Archive for category: Employment

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Everything To Know About Seasonal Poverty in Greece

Seasonal Poverty in GreeceEach year, Greece’s tourism season fuels the economy throughout the summer months. However, when the holiday crowds depart, the industry’s seasonal nature leaves workers vulnerable. Without stable income or job security, thousands face economic challenges once Greece’s resorts close for winter.

Amanda Williams, a tourist who visited Santorini in 2023, told The Borgen Project about a conversation she had with a waitress working at a local beach resort. The waitress described 16-hour shifts, six days a week, while her partner worked nights as a security guard at the same hotel. They barely saw each other or their two young children, yet she explained that they had no choice saying “I need to help my children.” The couple had to maintain this demanding routine so the money earned over summer could sustain them through the winter, when Santorini’s economy slows dramatically as resorts and restaurants temporarily close down. This is when seasonal poverty in Greece becomes most visible.

A Seasonal Economy

Tourism is Greece’s economic backbone, contributing between 28.5% and 34.3% of national GDP in 2023. On islands like Santorini and Mykonos, that dependence is even more extreme as the South Aegean region relies on tourism for an estimated 97.1% of its GDP.

According to official data, from October to November 2024, the number of international visitors arriving in Greece dropped by 62%. Most hotels, restaurants and tour operators shut their doors from November to March, forcing thousands of seasonal workers into unemployment.

Industry reports confirm that Greece’s tourist season runs from April through October, with the majority of arrivals concentrated between June and August. During those peak months, popular destinations like Santorini can see crowd densities estimated at 33 people per square meter. Yet, by winter, these same streets are empty, and the workers who once kept them alive face months without receiving any income or benefits, a defining feature of seasonal poverty in Greece.

The sharp divide between summer prosperity and winter hardship is visible in Greece’s poverty statistics. In 2024, 26.9% of Greece’s population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion, one of the highest rates in the European Union. Amongst children, the rate rises to 27.9%, meaning roughly one in four Greek children grow up in poverty.

This poverty is particularly severe on the islands, where import and transport costs inflate the cost of living. A survey found that 6.2% of Greek households reported skipping meals in the past year due to lack of money. When tourism stops, many families are left jobless and forced to rely entirely on their summer savings, stuck with rationing themselves and often running out long before spring returns.

Lower Wages Against Higher Costs

Seasonal employees in Greece typically earn the national minimum wage of €880 per month, compared with roughly €2,000 per month in the United Kingdom before tax. Although the cost of living in Greece is around 20% lower than in Britain, the wage gap means Greek workers face a significantly higher financial strain.

Greece’s tax system also deepens the disparity. Income is taxed 9% starting from the first euro earned, while in the U.K., workers pay no income tax until earning around £12,570 per year. With limited government support and no consistent child benefit programs, many Greek families depend entirely on what they earn during the tourist season.

Tourism’s rapid growth has also reshaped the housing market. Rising demand for short-term rentals has pushed up prices, making it harder for locals to find affordable homes. In Santorini, housing costs are increasing by 15%-25% in the past year alone.

Nikos Gouliomis, Secretary of ELME Corfu, has highlighted the growing financial strain on teachers as increasing rent prices on islands like Corfu now consume nearly “two thirds of a teacher’s salary.” Many are left with no choice but to sleep in their cars or on the beach while tourists occupy most available apartments and homes. This mirrors a broader national issue where housing prioritizes tourists over residents, displacing low-income workers and pushing essential community members such as our teachers, nurses and police, off the islands altogether.

A Seasonal Paradise

Greece is now ranked at third for the top holiday destinations in the world for Europeans, yet much of this prosperity bypasses the people who make tourism possible. For many, the end of the tourist season means the start of financial insecurity, reinforcing this cycle of seasonal poverty in Greece that affects families each year. Without steady income, social support or affordable housing, thousands of workers face winter in poverty while the resorts they serve remain desolate.

The Greek government has begun addressing some of these issues, introducing new regulations on short-term rental properties to prevent extreme housing inflation and launching initiatives like Social Consideration and Social Leasing to create 10,000 affordable housing units for low-income families. However, these efforts will need to go hand in hand with policies that expand unemployment support, introduce child benefits, and promote year-round employment, especially in regions dependent on tourism. Expanding winter tourism, investing in local industries, and improving worker protections could help stabilize income and reduce poverty among seasonal workers.

Emfasis is a nonprofit organization working to assist people experiencing extreme poverty and social exclusion across Greece. Starting in 2013, the organization maps unmet needs and delivers targeted assistance ranging from material support and counseling services to emergency humanitarian aid and capacity-building programs for long-term impact. Emfasis has documented rising economic precarity, including the fact that 83.9% of the population cannot cover an unexpected but essential expense of 410 euros. Through both immediate and preventive action, Emfasis aims to help individuals regain access to basic rights like housing, health and employment.

Looking Ahead

Greece’s islands continue to attract millions of tourists each year, but for many residents, financial stability remains out of reach once the tourist season ends. Organizations such as the Emfasis Foundation can help strengthen social protection systems and build a more sustainable future for Greece’s island communities, reducing seasonal poverty in Greece. 

– Daisy Winstone

Daisy is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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SDG 5 in Cuba: Updates on Gender Equality

SDG 5 in CubaThe United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to increase gender equality worldwide. SDG 5 seeks to improve women’s political representation, enhance women’s academic achievement, reduce gendered divisions of care and domestic labor and combat the violence and exploitation of women. This article will examine the implementation of SDG 5 in Cuba, highlighting successes and areas that require continued attention.

