Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

,

Improvements to Water Quality in the Netherlands

The Netherlands lies by the coast of the Atlantic Ocean with a temperate marine climate. It is rainy for most of the four seasons. There are hundreds of locations for groundwater extraction all over the Netherlands. Thanks to natural filtering and isolation from external sources of pollution, the groundwater has a low degree of contamination. Hence, it does not require complicated procedures for purification.

As reported by the Dutch public health agency RIVM, due to human factors, the quality of tap water in some areas of the Netherlands does not meet the expected standards. It is also indicated by its survey that about 60 percent of drinking water in the Netherlands is sourced from the ground, and the rest is provided by surface water. Because of the contamination resulted from pesticides, industrial emissions and improper waste disposal, more than half of the groundwater used is below the international standard of water quality.

Regarding surface water quality in the Netherlands, the quality was also poor due to the pollution from drugs, cosmetics, pesticides and other chemical residues. Some factories of wastewater treatment were unable to purify these harmful substances. RIVM has called for the establishment of a better environmental monitoring system on the sources of drinking water.

The drinking water quality in the Netherlands depends on the variations in regional management. The test standard is more strict than bottled water in the market.  The related Dutch laws such as Drinking Water Law and Water Pipeline Management Measures aim to ensure water quality. Organizations in the chain of water production, including companies and collective supply units, all must regularly check the water quality in the Netherlands and inspect the results. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment of the Netherlands also publishes annual reports on the quality of drinking water each year.

The latest Dutch water law was enacted in 2009. It aims to stress the impact of climate change and sea-level rise on flood control security, release the pressure of population demands from increased water consumption and accelerate integrated management of water resources.

Water quality in the Netherlands across drinking water from rivers, lakes and the ground has improved greatly over the past decade, to great praise. The successful practice of water management by law and regulations from the Dutch government has been recognized as “the miracle of drinking water” by media in Europe. Nevertheless, further efforts are still needed to maintain the water quality in the Netherlands, in addition to the promotion of water management practices from a single country to the world.

– Xin Gao

                                                       

The Chinese-Algerian Partnership Focuses on Social Housing

The Chinese-Algerian PartnershipCrowning a decade of substantial investment, the Chinese government gifted Algeria, its “comprehensive strategic partner” since 2014, with its very first opera house. After suffering through over half a century of political upheaval and extreme violence, Opera d’Alger represents the Algerian people’s hope for a future characterized by peace and cultural resurgence.

In 2010, the Chinese government announced a $40 million gift to Algeria in the form of the country’s first opera house, to be built in Algiers. After six years of planning and construction, the Opera d’Alger was completed in 2016.

Internationally, those keeping tabs on China’s rapid economic growth and increasing foreign investments see the Opera d’Alger as a symbol of Beijing’s considerable economic influence in Algeria. It is true that the Chinese-Algerian partnership has created close economic ties between the two countries. Since 2013, China has been Algeria’s top importer. According to Analyze Africa, a digital database providing macroeconomic data from leading global sources, “China’s influence in Algeria’s economy is undoubtedly most pronounced in the construction sector. Chinese firms have won billions in government infrastructure contracts in the past 15 years.”

Before 2015, when energy prices were favorable and Algeria’s economy was stable, the government announced a housing development plan to combat the rapid population growth and urbanization that had catalyzed a serious housing crisis, which had pushed many Algerians into slums and even into homelessness.

The government program, one of the most ambitious in the region, promised free, modern housing to those in need. Chinese firms fulfilled the majority of this exorbitant demand for construction; Chinese corporations have built nearly 250,000 homes in the country since the beginning of the 2000s. In addition to low-cost housing projects, Chinese construction contracts have included an East-West highway, an airport and shopping centers.

The foundation of the Chinese-Algerian partnership began in the 1950s, when China was the first non-Arab country to recognize Algeria’s bid for independence from France. Though ultimately successful in securing independence, the Algerian revolution was marked by extremely violent terrorist acts and a high civilian death toll. The post-revolutionary government in Algeria failed to achieve true stability, and in 1991 a civil war erupted between the state and various Islamic rebel groups. Algerian civilians once again suffered extreme and brutal violence, and tens of thousands of citizens were “forcibly disappeared”, never again to be heard from by their families.

