Archive for category: Education

Information and stories on education.

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4 Ways Bangladesh is Combating Poverty

Bangladesh is Combating Poverty
Bangladesh is a lush South Asian country that some presume to be developing slowly along with other areas of South and Southeast Asia. In fact, the opposite is true: Bangladesh is a beautiful blueprint for how to build a country and lift citizens out of poverty. Its GDP has grown the most out of any country in the last 10 years, and it has cut the number of people living below the national poverty line in half from 2000 to 2016. While it is an amazing success story, 35 million people are still living below the poverty line and the country must continue to use an arsenal of poverty-fighting initiatives to eliminate poverty in Bangladesh. Here are four ways Bangladesh is combating poverty.

Fighting for Breath 

In the 1970s, with help from The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), Bangladesh slashed child mortality. By identifying diarrhea as the leading cause of child deaths and then widely administering Oral Rehydration therapy, it helped reduce the death rate from 180 in 1,000 to 53 in 1,000 by 2011. 

However, child mortality has continued in Bangladesh, and Pneumonia is a major killer, involved in one in five child deaths. Fighting for Breath is a global initiative that UNICEF spearheaded to eliminate pneumonia deaths in Bangladesh. By working to get Bangladesh up to global health standards (in terms of government spending and quality of care) as well as targeting underlying causes such as poor drinking water and sanitation, Fighting for Breath saves lives and stops child mortality and poverty. 

BRAC

As mentioned above, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee is a global NGO now operating as simply BRAC. Since its masterful health initiative in the 70s, it pioneered the Graduation Program in Bangladesh, which has four goals: meeting basic needs, income generation, social empowerment and financial support and savings. As of 2022, it has used this model to help 2.1 million households out of extreme poverty in Bangladesh alone. 

BRAC operates under the philosophy that “people should be the subject, not the object of development programs.” Those ideals have helped them combat poverty in Bangladesh and across the globe. 

Fostering Education

A key pillar in reducing global poverty is widespread education, and Bangladesh is no stranger to this facet. Within a decade, Bangladesh has made incredible strides in education. An astounding 98% of elementary-aged children are receiving formal education. Also, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), “The country has achieved…gender parity in equal access to education.” 

Although Bangladesh still struggles with equitable education for minority populations, there are USAID programs in place to tackle this issue. A chief aim is to promote awareness for minorities and people with disabilities. USAID further fought poverty with education by creating 100 classroom-based libraries in 2022. 

How Bangladesh is Combating Poverty With a Booming Economy

A major facet that has Bangladesh on pace to exit the U.N.’s Least Developed Countries List by 2026 is its expanding economy. A strong garment and textile industry and a growing energy sector have uplifted people from poverty. Textiles comprise 80% of the country’s exports and employ 4 million people. Additionally, 100% of Bangladesh’s population has access to electricity. Agriculture has also been a backbone to alleviating poverty, reducing the poverty rate by almost 70% within five years. Support from the World Bank to modernize 1.8 million agricultural houses also displays how a growing Bangladesh has mitigated poverty. The economy did take substantial hits from the COVID-19 pandemic, but its strong economy and fast-growing sectors have been pillars of making a difference. 

Looking forward, there are still many steps to eliminate poverty besides the other efforts Bangladesh is combating poverty with, but the country paints a resilient success story in how to present a continued effort to reduce poverty.

– Aditya Arora
Photo: Flickr

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Burger King’s Fight Against Poverty

Burger King’s Fight Against PovertyBurger King is a world-renowned fast food restaurant known for the Whopper and the 2-for-$6 deal. In poverty relief circles, however, Burger King is known for its successful non-profit — the Burger King Foundation.

The Burger King Foundation’s Mission — Education

The Burger King Foundation’s first mission is expanding access to education to traditionally uneducated groups who cannot afford it. The Burger King Scholars program, funded by Burger King franchises, awards scholarships to students across North America in order to increase education among low socioeconomic groups and level the playing field of access to higher education. Since 2000, more than $55 million worth of scholarships have been awarded to nearly 50,000 students.

In an interview with Impacting Our Future, Amanda Israel, the executive director of the Burger King Foundation, explained that student loan debt is one of the biggest barriers to higher education. Therefore, grants and scholarships like those of the Burger King Scholars program are immensely helpful in equalizing educational opportunities and offering underprivileged students the chance to build a successful future. Because of Burger King Scholars grants, nearly 50,000 students have earned the chance to attend a post-secondary institution and break the cycle of educational underprivilege. In the interview, Israel emphasizes the importance of higher education in reducing poverty by claiming that higher education has the power to reduce inequality and bolster a nation’s economic growth.

In addition to scholarships given to students in North America, the Burger King Foundation supports literacy projects around the world. Over 200 projects, including building libraries and schools in rural communities, have been completed by the foundation. In Asia and Africa alone, the Burger King Foundation has supported the growth of Room to Read programs that teach more than 1,000 students to read. According to the U.N., literacy is crucial to ensure the stability and growth of a poor nation, so increasing literacy rates among children is an excellent tool in the fight against poverty.