Women in Government

The Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) formed in 1960 to implement reforms following the revolution. The FMC continues to work towards achieving gender equality within the political and public spheres. According to the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichon, Cuba has made remarkable strides in gender equality; its parliament is one of only six governments worldwide to have achieved gender parity in its membership. As of 2024, women hold 55.74% of seats in Cuba’s parliament. This represents a nearly doubling of women’s parliamentary representation. A gendered power gap continues to exist for key government positions. For example, women hold only 18.5% of cabinet minister positions.

Education for Women

SDG 5 in Cuba has achieved significant successes in the realm of equitable education. Cuban women have achieved high levels of academic success with women reaching educational parity with their male peers in 2013. Today, Cuban women, on average, are more educated than men. Efforts to reform the National Education System during reviews in 2023 and 2024 worked to integrate education on gender-based discrimination and lack of equity in unpaid labor.

Maternal Health Care

The realm of women’s health care Cuba has made remarkable progress. Today, Cuba has among the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world. Cuba’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality have seen them collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Efforts to bolster health and better allocate resources have built more robust health screenings and statistics on maternal health. The integration of genetic counseling at all levels of care has helped health care providers and women gain insight into individual health needs. Current efforts have been aimed at rebuilding lost gains that have occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic where mortality rates increased.

President Raúl Castro’s speech at the 2015 global leaders meeting emphasized the need for continued work to achieve true equality, stating that “Political will is much needed to avoid turning the results obtained so far into our goals instead of making them a starting point and a pledge to achieve true equality for women.” Cuba demonstrates both the rapidity at which effective change can occur but also the resilience of the entrenched patriarchal culture, even with presence of women in the halls of power and ideological commitment towards at the highest echelons.

Gender Disparities in the Labor Force

According to U.N. Women, significant gendered disparities existed in terms of labor and security. According to the 2025 Sustainable Development report, despite ever-increasing academic achievement, gaps in labor force equity exist. Cuba falls short of the SDG target indicator 5.4, which aims for a more equitable gender balance in unpaid domestic and care work. Women and girls 15 and up spent 21% of their time on unpaid domestic and care work, nearly double the 12.5% of time spent by men. SDG 5 in Cuba faces challenges in addressing a significant labor gap. Women comprise 39.5% of Cuba’s labor force, while men comprise 60.5%.

Cuba’s economy has stagnated over the last half decade, a trend with negative impacts on women in the labor force. When economies struggle, women bear the brunt of the effects. During times of recession, women are forced out of the workforce. About 17.5% of women in Cuba are in vulnerable employment, lacking the safety nets that help absorb economic shocks. Cuban women are less likely than their male peers to be in vulnerable employment, but major reversals for job security have occurred for both men and women since 1991. To drive the achievement of SDG 5 and strengthen its social safety net, the Cuban government has extended maternity benefits to 15 months. Cuba has made efforts to reduce the strain of care on women by increasing in-home care support for severely disabled children.

Violence Against Women and Girls

SDG 5.2 aims to combat violence against women and girls in public and private spheres. Statistics from U.N. Women point to the continued resilience of patriarchal violence in Cuba with data indicating 4.6% of Cuban women aged 15-49 had experienced physical and or sexual violence from a partner in the last 12 months. 

In Cuba, legal frameworks protecting women are often stronger than enforcement. In September 2022, the country ratified a new Family and Penal code. These new codes have stronger protections for custody of children, and in cases of divorce, materially punish perpetrators. The penal code establishes harsher punishment for crimes based on gender. Still, common police inaction in events of abuse mean there is a substantial gap in the enforcement of robust legal codes.

Takeaways 

Cuba has seen great success in the achievement of SDG 5 in the realms of parliamentary representation, education, and health. Economic hardship means that critical gains in women’s compensation for labor are at risk. An enduring patriarchal culture means much progress remains in eliminating domestic violence. Work towards achieving SDG 5 in Cuba has been heterogeneous, demonstrating that progress on the Sustainable Development Goals requires continuous effort.

– Atticus Flanagan

Atticus is based in Cambridge, MA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Unsplash

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Paws for Progress: Commercialization of Voluntary Services

Commercialization of Voluntary ServicesThe bustling energy of Bangalore, India’s Silicon Valley, is famous for its tech hubs, vibrant culture and increasingly, its love for pets. As urban life accelerates, demanding long hours and challenging commutes, the city’s pet parents are searching for reliable, loving care for their canine companions. Consequently, new service-based markets emerge, providing unique avenues for employment, particularly for marginalized youth and women. The professionalization of pet care, notably dog walking, illustrates this phenomenon by transforming a casual chore into a formalized, skill-based livelihood and the commercialization of voluntary services

The Rise of the Professional Pet Care Economy

India’s burgeoning pet ownership, especially in Tier 1 cities, has created a significant market demand for reliable and professional pet services. With high-pressure work schedules and long commutes being common in cities like Bangalore, pet parents are increasingly seeking structured, trustworthy care for their dogs. This demand for safe and consistent dog walking services has professionalized the field, moving it beyond a purely informal arrangement to one supported by tech-enabled platforms and service quality standards.

This emerging pet care economy is highly compatible with the needs of the underemployed, including youth and women who may lack formal education credentials for traditional white-collar jobs. Numerous platforms and service providers now actively recruit and train individuals, often requiring minimal educational qualifications, sometimes even less than a 10th-grade completion, but emphasizing traits like reliability, punctuality and a genuine love for animals.