Now referred to as the “Black Decade” in Algeria, the national recovery and reconciliation process is, according to many, still incomplete. The government’s housing program has been regarded as a significant step toward reconciliation with the Algerian people, but experts have criticized its efficacy, and the state’s newly instituted austerity measures necessitated by depressed energy prices have delayed its completion.

China’s gift of an opera house, then, is especially symbolic as a “home” for all. A glance through the events promoted on the Opera d’Alger’s Facebook page is indicative of the inclusive spirit its directors hope to promote in Algerian society. One of the first performances considered to be of a world-class standard given at the opera house was “Beyond Bollywood”, a theatrical showpiece of various traditional and modern forms of Indian dance. Recent performances include a concert dedicated to the memory and legacy of Algerian culture given by the National Ensemble of the Algerian Opera, a performance entitled “Rhythms and Colors of Algeria” given by the Algerian Ballet, “Agora: Greek Musical Fusion” and a rock concert by Algerian band Ithrene.

Though a concert of selected opera scenes from repertory standards such as Verdi’s La Traviata and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro was given at the Opera d’Alger earlier this month, a complete opera has yet to be staged at Opera d’Alger. It is likely that the Chinese-Algerian partnership will be furthered by tour performances by the Peking Opera.

Noureddine Saoudi, the director of the house, stated in a recent interview that aspiring artists will soon be able to participate in free creative master classes at the Opera d’Alger, as he and his colleagues hope to see the opera become a “radiant centre of culture and arts”.

With a recent history fraught with conflict and violence, and fresh disappointment caused by the current economic downturn, the Chinese government’s gift of Opera d’Alger seems to have come just in time to renew the Algerian people’s hope to rebuild their communities and usher in a new era of pride in their homeland.

– Savannah Bequeaith

Photo: Flickr

,

How You Can Help the People of Estonia

Help the People of EstoniaEstonia is a crucial ally for the United States in the modern age. On March 29, 2004, Estonia joined NATO as a means to strengthen their position in the world and form stronger international relations with the West. Since then, the United States, as well as many other key NATO members, have maintained a strong presence in Estonia to guarantee the nation’s security.

To help the people of Estonia, it is important to consider how to improve the state of their home lives. There are a lot of charitable groups that donate to help displaced children and young mothers.

Caritas Estonia is a valuable organization in Estonia which dedicates itself to improving the lives of vulnerable Estonian women. Their approach to helping the people of Estonia is to provide the support necessary to empower underage mothers and pregnant teenagers to participate and advance in the Estonian workforce.

Another organization working to strengthen Estonian families is SOS Children’s Villages (SOS CV). The organization started in 1992, shortly after Estonia gained its independence from Russia. SOS CV offers a valuable service to the most vulnerable 20 percent of Estonia’s population: it’s children. SOS CV provides homes for children whose parents can no longer afford to house them.

How can you help the people of Estonia? Browse the websites of these organizations to learn more about the work they do. You can donate your time and money to a worthy cause helping to strengthen the Estonian workforce and care for children in Estonia.

You can also email Congress via The Borgen Project’s website. The Borgen Project is an American organization whose purpose is to lobby U.S. Congress to implement policy changes to help reduce poverty around the globe.

These are just a few ways how you can help the people of Estonia.

– Tim Sherwood

Photo: Flickr

How to Help the United States Shipping Industry: Less Is More

United States Shipping IndustryThe solution to increasing the efficiency of USAID is indisputable. If the United States undoes shipping industry requirements that demand aid transport on American ships, the nation can feed more people at a lower cost. Here are all the facts you need to convince patriots that loosening United States shipping industry restrictions, not tightening them, is best for America.

The World Food Programme studied the role of hunger in cross-border migration. They discovered that “countries with the highest level of food insecurity…have the highest outward migration of refugees.” This statement supports the main thesis of the WFP: migrants seek security and safe living environments.

Politicians debate how to best help refugees abroad and whether America’s borders should open for migrants. Compelling arguments exist on both sides. One way to cut this Gordian knot of a debate is to alleviate the conditions that cause migrations in the first place. In short, less hunger results in fewer refugees.

But isn’t the United States shipping industry helping the world when it provides aid across the ocean? Though America does deliver a large portion of the world’s food, the country is not always best suited to help.

The magazine World Development conducted a study concerning the effectiveness of food aid. They discovered that acquiring food locally during a crisis is not only more cost-effective than oceanic food shipments by over 50 percent, but that locally delivered food saves, on average, 14 weeks compared to American deliveries. To save time (and money), the United States government could just provide food vouchers and significantly decrease world hunger. The American Enterprise Institute agrees, noting that shipping aid on U.S. vessels costs 46 percent more than aid sent at international rates.

By law, 50 percent of all food aid must be transported on U.S. flagged vessels. Half of the U.S.’s foreign food aid budget ($1.4 million) goes to shipping and storage. These regulations originate from the Jones Act, a 1920 bill designed to maintain domestic maritime commerce in times of emergency or war.

The American Maritime Partnership maintains this status quo by lobbying for the United States shipping industry. Even when Puerto Rico suffered from the destruction of a hurricane in 2015, the AMP considered the Jones Act crucial for U.S. security and refused to support a waiver.

In June 2017, the Trump administration drafted an executive order that would require all U.S. food aid to be transported on U.S. ships. This order was never finalized, despite Trump’s stated policy of supporting American businesses. The order stalled, in part, due to bipartisan opposition. In response to the reported draft, both Republicans and Democrats sent senators to inform the executive branch that Congress would not support such a measure. The Trump administration later waived requirements from the Jones Act in order to deliver aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

International welfare enjoys support from both sides of the aisle. Advocacy and communication from Democratic and Republican citizens have made their voices heard. Through organizations such as The Borgen Project, these voices declared that supporting foreign aid will support the American economy. The same activism has the same potential to make the foreign aid budget work at peak efficiency as well.

– Nick Edinger

Photo: Flickr

Hunger in Mozambique

Hunger in MozambiqueMozambique, a country in East Africa along the coast of the Indian Ocean, separates mainland Africa from Madagascar and is home to 34 million people. Unfortunately, 19 million of these individuals—approximately 65% of the population—live below the poverty level, making poverty and hunger significant problems in Mozambique.

Current Challenges

  • Mozambique ranks 107th out of 127 countries, with a score of 27.5 on the Global Hunger Index, which highlights the seriousness of the situation. 
  • Hunger in Mozambique is a significant challenge, with 54% of people unable to afford a nutritionally adequate diet, leading to additional issues within the population; for example, around 31% of the population is undernourished. 
  • The situation is especially dire for children under 5; 3.6% of them are acutely malnourished or wasted and 36.7% are suffering from stunted growth. Moreover, 6.6% of these children do not survive to their fifth birthday, with malnutrition being one of the primary causes.

Underlying Factors

  • Climate- Agriculture provides income for about 70% of Mozambique‘s population and is highly vulnerable to climate-related events such as droughts, floods and cyclones, which are very common in the country. In 2024, El Nino events precipitated extreme drought in some parts of the country, which, combined with the cyclone, above-average rainfalls in some parts and floods, has destroyed crops. The adverse events have impacted around 20 million people nationwide, leading to a 24% increase in food prices. This hike has made essential items less affordable and contributed to rising hunger among the population.
  • Armed Conflict- The ongoing conflict during the last decade has led to the destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of at least one million people. This has resulted in a vulnerable population that is sinking further below the poverty line, facing increased hunger and malnutrition and struggling with inadequate shelter. Poor sanitation and hygiene have contributed to the emergence of diseases, while children’s education has also been adversely affected. These issues have significantly impacted both the displaced population and the host communities.
  • Global Economic Crisis- The pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict have worsened conditions, increasing commodity prices in the country. This has heightened poverty and hunger among the population in Mozambique. 

Helping Hands

Many organizations are working and striving for change in Mozambique. Two are the World Food Program (WFP) and Action Against Hunger.

  • World Food Program- The WFP assists the population in various ways. It provides school meals and nutrition support, mainly targeting pregnant women and children in affected areas. Additionally, the WFP offers livelihood support through seeds, agricultural kits and disaster warnings and thus plays a vital part in efforts to reduce hunger in Mozambique.
  • Action Against Hunger- Action Against Hunger has been active since 2021, assisting communities during disasters, like cyclones and droughts, through cash transfers, food supplies and health care. The organization also helps build resilience by supporting agriculture, fishing and reconstructing damaged infrastructure.

Path Forward

The challenges in Mozambique require urgent and sustained action. The situation is complex, but by promoting sustainable agriculture practices, providing immediate food assistance and building resilience in communities through disaster preparedness tools, we can help create a healthier and more secure future for the people of Mozambique. Achieving zero hunger and lifting communities out of poverty will only be possible through the collaborative efforts of the government, aid organizations and the international community.

– Maria Waleed

Photo: Flickr
Updated: November 26, 2024

Top Three Causes of Poverty in Kyrgyzstan

Causes of Poverty in KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan is a mountainous country located in Central Asia, west of China and south of Kazakhstan. It gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and has had a rocky road, both politically and economically, since.

The GDP of Kyrgyzstan is $5.4 billion and it has the second-lowest GNI in Europe and Central Asia, after Tajikistan. The poverty rate is 32.1 percent. Kyrgyzstan ranks 126th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and 66th out of 146 countries on the Gender Inequality Index. Poverty is a relevant issue, and there are three main causes of poverty in Kyrgyzstan.

1. No more Soviet support

Kyrgyzstan does not export many goods, though agriculture is the largest sector. While it has gold deposits that make mining attractive, the deposits do not make up for the other economic deficiencies. When Kyrgyzstan was part of the Soviet bloc, it could count on other Soviet satellite states for market opportunities, specifically on Russia for investment. Since independence, it no longer has this safety net.

Unemployment is 8.4 percent, so many workers leave the country and go to Russia to find opportunities. However, the remittances from former workers are not enough to sustain the economy. The economy has stabilized since the 1990s, but it has a long way to go before it can support the 6 million citizens of Kyrgyzstan.

2. Insufficient agricultural development

Perhaps one of the largest causes of poverty in Kyrgyzstan is its dependence on agriculture despite gaps in knowledge and resources. Two-thirds of the population live in rural areas: however, these people are not adequately trained in land management, animal husbandry, veterinary practices and harvest techniques. This results in land that can no longer produce food and feed animals at full capacity and a group of people who cannot subsist on their agricultural efforts alone.

It is not surprising then that 75 percent of poor people in Kyrgyzstan live in rural areas and that 12 percent of the total population is food insecure.

3. Lack of financial resources

Another result of the Soviet collapse in Kyrgyzstan is weak financial institutions. Financial institutions – such as a strong banking system, investment capabilities, microfinancing and personal finance management – are all key to sustaining economic growth, regardless of the dominant sectors.

Few people, especially those in rural areas, have access to banks and therefore have no ability to invest or save. Even at a national level, money is frequently mismanaged and Kyrgyzstan ranks poorly on the Corruption Perceptions Index.

Kyrgyzstan may have a high poverty rate, but it has made great strides in reducing poverty in recent years. In 2000, the poverty rate was 62 percent: it has since been halved.

Economic and political uncertainty pose barriers to poverty reduction and economic development, but there is hope. The causes of poverty in Kyrgyzstan are not incurable. Since the political revolution in 2010, Kyrgyzstan has been steadily stabilizing and there is no reason to believe it won’t continue reducing its poverty rate.

– Olivia Bradley

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Causes of Poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Causes of Poverty in St. Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines is a small island nation in the Caribbean that has faced a number of challenges in the past decade. The nation has a negative population growth rate of 0.4% and approximately 20% of the total population was unemployed in 2021. There are several causes of poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. However, most of these problems are related to the country’s failing economy and poor education system.

The Failure of the Banana Industry

The failure of the banana industry around 2008 pushed much of the population into unemployment or poverty and the sudden rise of the construction industry has created an income gap. Very low wages across the country and few job opportunities led to a poverty rate of 30% in 2016.

In 2021, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ poverty rate is higher than the average rate (23%) for the Eastern Caribbean. The nation needs to focus on better integration into the global economy and on creating a more competitive national economy.

Low Education Level

Low education levels have also been one of the larger causes of poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. While programs exist, such as the School Meals and Textbooks program, to help low-income families educate their children, many poor children still need to attend school every day. The literacy rate was 96% in 2022, but younger generations had higher levels than older generations.

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality in relation to access to education is another of the causes of poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2017, it was reported that more than 52% of women had their first pregnancy between the ages of 15 and 19. Additionally, women occupied only 18.2% of seats in parliaments.

It was also noted that the labor market was inherently biased and women needed much higher levels of education to be able to compete with men. Households with a female head tended to be much poorer and there was no formal legislation to deal with gender discrimination in the workplace.

Efforts From the Government

Strides have been made, however, toward reducing poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In terms of the economy, tourism has become a larger sector and has created more jobs. With increased tourism has come increased construction, which has also created the need for more labor.

In terms of education, in 2014, the government developed an Education Sector Development Plan, which aims to create a set of objectives to improve education in the country. These goals focused on providing good quality and compulsory primary education to all children, particularly girls and ethnic minorities and improving literacy rates and access to higher education for both boys and girls.

While there is only a little recent data about poverty in the nation, these goals are quite progressive and have shown solid attempts to reduce the causes of poverty in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With continued effort from the government, the small island nation should be able to develop further and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

– Liyanga De Silva

Photo: Flickr
Updated: May 29, 2024

12 Countries Selected for Next Phase of Feed the Future

Feed the FutureRecently the U.S. Agency for International Aid Development Administrator, Mark Green, announced the next phase for Feed the Future, and listed 12 countries that will be targeted to receive aid.

Feed the Future is a global hunger and food insecurity initiative that was founded in 2010. Originally, the project targeted 19 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Since 2011, Feed the Future has contributed to reducing poverty by 19 percent and dropped child stunting by 26 percent. 9 million more people are living over the poverty line and 1.7 million households are no longer suffering from hunger. Feed the Future farmers have produced higher maize and groundnut yields that were, on average, 23 percent and 64 percent higher than national averages.

Going forward, Green stated that the countries that would be targeted for this next phase are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda. These countries were chosen based on their level of need, potential for growth, opportunities for partnership, opportunities for regional efficiencies, host government commitment and resource availability.

In Bangladesh, 40 million people (25 percent) remain food insecure and 31.5 percent of the population live below the poverty line. Ethiopia faces a 29.6 percent poverty rate and 40.2 percent of people are malnourished. In Ghana, the poverty rate is 25.2 percent which is a significant decrease, however there are still a lot of Ghanaians who are food insecure and live below the poverty line.

In Honduras, there is a 33 percent poverty rate and it is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Kenya has a 42 percent poverty rate and faces a humanitarian crisis as an influx of refugees enter the country. Mali’s gross national income is $580 and the poverty rate is 59.2 percent as of 2005. 25.2 percent of Nepal’s population lives below the poverty line.

The poverty rate in Niger is 48.9 percent. In Nigeria, the poverty rate is 53.5 percent and their GDP growth is -1.5 percent. Senegal’s poverty rate is 38 percent and the GNI is $950. Finally, Uganda has a 34.6 percent poverty rate and a GNI of $660.

In the new phase, each of the target countries will develop a whole-government plan for reaching the goals laid out in the Global Food security strategy. This will focus its efforts on promoting sustainable developments and providing people in these areas with knowledge and resources to be able to feed themselves long term.

The announcement arrived just a year after the passing of the historic U.S. Global Food Security Act and is meant to continue the progress that began with that law.

– Téa Franco

Photo: Google

Combating Counterfeit Medicine in Africa

Counterfeit Medicine in AfricaThe global counterfeit medicine market is enormous, making up an estimated 10 percent of medicines sold globally. It is especially prominent in developing nations, in which up to 30 percent of all medications are found to be counterfeit or substandard. In Africa, this means that 120,000 people per year die from counterfeit anti-malarial drugs alone. Such is relatively unsurprising, when considering that an estimated one third of anti-malarial drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa are thought to be counterfeit.

One of the primary issues in tackling this issue of counterfeit medicine in Africa is a lack of public awareness; many individuals simply do not know they risk purchasing counterfeit or substandard medicine. Those entrenched in the cycle of poverty are most often the victims of counterfeit medicine, as they typically have a smaller variety of medicinal options available to purchase- meaning that they might unknowingly have no choice but to purchase a counterfeit drug. Further, the poor generally opt for cheaper medicines, unaware that such medicines are often counterfeit. This lack of variety and financial accessibility ensures that the counterfeit medicine market preys on the poor in particular.

In the effort to address the issue of counterfeit medicines, Nigeria has emerged as a world leader. The nation’s strategy focuses on three areas: public education regarding counterfeit medicines, increased regulation for medicinal imports to stem the flow of counterfeit medicines and reinforced points of entry to mitigate the smuggling of counterfeit medicines. Since it first began this strategy in 2001, Nigeria has successfully reduced the incidence of these drugs by 90 percent, clearly demonstrating that the issue can be successfully minimized through intentional actions.

Nigeria’s stance as the leader in the battle against counterfeit medicine made it the logical base for Sproxil – a company that has created a mobile phone-based technology to verify the authenticity of purchased medicines. Medicinal companies can register their products with Sproxil, receiving individualized scratch-codes to be placed on their products. Once the product reaches a consumer, the consumer scratches off the code and texts it to Sproxil, who then verifies the code in its database. If the code is not verified, the consumer is immediately alerted and given a number to report it. Considering the widespread use of technologies such as MobileMoney in Africa, the structure of Sproxil is ingenious and entirely conducive to the lifestyle of the average consumer.

To date, Sproxil has provided over five million anti-counterfeit labels, contributing to Nigeria’s strategy of public education regarding counterfeit medicines. The company seeks to expand beyond Nigeria, into Kenya and India next. The effectiveness of simple education and verification techniques in Nigeria serve as a wonderful example of successful strategies against counterfeit medicine in Africa, and also the world on the whole. If other developing nations are able to adopt a similar education and verification-based strategy to combat the counterfeit medicine market, the future is bright, indeed, for the increased mitigation of the issue on a global scale.

– Kailee Nardi

Photo: Flickr

David Oyelowo’s Humanitarian Work for Nigeria

David OyelowoThe Selma actor reached the heights of his career after receiving a 2015 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama. However, David Oyelowo’s humanitarian work for Nigeria is his greater achievement.

On September 27, 2017, Oyelowo was an honoree at the GEANCO Foundation Benefit and previously in 2015, for the GEANCO Global Promise Award, for his humanitarian work for Nigeria. He has contributed to the foundation which rallies support for women and children in Nigeria. In the past two years, Oyelowo, a Britsh-Nigerian native himself, has been an advocate for women in Nigeria who suffer from human-trafficking, gender inequality and marginalization.

In an interview with CNN, the actor spoke about his motivation for establishing a leadership scholarship fund for Nigerian girls affected by terrorist acts. His motivation was the kidnapping of 300 schoolgirls by a Jihadist group in Chibok, Nigeria in 2014, which sparked the Bring Back Our Girls movement. The actor also attributes his inspiration to the women in his life and Oprah Winfrey, who started her own school to benefit girls in Africa.

“I really value the contribution women make to society,” said Oyelowo, concerning his inspiration for the scholarship fund.

David Oyelowo’s humanitarian work for Nigeria was also demonstrated in 2016 when he joined the Save the Children Global Campaign along with other celebrities. This campaign involved writing an open letter to Nigerian dignitaries and international charities warning them about the tens of thousands of children who would starve due to the Nigerian famine unless proper action was taken to prevent this at the humanitarian emergency donors meeting.

Additionally, David Oyelowo’s humanitarian work in Nigeria has involved advocating against human-trafficking. He was honored in June 2017 at the Diamond Empowerment Fund for using his platform to make a change. The actor spoke to Huffington Post about his objective to “extend his humanitarian efforts to combat the global epidemic of human trafficking.”

– Ashley Howard

Photo: Google