Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Five Facts About the Work of the United Nations Population Fund

United Nations Population Fund
The United Nations Population Fund is a U.N. agency that works to promote gender equity and respond to gender-based violence around the world. It provides care and resources to underprivileged people in order to reduce maternal and childhood mortality. The work of the United Nations Population Fund has made a difference for millions of families. Here are five facts about this important organization:

Five Facts About the Work of the United Nations Population Fund
  1. The United Nations established it in 1969. Its original name was the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, and it was part of the United Nations Development Fund; the Development Fund focused on providing assistance to developing countries. Two years later the United Nations placed the Fund for Population Activities under the authority of the General Assembly, the main policy-making organization of the U.N. In 1987 it changed its name to the United Nations Population Fund, but it retains its original abbreviation: UNFPA.
  2. It is active in more than 150 countries. The work of the United Nations Population Fund affects people around the world, with a focus on those in developing countries. The 150 countries where it is active makeup more than 80% of the world’s population. The countries are divided into six regions: East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.
  3. It works to prevent child marriage. Child marriage affects millions of young girls, particularly in impoverished countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Girls who experience child marriage are more likely to suffer from domestic violence and to contract HIV/AIDs. The UNFPA has helped create a global campaign to end this practice. It works with the governments of countries where child marriage is prevalent to improve the rights of adolescents and increase girls’ access to health care services and education. The work of the United Nations Population Fund also encourages the creation and strengthening of laws that establish the minimum age of marriage as 18.
  4. It is providing support to those affected by COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the entire world, but it has been especially arduous for the global poor. Many people in developing countries do not have access to the healthcare that they need. In addition, many women are trapped in situations where they face domestic violence due to sheltering-in-place. The work of the UNPF includes providing health supplies such as contraceptives and personal protective equipment to people in impoverished countries; the organization also protects those who are experiencing gender-based violence. The organization is working to raise awareness of these situations while offering protection to the women who are experiencing them.
  5. The United States has withdrawn its funding to the UNFPA. In 2017, the United States government announced its plan to cut off the funding it provided to the United Nations Population Fund, over $30 million per year. This was a part of several United Nations funding cuts the Trump administration instituted. The U.S. stated that it was withdrawing funding from the UNFPA because it participates in involuntary sterilization and coercive abortion in China. The UNFPA refuted these claims, and stated that it has not broken any U.S. laws. The Trump administration used the funding that would have gone to the UNFPA for the United States Agency for International Development instead.

Mothers and children experience some of the worst effects of global poverty. A lack of access to vital healthcare infrastructure can lead to women having limited reproductive rights, and to children not getting the care they need. The work of the United Nations Population Fund has improved the lives of millions of underprivileged people around the world by giving them the resources they need to plan their families and care for their children. It is among the most imperative apparatuses of the United Nations.

– Gabriel Guerin

Photo: Wikimedia

The Crisis of Displacement in Burkina Faso

Displacement in Burkina Faso
Over the last couple of years, the crisis of displacement in Burkina Faso, a small country in western Africa, has become the most pressing refugee situation on Earth. Violence and lack of resources have forced many into displacement and extreme poverty.

Astronomical Growth of the Crisis

The Displacement in Burkina Faso has been called the current fastest growing crisis of its kind—for the last two years, attacks carried out by armed groups have ravaged villages, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Since January of 2019, the number of people displaced in Burkina Faso, which has a total population of 18.6 million, has risen from 50,000 to around 920,000 as of July 2020. The United Nations has recognized that this is the fastest growing population of displaced people on the planet and that activists need to put their resources to work in Burkina Faso as quickly as possible.

Stable But Struggling Economy

Burkina Faso’s people do not benefit from its relatively stable macroeconomic status—Burkina Faso’s economy relies primarily upon agriculture, and though this sector has seen a decline, the rising service sector has allowed the country’s GDP growth to remain 6% in 2019. Yet, Burkina Faso’s people remain largely impoverished: over 40% of its population lives below the poverty line.

The displacement crisis, of course, has not helped the matter. It has caused over 2,000 schools to close, among other major losses in massive fields like medicine. 11,000 teachers felt the impact of this mass closing, and around 300,000 students found themselves without an education.

Lack of Governmental Regulation

Authorities do not know the extent of the situation—the armed groups terrorizing Burkina Faso, some linked with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, have caused the administrative presence in the northern and eastern regions of the country to virtually disappear. Official regulation throughout the nation has deteriorated as a result. Police and other representatives of the state have fled these areas, which have unofficially fallen to terrorist control.