By offering flexible working hours, especially in the high-demand morning and evening slots, this employment model caters to students seeking part-time income or women looking for work that can be balanced with household responsibilities.

Professionalization Through Structured Training

The success of this unconventional livelihood relies on converting an informal activity into a reputable profession, primarily through systematic training and certification. Training programs instituted by service providers focus on three key areas to ensure a high-quality, trustworthy service. Trainees receive instruction on essential aspects of dog behavior, handling diverse breeds and basic pet first aid. This knowledge is critical for managing emergencies and building confidence in both the walker and the pet owner. There is emphasis on professional conduct, including adherence to scheduled walk times, clear communication with clients (often via app-based live updates and GPS tracking) and responsible clean-up of dog waste, which elevates the service’s perceived value. Workers are often paid commission-based or monthly salaries, with earnings potentially ranging from ₹10,000 to more than ₹30,000 per month, depending on commitment and location.

Social and Economic Empowerment

The impact of this phenomenon extends beyond mere financial transactions, offering a path to holistic empowerment for its workforce. Firstly, it offers an economic safety net; the high-demand, non-traditional nature of the work often results in hourly wages that are substantially better than those for comparable unskilled or manual labor jobs. Secondly, it provides a crucial boost to social capital and self-respect. The designation as a ‘certified’ or ‘professional’ dog walker, coupled with branded gear, gives workers a formal identity and status within the community. This recognition helps to dismantle pre-existing social barriers and instills a sense of pride in their contribution to the modern urban service sector.

Looking Ahead

The commercialization of voluntary services to a formalized profession—complete with training in canine behavior, safety protocols, and certified credentials—bestows a new sense of dignity and respect upon the workforce. These ‘professional dog walkers’ engage with the affluent urban society not as casual labor, but as skilled, reliable service providers, enhancing their self-esteem and public standing. For women, this employment not only provides a source of income but also an acceptable and safe avenue to move outside the home, build a professional identity and contribute visibly to the household’s financial well-being, thereby challenging traditional gender roles and fostering genuine empowerment.

– Syam Kumar

Syam is based in Bangalore, India and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Training Centers in Zimbabwe Are Empowering Youth

Vocational Training Centers in ZimbabweWhen Dorothy, a young woman from Hopley, a suburb of Harare, dropped out of school, she believed her chances at a stable future had ended. Jobs were scarce and her family struggled to make ends meet. But through a short vocational course offered under the USAID-GOAL Uplift II program, she learned baking, catering and entrepreneurship skills. Today, Dorothy runs a small but thriving baking business that supports her siblings – a testament to vocational education’s transformative power.

Her story mirrors a broader transformation happening at vocational training centers in Zimbabwe (VTCs), where thousands of young people are finding pathways out of unemployment through practical skills and innovation. Through public-private partnerships and industry-aligned curricula, such programs equip youth with the technical and entrepreneurial skills they need to boost employability and self-sufficiency.

A Nation Confronting Crisis

Zimbabwe’s economic challenges have been persistent and profound. High inflation, currency volatility and a weak investment climate have induced widespread downsizing and stifled job creation, particularly for youth. This is problematic in a country where 62% of the 15.9 million population are under 25. As formal employment opportunities disappear, informality has become pervasive. Today, 47.6% of those 15 to 24 years old do not have employment, education or training.

While Zimbabwe’s school enrollment rates are relatively high for sub-Saharan Africa, the education system still struggles with access, quality and inequality. Those with only early childhood education are almost completely excluded from the labor market. Even secondary school graduates often find themselves unable to secure employment in an economy that fails to provide adequate job-ready opportunities. This is the gap vocational education seeks to fill.

Education 5.0 and Vision 2030

Recognizing this, the government has placed vocational education at the center of its Vision 2030 development strategy. Through its Education 5.0 policy, learning is built on five pillars – teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialization – to link education directly with production. It emphasizes hands-on training that bridges the divide between education and employment.

According to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, more than 5,000 students graduated from VTCs in 2024 – many of them school dropouts or individuals previously excluded from formal education. Training in carpentry, garment construction, agriculture and catering provides tangible, income-generating skills while encouraging entrepreneurship. To this end, the government plans to establish a VTC in each administrative district, expanding access to locally relevant technical education.

Youth and Gender: Closing the Opportunity Gap

Zimbabwe’s youth unemployment rate remains among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, and young women bear the brunt. Social expectations, early marriage and limited access to credit or land make it harder for women to pursue economic independence.  

Vocational training centers in Zimbabwe now train women in trades once dominated by men – including welding, mechanics and electrical installation – while also expanding more traditional sectors like textiles, agriculture and hospitality. Young Africa Zimbabwe, for example, offers flexible, affordable courses with on-site childcare to support young mothers.

Yet, disparities persist. Female participation rates are high in VTCs like office management (92%) but drop to just 3.1% in mechanical engineering. Apprenticeships, which tend to lead to higher employment rates, remain male-dominated. Policymakers and educators therefore need to promote women’s participation in non-traditional fields and design targeted mentorship and scholarship programs.

Still, vocational education is about more than employment – it is about rebuilding confidence, fostering self-reliance and challenging the gender norms that have long constrained women’s economic participation.