The Burger King Foundation’s Mission — Emergency Relief

The second mission of the Burger King Foundation is to support Burger King employees through immediate emergencies. The foundation does this by offering grants to Burger King employees and their families after some sort of emergency has occurred. An emergency could be anything like the death of a close friend or relative, a natural disaster, a medical emergency or another unforeseen circumstance that causes monetary distress. These grants are as high as $4,500 and help to support people through what can be an expensive and difficult time.

Since its creation, the emergency fund has granted $2.6 million to Burger King employees in need across 30 countries on six continents. This widespread emergency relief helps to soften poverty’s hold on damaged communities, like those in the wake of brutal natural disasters and guarantees a smoother recovery for struggling families.

The Burger King Foundation’s Impact on Global Poverty

Because of its education and relief-focused missions, the Burger King Foundation indirectly relieves poverty around the world.

Between scholarships and emergency grants alone, Burger King has donated nearly $65 million to thousands of individuals across dozens of countries. However, its effects are broadened by its partnerships with other non-profits and support of educational projects like Room to Read.

Burger King Foundation’s poverty-fighting belief that “through education you can explore your full potential and live life your way” demonstrates the fundamental goal of all of the foundation’s actions: Education and relief help a person achieve more than they could have otherwise, thereby building stability and growth around him and eventually lifting him out of poverty.

How You Can Support Burger King’s Fight Against Poverty

Anyone can support Burger King’s fight against poverty by making a monetary donation online or attending a Burger King Foundation event. Events include annual conventions, golf outings and more.

Burger King’s two-faceted approach to poverty relief is helping thousands of people around the world. It is helping to equalize education and support its employees amidst times of financial need, all of which have a positive impact on fighting global poverty.

– Suzanne Ackley
Photo: Fickr

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Study Abroad Scholarships Address Issues of Developing Countries

Abroad ScholarshipsEducation remains one of the most influential and longstanding resources in ending global poverty. Higher education institutions are increasingly reaching beyond borders, offering abroad scholarships to students from developing nations. Through study-abroad scholarships, students from developing countries are equipped with the skills and knowledge to address poverty-related issues in their home countries. With more than 700 million people living in extreme poverty globally as of the end of 2020, addressing these issues appears to be imperative.

Education Endangered

In developing countries like those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), tertiary education such as college and university is a privilege, not a right. Furthermore, as of 2020, only 9.4% of secondary education graduates in SSA enrolled in any form of tertiary education. This is almost 30% below the global average and 60% below that of the U.K.

Deprivation of education all too often goes hand in hand with broader poverty. In 2018, an estimated 40% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population lived below the poverty line of $1.90 a day as estimated by the World Bank.

This deficit carries significant repercussions. The tertiary education system primarily generates professionals equipped with the expertise and skills to navigate political, corporate and economic systems effectively.

The absence of these professionals significantly complicates the task of sub-Saharan African nations in constructing a financial and political infrastructure resilient enough to withstand the challenges of the global landscape. Indeed, a 1991 World Bank Report highlighted this as one of the major hurdles facing these nations in their developmental journey. Regrettably, this challenge persists even today.

Saved By the Scholarship

In our increasingly globalized world, prestigious universities worldwide are recognizing exceptional talents that do not need train tickets but air miles to reach their campuses. Academic promise deserving of encouragement and backing blossoms from Kibera, Kenya, to Dharavi, India — the talent that scholarships can nurture to its full potential.

In response to this trend, numerous independent organizations and government-funded educational institutions have introduced scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate studies, particularly targeting individuals from developing nations. Some of these scholarships encompass comprehensive support, including funding for travel and accommodation.

The Saïd Foundation

One prominent illustration of this trend is the Saïd Foundation, which has been awarding scholarships and educational opportunities for master’s degree programs in the U.K. since 1984. The foundation’s primary mission revolves around fostering the progress of the Middle East by empowering individuals through advanced education at the master’s level.

By affording outstanding individuals from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine the chance to cultivate the skills needed to become pioneers in various fields, ranging from international development to neuroscience, the Saïd Foundation paves the way for these extraordinary individuals to return to their home countries and lead transformative changes.

Saïd Scholars have initiated substantial positive transformations at the very core of social, political and economic structures. For instance, Ambassador Husam Zomlot, who completed a doctorate in International Political Economy from SOAS University of London in 2000 with support from the Saïd Foundation, exemplifies the impact of such scholarships. His LinkedIn profile attests, “The combination of scholarship and practice has given Dr. Zomlot an edge in conducting scholarly and policy-oriented research in the area of international peace and security, with a focus on the Middle East. His work centers on international interventions in conflict and post-conflict zones.”