Moreover, the administration of Burkina Faso has resorted to execution without trial; 60 such executions occurred in 2019 alone. These circumstances make it difficult to say exactly how many lives have been affected by this crisis.

Humanitarian Organizations Strain to Help

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other humanitarian organizations need major funding to solve this issue: In response to the massive spread of displacement in Burkina Faso, IOM has begun a project to provide shelter and other resources to displaced people. Through their efforts, IOM delivered on its promise to more than 3,000 people in Burkina Faso. IOM also managed to provide psychological care for over 5,000 displaced people.

However, most of all, IOM needs outside funding to expand the scope of its aid. In June of 2020, IOM appealed for $37.8 million, hoping to extend aid to 460,000 displaced people in Burkina Faso and other neighboring countries.

Displacement and COVID-19

Burkina Faso needs aid for its COVID-19 response as well. The pandemic and displacement in Burkina Faso have created a dual-threat situation for the nation’s people. However, officials at IMO warn that both issues require the world’s attention. Neither of the relief efforts should suffer for the other’s sake—the rise of one issue inevitably worsens the other.

IMO has dedicated itself to solving both problems. They have provided medical supplies and raised awareness, helping over 3,282 displaced people become more aware of the pandemic situation.

Burkina Faso faces an issue that perhaps lies outside the bounds of what its government can overcome alone. Humanitarian agents around the globe need to immediately provide resources in order to alleviate the suffering in this once prosperous nation by helping it fight COVID-19 and its growing displacement crisis.

– Will Sikich
Photo: Flickr

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The Process of Alleviating Poverty in Albania

Poverty in Albania
After the fall of its communist government in 1991, significant political, social and economic challenges confronted Albania. Albania is a country that lies on the Mediterranean Sea and borders Greece. The fall of the Communist Party left the country with high levels of extreme poverty that it needed to address quickly. As the government has transitioned to a constitutional republic and the centrally-planned economy has shifted to an open-market structure, it has also implemented considerable economic plans and reforms. These reforms partially alleviated the severity of the poverty much of the population faced before 1992, but poverty in Albania continued to be a challenge as the country moved forward.

Understanding Poverty in Albania

  • Privatization and a new legal framework were some of the key reforms the government implemented in 1992 that helped to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and strengthen the economy. The privatization of agriculture, which employs 40% of the population, particularly helped alleviate poverty in the rural areas where it is most prevalent. The new legal framework lowered poverty in urban areas by encouraging the private sector activity necessary for an open-market economy.
  • Consistent low-income levels and low administrative capacity are limitations to the success of economic reforms in Albania. The low-income population is particularly susceptible to price fluctuations and unemployment. For this reason, inflation in 1996 and 1997 caused a downturn in the economic growth the country had experienced earlier.
  • Fluctuations in the global economy impact the level of poverty. Remittances – money that Albanians working mostly in Greece and Italy sent back to the country – are a significant component of economic growth. After the 2008 financial crisis, remittances decreased from 15% of the GDP to 5.8% by 2015. Simultaneously, the poverty level in Albania increased from 35.8% in 2008 to 38% in 2017. This definition is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 per day, the poverty threshold for upper-middle-income countries. The World Bank classifies Albania as an upper-middle-income country.
  • Low-skill occupations, including agriculture, require lower levels of education and offer little job security yet employ the majority of the working population living in poverty. Those workers then have limited skills relevant to other types of higher-income labor and have constrained potential for social mobility.

Efforts to Alleviate Poverty in Albania

  • Recent growth in labor-intensive sectors has increased the number of potentially higher-income jobs available to Albanians and raised the GDP. Available jobs in textiles, tourism, trade and administrative services have been on the rise since 2013 and contribute to greater economic stability. Tourism, for instance, is one of the fastest-growing industries in Albania. In 2019, the number of foreign visitors increased by 8.1% in comparison to 2018.
  • International investments and donations have grown in recent years. The government has attracted international interest by taking the initiative to encourage economic growth by improving roads and rail networks and introducing plans for economic and legislative reform. These reforms primarily focus on strengthening tax collection and increasing public wages and pensions. They have been successful thus far and the World Bank estimates that the poverty rate has lowered to 37% as of April 2020.
  • Public debt remains high and a potentially significant barrier to the constant growth necessary to sustain Albania’s economy and keep the poverty level steadily decreasing. Although the debt requires a strong fiscal policy response by the government to avoid economic shocks, it has shown a promising 3% decline rate from 2015 to 2018.