Persistent Challenges

Despite notable progress, vocational training centers in Zimbabwe face significant barriers:

  • Funding and infrastructure gaps are acute. Zimbabwe’s public debt has constrained funding for vocational education, leaving VTCs with the smallest budget share in the education sector. Many centers lack modern equipment and qualified instructors, especially in rural areas.
  • Equity and access remain concerns. Formal VTCs largely exclude those who do not complete basic education or cannot afford tuition. Women, rural youth and those with disabilities are still under-represented in training and employment outcomes.
  • Fragmentation and weak coordination undermine the system. VTC programs fall under multiple ministries, creating confusion and inconsistent quality standards.
  • Social stigma still lingers. Colonial-era policies that privileged academic over technical education created the enduring perception that vocational training is only for those with lower academic ability.

The Role of NGOs and Private Partners

In the absence of sufficient public funding, NGOs and private institutions have stepped in with innovative approaches – with transformative results.

Young Africa Zimbabwe, with training centers in Harare and Chitungwiza, offers vocational training that targets out-of-school youth aged 16-25, with strong links to both the government and local businesses. Meanwhile, CAMFED Zimbabwe focuses on empowering young women through vocational skills training, start-up grants and mentorship. In Mudzi district, its support for women in a baobab processing plant increased their earnings fivefold through improved processing and marketing skills. These initiatives complement government efforts by embedding practical, gender-sensitive and community-driven approaches that bridge education and employment.

Dorothy’s story is one of many, but it captures a broader truth. Across Zimbabwe, vocational training centers are not just teaching trades, they are nurturing independence, restoring dignity and offering a lifeline to a generation too often defined by unemployment. With sustained investment, thoughtful reform and deepened collaboration between government and civil society, VTCs could become one of the most powerful engines for youth empowerment – and a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.  

– Caroline Sheehan

Caroline is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Good News and for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Training Centers in the Philippines

Vocational Training Centers in the PhilippinesRecent data from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) indicates a steady increase in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) enrollment from 2020 to 2024. Over the last five years, from 2020 to 2024, the TVET Sector in the Philippines has shown a “consistent upward trend” in both enrollment and graduation outcomes. During these five years, numerous TVET programs enrolled a “total of 6,549,726” Filipinos. Vocational education training centers in the Philippines are crucial for providing employable skills, reducing unemployment and creating new opportunities both domestically and internationally.

What Is Vocational Training?

Vocational training provides practical skills and information for specific jobs or trades, often through apprenticeships, technical schools or degree programs, while academic education focuses on theoretical knowledge. Today, the demand for vocational skills has never been higher. Approximately 94% of skilled trade workers report that their occupations are in demand among employers, while 89% claim they use modern technology.

History of Vocational Training in the Philippines

The Vocational Act of 1927 established vocational education training centers in the Philippines during the American colonial era. Subsequent laws, including Commonwealth Act No. 313 and Republic Act No. 3742, improved the system.

Also known as the “Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994,” the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC) and the Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE), were combined to become TESDA by Republic Act No. 7796. President Fidel V. Ramos signed it into law on August 25, 1994, combining efforts in both technical and vocational education training.

Role of TESDA

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the Philippines is crucial for managing technical education and skills development. It establishes national standards, regulates educational institutions and implements training programs to improve job readiness, promote social justice and meet global market demands. TESDA aims to provide quality technical education and certification programs to Filipinos, alleviate global poverty, create job opportunities and boost global competitiveness through technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

Types of Vocational Training Centers in the Philippines

There are six different types of vocational training centers in the Philippines, including government-run centers, TESDA training centers, local government initiatives, private institutions, accredited technical-vocational schools, industry-partnered training centers and community-based training.

TESDA Technology Institutions are made up of 125 schools, regional, provincial and specialized training schools across the country that provide direct training for TESDA. Examples of these training centers include the MFI Technological Institute, located in Pasig City and the Quickskills Training Center in Manila.

Courses and Programs Offered

TESDA offers a wide range of courses and programs to fulfill the demands of specific industries in the Philippines. It frequently provides courses in automotive, welding, electrical installation, caregiving, hospitality and information and communication technology (ICT). There are also new programs in renewable energy systems, animation, digital marketing and e-commerce. There is a complete list of available courses individuals can take on the TESDA website, ranging from 2D animation, all the way to health care-related courses such as nursing.

Poverty and Unemployment in the Philippines

Vocational education training centers in the Philippines can help break the cycle of poverty and unemployment by providing essential skills for better-paying formal jobs. Lack of education and skills leads to worse labor market outcomes, and these centers help individuals move beyond low-wage temporary jobs, improving employment and earnings potential.

The government is working to train Filipino workers for higher-skilled positions, such as in analytics and artificial intelligence, software development and security and business process management, through a new program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It aims to expand the number of formal jobs in the private sector by “an average of 600,000 to 700,000 jobs” per year.

Impact on Employment and the Economy

Vocational education training centers in the Philippines improve job outcomes by equipping students with in-demand skills, leading to graduates working in major industries like construction, hospitality and health care, which reduces unemployment and promotes small business growth and improves the economy as a whole.

According to TESDA’s 2022 Study on the Employment of TVET Graduates, the average employment rate for TVET graduates over the last five years is 74.76, which equates to about seven out of every 10 TVET graduates being employed at the time of the survey.

Challenges That Vocational Training Centers Face

Vocational education training centers in the Philippines face challenges like inadequate funding, outdated technology and inconsistent teaching quality, particularly in rural areas. Many consider technical-vocational education inferior to college degrees, hindering enrollment and accessibility.

The government is enhancing accessibility, relevance, and employment outcomes through TESDA initiatives like the Eight-Point Agenda and the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP), while promoting private sector engagement for better training programs.