After founding the Birzeit School of Government, working as an economist with the Palestine Policy Research Institute, and serving as the Strategic Affairs Advisor to the Palestinian President, Zomlot currently holds the position of Head of the Palestinian Mission to the U.K.

Furthermore, in addition to facilitating long-term transformations in developing nations, study-abroad scholarships confer significant benefits upon the countries and institutions that make these scholarships possible. By supporting groundbreaking research and pioneering initiatives aimed at addressing global poverty, guided by individuals who have firsthand experience with this issue, these nations and institutions solidify their status as leaders in both economic and academic development on the global stage.

The Cambridge-Africa Scholarship

The Cambridge-Africa Scholarship has funded a cohort of five African scholars each year since 2014. As with the Saïd Foundation, the focus of the scholarship is to fund those working on projects designed around positive impacts on their home countries. There is also a strong focus on relevance to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals; 17 goals related to tackling global poverty by 2030.

As such, this study-abroad scholarship has enabled recipients to make research strides in several fields that will positively benefit issues plaguing the African continent. For instance, terrorism and specific diseases.

For example, South-African-born Nikita Hiralal’s contributions to countering Islamic State cyberjihad through a postgraduate thesis as part of the 2020-2021 Cambridge-Africa Scholarship cohort, and Ghanaian Mark Asare Owusu’s research as a 2021-2022 Cambridge-Africa Scholar into the epidemiology and control of meningitis in his home country, speaking to the World Health Organization’s objective to defeat meningitis by 2030.

It appears that these scholarships are only the start of a deeply valuable and widely beneficial dialogue between nations across the globe. This dialogue is the beginning of a conversation that remains expansive and ongoing. A conversation that articulates education as a global institution built on equal access and aspiration, valuing countries not by economic output or political circumstance, but by innovation, ideas and intelligence. And it is study-abroad scholarships that allow such intelligence to make a real difference.

Graduates return to developing countries to tackle issues of poverty, sustainable development and education, inspiring economic and political connections and new markets by enhancing the standing of such nations on the global stage and introducing new ways of solving old problems. As such, scholarships prove an invaluable resource for a better world.

– Izzy Grout
Photo: Unsplash

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Education Technology Solutions: Bridging the Global Education Gap

Education TechnologyAs the world continues to grapple with persistent inequalities in access to quality education, the emergence of innovative education technology (EdTech) offers renewed hope for bridging the global education gap. Socioeconomic disparities and geographical barriers continue to undermine the universal right to education, leaving a vast number of children and youth out of school. EdTech solutions, including diverse initiatives such as open online courses and interactive digital learning platforms, have begun to demonstrate their potential to make education more accessible and widen the scope of high-quality learning opportunities across the globe.

The Global Education Gap: EdTech as a Solution

According to UNESCO, more than 258 million children and youth were out of school in 2019. This figure represents a significant hindrance to global development, worsening both poverty and inequality. Therefore, bridging this gap is an urgent global priority that demands immediate and comprehensive interventions.

In response to this pressing need, EdTech has emerged as a potential game-changer for education across the globe. These technologies include an array of educational initiatives ranging from open online courses to interactive digital learning platforms. Not only do these platforms make learning more engaging and personalized, but they also hold the potential to make education more accessible. In overcoming physical, social and economic barriers, bridging the education gap becomes more attainable.

The Interplay of EdTech and Poverty Alleviation

Beyond its potential in education, EdTech is playing a crucial role in poverty reduction. When efficiently incorporated into educational systems, technology can empower individuals and communities, ultimately enabling social mobility. The World Bank affirms that EdTech can foster economic transformations by shifting toward knowledge-based models. These models are not only more sustainable but also foster equitable growth in the long run. 

Ensuring Inclusive Adoption of EdTech

While the adoption of education technology is rapidly gaining momentum, it’s crucial to ensure that these advances do not inadvertently exacerbate existing inequalities. To maximize the potential benefits of EdTech, there is a pressing need for a coordinated, holistic approach. Governments, NGOs and private sectors must collaborate to ensure that these technologies are accessible and beneficial to all learners, preventing the emergence of a digital divide in education.

EdTech in Action

Taking the digital leap, programs like Samsung’s Smart Class are playing a pivotal role in rural India. Samsung India’s initiative provides classrooms with Wi-Fi and necessary training for teachers to effectively employ advanced digital tools like interactive Smartboards, laptops and tablets. The result is a noteworthy increase in student engagement and comfort with technology. On the African continent, two significant projects, BraceKids and Africa Code Week, are introducing coding to hundreds of thousands of children. These programs provide programming language workshops, equipping young minds with important digital skills for the future.

Efforts are also underway to promote diversity in tech education. Nonprofits like Rails Girls, founded in Finland, offer worldwide training in basic programming, sketching and prototyping to encourage women to engage with technology. Another example of this is with the Ministries of Education, which is exploring virtual reality (VR) for classrooms, globally. In Singapore, the Rails Girls is partnering with a local company to create virtual field trips, meant to supplement, not replace, traditional learning. Early results show students’ insights have improved with this tool. These initiatives exemplify the potential of EdTech in bridging the global education gap. By demonstrating how technology can help facilitate education and provide quality learning opportunities, these efforts shine a light on the path toward a more digitally inclusive educational future.

Education technology holds remarkable potential to bridge the global education gap and to fundamentally reshape the future of learning. However, the journey to realizing this vision is complex and requires meticulous planning and execution. Successfully rising to the challenge opens the path for EdTech to revolutionize the education landscape, extend learning opportunities to those previously left behind and make a significant contribution to global poverty alleviation efforts.

– Mari Caitlin Riggles 
Photo: Flickr

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How Poverty Shapes Schooling in Zimbabwe

Schooling in Zimbabwe
Poverty shapes schooling in Zimbabwe, determining aspects ranging from the quality of education to the duration of study. In essence, students with greater wealth are more likely to attain secondary education and experience transformative outcomes compared to their less affluent peers.

Wealth Inequality Between Urban and Rural Children

Urban Zimbabwean households typically possess more wealth than their rural counterparts. In 2021, according to the World Bank, 55.5% of rural Zimbabweans lived below the national food poverty line in contrast to only 15.5% of urban Zimbabweans. This stark 40% contrast underscores significant wealth inequality, a gap evident in the disparity between urban and rural education.

How Wealth Inequality Affects Schooling in Zimbabwe

Poor communities do not have the infrastructure, staff or resources to maintain quality learning facilities. Families within these communities grapple with daily hardships stemming from living below the poverty line, rendering tasks like funding teacher salaries, constructing safe schools and providing essential amenities such as water and electricity difficult. Put simply, the quality of rural Zimbabwe’s education pales in comparison to its urban counterpart due to the extreme poverty prevalent in rural areas.

Educational Inequalities

Given that rural regions hold the highest poverty rates, rural Zimbabweans disproportionately bear the brunt of educational disadvantages.

For instance, urban children are more likely to successfully complete all educational levels compared to their rural counterparts. In Zimbabwe, urban children achieve a primary school completion rate of 97% whereas rural children achieve a rate of only 86%, falling below the national average, according to UNICEF’s MICS-EAGLE (Education Analysis for Global Learning and Equity) Zimbabwe Fact Sheet of 2021.

Throughout secondary school, rural students consistently lag nearly 10% or more behind the national average in terms of completion rates while urban students consistently surpass the national average.

Completion rates for each individual school level remain consistently low for rural students. Of all students failing to complete a specific educational level, two-thirds are from rural backgrounds, the 2021 MICS-EAGLE Zimbabwe Education Fact Sheet notes.

According to Teach for Zimbabwe, unfortunately, even the rural children who do complete school typically achieve lower academic results compared to children in urban areas. More than two-thirds of Zimbabwean children lack access to quality and comprehensive education, and as a result, there are “tens of thousands of students who cannot even read, write, or speak English after seven years of primary education,” Teach for Zimbabwe says on its website. A lack of trained educators, unideal learning environments and insufficient resources and funding impact the quality of education.

Teach for Zimbabwe’s Role in Schooling in Zimbabwe

Founded in 2018, Teach for Zimbabwe is a branch of the global nonprofit, Teach for All, that focuses on bringing diverse, innovative education to disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe. The organization accomplishes this mission through educators: qualified teachers from diverse backgrounds are trained, compensated and stationed in needy local districts. These educators commit to a two-year term at the school, a period during which both teachers and students become better equipped to navigate Zimbabwe’s education system.

Given that many rural, impoverished regions lack the means to hire and sustain teachers, numerous rural school districts lack educators in general or lack qualified educators. In June 2022, Zimbabwe faced a shortage of more than 25,000 teachers. Having highly qualified teachers in rural schools will elevate the quality of education for rural students, potentially impacting their academic outcomes and education completion rates.

Looking Ahead

The educational inequalities stemming from poverty significantly influence Zimbabwe’s schooling landscape. Two students who both complete primary school may experience vastly different outcomes as a result of the urban-rural divide. Organizations like Teach for Zimbabwe are paving the way for transformative change in rural Zimbabwean schools to allow for quality education that will enable students to reach their highest academic potential.

– Suzanne Ackley
Photo: Flickr

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5 Ways to Combat Communicable Diseases in Developing Countries

Communicable Diseases In Developing Countries
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), communicable diseases are those that are spread from person to person through “microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.” These diseases, also known as infectious diseases, disproportionately impact developing countries. Based on 2001 data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 98.6% of the burden of infectious diseases arose in low and middle-income countries. Some of the most common communicable diseases burdening developing countries are tuberculosis, respiratory tract infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS and most recently, COVID-19.

Although the global burden of communicable diseases reduced by about 44% from 1990 to 2019, there is still a long way to go. Fortunately, there are numerous techniques to combat communicable diseases and alleviate the burden on underdeveloped nations across the globe. Here are five ways to combat communicable diseases in developing countries.

5 Ways to Combat Communicable Diseases in Developing Countries

  1. Promoting Hand-Washing: Although it seems simple, hand-washing is a highly effective way of hindering the spread of disease and is not always as commonly practiced as it may seem. About 2.3 billion people around the world do not have access to hand-washing facilities. This may be due to a lack of infrastructure or lack of access to clean, sanitized water sources. Hand-washing is one of the cheapest public health interventions available to solve this issue. In fact, WHO states that, with less than one dollar per year invested, “all households in the world’s 46 least developed countries could have hand-washing facilities by 2030.” This money could go toward building facilities in houses and hospitals or educating people on the importance of hand-washing.
  2. Improving Housing: Many people in developing countries have to live in unsafe conditions. As mentioned earlier, many households lack facilities with clean water, as well as other necessities like proper waste disposal and heating. These conditions create breeding grounds for bacteria and insects or rodents that carry diseases. Many people also must live in crowded houses due to their low income. Crowding makes it easier for respiratory illnesses like tuberculosis to spread. Addressing these issues could include creating temporary housing facilities for the homeless that are better regulated and sanitary. A more long-term solution would be building houses that are sustainable, affordable and safe. It is worth mentioning that the construction of new housing should involve the community at all stages and be adaptable to the local environment.
  3. Providing Vaccines: With the recent spread of COVID-19, the importance of vaccines is clearer than ever. According to the UN, only around 1% of people in low-income countries received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 2022. This contrasts with the 60.18% of people in high-income countries that received at least one dose. Not only does vaccine inequity prevent developing countries from slowing the spread of communicable diseases, but it also affects countries economically. 2022 data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows that Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan lost 19.87 billion in GDP due to unequal access to vaccines. Without vaccination, lockdowns last longer, and people continue to get sick, forcing them to miss work. The European Investment Bank is working to establish local facilities for the development of vaccines. A new facility at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal is an example of how developing countries can become more self-reliant in the production of vaccines.
  4. Access to Treatment: While preventing the spread of diseases is the first priority, there is also a need for better access to treatment once people contract the diseases. Health care often does not receive enough funding in developing countries which leads to more negative health outcomes. These areas face a lack of equipment, doctors and proper training. In addition, many people are unable to pay for treatment or live in remote areas. Christophe Paquet, Head of Health & Social Protection for the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), notes that the health care sector is “highly dependent on international aid.” The AFD is supporting health care programs in developing countries by renovating facilities, providing access to training for nurses and reducing costs incurred by procedures. For example, they currently cover 80% of the cost of a Cesarean section, a procedure that can save many women’s lives.
  5. Providing Education: In order for any intervention to be successful in the long run, it should be coupled with educational efforts. One contributor to the communicable disease burden in developing countries is a lack of understanding of how these diseases spread and how efforts can prevent them. Having accessible, easy-to-understand information about public health allows individuals to recognize signs of illness and take preventative measures. More general education may also promote longer lifespans and more positive outcomes. Reaching tertiary education, in particular, reduces infant mortality and improves child vaccination rates.

Looking Ahead

These are just a few methods that can help ease the burden of communicable diseases on low-income populations. The U.S. can do its part by providing aid and funding for health-related interventions, much like the AFD in France. Alongside aid, education should be at the center of all of these methods to empower countries to fight these diseases locally.

– Yesenia Aguilera
Photo: Flickr

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Learning to Read in Ghana: Adult Literacy Programs

Adult Literacy Programs in GhanaGhana, a large West African country along the Atlantic Ocean coast, has long grappled with the challenge of illiteracy. An estimated 42% of the adult population in the country is illiterate, with women facing a higher rate of around 50%, compared to 33% among men. As a result, there is a pressing need for Adult Literacy Programs in Ghana.

ALPs and Education

Adult Literacy Programs, or ALPs, serve exactly the function the name suggests. These programs help adults learn how to read. However, literacy is much more than understanding words or numbers on a page. It serves an important societal function that allows people to interact with the world around them. ALPs can help increase skills among populations struggling with underdeveloped education, poor health and labor market participation.

These programs seek to provide adults with a well-rounded education that they may apply to their daily lives. Programs that utilize creative approaches rather than traditional classroom pedagogy are often more successful. For example, modern advances such as cell phones help adults retain new, relevant information.

History of ALPs in Ghana

Adult Literacy Programs in Ghana have a long history, stretching back to the time before the nation was independent. In the early 18th century, the Dutch Reformed Church introduced local language adult literacy work to Ghana, then the Gold Coast. After the Second World War, in 1948, the British Colonial Government officially adopted literacy as a component of the national education system and set out to establish similar programs. Since gaining independence in 1957, Ghana has embarked on several literacy-based initiatives beyond the scope of colonizing powers.

Within the past 50 years, the state has instituted a variety of educational acts, such as the Education Act of 1961 and the 1992 Constitution, which established education as a basic right for all citizens. Similarly, the state partnered with several NGOs and instituted programs such as the Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education. Current estimates suggest that the youth and adult literacy rates are around 80% and 75% due to these programs.

Ghana’s National Functional Literacy Program (NFLP)

One such program is Ghana’s National Functional Literacy Program or the NFLP. It seeks to increase the national literacy rate, and defines a functionally literate person as “one who can engage in activities in which literacy is required for effective functioning of his/her…community and also for enabling him/her to continue to use reading, writing and calculation for his/her own and the community’s development.”

In classroom settings, adult Ghanaians learn reading, math and other complementary skills. Some classes are women or men only, while others are a mix of both. Studies have noted substantial gains in reading skills, but relatively weak writing and numeracy skills. Still, the NFLP has led to more labor market participation, greater income and generally more economic liberties for newly literate Ghanaians. One hypothesis for the NFLP’s notable success is its longer duration of 21 months, whereas many other ALPs tend to last for only nine.

The Literacy and Community Development Program

Another ALP in Ghana is the Literacy and Community Development Program, a literacy and socio-economic development program which targets adults 15 and above with little to no formal education. There are specific efforts that serve to accommodate vulnerable or marginalized groups such as women, youth, prison inmates, nomads and people living with disabilities. Pamoja Ghana launched this program officially, with financial and technical support from Action Aid Ghana (AAG).

Since its founding, numerous groups have been established across the entire country and currently, there are about 3,340 active participants. Adults and adolescents can learn basic literacy and life skills through this program, and many learners have even gone on to hold positions in district assemblies in their localities or have become elders in their various religions. Some younger participants who were forced out of school due to poverty or societal pressures were able to continue learning informally before eventually re-enrolling in formal school. Overall, this ALP has assisted many adult Ghanaians with learning to read, thus allowing them to interact with their communities in new and improved ways.

– Char Nieberding
Photo: Unsplash

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How Villages in Partnership Relieves Poverty in Malawi

Villages in Partnership is an organization that has assisted Malawi in its fight against poverty. More than 50% of the population in Malawi lived under the national poverty line in 2019, the World Bank notes. Villages in Partnership has contributed by providing electricity, wells to access clean water and many other basic necessities that the people of Malawi lack.

Infrastructure

During the rainy seasons, areas of Malawi easily become flooded, which makes it more difficult for the people of Malawi to travel from one place to another. Bridges allow students to get to school and allow people to access wells for clean water while allowing others to travel to health care centers and access goods and services. Villages of Partnership’s mission is to build more bridges to provide this crucial access to the people of Malawi.

Malawi is known for its lack of electricity. Less than 10% of the population of 18 million is connected to the electrical grid. And, access to electricity stands at just 1% for the 80% of people who live in rural areas.

Electricity is very important to the infrastructure of a country. In 2013, Villages of Partnership provided electricity to the village of Kaupe to power the maize mill. The mill makes flour, which is an important ingredient in the staple dish called nshima. Because of the electricity access, the mill can supply flour in minutes instead of producing it through hours of labor without electricity.

Food Security

Unlike countries like Congo, Malawi does not have rich soil. This forces farmers to depend on successful rainy seasons. However, the climate in Malawi is very unpredictable, and this often leads to food insecurity.

Villages in Partnership has created a solar irrigation technology for the farmers in Malawi. In 2020, the organization added a second site for this technology, which has created a water source for more than 70 farmers and families that are now able to depend on it.

Alongside that, Villages in Partnership also provides improved seed varieties and fertilizers to farmers to increase their crop yields and gives goats and chickens to families in need. The animals provide eggs and meat, which improves the food security of many families in Malawi.

Access to Water

In Malawi, 4 million people lack access to safe water, USAID reports. Along with that, only 6% of the population has the ability to access clean sanitation facilities. Unfortunately, this lack of access to clean water and sanitation can lead to disease and even death.

One of Villages in Partnership’s top priorities is providing accessible and safe water to villages that need it. In Malawi, women and girls are spending their time walking several miles to source clean water. Sometimes, the women source this water from contaminated rivers.

Many villages in Malawi have been hesitant to accept the option of building wells and donating land due to the time-consuming nature of the process. Nevertheless, since 2019, there has been significant progress in efforts to improve water accessibility in the town of Sakata. A total of 23 boreholes and 15 shallow wells have been dug, and many damaged wells have been repaired.

Villages in Partnership takes a proactive approach to addressing water scarcity issues in Malawi. Every year, it organizes the Water Walk, a global event that brings people together to understand the needs of Malawian villages and the significance of clean water. Participants in the Water Walk contribute to various initiatives, including providing solar irrigation, creating employment opportunities, and facilitating access to health care through the Khanda Health Center. The primary focus remains on raising funds to drill wells in Malawian villages.

Education

In 1994, the Malawi government initiated free primary education, providing a valuable opportunity for children to receive education at no cost. However, this move resulted in challenges such as overcrowded classrooms and insufficient supplies, leading to decreased educational quality and poor student performance.

Presently, Malawi faces low literacy rates, with only 65% of the population able to read or write, and limited access to secondary education, with one-third of students attending. For Sakata’s community, the percentage of people who have attended university is as low as one-tenth of 1%, highlighting the education system’s shortcomings.

Nonetheless, education remains a crucial pathway out of poverty. Recognizing this, Villages in Partnership supports 15 community-based childcare centers, acting as preschools to foster the mental, social and physical development of Malawian children.

Additionally, Villages in Partnership has undertaken projects like Chimpeni School, providing education to children who previously had limited access to schools. The organization also undertook the reconstruction of Sakata School after it began to deteriorate in 2016. These efforts aim to improve education opportunities and enhance the prospects of the Malawian community.

Looking Forward

Villages in Partnership is making a significant impact in Malawi by addressing key challenges such as infrastructure, food security, access to water and education. Through building bridges, providing electricity and implementing solar irrigation technology, the organization is enhancing the lives of people in need. By focusing on clean water initiatives and supporting educational opportunities, Villages in Partnership is empowering communities and contributing to the fight against poverty in Malawi.

– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Pixabay

Eliminating Child Poverty in Croatia: Successful Efforts

Child Poverty in CroatiaCroatia is located in the southeast of Europe within the Balkan Peninsula and the U.S. recognized its independence in 1992. Child poverty in Croatia has been a significant issue in the country for quite some time and many families felt the negative impacts of the six-year recession that struck in 2008.

Socio-Political Background

The Croatian government worked with the EU, eventually becoming a member in 2013. Since then, the quality of life has shifted for Croatians altogether, and the country has worked hard to promote a way for everyone to grow and succeed equally. The EU has developed plans specifically for children and their caregivers in hopes that no child is denied any opportunities based on social and economic status. The government of Croatia is also prioritizing the alleviation of child poverty through various initiatives.

In 2010, the percentage of Croatians under 18 years old living below the poverty line had reached a record high, according to the World Bank. Since then, the country has put many efforts in place to reduce these numbers. In the years moving forward, Croatians experienced a steady decrease in the percentage of those living under the poverty line.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a slight increase in poverty levels, but the numbers have since reduced substantially. Not only has the country reduced all types of poverty, but the specific attention to children has helped give Croatian children and their families better opportunities. As of 2022, 18.4% of the population of Croatians under the age of 18 faced the risk of poverty and social exclusion.

The European Child Guarantee

Adopted in 2021, The European Child Guarantee aims to ensure every child in Europe has access to the same opportunities in life. It focuses on children who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. This includes free education and health care as well as sufficient housing and healthy nutrition.

The Croatian government has explicitly been working toward decreasing the poverty rates among those under 18 years old. In the Croatian government’s plan, the aim is to address hidden costs within education and provide free meals at school. It is also a goal to provide health care services at home and housing allowances to foster-care families. The Croatian government also hopes to enhance the social mentoring system for caregivers in need. 

Croatia’s Child Guarantee National Action Plan is run by a committee assigned to ensure this plan is being properly implemented. The country encouraged children to participate in this planning process and share their opinions. The well-being of children has been a top priority within the government, which has been a huge factor in decreasing child poverty in Croatia. So far in four countries including Croatia, the program has reached more than 30,000 children and 16,000 caregivers.

EU Strategy on the Rights of a Child

In Europe, children’s rights have been a growing topic of discussion throughout the years. The EU Strategy on the Rights of a Child aims to ensure that children feel that they have rights within their country and don’t experience violence or exclusion. Like the European Child Guarantee, the plan included the input of more than 10,000 children.

Each year, Croatia holds an annual conference to track the successes of the rights of a child. In 2024, this strategy will be evaluated with the expectation that it has provided steady benefits and ensured that all children are being treated fairly, according to National Plan Overview.

Child Benefits

The economy in Croatia has seen its ups and downs during and after the pandemic. The country provided various stimulus packages over the past two years to alleviate pressures on families. It has also worked hard to help individuals obtain steady incomes. The government made loan programs more accessible to those in need and extended many loan repayment deadlines. Additionally, families can apply to receive a stipend for each child they are providing for. The amount awarded can continue every month until the child reaches adulthood.

Looking Ahead

Croatian authorities have made significant efforts to address poverty and prioritize the well-being of youth, particularly by targeting child poverty in Croatia. The implementation of the European Child Guarantee has played a crucial role in providing equal educational opportunities for all children, while also ensuring access to free education and healthcare. Child benefits have offered crucial support to parents in navigating the challenges of the post-pandemic economy. As a result of these government initiatives, child poverty rates in Croatia have shown a steady decline, and there is an expectation that this positive trend will continue in the future.

– Alesandra Cowardin
Photo: Wikimedia

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Using Smartphones to Address Global Illiteracy

Global IlliteracyThe impact of technology in the fight against global poverty is a subject of both positive and negative consequences. Nevertheless, numerous groups are harnessing the power of technology to drive progress toward the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. A prominent illustration is the utilization of smartphones to address global illiteracy. Curious Learning, an organization committed to promoting literacy through smartphones, is making noteworthy advancements in alleviating poverty for future generations.

The Importance of Literacy in Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Literacy serves as a crucial foundation for every aspect of a child’s life. As defined by UNESCO, literacy encompasses the ability to read, write, and interpret information, enabling children to understand the world around them and become educated individuals. Despite the progress so far, the World Literacy Foundation reports that there are still 750 million illiterate adults worldwide.

The link between global illiteracy and poverty operates in two directions. Poverty hampers children’s access to education and the resources needed to develop reading and writing skills. Challenges such as unaffordable school fees, early labor requirements or living in remote areas far from educational institutions hinder opportunities, particularly for children in rural areas of developing countries, leading to high rates of school absenteeism.

Conversely, the lack of literacy limits economic opportunities and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. UNESCO emphasizes that if all adults completed secondary education, 420 million individuals could escape poverty. Access to education equips individuals with literacy skills that open doors to better employment prospects and higher earnings. According to Curious Learning, each new level of literacy is associated with a 9.7% increase in earnings. The interplay between literacy and poverty creates a vicious cycle that persists across generations unless effectively addressed.

Curious Learning’s Fight Against Global Illiteracy

Curious Learning is at the forefront of efforts against poverty by tackling the issue of global illiteracy. The organization’s mission is to provide children worldwide with the necessary access to learn how to read. What sets Curious Learning apart is its unique approach. The organization localizes free reading apps in 69 languages and distributes them in countries like Nepal, India and Kenya. With more than 75 dedicated apps aimed at developing reading skills and reducing global illiteracy in children, Curious Learning has achieved global outreach.

As of 2021, Curious Learning has extended its reach to every country across the globe, with a specific focus on developing nations. South Asia, West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are regions characterized by alarmingly high illiteracy rates. Therefore, Curious Learning’s interventions are strategically concentrated in countries within these areas of greatest need. For instance, its work began with interventions in Ethiopia in 2011, followed by a World Bank study on literacy apps in Northern Nigeria in 2022. Both countries face significant illiteracy challenges, with rates of 50.9% and 40.4%, respectively, placing them among the top 20 countries with the highest illiteracy rates globally.

In line with technological advancements, digital literacy has been incorporated into the definition of literacy by UNESCO and other organizations. By introducing underserved children to reading through digital apps, Curious Learning addresses both reading skills and technological proficiency simultaneously, equipping children for success in the digital age.

The Apps

All of the apps that Curious Learning localizes and distributes are free to use, and this ensures accessibility. Here are a few of the organization’s apps that are making learning to read fun and engaging:

  • Feed The Monster: This game helps children learn letter names and sounds while collecting cute monsters as pets. It is available in over 50 languages, including Arabic, Ukrainian and Oluganda. The game is distributed in more than 50 languages including Arabic, Ukrainian and Oluganda.
  • Read With Akili- What Do You Like To Do?: Based on the children’s cartoon by the name of “Akili and Me”, this app is a learning program made for children in Africa. Children follow Akili, a 4-year-old from Tanzania and learn to read with three different levels of interactive content.
  • Chimple: Chimple encourages “self-directed early learning”.  The app is designed to take children from zero to basic literacy and numeracy.

The Impact

Curious Learning’s efforts proved successful in fighting illiteracy in developing countries. In a study done in collaboration with The World Bank and Middlesex University, published on August 3, 2022, Curious Learning tested the effectiveness of its apps in Northern Nigeria. Of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria has the most children unenrolled in schools at 10.5 million.

Households received a smartphone complete with the reading apps, Feed the Monster and the Global Digital Library and the researchers followed one child, ages 6 to 9 years old, from each family. The researchers implemented the apps along with aspirational videos as interventions for these children. Results of the interventions showed that children who received the interventions scored 42.5% fewer zeros on letter recognition.

The apps improved children’s literacy skills by 0.46 standard deviations and numeracy skills by 0.63 standard deviations. The intervention accomplished similar outcomes in twelve months as outcomes that took a whole five years of instruction in schools.

Curious Learning is committed to providing accessible and effective interventions to combat global illiteracy. Based on the organization’s statement on 2023 plans and goals, it plans to launch a global literacy league of people in various countries working to distribute literacy apps. It also aims to expand the scale of its programs in 30 countries with the highest numbers of illiteracy.

Smartphones and apps, like those developed by Curious Learning, have become powerful tools for breaking the cycle of global illiteracy and poverty. By providing accessible and engaging interventions, Curious Learning is making a significant impact on the lives of underserved children worldwide.

– Yesenia Aguilera
Photo: Unsplash