Albania’s Partnership with International Organizations

Although not yet a member, Albania received EU candidacy status in June 2014 and officially adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Furthermore, Albania’s government released its National Strategy for Development and (European) Integration 2015-2020 in 2016. It also partnered with the U.N. in Albania to release the Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2017-2021, a comprehensive plan for sustainable development and alleviation of poverty.

The U.N.’s work in alleviating poverty in Albania and its partnership with Albania’s government has proven to be successful as it has helped achieve sustainable economic development through various reforms. The poverty rate in Albania has shown steady signs of decrease since its peak in 2014. The international community is also supporting the government’s steps to combat poverty in Albania. After a devastating earthquake in November 2019 hindered ongoing efforts for infrastructure improvement and other reforms, Albania’s government received €1 billion in assistance from several international donors during a conference in February 2020.

The U.N. in Albania is just one of the organizations working to fight poverty in Albania through collaboration with the government and other civil society and private sector organizations. Among its goals are Albania’s integration into the EU and the achievement of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which should stabilize the country’s economy and ultimately lower the poverty rate.

Looking to the Future

The onset of COVID-19 could strain the government’s resources and ability to continue with these reforms to alleviate poverty in the immediate future. However, the U.N.’s work in Albania, support from international donors and stronger commitments from the government to lower the poverty rate point to an optimistic future of long-term development. This should subsequently lead to economic growth and a steady decrease in the rate of poverty.

– Isabel Serrano
Photo: Flickr

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Battling Poverty in Sierra Leone

Poverty in Sierra Leone
Since establishing independence in 1961, Sierra Leone, a country located in West Africa, has suffered from various conflicts and injustices including a civil war that lasted from 1991 to 2002. As a result, Sierra Leone lacks significant development as a country, ranking 181 out of 189 on the 2019 Human Development Index. The nation remains impoverished. In fact, according to the United Nations Development Programme, approximately 60% of people live in poverty in Sierra Leone.

Factors Contributing to Poverty

Experts believe that four primary factors contribute to Sierra Leone’s overwhelming levels of poverty: government corruption, a lack of an established education system, absence of civil rights and poor infrastructure. These factors make poverty difficult to beat. With the unestablished infrastructure for roads and electricity, high transportation costs pose barriers to trade and limit economic growth.

Additionally, an absence of funding for educational programs leaves Sierra Leone behind in terms of gaining knowledge about civil rights or responsibilities. This contributes to gender inequality and the marginalization of women. The effects of gender inequality include women’s inability to join the workforce and a cultural view of women as servants for men. These ideas inhibit Sierra Leone’s development in a world that values education and women’s rights.

Reducing Poverty in Sierra Leone

Despite these ongoing issues, there have been various efforts to reduce poverty in Sierra Leone. The Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) launched in 2010 in Sierra Leone. This initiative provides pregnant women, new mothers and young children with access to basic healthcare in order to reduce infant mortality rates. Although the FHCI is not a solution to poverty in Sierra Leone, it led to several healthcare reforms, including adequate pay for healthcare workers. Robert B. Zoellick, former president of The World Bank Group, expressed his support for such efforts in a press release in 2010, explaining that addressing poverty in Sierra Leone would help lead to peace.

The Work of Oxfam

Various organizations from the United States have also made efforts to reduce poverty in Sierra Leone. One such organization is Oxfam, which has headquarters in Boston. This global organization aims to provide assistance to people experiencing injustices related to poverty. In Sierra Leone, Oxfam focuses on solving infrastructure-related problems, such as access to water, sanitation and hygiene. Additionally, the organization holds the government and other powerful beings in the country accountable by advocating for gender equality and food security. Oxfam also provides assistance in times of emergency, including during past outbreaks of cholera and Ebola in Sierra Leone.

The Tiger Worms Toilet Project is one of Oxfam’s notable successes in Sierra Leone. This project helped prevent communicable diseases by addressing sewage concerns through enhanced sanitation practices. It also helped prevent diseases by educating those in Sierra Leone about their spread. These actions enable Oxfam to make strides toward accomplishing its vision for Sierra Leone: “A just, inclusive and resilient Sierra Leone without poverty, in which citizens, particularly women and youth demand and acquire access to their rights and live a life of dignity.”

Although poverty remains a persistent problem in this West African country, aid from U.S.-based organizations like Oxfam is a small step toward eliminating poverty in Sierra Leone.

– Hannah Carroll
Photo: Flickr

4 Socially Responsible Companies During COVID-19

4 Socially Responsible Companies During COVID-19For most of 2020, the world has been quarantined and the majority of societies have been shut down. The safest access to the outside world many have is through the internet. For those looking to shop with a purpose, listed below are four socially responsible companies that have focused their efforts on COVID-19 and its impacts.

Allbirds Shoe Company

A socially responsible shoe company always committed to the environment, Allbirds had already committed to going carbon neutral in 2019. The company makes a pointed effort to use low carbon materials to lessen its carbon footprint. Allbirds’ shoes are created with a natural design that completely outshines the synthetic, cheaper options. Allbirds is a certified B Corp company. It uses 90% “post-consumer recycled cardboard” for its shoeboxes. It works with Soles4Souls to donate all lightly used products to those most in need around the world.

In the era of COVID-19, Allbirds has “donated $500,000 worth of shoes” to first responders and is continuing to do so as consumers purchase products. Consumers can also buy a pair of shoes as a donation to send to a first responder.

Cotopaxi Adventure Brand

An adventure brand, this certified B Corp company is socially responsible in every step of production. Products are made from recycled materials. Additionally, Cotopaxi dedicates 1% of its revenue towards the Cotopaxi grant program, which are awarded to non-profits focusing on addressing poverty. So far, it has awarded 42 grants spread across six countries. In 2019, the Cotopaxi Foundation donated more than $300,000 to partners focused on reducing poverty and provided Latin American and Ecuador with more than 5,000 malaria-preventing bed nets. Furthermore, it distributed 200 emergency kits to families along the American-Mexican border and provided digital literacy education to around 80 refugee families. 

During the pandemic, the company had to close all its stores, and consequently, saw online sales drop significantly. In order to revive sales within the company, Cotopaxi gave back to its local community. It began by partnering with an emergency and survival kit vendor, Uncharted Supply. Cotopaxi had surplus resources without high demand, and Uncharted Supply had a high demand without the resources to fill orders. The partnership was able to fulfill the needs of both companies. Cotopaxi also began producing apparel with the phrase “#OneUtah,” a rallying cry on social media in the state. The profits went towards Utah’s COVID-19 relief efforts. Cotopaxi’s response to COVID-19, while different from its main mission, helped the company to restore the brand and regain sales. As a result, it was able to continue its mission of alleviating the effects of global poverty.

Alex and Ani

Lifestyle and jewelry brand Alex and Ani works to leave a positive mark on the planet. The brand accomplishes this through its Charity By Design division. It partnered with UNICEF USA to donate 20% of its profits from the Charity by Design collection to children in need. This a collection of charms, bracelets and necklaces represents UNICEF’s work. The company’s philanthropic mission has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex and Ani are donating 10% of the Frontline Collection profits to all frontline workers between June 12 and August 12, 2020.

Warby Parker

A popular eyewear company, Warby Parker is known for leading the way for socially responsible companies with its “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program. The mission focuses on providing eyewear to those around the world who “need glasses but have no access to them.” The company estimates that there are around 2.5 billion people in need of eyewear. Of that number, difficulties with their vision set back at least 624 million people in their education and work. Warby Parker partners with groups across the globe, distributing a pair of glasses in need for every pair purchased. Warby Parker has donated more than four million pairs of glasses to date. 

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced Warby Parker to adapt and change its program as its partners across the world are unable to safely deliver during the pandemic. In place of the “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program, Warby Parker has donated personal protective equipment “to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, Johns Hopkins Hospital, NYU Langone Health and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.” Shifting its efforts to help public health has helped Warby Parker to continue charitable efforts without compromising the safety of its global partners. 

Shopping at socially responsible companies is a simple way to give back. Doing so at such a challenging time in the world makes it especially important. Finding companies that are not only socially responsible in normal circumstances but that have adapted in the face of COVID-19 to help are the best places to shop right now. Shopping at these companies is one of the best ways to give back in a safe yet impactful way.

– Olivia Fish
Photo: Flickr

How Chinese Herbal Medicine Helps Poor Farmers

Chinese Herbal MedicineThe country of China is geographically diverse, from coastal foothills to desert basins to lush mountains. China’s beautiful, towering mountains are home to many rural villages and rare plants, like huanglian, that don’t grow anywhere else in the world. These are some facts to know about how Chinese herbal medicine helps poor farmers.

What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?

Huanglian, also known as Chinese goldthread, is a bitter Chinese herbal medicine. Its uses include treating ailments such as vomiting, jaundice and eczema. It is one of many herbs used in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a natural method of healing that has changed little in the thousands of years it has been practiced.

TCM is based on restoring the vital life force, called Qi, in the body. Imbalances between the yin and yang that make up Qi are purported to cause diseases and illnesses. Herbal medicine is just one aspect of TCM. Other practices that have made their way into the Western world include acupuncture, fire cupping and massage.

Controversy Around TCM

Many people regard TCM as a pseudoscience because it hasn’t undergone as much scientific testing as Western medicine. However, many people experience benefits from using alternative therapies alongside Western medicine. Organizations like the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine regulate and certify practitioners of TCM in the U.S. While not understood to the degree that prescription drugs are, TCM works for many people as complementary therapy or treatment for lesser ailments.

Identifying the Problem

Southwest China’s mountainous regions are some of the poorest in the country. Since China started its fight against poverty, one of the big questions was how to reach and help remote villages like Zhongyuan and Huangshan. These small mountain villages have barren soil, few industries and little access to the outside world. Their populations are small, with only a few hundred residents. Most are very poor.

Jun Wu is an associate professor from the Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Wu was appointed as a poverty-alleviation Party official for the Zhongyuan Village in 2018. He and his team encouraged the villagers to grow white lotus and gualou, crops used in TCM to treat various health issues.

Herbal Medicine Provides Industry

Zhongyuan Village’s white lotus plantation reached nearly one million yuan — or around $150,000 — in revenue in 2019. Gualou is grown by individual farmers rather than in a plantation. The plant also brings in about 30,000 yuan or around $5,000 per hectare each year. Per capita disposable income for villagers in Zhongyuan grew 21.3% over the past year as a result of the Chinese herbal medicine industry.

Huangshuan has also seen similar economic growth to Zhongyuan, growing herbs like lily bulb, turmeric and hogfennel root. The TCM industry has also created jobs for villagers in related work such as washing harvested herbs, weeding farmland and keeping away insects and other pests. Households are expected to have their income increased by at least 5,000 yuan or $700 this year.

The Chinese herbal medicine industry promises a brighter future for everyone involved. Unused land is given a purpose, household income increases and more job opportunities emerge. The village as a whole becomes more prosperous. Growing crops for TCM is an innovative and effective way to help China’s most impoverished and isolated citizens become economically self-sufficient.

– Kathy Wei
Photo: Pixabay

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Bathrooms and Girls’ Education in Africa

bathrooms and girls’ education in AfricaIn the developed world, private bathroom stalls and toilets are largely taken for granted, especially within schools. The issues of period poverty and girls’ education in Africa do not seem like topics that would be intertwined. However, they are in fact completely dependent on one another. Most period poverty efforts focus on access to sanitary products. While this is an incredibly important component, bathrooms within schools are just as important. Without a safe space to change them, the work of providing reusable sanitary napkins cannot work. These two factors have to work together. Here are facts to know about the connection between bathrooms and girls’ education in Africa.

What is Social Infrastructure and Why Is It Important?

Social infrastructure refers to facilities that include education, health and youth services that promote a high quality lifestyle. It is created with the public good in mind, and the intent to provide better outcomes for peoples’ livelihoods. It impacts the connection between bathrooms and girls’ education in Africa directly. Buildings with a socially-minded design make children, and especially girls, feel safe, included and acknowledged. It will keep them coming back to those places. 

Research explains the positive impact of infrastructure on communities in Africa to the intersectional issue of girls’ education. It shows how infrastructure is more than just buildings and highways. Creating a physical space where girls feel safe is crucial to their personal and educational development. Focusing on infrastructure has been proven to create a more equitable society, especially within rural communities. This is due to the lack of accessibility to resources that are more likely present within urban areas. 

The Link Between Menstrual Stigma and Girls’ Education

Girls’ education in Africa faces many obstacles. This is largely due to gender stereotypes that are at the root of unsafe learning environments. Twenty-three percent of girls of primary school age are not in school, and that number jumps to 36% as they get older and enter secondary school. Menstruation is a factor in the connection between bathrooms and girls’ education in Africa. When girls begin to menstruate, they are faced with many barriers. These may include temporary social ostracization, missed school days and sexual violence by peers. 

One in ten girls misses 20% of school days because they cannot attend during their menstrual cycle. This largely due to the fact that – if they have access to sanitary products – they do not have a place to change them once at school. This discourages many girls from attending in the first place, and too many missed days ultimately leads to higher drop out rates because they cannot end up falling behind. 

Why Toilets?

Only 57% of primary schools within the world’s least developed countries have single-sex bathrooms. The good news is that countries such as Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Morocco and Mozambique have single-sex bathrooms in 80% of their primary schools. However, the work is far from complete given that some countries such as Eritrea only have these facilities in 27% of schools, and the lowest being only 9% in Senegal. 

The majority of sexual assault and rape incidents happen in school bathrooms because there is only one facility for all students with very little to no privacy. So along with embarrassment regarding using the restroom and changing their sanitary pads in front of male students, they feel incredibly unsafe walking into the bathroom. When girls do not have to worry about their hygiene and safety at school, they will be more likely to continue attending. Creating a safe environment is key to ensuring girls attend and stay in school. This can help break the cycle of gender disparity in education.  

Organizations Doing the Work

The state of girls’ education in Africa is being greatly improved by organizations that are funding initiatives and creating them. Taking notice of the connection between bathrooms and girls’ education in Africa can greatly aid these girls’ futures. The Global Partnership for Education partners with national governments to create “girl-friendly” sanitation facilities in order to improve girls’ education in Africa. Its grants to countries like Guinea and Cameroon enabled the building of separate bathrooms and water stations within schools. 

Programs like FRESH and WaterAid are coming together to ensure the creation of safe and healthy physical spaces for girls to learn. They are developing infrastructure plans that follow UNICEF and WHO guidelines. WaterAid established a list of components that should be a part of girl-friendly infrastructure. These include single-sex bathrooms with locks and privacy walls and any mechanism that can work as a disposal place for sanitary products. The availability of clean water within the bathroom is included in order to clean reusable sanitary napkins. It also includes a mirror (even if it is broken) so girls are able to check for any spots or stains before returning to the classroom. 

Why Should We Care?

The connection between bathrooms and girls’ education in Africa is a topic that deserves abundant attention. Everyone benefits from educated girls. When half of the world’s population is being excluded from equal educational opportunities it creates a greater human capital issue. The skills and talents of these girls might never be seen simply because they are unable to gain any upward mobility due to a lack of education. So on the next World Toilet Day, November 19, remember how something as simple as a private bathroom stall can make a huge difference in the life of a young, African girl. 

– Stephanie Russo
Photo: Flickr

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Solving Food Insecurity and Hunger in Australia

Hunger in Australia
Australia’s reputation as a wealthy country often shields underlying issues within the nation. A strikingly large portion of the population experiences hunger on a daily basis, while the federal government falls behind other affluent nations in helping its poor and starving citizens.

Food Insecurity in Australia

Although Australia reduced its poverty rate over the last few years — declining from 16.9% in 2017 to 13.2% in 2019 — the percentage of Australians experiencing hunger has not decreased. This is because food insecurity, rather than insufficient funds, lies at the root of hunger in Australia.

Kathy Radimer, a former CDC epidemiologist, defines food insecurity as the state occurring “whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain.” In Australia, sustenance is not necessarily unattainable; rather, food is unsafe and inadequately healthy for much of the nation’s underserved.

In 2019, Foodbank Australia’s hunger report revealed that 21% of Australians experienced food insecurity in the year prior to its survey. In other words, everyone within that 21% had at least one experience running out of food without the means to buy more, due to either circumstantial or financial restraints. More often than not, these are not standalone occurrences: the report also revealed that 30% of food-insecure people go at least one day per week with no food whatsoever.

For women, the numbers are even worse. A staggering 27% of Australian women experienced food insecurity throughout 2019 in comparison with only 18% of men. This difference may arise partly because men experiencing food insecurity typically blame their inability to find work; women, on the other hand, often cite domestic violence, financial abuse and having to raise their children on their own for their food insecurity. Brianna Casey, the CEO of Foodbank Australia, explains: “We hear so many heart-breaking stories from mothers skipping meals so their children can eat to elderly women left on their own feeling isolated because they can’t offer their neighbors or friends so much as a cup of tea or coffee.”

The Impact of COVID-19

Food insecurity was a problem in Australia even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the virus began to spread, Foodbank Australia reports that an unprecedented number of Australians — over 1 million — need emergency food. Many of these people now experiencing food insecurity are migrant workers and international students who have recently lost jobs in hospitality and retail.

The federal government has not matched countries of similar prominence and wealth in terms of supporting this upsurge in hunger and food insecurity. International students are not eligible for JobKeeper payments or federal welfare, contrary to a leaked government report that claimed countries like Great Britain, New Zealand and Ireland have given international students access to government resources during the pandemic.

Practical implications of the pandemic have brought other new challenges for food-insecure Australians. Approximately one-fifth of the charities that normally distribute food, such as Shepparton Foodshare and Footprints in the Park, have either closed or significantly decreased aid, thanks to stay-at-home orders and a lack of volunteers. This makes it even more difficult for Australians to receive food in a time of urgent need.

Charity and Aid

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many organizations that address food insecurity and hunger in Australia, many continue to help. For example, the Friends of Nepal Organization in partnership with the Non-Resident Nepali Association currently provides food for more than 1,000 Nepalese students in Australia, who would currently be food insecure without their intervention.

Large-scale corporations have taken note of the problem as well, with brands such as Arnott’s and PepsiCo donating $350,000 and $400,000, respectively, as well as their products, to Foodbank Australia. The Australian federal government recently began to provide relief, announcing a $16 million bundle to support food relief charities in April 2020. The Australian Defence Force has even been helping pack food at a Foodbank Australia warehouse in Sydney, aiming to combat the upsurge of hunger in Australia.

Despite Australia’s status as a wealthy nation, food insecurity remains rampant. Women suffer the brunt of the problem, sacrificing their small shares of sustenance for their families. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened hunger in Australia overall, increasing unemployment and weakening food-related charities. Still, many Australian organizations recognize the need to end food insecurity, and they give time and money to try to combat the hardships that food-insecure Australians face.

–  Ava Roberts
Photo: Flickr

4 Causes of Homelessness in Grenada

Homelessness in Grenada
Grenada, known as the Spice Island, gained its independence from the United Kingdom in February 1974. Located in the Caribbean between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Grenada has been able to reach upper-middle-income class status. However, despite its efforts to advance as a country, Grenada stills suffers from poverty, which contributes to homelessness.

Reports have stated that Grenada has had over 60,000 homeless people since Hurricane Ivan hit in 2004. Countries like the U.S. have shown involvement and support for Grenada’s progression with its support for Grenadian security forces. However, despite Grenada’s vigorous efforts to advance its security along with its educational and economic systems, homelessness remains a continued problem and concern for Grenadians for the following reasons.

4 Causes of Homelessness in Grenada

  1. Poverty is one of the reasons for homelessness in Grenada. Grenada is a country that relies on tourism and St. Georges University for income. Grenada has fought hard to provide resources for its citizens, and currently, estimates determine there is a total of 113,094 people living in Grenada. As of 2017, the poverty rate in Grenada was at 13%. Poverty and homelessness lead to the need for people to have a steady income to be able to manage to lives in their homes. While living in Grenada, one can find themselves spending at most $1,184.30 a month on rent.
  2. Unemployment is another issue that contributes to homelessness in Grenada. If there is no work, there is no income. The unemployment rate in Grenada was at 24% in 2017.
  3. Additionally, natural disasters can happen at any given moment. Because of where Grenada is located, it is prone to natural disasters. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, landslides and more are all-natural threats that affect people living in Grenada. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan, a category 3 storm, ruined 80% of the homes in Grenada and left thousands homeless.
  4. Violence also causes homelessness in Grenada. There were 1,630 reported cases of sexual assault between 2000 to 2010. This shows how violence in Grenada has continued to be an issue. The three significant types of violent abuse in Grenada are sexual, gender-based and domestic violence.

Solutions for Homelessness in Grenada

In spite of the causes, in an effort to fight homelessness, The Trinity Foundation emerged in 2017 to assist families in need in Grenada. With this organization, founder Shernette Streete provides hot meals to homeless people around the community with the help of volunteers. The money the organization receives to provide the homeless people of Grenada with hot meals comes primarily from fundraisers and donations whether it be money or food. The goal of the organization is to eventually build stationary soup kitchens.

Along with The Trinity Foundation, aid from Food For The Poor has also contributed to helping those who are homeless. This organization helps provide housing and food for people who are in severe need of resources in the community. Food For The Poor has built over 85,400 homes for families in need of safe shelter.

Grenada is a county that is advancing politically, economically and socially to the best of its ability. There have been many contributions to Grenada throughout the years. However, citizens of Grenada continue to be victims of unaffordable housing, poverty, natural disasters and more, which all lead to homelessness in Grenada. Through The Trinity Foundation’s and Food For The Poor’s continued efforts, hopefully homelessness in Grenada will reduce.

– Amanda Cruz
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

8 Facts About Healthcare in Botswana

healthcare in botswana
Botswana, a country in Southern Africa, has a total population of around 2.3 million people, with women making up 52% of that number. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, the country enjoys a stable democracy with an upper-middle-income profile. As of 2017, the gross national income per capita was $16,123. As of 2017, male life expectancy was 67 years, and for females, 71 years.

Tuberculosis, AIDS and other communicable diseases cause a high percentage of the illnesses and deaths in Botswana. Although healthcare in Botswana is improving, the country needs to ramp up its services and improve education. Here are eight facts about healthcare in Botswana.

8 Facts About Healthcare in Botswana

  1. Decentralized Healthcare System: Botswana comprises 27 health districts, including mobile locations, clinics and hospitals. Healthcare services are available at almost no cost for citizens. In addition to the treatment of common illnesses, the aim is to provide complementary preventive and rehabilitative services.
  2. Incidence of Tuberculosis: According to a 2016 study in The Lancet, Botswana had a Healthcare Access and Quality Index score–on a scale of 0-100, with the best performance–of only 24 regarding tuberculosis; for diseases such as Diptheria, it scored significantly higher (100). Botswana has some success in reducing cases of TB: in 2018, the incidence rate was 275 per 100,000 people, down from 326 in 2016.
  3. Targeted Services Needed for HIV/AIDS: Despite giving free antiretroviral treatment (ART) to those living with HIV, Botswana is still one of the most HIV-affected countries, with the fourth-highest HIV prevalence. As of 2018, there were 370,000 people living with HIV in Botswana. The adult HIV prevalence (ages 15-49) is 20.3%. There were 4,800 AIDS-related deaths in 2018 and 8,500 new HIV infections. Low testing rates and low levels of knowledge about the disease have kept the rates high. Only half of the people who are most at risk are able to access targeted services to a lack of them. Forced marriage and gender-based violence are increasing the epidemic in women. Strict laws against homosexuality make HIV prevention difficult. HIV prevalence among young people has seen little improvement, with a 6% prevalence in 2006 in comparison to 5.4% among young men and 10.2% among young women in 2016. In 2018, however, new infections were at an 8,500 count, down from 10,000 in 2010. AIDS-related deaths decreased from a high of 18,000 in 2002 to 4,800 in 2018. The decrease may be due to Botswana’s universal free ART program. The program, which began in 2002, is one of the most successful of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, estimates determined that 298,000 adults in Botswana were receiving ART.
  4. Mosquito-Borne Illness a Concern: Malaria cases increased in recent years with 283 cases in 2015, 691 cases in 2016 and 232 cases in 2018. However, this is a reduction in cases from 2006, when reports determined there were 2,606 cases. In this regard, healthcare in Botswana has room for improvement. In 2018, along with 15 other countries, Botswana signed the Windhoek Declaration, a proposal to reinvigorate efforts to eliminate malaria. The declaration calls for each country to extend its resource allocation and policies toward eliminating the disease along with improving accountability through tracking progress. A new malaria vaccine called RTS,S/AS01 emerged in June 2019. Botswana’s Ministry of Health is hoping that it will help to eliminate the mosquito-borne illness entirely.
  5. It Takes a Village: On a positive note, Botswana implemented a free school health program, including a team that tries to visit all public schools regularly. Dental therapists, nutrition officers and social welfare officers offer services. The probability of a child dying under the age of 5 is 37.27 per 1,000 live births in 2018, down from 38.23 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2017.
  6. A Decrease in Measles Cases: With 8,605 cases, 2010 was a record year for suspected measles–but in 2016, the number fell to 236. This was due to the annual campaign to immunize children under the age of 5 for measles.
  7. Improvement in Maternal Mortality Rate: Botswana’s maternal mortality ratio dropped from 151.6 per 100,000 live births in 2016 to 133.7 in 2018. The government’s goal is to decrease the ratio to under 70 deaths per 100,000 by 2030. In other good news, estimates determined that 99.8% of all births have taken place in a health facility with the supervision of a skilled health professional.
  8. COVID-19 Update: Botswana is taking strong measures to fight the pandemic. On June 13, 2020, the capital city of Gaborone returned to extreme lockdown after there were eight new COVID-19 cases at one hospital. On June 16, 2020, the lockdown ended. Four additional cases brought the total number of cases in the country to 175, with one death.

Healthcare in Botswana is improving. According to a study that The Lancet conducted, Botswana rose to the fourth decile in Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQ) between 1990 and 2000. Botswana now ranks 122 out of 195 countries, with a HAQ index of 52, having risen from an index of 39.7 in 2000. Botswana’s total spending on health per capita (International $, 2014) was $871, and total spending on health as a percentage of GDP was 5.4%. These facts about healthcare in Botswana show that the country should increase spending on healthcare and improve education about communicable diseases. Accomplishing these goals should improve the general health of its populace.

– Sarah Betuel
Photo: Pixabay