Innovations and Technology

The Philippines is enhancing its vocational training through online courses, mobile labs and updated curricula in fields such as renewable energy and robotics, thereby closing the skills gap and preparing Filipinos for both domestic and international job markets.

By introducing innovative approaches such as welding simulation, robotics integration and computer-aided design, TESDA is preparing learners for industries that are being shifted by automation, artificial intelligence and digital transformation. TESDA has enrolled more than 5 million learners since 2022, with approximately 4.5 million graduates. Many of them have gained national certifications, which have helped them find jobs overseas.

Future of Vocational Training in the Philippines

The Philippines plans to enhance vocational training through public-private partnerships and technical-vocational programs in senior high school courses, focusing on digital tools and industry skills to make it a viable career option.

The National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) for 2023-2028 aims to offer Filipinos lifelong learning opportunities and innovative skills through future-ready TVET programs, improved higher education, partnerships with NGAs, technical-vocational institutions and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), such as universities and colleges.

TVET programs must strengthen their position as a vital access, inclusion and mobility vehicle in the country, creating economic opportunities for individuals experiencing poverty, geographical and cultural isolation and physical disadvantages. They should assist the transition to green, digital and knowledge economies, as well as advocate for flexible educational pathways and recognition of talents acquired outside of the classroom.

Conclusion

Vocational education training centers in the Philippines play an essential role in providing millions of Filipinos with important skills for today’s labor market. If the government, businesses and communities are able to work together to invest more resources, reduce stigma and increase access, every Filipino may be able to take advantage of these opportunities and contribute to the country’s development and economic growth.

– Katelyn Leano

Katelyn is based in Plainfield, IL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Higher Education in Libya

Higher Education in LibyaLibya is facing an unemployment crisis. In 2023, a United Nations report found that more than half (51.4%) of Libya’s 1.1 million youth, aged 15 to 24, were unemployed. One of the main barriers to employment noted in the report was inadequate skills, highlighting the poor state of higher education in Libya. Fortunately, higher education in Libya may be able to address the unemployment crisis.

The Mistake  

In 2011, the United States led NATO’s charge to oust Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s ruler, or Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution as he called himself. Five years later, the former President of the United States Barack Obama referred to the planning of this regime change – and the resulting devastation – as the ‘worst mistake’ of his presidency.

Since the overthrow and assassination of Gaddafi, hard times have hit Libya, even worse than under Gaddafi’s rule. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs, “an estimated 823,000 people, including 248,000 children, require humanitarian assistance.”

The dual issues of poverty and higher education in Libya are tightly intertwined. As UNICEF reported, “more than one-third of Libya’s children live in multi-dimensional poverty” and “about 1 in 10 households rely on child labor to survive.” With severe levels of poverty like these, almost one out of every five families in Libya have at least one child out of school.

Libya Today

Currently, Libya includes two parts, with the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) controlling the north west, and the Government of National Stability holding the north east.

The GNU receives support from the U.N. and multiple local militias. Libya’s House of Representatives installed the GNS and the Libyan National Army backs the government. The GNU holds about one-third of the north, including Tripoli, the country’s capital, while the GNS controls the remaining two-thirds. The rest of the country is largely unpopulated.

Libya’s post-revolution political instability, with its complex and changing list of governing bodies, political parties and militias has included groups who profit off of the country’s vast migrant population through slave markets. In 2021, an estimated 47,000 people in Libya were enslaved.

Higher Education in Libya

While higher education in Libya may be severely underreported, there is no question that there are issues. The 2011 research paper, “Higher education in Libya, system under stress,” outlines many of the areas in which universities are lacking, including:

  • Resources to support programs
  • Strategic planning, and the ability to plan for, short-term objectives
  • Academic leaders to shape and steer the education system
  • Relationships between universities and labor markets
  • Quality assurance

The GNU’s Plan

Aiming to tackle Libya’s high youth unemployment rate, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, a department of the GNU, has recently come up with a 10-year blueprint to reform the country’s higher education sector through increased international involvement.

Announced on October 2nd, the plan aims to build up Libya’s universities through investment and assistance. As Maghrebi.org explains, “a key component of the strategy includes promoting international partnerships with major academic institutions, encouraging knowledge exchange and sharing of expertise.”

The GNU also plans to invest more in scientific research, utilize grants from regional organizations and establish more Ph.D. programs to further diversify the country’s job market. 

This education road map is meant to work in tandem with the Ministry of Economy and Trade’s new Entrepreneurs Skills and Solutions Project which “is focused on equipping students and graduates with practical skills in the modern green and blue economy, in addition to aligning their education with current and future labour market demands to create a more coherent link between study and employment.”

The Skills and Solutions Project was announced on September 29, a few days prior to the higher education strategy. In a speech, Economy Minister Mohamed Al-Hwej emphasized “the role of universities and academics in implementing the project…and developing educational curricula.”

Will it Work?

But can the GNU’s strategy actually uplift Libya’s youth? Only time will tell, but as Mustafa M. Elfakhri, Director of Graduate Studies at Libyan International Medical University, explains, multiple sweeping reforms are necessary to promote quality and sustainability within the country’s higher education sphere. These include:

  • Strategic Planning
  • Reforming Governance
  • Quality Improvement Plan
  • Controlled Growth
  • Resources Investment
  • Curriculum and Competencies Matching
  • Enhance Scientific Research
  • Reform Legislation
  • Student Motivation

While the GNU’s 10-year initiative does seem to be a step in the right direction, with a clear focus on enhanced scientific research, curriculum and competencies matching and resources investments, others categories seem underdiscussed. The strategy seems vague as well, leaving room for potential mistakes, hindrances and corruption. 

