one of the most common childhood infections and ranks as a leading cause of hospitalization in children under 5. Most children contract the virus by the age of 2. For infants and toddlers, RSV can cause serious symptoms, including breathing difficulties, low oxygen levels and dehydration. The virus plays a major role in global morbidity and mortality among children by driving epidemics of acute lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Recognizing this impact, Spain introduced its monoclonal antibody as a proactive measure to prevent severe RSV infections in infants and reduce strain on health care systems.

How Spain’s Monoclonal Antibody Strategy Works

Unlike vaccines that train the immune system over time, monoclonal antibodies like nirsevimab deliver immediate protection. This quality makes them especially useful during an infant’s first RSV season, when timely immunity matters most. Rodrigo emphasized the breakthrough: “The success of the measure is so evident that this year many other countries—such as the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (U.K.), Germany and Italy—will surely adopt it. The antibody is very well tolerated and the results are among the most spectacular ever seen in medicine.” He likened Spain’s RSV antibody rollout to historic breakthroughs such as penicillin or the polio vaccine. “It’s a huge, spectacular success,” he added, “a saving of suffering for parents and babies and of very high costs for the health care system.”

Building a Blueprint for Global Infant Health

Spain’s RSV prevention campaign offers valuable lessons for health policymakers worldwide. To replicate its success, health systems may need to plan proactively, ensure supply chains and implement targeted infant immunization strategies. Monoclonal antibodies may become key tools for protecting vulnerable populations, not only in Spain but worldwide. By prioritizing infant health and embracing innovative tools, Spain has made a significant leap forward in health care. Its model shows that with foresight and coordination, countries could reduce hospitalizations, protect children and ease the financial strain on health care systems.

– Abirame Shanthakumar

Abirame is based in Ontario, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Child Sponsorships in Malaysia

child sponsorships malaysiaMalaysia, known for its bewitching terrain of rainforest, beaches and mountains, also struggles with its overwhelmingly increasing poverty. Since 2020, COVID-19 has worsened conditions for children living in extreme poverty. Around 72,000 children under 15 live in disheartening conditions that do not meet their basic needs, such as access to education, abuse, sexual exploitation and much more. Due to the virus, absolute poverty has increased by 8.4%, compared to a 5.6% increase in 2019. However, the insurmountable hardships children face in the nation can be reduced through powerful child sponsorships.

Child sponsorship is a charitable practice that allows individuals to provide financial support to a child, often in a developing country. Programs like these can lead to improvements in health and opportunities. The children get basic needs that they usually do not have; this breaks them out of a cycle of poverty and offers a flourishing future ahead. They foster so much support from their sponsor family by gaining clean water, nutritious food, and access to a proper education. For a child living in poverty in Malaysia, these organizations can greatly improve the quality of their lives with long-term support. These are the top child sponsorships in Malaysia.

Dignity For Children

Dignity for Children Foundation is an NGO that targets undereducated, poor children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The initiative began in 1998, and its learning center now has more than 2,000 students ranging from 4-19 years old and began with only 20.

Its numerous support programs, varying from lessons in agriculture to creating businesses for underprivileged kids, lay the foundation for a participant’s successful future. Sponsoring a child is how the organization runs, providing them with its abundant amenities. Since the beginning of Dignity for Children, the organization has helped change 12,000 lives by setting up a future that was seemingly impossible for these children.

World Vision Malaysia

World Vision Malaysia has granted 80,000 people clean water and improved literacy among 15,000 children. The impacts of sponsoring a child are interwoven into the program, revealing how a sponsored 8-year-old girl made it to university and how a little boy living through the aftermath of the Korean War became a sponsor after being sponsored. Indeed, these compelling efforts deservedly placed World Vision as one of the top child sponsorships in Malaysia.

BRCR Malaysia

The BRDB Rotary Children’s Residence (BRCR) in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, is a long-term care facility dedicated to supporting underprivileged and at-risk children in Malaysia. Established through a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur Diraja and BRDB, BRCR provides a safe, multiracial, and multicultural home for children, emphasizing character development, education, and life skills. The residence currently cares for 65 children and relies entirely on public donations to sustain its operations.

The BRCR’s Sponsor A Child (SAC) program, launched in 2020, supports the most vulnerable children by providing them with full-time child protection, counselling and nutritious meals. The organization focuses on nurturing children until they reach employment. Contribution to the program gives a child a second chance in life.

Child Sponsorships in Malaysia

Individually, each of the top child sponsorships in Malaysia provides essentials for underprivileged children that might have never received them if it were not for these programs. World Vision Malaysia, Dignity for Children and BRCR all empower children intellectually through improved access to healthcare and education. They gain external support that they weren’t born with, and create an unbreakable bond between the sponsor and child.

– Kassandra Ticas

Kassandra is based in Gardner, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Operation Smile in Panama: Changing Lives

Operation Smile in panamaPanama is a beautiful country that connects North and South America. Known for its tropical rainforests, beaches and home to the world-famous Panama Canal, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Although these features bring in tourism and allow for global trade, this country’s economy is full of contradictions. However, Operation Smile is endeavoring to combat.

While Panama City is a bustling metropolis full of international trade, the wealth gap is desperately wide, with many Panamanians who live in rural areas living in extreme poverty. The rural and indigenous communities of Panama lack access to clean water, education and, most prevalently, health care. The Panama health crisis affects many, but one of the less addressed issues is the lack of available medical resources for those born with cleft palates.

Cleft Palates

A cleft palate is a condition where a gap in the roof of a baby’s mouth doesn’t fully close during fetal development. Affecting one in 700 children worldwide, children born with a cleft palate often experience severe difficulties eating. Without access to reconstructive surgery early on in life, this condition can swiftly leave a child more susceptible to infection, malnutrition and in some severe cases, starvation.

However, with 94% of children born with cleft palates coming from low-income backgrounds, this life-changing surgery is simply unobtainable due to the health care poverty that is widespread around Panama. Many families in rural Panama have little to no access to a doctor. They often cannot afford the surgery even if it were available.

How Operation Smile Is Helping

Since 1991, dedicated Operation Smile volunteers, including surgeons, nurses and speech therapists, have travelled across Panama to deliver free and life-changing surgeries to more than 3,000 children. Behind every operation is a network of professionals that aid in bridging the gap in health care within Panama’s most impoverished communities.

In addition to performing surgeries, the Operation Smile team provides a complete package of support, from dentistry and orthodontics to nutrition and speech therapy. These volunteers are vital in ensuring that these children have access to medical and emotional support, ensuring that patients go on to heal from their surgery and thrive into healthy adults.

The Story of Laura Alvarez

One of the most inspiring stories of an Operation Smile volunteer comes from Laura Alvarez. As a Panamanian woman, born with a cleft palate, she has made it her life’s ambition to help others born with the same condition. Although Alvarez could access surgery for her condition, she understood the importance of making medical care available across Panama, where her journey with Operation Smile began.

Alvarez recalls the struggles of growing up with a cleft palate, stating, “After I turned 10 years old, some classmates pointed out how I spoke strangely and looked different from them. ‘You look like a pig,’ they said. These cruel comments made me feel ashamed of myself.” With a first-hand understanding of the issue, Alvarez began working for the organization and soon traveled internationally to speak at the Latin America in Action (LEA) conference.

Conclusion

Operation Smile is bridging the health care gap in Panama by providing free, life-changing surgeries to needy children. The organization delivers critical care through dedicated volunteers and inspires long-term change in communities affected by health poverty.

– Abbey G Malin

Abbey is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 4 in Ghana: Improving Education Access

SDG 4 in GhanaOften referred to as the gateway to Africa, Ghana has been a beacon of hope to other African countries and continues to make strides in all major sectors. However, that hope is bleak, especially in rural and underserved communities with regard to SDG 4 in Ghana. For example, many children have difficulty accessing education due to having to travel long distances or they have to abandon school to go to work. Children brave enough to pursue their educational dreams often study in dilapidated buildings, trek for miles through dangerous terrains and do so with little to no reading or studying materials.

Education in Ghana

According to a 2022 report by the World Bank, UNESCO and other organizations, nearly 53% of 10-year-old Ghanaian children cannot read and understand a simple story. Teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and limited access to learning materials remain persistent obstacles. Updates on SDG 4 in Ghana hint that gender disparities still affect educational attainment, particularly among girls in rural areas. Factors such as early marriage, menstruation-related absenteeism and domestic responsibilities often push girls out of school.

For more than two decades, Ghana, through government initiatives and support from NGOs has worked hard to achieve near-universal primary school enrollment. Around 70,000 out-of-school children being reintegrated through a nationwide education initiative supported by the Ghanaian government and its development partners. Their stories reflect a broader national commitment: ensuring every child in Ghana receives quality education.

This ambition aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education, which Ghana continues to pursue through legal reforms, public-private partnerships and community-led efforts. Despite funding pressures and pandemic disruption, the country has made notable strides since 2020. 

The Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill

One of the biggest policy shifts on the horizon is the Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill introduced in 2024 by Ghana’s Ministry of Education to give legal backing to the provision of free and compulsory education at the senior high school level. While the free SHS policy has existed since 2017, passed into law will make it a constitutional right, securing access for future generations. Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his final State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Jan. 3, 2025, praised the transformative impact of the initiative.

“We have transformed education, and there can never be a reversal of the fact that 5.7 million young adults have gained access to secondary education, who would otherwise not have had the opportunity but for Free Senior High / Technical and Vocational Education and Training (SHS/TVET),” he stated. However, Fact-Check Ghana fact checked this statement and adjusted its number of beneficiaries to 3.2 million in total. With institutions such as the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) calling for the suspension of the Free SHS policy, its impact still remains significant for many families that have tremendously benefited since its inception. 

“I never thought my daughter would finish high school,” says Efua, a mother of four in the Central Region. “But because of Free SHS, she’s now writing her WASSCE exams.”

An analysis by Africa Education Watch on the financial burden and implementation of the Free SHS Policy revealed that between the 2017/2018 and 2023/2024 academic years, a total of GH¢12.88 billion went toward the policy, averaging GH¢1.84 billion annually. 

Initiatives To Improve Education Access

Efforts to address SDG 4 in Ghana has involved the introduction of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act (2020) to strengthen oversight of schools by creating bodies like the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA). As of January 2024, all pre-tertiary schools are now required to register with NaSIA, improving accountability and educational standards.

On Feb. 27, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced the introduction of the No-Fee Stress Policy, which will remove tertiary admission fees for all students, while persons with disabilities (PWDs) will receive full tuition-free education throughout their studies.

Delivering a nation address on May 7, 2025, he noted that his government was taking concrete steps to implement the policy, allocating GH¢452 million to cover academic facility user fees for 156,294 first-year students across the country for the 2025 academic year.

 Ghana has also finalized an Inclusive Education Policy, supported by UNICEF, which promotes learning access for children with disabilities. More than 1,500 teachers have been trained in inclusive, gender-responsive teaching practices.

Yet, challenges remain. Despite these reforms, education spending has dropped from 4.3% of GDP in 2020 to just 3.1% in 2023, below the UNESCO-recommended minimum. Advocates argue that sustainable investment is essential if Ghana is to meet its SDG 4 targets by 2030.

Investments in Education in Ghana

On Feb. 21, 2025, Ghana launched a $2.23 million Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grant in collaboration with UNICEF to build institutional capacity and improve policy planning and accountability in the education system. The grant, which took effect in January 2025, is expected to end in December 2027.

Previous efforts like the Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) helped more than half a million students transition into higher education, with targeted scholarships for rural girls. SEIP demonstrated that data-driven, donor-supported models can effectively bridge educational gaps.

Public-private collaborations have also taken root. For example, the “Communities of Excellence” initiative, funded by the Jacobs Foundation, is building localized learning ecosystems in rural districts. More than 23,000 students, half of them girls, now benefit from personalized, differentiated instruction.

Grassroots Efforts

Efforts toward SDG 4 in Ghana are increasing at the grassroots level as nonprofits continue to fill gaps and champion vulnerable learners. In 2023, Plan International Ghana supported more than 28,000 children across 66 communities, providing school supplies, scholarships and teacher training. In Volta and Oti, Plan International’s efforts equipped 46 schools with new desks and delivered thousands of textbooks.

Girls’ education, a vital piece of SDG 4, is receiving focused attention. UNICEF’s Undaunted Women Support Project empowered nearly 15,000 girls across five rural districts, combining academic support, mentorship and the provision of sanitary supplies. One participant, 15-year-old Rita, credits the program for “changing her path” after nearly dropping out due to menstruation-related stigma and poverty.

During the pandemic, Ghana’s Back-to-School campaign helped reintegrate pregnant girls and young mothers through community advocacy and new national guidelines, reinforcing that motherhood should not end a girl’s education. “Without the Back-to-School Campaign, I may have never returned to school after childbirth. I am grateful for the support from my parents and teachers, which helped me resume my studies. I am now on track to becoming a nurse” Ernestina a participant.

Looking Ahead

Addressing SDG 4 in Ghana is complex. Legislation is progressing, partnerships are thriving and NGOs are stepping up where state resources fall short. But funding gaps and learning disparities still challenge long-term gains.

As the world watches, Ghana’s evolving model, rooted in legal reform, community action and cross-sector collaboration, offers valuable lessons for nations pursuing education for all.

– Dela Michel 

Dela is based in Rockville, MD, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash