Archive for category: Education

Information and stories on education.

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Everything to Know About Poverty in Lebanon

Everything to Know About Poverty in Lebanon
It has been almost three years since Lebanon, previously labeled as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” began to slowly drown in poverty. As the ESCWA report stated, 82% of the Lebanese and non-Lebanese population lives in multidimensional poverty while 40% of them live in extreme multidimensional poverty. Those numbers result from an unprecedented economic crisis that started in October 2019 and kept on worsening with the COVID-19 outbreak, the Beirut Port explosion, the ongoing corruption and the war in Ukraine. Here is everything to know about poverty in Lebanon.

Health Care

One of the most important and dangerous symptoms of the poverty increase in Lebanon is the degradation of the health care system. The Lebanese lira has lost more than 90% of its value since 2019, making it impossible for many health care professionals (nurses and doctors) to live decently with their salaries, thus leading them to leave the country for better opportunities abroad. In addition to that, the country imports many medical care products and medicines, leading to a huge increase in their prices, making them unaffordable for many. Lebanon has the means to produce its drugs, an action that the actual government is encouraging while it still needs time before being fully implemented.

Public Utilities and Food Security

Another dimension to know about poverty in Lebanon is the lack of public utilities available to the people. The most famous, touching a majority of people, is the lack of electricity the state provides, forcing the Lebanese people to reach out to owners of private generators to have a few hours of electricity a day. However, this alternative has a considerable cost to Lebanese households. The fuel that powers the generators comes from abroad, requiring payments in USD and making it impossible for many to subscribe to this service amidst the severe economic crisis the country is going through.

A more recent issue Lebanon must face as a result of the War in Ukraine is the wheat crisis and with it a risk of shortage in bread production. The country imports more than 60% of its wheat from Ukraine. The urgency of this new issue also depends on the government’s capacity to secure enough quantities before any increase in the price of wheat.

Education

The numerous challenges Lebanon has faced over the past three years have also had their effect on education. According to UNICEF, 260,000 Lebanese children risk interrupting their education. Whether it is the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the students to stop their studies because of the lack of means to pursue them online, the destruction of some schools in Beirut after the port explosion and the economic crisis forcing some schools and universities to increase their tuitions making them unaffordable for many.

Efforts to Help Lebanon

A year ago, the World Bank approved a $246 million project to provide 147,000 households with basic needs as well as cash transfers. More recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached an agreement of $3 billion with the Lebanese government to help Lebanon get out of the crisis. On another note, local NGOs are playing an important role in helping people in need. Private actors are also taking initiatives to benefit from this situation, by enhancing made in Lebanon products, thus relying less on imports.

Hence, having presented everything to know about poverty in Lebanon, shows clearly that the country is not in its best phase. However, hope is always there with small steps taken towards a better future and especially with a young generation who is learning from the mistakes of the older. Helping Lebanon is therefore helping a country full of potential and showing once again that it will rise despite all.

– Youssef Yazbek
Photo: Flickr

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Landslide-Preventing Water Systems in Morocco

Water Systems
Since 2000, Morocco has been quite successful in reducing poverty and increasing its citizens’ quality of life. During those years, the poverty rate decreased by almost 30%. Despite significant progress, numerous challenges remain for rural Moroccan communities, one of which is rapid deforestation. In 2020 alone, the country lost approximately 3,62 hectares (more than 13 square miles) of forest cover. To address landslides as a consequence of deforestation, the High Atlas Foundation is building landslide-preventing water systems in Morocco.

Deforestation and Water Access in Morocco

As it is, Morocco is susceptible to droughts and deforestation exacerbates this issue as the removal of trees causes a decrease in soil moisture and leads to desertification. Deforestation can also diminish soil quality and lead to poorer crop yields. For communities in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, the reduction of forest area was also linked to landslides that destroyed crops and houses.

Another threat to rural Moroccan communities is a lack of access to water. In 2020, only 61% of rural Moroccan citizens had access to “safely managed drinking water services.” Around 77% had access to “at least basic drinking water services.” That leaves 23% of the rural population without a safe and reliable water source.

Experts agree that planting trees (reforestation) is a crucial step in combating these issues. Not only does it stabilize the water cycle and improve soil quality; the crops harvested from trees provide diversity to the agricultural economy and give an extra measure of economic security to nearby communities. If hypothetically, cereal crops were to fail in an area, farmers would still have crops to sell and eat.

The High Atlas Foundation

The High Atlas Foundation, commonly called HAF, has done admirable work when it comes to reforestation. The Foundation dedicates its time and resources primarily to reforestation efforts but also helps provide access to clean water throughout the High Atlas Mountains. In the 2020-2021 planting season, HAF oversaw the planting of more than 700,000 trees. Three new nurseries have undergone construction in the last year and a half, resulting in a total of 11 HAF-managed fruit tree nurseries throughout Morocco.

HAF’s efforts do not stop there. High Atlas Foundation has initiated projects that go above and beyond when it comes to efficiency; it has found a way to address three community threats with a single project. The Foundation noticed in 2011 that landslides and a lack of food/water security particularly plagued the Toubkal community and HAF devised a one-stop solution to assist the rural area as landslides led to crop destruction.

With carefully designed water systems, the High Atlas Foundation was able to provide clean water to 14 villages. The system, located on a hill, also steadied the area and provided the stability needed to prevent soil erosion and frequent landslides. Additionally, HAF planted fruit trees in the area, and through community training and newly possible irrigation, the Toubkal area was able to start producing new crops. The new nursery and reforestation will improve soil quality and eventually contribute to a healthier water cycle.

Looking Ahead

Morocco is well on its way to see victory over poverty; with help from NGOs like the High Atlas Foundation, reforestation is increasing food and water security for thousands. Due to innovative solutions like the stabilizing water systems, life in rural Moroccan communities is drastically improving.

– Mia Sharpe
Photo: Flickr

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Laos

Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Laos
Laos, known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is the only landlocked country located in Southeast Asia. It ranks as one of the region’s poorest countries, ranking 122 on the human development index. While the country has significantly reduced its poverty rate over the years, its people are still susceptible to falling back. Fortunately, various organizations as well as the United States government have continued to provide aid and elevate Lao society. Here are some innovations in poverty eradication in Laos, involving initiatives like UNICEF and the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF).

Modifications in Child Education

Low completion rates in education have always been an issue in Laos, especially in regions such as the southern province of Saravan. UNICEF with the support of the Hong Kong National Committee has been training pre-primary teachers on effective teaching, learning and class management that center around children. This includes the use of learning corners, creating through local sources and children learning while at play, as well as access to distributed materials, which include coloring books, picture books and storybooks. Around 50 pre-primary teachers that received this training for 2021-2022 benefitted more than 4,000 children in Saravan’s southern province.

Improved Access to Water and Hygiene

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF worked with 23 schools in the Sarvan region to construct water stations, toilets and promote water hygiene activities. The benefits for the children have led to children not having to defecate in open areas, practicing proper handwashing techniques with soap and students going home to teach their families proper handwashing techniques. All factors incentivize cleanliness, which lessens the likelihood of disease.

People-to-People Ties with the United States

With Barack Obama being the first sitting U.S. President to visit Laos, the U.S. and PDR continue to work together through a harsh historical legacy to open a new era of bilateral relations. Because 70% of Laos’ population is under 30, the United States is using exchange programs that include Humphrey, Fulbright, the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program and Obama’s Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) to engage and elevate the next generation of young leaders. English teaching programs will also emerge by introducing more teachers and language experts, improving English-language skills and increasing connectivity between younger generations of both countries.

The Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF)

The World Bank has been part of the PRF since its inception in 2002, empowering Lao villagers and improving village infrastructure. This has resulted in 165 villages establishing 915 Self Help Groups, totaling more than 10,000 members (85% female) between 2012 and 2019. About 15 of 23 pilot Village Nutrition Centers are still in operation as of 2016, allowing members to use products provided to continue making nutritious meals. PRF infrastructure activities have resulted in 87% of target households participating in voting on village priorities, with women identifying 90% of the subprojects. With such positive progress, preparations are currently underway to further improve both livelihood and nutrition activities.

As it stands, innovations in poverty eradication in Laos have been able to elevate the Lao people through historical hardship. While the country’s poverty rate has significantly decreased from 48% to 18% from 1993 to 2019, the implementation of further innovations in poverty eradication in Laos will need to continue, thus increasing the livelihood of the Lao people.

– Jerrett Phinney
Photo: Flickr

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Improving Education in the Sahel

Education in the Sahel
Quality education is one of the surest ways for an individual to escape poverty. However, when education is either inaccessible or of low quality, individuals have limited chances for social advancement. Such is the case in the Sahel region of Africa. Due in large part to regional instability and a lack of classroom resources, education in the Sahel currently yields some of the poorest learning outcomes in the world. Fortunately, a coalition of Sahelian governments recently came together and jointly declared their plans for education reform.

The Sahel

The Sahel is the transitional zone in Central Africa that separates the Sahara Desert from the tropical savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Within the Sahel region is the G5 Sahel, which is a developmental partnership between five Sahelian countries: Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso. Donors like the World Bank and the U.N. Development Programme have backed this alliance. The alliance stands as the focal point of international assistance in the region.

The Sahel is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world —  the G5 Sahelian countries have an average fertility rate of 5.6 births per woman, which is more than twice the global average of 2.4 births per woman. As a result, the Sahel produces almost 1 million school-age children annually, which places a massive strain on the region’s school systems and educational infrastructure.

Education in the Sahel

The state of education in the Sahel may appear promising at first glance: The number of Sahelian children enrolled in primary school rose by roughly 50% from 5.9 million in 2005 to 10.8 million in 2018 while the number of students enrolled in secondary school more than tripled from 1.4 million to 4.6 million Sahelian students. However, the current quality of learning outcomes is troubling. Only 60% of children complete primary education and roughly 90% of children cannot meet the minimum standards for reading and writing upon primary school completion.

These low levels of educational attainment are due in large part to a lack of classroom resources. According to the World Bank’s Sahel Education White Paper of 2021, only one in six primary school students in Mauritania have class textbooks. In Niger, the number drops to one out of 11 students. The G5 Sahel region also has one of the highest primary student-teacher ratios in the world at 41, which is roughly three times the average ratio in high-income countries. In such conditions, it is difficult for students to receive adequate attention and instruction.

Gender Inequality

Educational outcomes are the poorest for girls and women. Because four G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger) possess the world’s top 10 highest rates of child marriage, many female students from these nations drop out before they reach secondary school due to marriage and pregnancy. As a result, the G5 Sahel rate of adult female literacy is an abysmal 27.4% according to each country’s most recent data, compared to the global average of 83% in 2020.

Nouakchott Declaration on Education

Despite these grim circumstances, there is cause for optimism. In December 2021, the leaders of the Sahel countries convened in Mauritania’s capital of Nouakchott to discuss the current challenges in education. Here the nations signed the Nouakchott Declaration, which provides a framework for improving education in the Sahel. The Declaration consists of four main objectives:

  1. Support Teachers: Governments will work to equip teachers with the tools necessary for student success. This includes training programs, technology resources and renewed school curricula tailored to meet regional needs.
  2. Systematic Inspection: Governments will create independent systems to monitor school conditions and ensure improved learning outcomes. These systems will identify students at a high risk of dropout and will also promote gender inclusivity in the classroom.
  3. Increase the Education Budget: Governments will allocate more funds to their schools. Around 3% of Sahel’s GDP goes toward education, which is lower than the sub-Saharan average of 4%. By 2030, the Sahel must at least meet this 4% standard.
  4. Prioritize Out-of-School Children: Government outreach programs will help strengthen the basic literacy and numeracy skills of young people who have already left the education system. This will help them find proper employment and at least partially compensate them for their lack of opportunity during early childhood.

Looking Ahead

While current conditions are grim, the countries of the Sahel are beginning to increase their investments in education and the Nouakchott Declaration signals an important first step in ensuring equitable access to quality education and social advancement across the region.

– Jack Leist
Photo: Flickr

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Lifelong Learning and Poverty Alleviation

Lifelong Learning and Poverty
Lifelong learning is the ongoing development of personal, social, civil and employment-related skills, an endeavor continuing throughout life. The acquisition of learning past one’s initial education is becoming more important in finding new opportunities. High-skill jobs are becoming more prevalent in many parts of the world, creating a larger demand for skilled workers. For this reason, lifelong learning can be a powerful tool in addressing poverty across nations. By 2030, 600 million people will be living in poverty, according to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The United Nations acknowledges the role lifelong learning can play in dwindling this statistic through its inclusion of lifelong learning in the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To that end, here are three ways that lifelong learning can address poverty.

3 Ways Lifelong Learning Addresses Poverty

  1. Financial Literacy: Financial literacy is the ability to apply various skills to effectively manage one’s finances. It can be a strong tool against poverty as families with this knowledge can take advantage of helpful tax credits and public programs. Unfortunately, this is a skill that seems to be lacking even in developed nations. Through a survey, the OECD found that only 52.5% of respondents across 12 member nations had sufficient financial knowledge. Financial literacy has only become more important as people have more choices regarding retirement planning, investment strategies and tax programs. Focusing on initiatives that support the acquisition of these skills for all ages can be an effective strategy to address this issue. A 2007 study by Peng et al shows that personal finance lessons enhanced rates of savings and investment knowledge “among high school and college students.” Financial literacy classes with a focus on lifelong learning and poverty relief strategies could help reduce the economic pressure many families face.
  2. Health Literacy: Health literacy is “the ability to process and understand basic information needed to make appropriate health decisions.” People with poor health literacy skills are more likely to have poor physical health in general. In addition, these people “receive less preventative care,” struggle to manage chronic illnesses and have higher rates of hospitalization. People who do not manage their health are more likely to require costly medical services in the future for avoidable ailments. Maintaining one’s health is important to be able to participate in the labor market. Those living in poverty can rarely afford to miss out on employment. Knowledge on health and self-care must be accessible among people of all ages and literacy skills are a major factor in accessing these competencies. Children who are born to literate mothers are 50% more likely to live beyond the age of five than children of women who are illiterate. A study in Indonesia revealed a 19% vaccination rate among the children of uneducated mothers in comparison to 68% among mothers with at least secondary level education. It is clear that health literacy is crucial in maintaining the health of the next generation.
  3. Income: Educational attainment closely links to income. Those with more education are likely to earn more than those with less education. Frequently, many find that their jobs do not provide the level of compensation necessary to meet their needs and those of their families. To find better employment opportunities, it is important to continually develop one’s skills and education. In fact, just one more year of education has the power to increase income by 10%, according to World Bank data. Despite this, many of those who would benefit the most from lifelong learning find it difficult to access these opportunities. A 2007 survey in Kenya revealed that 30% of individuals did not participate in literacy programs due to a lack of learning centers nearby. Programs promoting income growth must integrate lifelong learning and poverty relief solutions in an appealing and available manner to better support marginalized groups.

Looking Ahead

Lifelong learning opportunities can influence many areas of one’s life. In promoting education, it is important to remember that people can develop new skills at all stages of life regardless of age. Programs focusing on lifelong learning and poverty show promise in improving conditions for many global citizens.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez
Photo: Flickr

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6 Charities Improving Global Education

Charities Improving Global Education
Often in low-income nations, part of the leading factor of poverty is the lack of a quality and efficient system of global youth education. Here is some information about six charities improving global education in addition to why global education is important.

Why Global Education is So Important

Global education is important for one’s participation in day-to-day life and it can both prepare and empower children and young adults for their futures. From grade school to universities, their future jobs could be working and innovating inside the workforce, government, office space or many other places. Education is one of the largest factors that attribute to global poverty as more than 58 million children were not attending primary school even though they were old enough to attend school. Possible reasons children do not attend a schooling system are school tuition fees, lack of resources, crisis, conflict, gender inequality or child labor.

Studies have shown that when education is available and accessible, people have improved literacy rates and more opportunities to higher-paying jobs once they have completed their educational journey.

Charities around the world are essential for the construction and facilitation of schools in otherwise impoverished nations that have little access to educational resources. Recently, six charities have made strides to improve global education. Here are six charities improving global education.

6 Charities Improving Global Education

  1. Women’s Global Education Project: The Women’s Global Education Project began with the simple notion of how every child should have the opportunity to attend school and obtain a quality education. Since its development in 2004 in the Fatick Region of Senegal, 10,000 students received access to computers and libraries, 2,500 women attended adult literacy classes and reading test scores increased by 40% from 2015 to 2017. Currently, the Women’s Global Education Project has extended beyond schools to ending female genital mutilation, scholarships and another HQ in Kenya. Education for women is so important since there is a higher prevalence of illiterate young women than young men.
  2. ASML Foundation: As an independent Dutch charity, the ASML Foundation has served more than 50 countries and reached 800,000 children since ASML founded it in 2001. The ASML Foundation aims to enable inclusion and participation for young people through education. The Foundation operates from the Netherlands, Europe, Asia and North America by supporting projects that improve global education. The projects include “TechMeUp” from the Netherlands, “Girls Can Do IT!” in China and “Teach for Vietnam” in Vietnam. ASML’s projects and more promote global education for citizens in systems where education was not available.
  3. Theirworld: For 20 years, Theirworld has begun to end the global education crisis and unlock more opportunities and potential for the next generation of children. While reshaping the global mindset for education, teaching and development, Theirworld has engaged more than 11 million supporters, gained billions in funding for education for all and enabled more than four million children to attend schooling in just two decades. Part of Theirworld’s focus is to ensure children have a safe place to learn and that learning centers are free of avoidable emergencies, conflicts and discrimination against students. The students want nothing more than a quality education for the next generation at the forefront of the Foundation.
  4. Global Partnership for Education: The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is the largest global fund solely for boys and girls to have a strong future ahead of them. Working with 76 low-income countries, partner nations join after developing a though and complete education sector plan and show commitment to funding domestic education to receive grants given to the government for learning purposes. For the next four years, GPE will work with governments to increase a child’s availability to education, regardless of gender, location or family background.
  5. Schools for Children of the World: Schools for Children of the World (SCW) has focused on the renovation and construction of schools in Central America and Africa. With operations in the U.S., Honduras, Canada and Germany, workers and volunteers go to build or renovate schools for children who need them. In partnership with private, non-profit and public sectors at international levels, SCW can create a schoolhouse from the ground up to contribute to global education for all. Serving more than 21,000 students, SCW has continued to implement its services in 10 developing countries.
  6. Muslim Global Relief: While Muslim Global Relief provides meals and water for millions, their outreach also expands to education for orphans in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It provides the necessary materials for children such as textbooks and learning packets, trains teachers for professional support and provides hygienic solutions to school buildings. For more than 20 years, the Muslim Global Relief has been a huge factor in children’s lives going forward with education with a healthy and safe environment.

Concluding Thoughts

While many more charities arise to help contribute to global education, these have shown their dedication and proven it through their statistics provided. With an educated world, children will be able to decide the path they choose.

– Kyle Swingle
Photo: Flickr

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UNICEF’s Social Protection Programs in Eritrea

Social Protection Programs in Eritrea
Eritrea is an African country with an area size of 45,406 square miles, which is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Eritrea has a coastline on the Red Sea that shares maritime borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, bordering Eritrea is the East African countries of Sudan in the west and Ethiopia in the south. Ongoing challenges have led to UNICEF’s implementation of social protection programs in Eritrea, which aim to improve nutrition, health, education and more.

About Eritrea and UNICEF’s Work

Eritrea is a former Italian colony that Ethiopia annexed in 1952. It became a sovereign state in 1993 after a referendum. Eritrea has received the designation of Africa’s most secretive and repressive nation as it imposes restrictions on freedom of expression.

Eritrea operates under a unitary system of government with no legislature or independent judiciary. The country has been in conflict in the Tigray region with Ethiopia for more than three decades. The heightened crisis in the region has continued to push Eritreans into exile. In November 2000, more than 96,000 Eritreans including children fleeing the conflict were registered as refugees with an increased call for humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF has stepped up with an emergency relief effort to provide lifesaving services to support Eritreans. In 2020, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Italy and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) donated $6 million to UNICEF Eritrea’s Humanitarian Action for Children Fund. UNICEF in collaboration with the Government of Eritrea expeditiously utilized these resources in the provision of social protection programs in Eritrea for thousands of vulnerable Eritreans.

UNICEF’s Social Protection Programs in Eritrea

  • Nutrition. UNICEF procured life-saving medicines and supplements in 2020 to treat maternal health conditions and childhood nutrition concerns. More than 69,000 children younger than 5 years of age received treatment for malnutrition while about 250,000 children received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF distributed folic acid supplements to 170,000 expectant mothers and managed diarrhea-related conditions in 116,600 children. UNICEF procured 236 units of cold-chain technology to replace outdated equipment in Eritrea’s six regional facilities for effective storage of life-saving vaccines and inoculated more than 150 children against infectious diseases ranging from poliomyelitis to tuberculosis.
  • Health. UNICEF-led hygiene initiatives through the Community Sanitation program engaged 500 Eritreans in the production of sanitary kits and hygiene supplies. Approximately 12,000 hand sanitizers underwent distribution to more than five regional health centers while 20 disability centers and orphanages received 90 handwashing stations. UNICEF conducted mass media campaigns on public health awareness, sending out health information to about 500,000 Eritreans on effective hand washing and hygiene safety techniques. Home health training programs for 100 community health workers emerged, which aimed to meet the needs of children and pregnant women. The training programs led to a 10% decrease in infant mortality rates. The neonatal intensive care unit began in the Barentui region in 2019 as part of the community-based health program to cater to sick children. Health outcomes of more than 100 children have improved as a consequence of specialized health services in Eritrea.
  • Education. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted learning opportunities for children in Eritrea due to lockdown restrictions on public facilities. UNICEF, through the Mine-Risk Education program in schools, established 20 community education centers to provide learning opportunities in Eritrea to support 5,000 overage out-of-school children and provide training programs for 180 teachers. Educational supplies went to 7,220 vulnerable school children at the commencement of learning activities following the reopening of schools. Additionally, about 800 disabled children benefited from community-based rehabilitation services that UNICEF organized. The social services received support from community volunteers and behavioral health providers.
  • Cash Assistance. UNICEF coordinated disaster relief efforts for more than 5,000 Eritrean families. It mobilized resources to engage families in the production of household sanitary supplies at community rehabilitation centers while 494 vulnerable families obtained cash grants that benefited 2,000 children. The disaster response aimed to mitigate some of the socioeconomic effects caused by COVID-19. UNICEF coordinated efforts with the Eritrean government to provide welfare support and behavioral health services for about 500,000 families, including women and children.

Looking Ahead

UNICEF humanitarian interventions in Eritrea have been far-reaching and impactful but vulnerabilities from the Tigray conflict, harsh climatic conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic have created a significant humanitarian need with 1.2 million Eritreans experiencing poverty. Disruptions in supply chain platforms negatively impact food security in the country, thereby increasing child malnutrition concerns. UNICEF is requesting $13.7 million to meet the humanitarian needs of children in Eritrea in 2022. There is an urgent need to respond to the clarion call for humanitarian aid and support the people of Eritrea. The resources will provide and expand life-saving aid to this community and the vulnerable population within it.

– Sylvia Eimieho
Photo: Flickr

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5 Facts About the JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh

JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a South Asian country that encircles the Bay of Bengal. With 20.5% of the population living below the poverty line in 2019, community building is incredibly beneficial to the nation. The JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh is a youth movement that began in 2007 to provide improved education for future generations while encouraging citizens to get more involved in their communities to break the poverty cycle.

5 Facts About the JAAGO Foundation

  1. Origins: JAAGO Foundation began in a single room in the Rayer Bazar slum. In April 2007, Korvi Rakshand and a group of friends rented a room in the Rayer Bazar slum of Dhaka, Bangladesh, with a vision of improving the lives of the local youth. Now executive director of the JAAGO Foundation, Rakshand had previously worked in London as a marketing Assistant, student coordinator and event manager. However, he strived to do something more meaningful with his life to make a significant change in the world. From the single room, Rakshand and his friends began teaching 17 local children from the area. The very “first supporting project” of the JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh was a relief supply distribution in response to a flood that ravished the Rayer Bazar in 2007.
  2. Education: Education reform is a top goal of the organization. In 2022, about 98% of Bangladeshi “children of primary school age” are enrolled in schools in Bangladesh. However, many students have difficulty with basic reading skills. In spring 2018, a USAID-funded study in Bangladesh revealed that 44% of students who complete the first grade cannot “read their first word” and 27% of students completing the third grade could not “read with comprehension.” In addition, about “20% of all students drop out before completing fifth grade.” Quality education is essential to improving the economy of Bangladesh because most jobs require foundational skills, which many people lack if they do not receive proper schooling. The JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh has completed several projects that promote and encourage youth to complete their education to break cycles of poverty. The Future We Want program, running from December 2019 to May 2020, provided direct benefits to “320 youth participants” from four Bangladeshi districts. The project’s goal was to provide students with knowledge of “civic engagement, education and employment” while developing networks to prepare youth for the workforce. Participants connected with young leaders and experts who provided them with tools and knowledge to enhance their understanding of the importance of education and the future labor market. Four seminars taught students about employable skills, employment and entrepreneurship possibilities. The project also reached 500,000 individuals “through mass media and social media.”
  3. COVID-19: The organization works to reduce COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh. The JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh also aims to educate youth on reducing the spread of COVID-19. With nearly 2 million cases and more than 29,000 deaths in Bangladesh by March 15, 2022, efforts to decrease COVID-19 infections are crucial. JAAGO implemented the Apnar Mask Kothay project that ran from January 28, 2022, to January 31, 2022. For three days, 7,000 youth volunteers in 64 districts of Bangladesh worked to raise awareness of mask usage to combat the spread of COVID-19. Volunteers handed out masks and pamphlets about COVID-19 to citizens while debunking COVID-19 misconceptions in public spaces such as mosques, bus stops and streets. The volunteers reached around 1 million beneficiaries.
  4. Volunteer for Bangladesh: In 2011, the JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh pioneered a youth wing called Volunteer for Bangladesh with assistance from the U.S. Embassy. What began with just 500 volunteers has now skyrocketed to 40,000 registered volunteers who work in 56 districts of Bangladesh. Volunteer for Bangladesh aims to motivate youth to get involved with volunteerism and leadership that would positively impact their communities. Projects include Water and Sanitation for All, the Great Kindness Challenge and Child Rights UCD.
  5. Anyone Can Get Involved: Opportunities presented by the JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh are not exclusive to the people of Bangladesh. Those who are interested can donate to the welfare of underprivileged children of JAAGO. One can also sponsor a child for $27 a month and provide them with necessary school supplies and meals or register to become a volunteer.

The JAAGO Foundation in Bangladesh is paving the way for improved education and leadership opportunities for citizens. The organization’s work has seen success so far and will continue to benefit the country for future generations.

– Megan Quinn
Photo: Flickr

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Education Initiatives in Pakistan

Education Initiatives in Pakistan
Pakistan, a country of 220 million people, currently holds the “world’s second-highest number of out-of-school children,” according to UNICEF, equating to about 22.8 million children. Some factors that contribute to this high out-of-school rate are gender inequality, socioeconomic status and location of residency. USAID and UNICEF have implemented several education initiatives in Pakistan in recent years to help address the education crisis.

Pakistan’s Education Overview

According to a  study by Pak Alliance for Maths and Science based on data from the  Pakistan Social and Living Measurements Standards survey 2019-20 (PSLM), 32% of Pakistan’s children from age 5 to 16 years old are not in school. There are many reasons for this, such as gender norms, which assert that females’ sole roles should involve household chores and caregiving. Poverty also plays a role as many impoverished families simply cannot afford to send their children to school. Area of residency also factors in —  children who live in rural areas, such as the province of Balochistan, do not have access to a school within walking distance.

In addition to these factors, Pakistan’s education system faces several barriers that intensify the difficulty of completing a full education,  such as deteriorating school facilities that lack proper sanitation and electricity. In addition, underqualified teaching staff, widespread corruption and thousands of staff who do not show up for work leave children unable to receive a proper education.

USAID Initiatives

USAID has partnered with Pakistan’s government to increase access to education, especially for out-of-school children, and improve the quality of education in Pakistan overall. Given that the quality of teachers significantly impacts students’ education, USAID prioritizes the training of educators. In partnership with Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, USAID established “two professional teaching degree programs.”

USAID has also provided training to educators “on how to teach reading” to students using appealing and age-appropriate materials in local languages. USAID has also created libraries in thousands of Pakistani classrooms to encourage literacy. Since 2013, USAID has given training to “more than 46,000 teachers and school administrators.” USAID also prioritizes developing education policies that cater to “local needs,” which will ultimately improve community involvement and enrollment in schools.

Since its education partnership with Pakistan in 2013, USAID has constructed “17 faculties of education” for teacher training and “built or repaired more than 1,600 schools” throughout Pakistan. USAID’s assistance has benefited more than 2 million primary school students in Pakistan and “improved oral reading fluency for 26% of grade-two graduate students.” USAID also gave around 19,000 scholarships to outstanding students so they can “attend tertiary education.”

UNICEF Initiatives

Since 2016, UNICEF has committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children in Pakistan. The organization is helping to strengthen Pakistan’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) systems “to improve school readiness,” reduce dropout rates and encourage school completion. Children from impoverished and vulnerable communities will see the most benefits from these efforts.

UNICEF has committed to promoting educational awareness to parents about “early learning, the importance of on-time enrolment and the lack of social protection schemes,” which will help break down barriers to students completing their education. Lastly, UNICEF’s education initiatives in Pakistan promote discussions on the Pakistani government’s “education budgeting and public financing” to highlight areas in need of improvement that can help strengthen Pakistan’s education sector as a whole.

Looking Ahead

These initiatives are essential to improve Pakistan’s poverty rate, which stands at 39.3% as of 2021 because education is a proven path out of poverty. According to the Global Partnership for Education, 420 million people would rise out of poverty through secondary education and “one additional year of school can increase a woman’s earnings by up to 20%.”

The education initiatives in Pakistan have already begun to address the education crisis and will continue to do so in the coming years. These efforts will encourage more enrollments and give way to higher school completion rates despite the socio-economic disparities that many impoverished children face, which will ultimately reveal itself through economic growth in the nation and a broader job market.

– Isabella Elmasry
Photo: Flickr

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Gene-edited Crops to Enhance Food Security in China

Food Security in China
On January 24, 2022, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published new guidelines for the approval of gene-edited crops. These guidelines come amid an influx of measures “aimed at overhauling China’s seed industry” and ensuring the nation has the ability to provide enough food for its own people as the world’s largest population. Given the Chinese government’s strong investment in gene-editing, it is important to examine the impact of this technology on food security in China.

Barriers to Food Security in China

  • Limited Fertile Land: China has about “20% of the world’s population” to provide food with only 7% of arable land. In 2016, Beijing established a “red line” with the aim to set aside a minimum of “120 million hectares of arable land” for agricultural purposes. However, industrialization, urbanization and the growing preference for the cultivation of cash crops over grains and legumes have “accelerated the loss of agricultural land since then.” With soil fertility becoming increasingly poor, China is at the risk of falling below its red line.
  • Lack of Self-Sufficiency in Food Production: Greater self-sufficiency in grains, soybean and oil crops production is a policy priority for the Chinese government in efforts to maintain food security in China. For example, as of 2020, China has relied on imports to supply about 85% of its soybeans. While this has allowed China to stock up on other staples, such as rice, wheat and corn, many view the nation’s reliance on imported soybeans as a weakness for stability and food security in China. In 2021, “China imported a record 164.5 million tonnes of grain,” an 18.1% increase from 2020. China’s weak influence in global supply chains has caused its food self-sufficiency rate to decrease from 101.8% in 2000 to just 76.8% in 2020. This is a percentage experts predict will decline further to 65% by 2035. Also, the pandemic-induced setbacks for food exporting nations have heightened concerns about the reliance on imports for stability and food security in China. With the increasing demand for measures that allow for self-sufficiency and import diversification, the Chinese government has turned to gene editing for a breakthrough.

What is Gene Editing?

Simply put, gene editing is the altering of a plant’s genes to adjust or enhance its performance. Unlike its counterpart, gene modification, which introduces a foreign gene into a plant’s DNA, gene editing tweaks existing genes in plants to make genes more efficient.

The process involves the use of biological catalysts, such as “transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) and CRISPR/Cas systems” that can “be engineered to bind to any DNA sequence.” The main advantages of gene editing are affordability, precision and efficiency. With gene editing, plant breeders can achieve results comparable to traditional breeding methods but within a shorter period of time and “with greater precision than ever before.” In addition, gene editing can curb hunger and malnutrition by providing higher-yielding, nutritious crops that are resilient to pests, diseases and environmental changes, thus sustaining the agricultural economies of areas that rely on farming produce for both food security and income. In crop science, genome editing has shown the ability to create less sugary potatoes and “a soybean containing high levels of omega-3.”

China’s Gene Editing Guidelines

Although China has performed more extensive research on gene editing than any other country, none of the gene-altered crops have yet reached commercialization. However, the new guidelines may change that. The guidelines “stipulate that once gene-edited plants have completed pilot trials, a production certificate can be applied for, skipping the lengthy field trials required for the approval of a [genetically modified] plant.” This means that approval for a gene-edited plant could range from one to two years in comparison to about six years for genetically modified plants. The crop must “also pose no danger to the environment and China’s food security.” Researchers are confident that these new trial rules will significantly boost the “yields, taste and resilience” of crops, thereby strengthening food security in China.

Looking Ahead

In light of this, many researchers are actively working to research and develop a successful gene-edited crop. For example, Caixin Gao, a plant biologist and an employee of the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of Genetics and Development Biology, worked “on developing a strain of wheat that combats mildew since 2014.” Although Gao’s research team could remove the gene that “makes wheat prone to fungal growth,” the wheat’s post-editing growth faced stunting. However, since realizing that the issue stems from the inadequate repression of the sugar-producing gene, the researchers strongly believe that they have managed to isolate a high-yielding, fungal-resistant wheat strain. Therefore, this crop may be among the first to receive approval for commercialization. Overall, gene-edited crops show potential to enhance food security in China and across the world.

– Divine Adeniyi
Photo: Unsplash