Naturally, with Libya’s ownership of the largest oil reserves in Africa and severe instability, foreign interference and exploitation have infested the country. Vague proclamations and plans can only take the country so far.

Conclusion

With time, strong governance and quality management systems can hopefully develop, and the GNU can write legislation that will further support the development of higher education in Libya.

However, Libya’s road to redevelopment will take more than one strategy. Unification, stability, improved infrastructure and strong national industries will all be necessary to ensure long-term success for any of the country’s internal needs.

– Yazan Mohammad

Yazan is based in Princeton, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Cannabis Transforms Poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Poverty in Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesIn 2018, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines decriminalized possessing up to two ounces of marijuana and Parliament passed laws to establish a medical cannabis industry. Vincentians use and appreciate the medicinal properties of cannabis, as well as the pivotal role it can play in reducing poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2024, 18% of Vincentian adults were unemployed; youth were twice as likely as adults to be unemployed.

Additionally, the country’s volcano (La Soufrière) erupted in 2021. Coupled with the then-recent COVID-19 pandemic, the country faced huge economic setbacks. Whereas before the pandemic, only 4% of children in Saint Vincent were below the poverty line, this has now risen to 18%. Therefore, due to the industry’s up-and-coming market, utilizing cannabis in Saint Vincent is key to recovering the economy and securing jobs for unemployed young people.

Boosting the Economy

Ironically, it is the volcanic soil that makes cannabis in Saint Vincent high-grade and fast-producing. As a result, cannabis became an instrumental trading tool during the country’s recovery from the volcanic eruption. More recently, Saint Vincent has reported more than EC$60 million (slightly above $22 million) in private investment in its cannabis industry.

Beyond just trading, the small country is also now gaining an international reputation for its high-quality marijuana. In October 2025, Saint Vincent will host the annual CannaBliss festival for the second time. This is a four-day event that attracts customers from around the globe and dually acts as a chance for networking among the medicinal cannabis industry.

Not only does this boost Saint Vincent’s tourism industry, but it is also a chance for the country to share its culture with the world. The festival will feature reggae singers with international fame. However, it will also be a chance for local Vincentian singers to display their talent!

Medicinal Benefits

Due to cannabis’s unique medicinal uses, the drug is experiencing increasing demand worldwide, with the medicinal cannabis market expected to reach $58 billion in sales by 2028.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) currently uses Epidiolex, which contains cannabidiol, to treat seizures. It also uses Marinol and Syndros, which contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for therapeutic purposes such as treating nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and anorexia related to weight loss in AIDS patients. The USFDA continues to research additional medical applications of cannabinoids.

Meanwhile, the cannabis market is expanding globally. The U.K., Canada and several European countries have, for the first time, approved a plant-derived cannabinoid drug (Sativex) for medical use.

Supports Cultural Practices

Emerging in ’30s Jamaica, the religion Rastafari celebrates marijuana as a gift from God. Rastas believe in peace and living organically; they often adjust their language to avoid negative terms, oppose violence and oppressive systems such as capitalism and are typically vegetarian. Rastas use marijuana ritually to help enlighten their minds; before smoking the plant, they pray to Jah (God) or to Haile Selassie I.

Moreover, supporting Rastas means supporting local farmers. Since decriminalizing cannabis in Saint Vincent, farmers can now obtain a subsidized licence to grow marijuana and companies must buy 10% of their plants from traditional agriculturalists. Before this, it was difficult for Rastas to make a living.

Farmer Bobbis Matthews said to the Guardian, “It was hard! At least three times a year, U.S. helicopters would come and tear down the crop. In those days, it felt like you couldn’t even say the word marijuana because just to say marijuana, you could get arrested.” “We had a song called ‘Helicopter.’ It was about the panic and franticness whenever you hear the sound of the helicopter,” he continued.

Now, local farmers can live and celebrate their culture legally. The growing industry has created 2,500 more jobs for a country with low employment rates. Saint Vincent has also provided additional training in best cultivation practices to support the market and farmers further.

Final Comments

Overall, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines demonstrates how cannabis can be used ethically. The country is utilizing the plant for its medicinal benefits and its significance to the religious community. Marijuana’s rapidly growing market is also helping to reduce poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by increasing employment rates and expanding trading opportunities. This, in turn, is building a fast-growing industry that will play a pivotal role in the country’s future.

– Lysia Wright

Lysia is based in Derby, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Education Training Centers in Yemen

Education Training Centers in YemenVocational education training centers in Yemen are giving young people the tools to rebuild their futures. From classroom learning to community rebuilding, these centers are helping reduce unemployment and foster economic resilience in one of the world’s most vulnerable nations. 

About Vocational Education Training Centers in Yemen

Vocational education training centers in Yemen have faced immense challenges since Houthi rebels seized the capital city of Sanaa in 2014. The prolonged civil war has devastated Yemen’s social and economic structures, making it difficult for educational and training institutions to operate effectively. Regional intervention and years of political instability have fueled the conflict, driving millions of elders, women, children and innocent lives into poverty. Experts consider the conflict in Yemen one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, following the 2025 Gaza genocide, including widespread famine and disease outbreaks.

After nearly a decade of war, Yemen continues to face extreme economic, social and health challenges that will affect Yemenis’ lives in the long run. With collapsing infrastructure, limited job opportunities and severe disruptions to education, young people are among the most affected. According to the World Bank, the country’s real GDP per capita has dropped by nearly 60% since 2015, and more than half of Yemeni’s population now faces food insecurity. Poverty and war have forced many families to withdraw children from school or depend on unsatisfactory, informal labor just to survive.

In Yemen, where some children search for a loaf of bread to ease their hunger and families struggle to meet even their most basic needs, vocational education and training centers have emerged as a vital solution. By equipping youth and adults with practical skills in fields such as construction, agriculture and technology, these programs provide pathways to employment, support local economies and help restore a sense of stability and hope for a long-term recovery.

Skills for Stability

Vocational education training centers in Yemen are offering practical, life-changing skills to communities in crisis. These centers teach trades such as plumbing, solar installation, tailoring and information technology. Teachers at vocational centers teach skills that directly meet the needs of local markets in Yemen. According to UNICEF, programs supporting technical and vocational education in Yemen have helped thousands of youth, particularly women and displaced people, gain the expertise needed to secure jobs and rebuild their communities. 

In a country where years of conflict have left many without traditional schooling, these centers serve as safe havens for learning and empowerment. Students often share classrooms powered by solar panels they install themselves, blending education with action. Each new skill learned represents a step away from dependency and closer to resilience for individuals and communities in Yemen.

Amina’s Story

Despite the challenges, Amina, a young woman from Yemen, refused to give up hope. Her school principal nominated Amina to join a UNICEF-supported like-skills and vocational training program, and she eagerly embraced the opportunity. After more than two months, she learned sewing and business management and upon completing the training, Amina received a sewing machine and materials to start her own small business.

“My life has changed. I was afraid of meeting people before, but now I am more confident and independent. I can now provide all my needs without depending on others,” said Amina.

In a modest room made of stone and clay, Amina set up her own small workspace, where she now tailors vibrant dresses for women and girls in her neighborhood. What began as a simple effort to practice her new sewing skills quickly turned into a thriving business as word spread throughout her community. Today, she earns roughly 20,000 Yemeni riyals each month (about $84 USD), which is enough to support her parents and ten siblings. Amina’s journey shows how access to vocational education can transform lives, turning hardship into independence and hope into opportunity.

Economic Ripple Effects

Vocational education in Yemen does more than create jobs; it lays the foundation for long-term economic development. By equipping people with practical skills, training programs help reduce unemployment, boost productivity and encourage small business creation. According to the World Bank, Yemen’s economy had contracted by nearly 60% since 2015, making the rebuilding of human capital crucial for its recovery.

As trained workers begin to rebuild infrastructure and launch microenterprises, they stimulate local markets and attract investment opportunities. Indeed, international partners, including the World Bank and UNDP note that investing in job training in Yemen can also open new avenues for economic cooperation and trade, creating pathways for growth that extend beyond national borders. This progress highlights the importance of vocational education in Yemen as a driver of job training and economic development.

The Good News

Despite the challenges, success stories are emerging across Yemen. In Taiz, a women’s sewing collective launched in 2022 with support from UNICEF has trained more than 200 women in tailoring and business management. Many of these women now run small businesses that provide clothing for their communities and income for their families. In Sana’a, a solar training program that the Social Fund for Development created in partnership with local schools has equipped young people with the skills to install and maintain solar panels, helping restore electricity to schools and homes in areas that power shortages affect.

These programs restore livelihoods and strengthen hope, showing that even amid a crisis, education can rebuild lives and communities. Yemen’s vocational training centers demonstrate that opportunity can flourish in conflict. Supporting these initiatives helps transform crises into capacity, giving young people tools to rebuild their country. 

Advocating for policies and funding that expand the vocational education training center in Yemen remains essential to promoting long-term stability and economic recovery. Strengthening these centers helps create employment opportunities. Supporting local economies and empowering communities to rebuild their future through education and skill development.

– Furdeuce Mused

Furdeuce is based in Oakland, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Migration to Austria: Social Initiatives Making a Difference

Migration to AustriaSince as early as the 16th century, Austria has drawn in migrants from Europe and around the world. Being situated in the center of Europe and sharing seven international borders, Austria has been both a country that migrants pass through and a country that offers economic stability for those who make it their new home. With a significant 19% of its population being foreign nationals in 2023, migration shapes the country.

Migration to Austria in the Second Half of the 20th Century

In the second half of the 20th century, Austria welcomed refugees from Europe and beyond, including those cast away from conflict in Uganda, Chile and Indochina amongst others. It has also offered a safe haven for persecuted groups.

Increased focus on guest-working programs that distributed manual labor amongst migrants coupled with conflicts in the Balkan region and Kosovo saw a rise in migration across the country in the second half of the century. Such initiatives saw potential for skill development in migrants who were severely limited due to poverty, lack of education and lack of access to basic human necessities. In line with the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Austria has recognized how such migration benefits the development of the country as a whole and unlocked migrants’ potential by offering them employment and relieving them from poverty.

Thanks to its central location in Europe, stable economy and sympathetic attitude to refugees, it is easy to see why Austria is an obvious choice for many leaving their disadvantaged origins to create new lives abroad. 

Attitudes to Migration to Austria Today

It is no secret that attitudes towards migration have soured Europe-wide, and Austria is certainly not immune. According to a 2016 integration barometer study, 60% more of participants judged the migration of Muslim persons and communities as a negative thing. 

That is not to say that people view it negatively everywhere. The great metropolis of Vienna is predictably more welcoming to refugees and migrants. One empirical study conducted in 2023 revealed that Viennese people have a lot of social contact with people from migrant countries, with many also having family members from abroad. The city generally recognizes the positive impact of migrants on its economy, workforce and varied social landscape.

However, Vienna is somewhat its own microorganism. A study in October 2017 discovered that many Austrians lacked education surrounding issues of migration. Even if they were educating themselves about such issues, studies suggested biased news coverage that called for tougher border controls created unfounded fears and anti-migrant rhetoric.

Initiatives Fighting for Migrants’ Rights

Despite the rise of nationalist rhetoric across the country, social initiatives are still fighting for the lawful right of migration to Austria while also providing migrants with a framework that allows them to live and work in the country legally.

Megaphon, a street magazine based in Austria’s second-biggest city, Graz, just celebrated its 30th birthday. With it, it marked three decades of standing for social equality and migratory rights. Megaphon works specifically with migrants and asylum seekers from West Africa and Eastern Europe, offering them an empowering alternative to begging on the street by giving them the chance to sell the street magazine for double the amount they bought it for. 

Many of the Megaphon vendors have unfortunately slipped through the cracks of the bureaucratic system in Austria, meaning that they often face work permit restrictions. Megaphon makes it possible for vendors to be self-employed without having the necessary documentation.

Social Initiatives Are the Future

Megaphon is just one example of an organization pushing back against the anti-migrant rhetoric that is gaining prevalence across the country. Such initiatives are more important than ever to fight for those on the fringes of society and ensure they do not end up in a life of poverty. 

– Saroj Spickett

Saroj is based in Graz, Austria and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Labor Rights and Migrant Workers in Tunisia

Migrant Workers in Tunisia Need Labour Rights Tunisia was ranked among the top 10 worst countries for workers’ rights in 2025 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Despite being at the epicenter of protests against corruption and economic deprivation in the region more than a decade ago, Tunisia’s systemic issues remain prevalent, and the poverty rate is still around 15%.

The Global Rights Index

The ITUC organizes to defend workers’ rights across the world, is democratically governed and motivated to manage cooperation between unions and major global institutions. It has created a database to track abuses against migrant workers, called the Global Rights Index. The 12th edition of the Index works to catalogue recent anti-democratic acts against workers from governments, revealing a crisis for workers’ rights globally.

The recent Index is paired with the ITUC’s campaign “For Democracy that Delivers,” an attempt to unite labourers’ collective power to successfully defend their rights. More and more governments are reshaping legislation to criminalize civil organizations as “foreign agents,” the ITUC believes. Unions negotiating for workers’ rights have seen judicial action and legal provisions being used to stifle freedom of expression in Tunisia, causing the ITUC to express concern for union figures facing possible prosecution or arrest.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre also manages a database to record the human rights violations against migrant workers around the world. It outlines companies and businesses named in the Migrant Worker Allegation Database, containing publicly recorded cases and conveying how vulnerable migrants are worldwide.

Migrants and Workers

Tunisia holds the status of a transit space and gateway for Sub-Saharan Africans to migrate into Europe, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace experts state. European governments often practice blanket policies and actions to prevent migrants from emigrating or seeking asylum, leaving this group to remain in Tunisia or bordering regions with an unstable status. While remaining in Tunisia, a number of migrants have to undertake work in the region to sustain themselves. 

An affiliated union in the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) was established to organize Sub-Saharan African workers in light of their sizable number in the workforce. The UGTT, a political actor and union representing 800,000 Tunisian members, remains one of the Arab world’s most influential trade unions. Inclusion in this union provides a framework to succeed in strengthening the rights of migrant workers in Tunisia, securing and including them as part of a formal economy.

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions are agreements self-sanctioned and ratified by Tunisia, of which more than half are enforced according to the Danish Trade Union Development Agency. Despite this, the ITUC’s research stands that these rights are in jeopardy due to the persecution of free speech. Additionally, the government did not sign the four ILO ratifications specific to migrant protections as of 2024.

Anti-migration practices have led to the obstruction of critically inalienable human rights of migrants. Similar treatment is undeniably advancing toward other groups, as evidenced by the ITUC describing worsening rights for all workers in Tunisia. Both vulnerable to wavering legal frameworks, unadopted protective legislation and the degradation of workers’ rights, migrant workers in Tunisia have multidimensional security concerns.

Sub-Saharan African Migrants

Migrant workers from Sub-Saharan Africa faced even greater levels of hostility and economic risks from anti-migrant sentiment in the Tunisian government. Human Rights Watch recounts severe, “racially motivated” abuses after President Kais Saied’s abrasive remarks sparked violence in the first half of 2023. A large number of Black migrants, refugees and asylum seekers faced physical endangerment and economic risks due to targeted firings, increased unemployment and robberies.

Migrants unlawfully losing jobs creates less revenue for the host country, as the OECD claims economic impacts from migration are related to their structural integration into labour markets, salaries and employment. Its research suggests that, generally, migrants do not take more benefits than citizens and that they contribute more in taxes on average.

The Saied government’s lack of protection for the process of seeking asylum directly opposes its state obligation to shelter asylum seekers and refugees. International law also mandates the right to seek asylum from persecution according to Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Looking Ahead

Despite increasing research and clarification on economic and humanitarian complexities, the Tunisian administration has held steadfast to expulsion tactics against the unprotected group. Tunisia has been encouraged by various human rights organizations on actions to take in order to uphold its duty to protect asylum seekers, migrants and refugees. Databases like the Global Rights Index and union operations for legislative inclusion are critical to confronting the issues faced by migrant workers in Tunisia.

– Aliyah Omar

Aliyah is based in Alberta, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels