Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Homophobic Violence in Haiti

haiti_opt
In Port-au-Prince, a British Red Cross employee and his Haitian partner were targeted in a series of homophobic attacks perpetrated by locals wielding petrol bombs and rocks. The attack, which unfolded at a celebration of the couple’s engagement, injured several people before the police arrived to dissolve the violence.

The attack unfolded at a pivotal time in the larger national conversation concerning gay marriage. Last month, over one thousand Haitians protested in the streets for legalized marriages, an unprecedented event in a country where homosexuality too often carries a deleterious social stigma.

On August 19th, the United Nations in Haiti addressed the rise in homophobic violence in the country, urging “…all Haitians to continue working together towards the construction of a state based on the respect for the rule of law; respect for others, tolerance, individual dignity and human rights.”

The UN statement also underscored that Article 19 of the Haitian Constitution grants the right “…to life, health, and respect of the human person for all citizens without distinction, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights”.

Tellingly, Haiti has entered the international human rights conversation revolving around LGBT issues, a tendentious discourse that has proven to be an ongoing struggle in both developed and developing nations alike.

– Anna Purcell

Sources: Daily Mail, UN, i95.5
Photo: i95.5fm

, , ,

Low-Income Indian Families Get a Boost from World Bank

Low_Income_Indian_Families_world_bank
A $100 million credit agreement, signed by the World Bank and the Indian Government, will help low-income Indian families access a loan to purchase, build, or upgrade their dwellings.

The National Housing Bank (NHB) will implement the Low Income housing Finance Project, which will support the government’s agenda for financial inclusion on two counts. First, it will enable low-income households in urban areas to access housing finance, and second will strengthen the capacity of financial institutions that target these groups.

India faces a crippling housing shortage; as its urban population continues to rapidly expand, the urban housing shortage is estimated to be 19 million (as of 2012). Low-income families bear the brunt of the problem; they are faced with an estimated 90% of the shortage.

The housing sector is vulnerable to challenges because current land use policies and building norms restrict the availability of housing. Since the majority of the low-income population works in the informal sector, they lack documentation of income and therefore require customized lending products; as a result, developers are reluctant to enter the low-income market due to the perceived risks associated with these buyers.

As the Indian government strives to achieve financial inclusion for the whole population, the project will let the NHB innovate and provide financial solutions for improving low-income access to housing.

R.V. Verma, chairman and managing director of National Housing Bank said, “The program, which will explore sustainable housing finance models for low income households, has been conceived imaginatively and is consistent with the vision and charter of the NHB.”

Michael Haney, operations advisor at the World Bank, explained how the influx of 10 million Indians to towns and cities each year run into trouble finding loans to build or buy themselves houses. “They are forced to use unregulated, informal sources of finance at much higher rates of interest,” he explained.

The new initiative will help families move from informal sources of finance to longer-term, official sources for their housing needs; risk management, market infrastructure and new products will be implemented in order to achieve this goal.

Initially, the project will launch pilot programs to test the sustainability of these lending guidelines and products, and the long-term goal will be to preserve affordability for low-income families by finding alternative forms of collateral to reduce credit risk and keep interest rates at manageable levels.

– Chloe Isacke

Sources: World Bank, Economic Times
Photo: Kootation

Elephantiasis in Haiti Might Be Ending Soon

elephantiasis_in_haiti
Lymphatic filariasis (LF), a condition known as “elephantiasis” that can lead to the severe and debilitating swelling of the arm or the leg, is considered one of the most disabling diseases for those affected. In Haiti, the condition is present in 118 of 135 communities, which leaves 88% of the country as a potential risk zone. It is classed as a “neglected tropical disease;” although it has long disappeared from industrialized countries, it remains a severe threat for those living in developing regions of the world.

Mass Drug Administration (MDA) was achieved on a national level in Haiti in 2012, with many of the endemic regions having taken part in the program for at least four years. The LF infection can be prevented and treated with a combination of medicines – a single dose of Albendazole and Diethylcarbamazine Citrate – that cost about 50 cents per person each year. The World Health Organization recommends that the drugs are taken for five years in order to stop transmission of the disease, but acknowledges that it is just as important to address the emotional effects of the infection, as it is the physical.

Haiti’s MDA program is now up for assessment; while the project has been successful in reducing transmission, applying the concept to Haiti has been challenging. Extreme poverty, periodic social unrest, and depleted health system infrastructure have persisted as roadblocks to the program. Now, a more holistic approach is being taken by the disability charity, CBM. In partnership with the University of Notre Dame and Hospital St. Croix, CBM is addressing the unmet need of those who already have LF; by setting up self-help groups, they are empowering patients through self-care education, and psychological and emotional support. These clubs meet twice a month and participants receive information about self-care, hygiene and basic limb care. All members receive a hygiene kit, which includes alcohol swabs and antiseptic soaps to clean their feet.

The CBM program combines global heath research and education and puts the two elements into practice; not only does it help prevent LF, but it provides care for those affected by it. Community programs, such as the one provided by CBM, addresses issues other than the physical disability, by promoting inclusion and tackling the stigma for people suffering from clinical manifestations of LF. This comprehensive partnership complements the MDA program and is a crucial mechanism in the fight to address, prevent, and eliminate elephantiasis in Haiti.

– Chloe Isacke

Sources: The Guardian, The Root
Photo: Management Sciences for Health

What Is a Foundation?

definition of foundation
Nonprofits, charities, and foundations are often lumped into the general definition of “charity” when it comes to global poverty. That is to say, these three terms are used interchangeably in reference to altruistic organizations across the globe. Yet charities and foundations can be quite different from one another.

Nonprofits, or non-profit organizations, are organizations that operate on a not-for-profit business model. That is to say, nonprofits use whatever profit they may earn to reinvest in pursuit of the organization’s unique charitable interests. Within the category of nonprofits, however, charities and foundation take on very different challenges. We can most easily see the difference by studying these organizations side-by-side.

Whereas charities, such as homeless shelters, often bleed money and are constantly searching for new or continued sources of income to support their projects and programs, foundations are the organizations that supply those funds. In short, charities are nonprofits that either reinvest the profits they make or rely on outside sources of funding. Foundations, on the other hand, are the grantmakers that make such funding happen.

Foundations can be divided into two or three subcategories: private foundations, public charities, and private operating foundations. Private foundations and public charities make up the majority of foundations, while private operating foundations represent the remaining minority.

Private foundations are funded by individuals or families, often operated by the donor or family members of the donor themselves. Public charities, accounting for more than half of all 501(c)(3) organizations, derive their support from diverse sources, including individuals, corporations, other foundations, and even government agencies. Both kinds of foundations, however, as well the lesser-known private operating foundation, work to provide grants for unrelated charitable purposes, which is what very clearly distinguishes a foundation from a charity or the more general definition of non-profit organization.

– Herman Watson

Sources: Grant Space, Minnesota Council on Foundations, How Stuff Works
Photo: Henry Lim

4Afrika Changes Technology Around the World

4Afrika
Technological capabilities in developed countries continue to evolve, changing the way our economies operate. These new tools give citizens the power they need to innovate even further. What’s more, the ability to access and use new technology properly is more and more becoming a requirement in the workforce.

Developing countries in Africa have citizens who haven’t been able to receive the positive impacts that this technology has to offer. Just seven percent of the African population has consistent access to the Internet. It is an impact that can change their individual lives and the lives of those in their communities. The 4Afrika initiative, powered by Microsoft, hopes to get these citizens up to speed with modern day technology. 4Afrika works to empower African youth and set them up for the future through three focus areas.

1. World-Class Skills

The 4Afrika Initiative works to develop a competitive, academic environment that generates young entrepreneurs. The Afrika Academy, where technological capabilities flourish, can be accessed by those with strong academic merit. Research institutions and local African universities partner to fund this innovative project. The Academy will provide advanced training that will help citizens gain employment in the workforce, benefitting the communities they live in.

2. Access to Technology

The initiative plans to make smart devices, including Windows PCs, slates, and smartphones, affordable to African communities. Injecting these capabilities into the communities is an important step in empowering the citizens. Developing stronger Internet connections and access in local African communities is also important to the initiative.

3. Innovation

Innovation is something constantly occurring across the globe, and something that Africa desperately needs. Microsoft has recently been developing new Microsoft applications that will be beneficial to developing nations. The 4Afrika Initiative plans to give the technological capabilities and market support needed to allow African communities to flourish.

Click here  for more information on this innovative campaign.

– William Norris

Sources: Microsoft, Internet World Statistics
Photo: Biztech

3 High Rated Charities With Low Paid CEOs

Charities_With_Low_Paid_CEOs
Some of the most successful charities in the world, charities that earn large amounts of revenue annually, happen to have some of the lowest paid CEOs. These CEOs truly give everything to their company, taking miniscule amounts of money to support themselves while dedicating the rest to the cause. Below are three of the lowest paid CEOs operating some of the highest rated charities. All ratings on Charity Navigator are out of 70.

1. Deborah Rickert – Operation Support Our Troops-America

Coming in at 64.45 on the Charity Navigator scale, this organization is dedicated to ensuring that US soldiers and families receive the resourceful comfort that they deserve. While this charity raises almost 1.5 million dollars a year for the cause, its president Deborah Rickert receives only 3.77% of expenses. With a base pay of $53,500, Rickert truly gives her everything to this important cause.

2. Tom Webster – Habitat For Humanity of Spartanburg

This Christian Ministry supports the citizens of Spartanburg by building affordable housing for those in need. It comes in at 63.34 on the Charity Navigator Scale, raising 1.36 million in 2012. The executive director of this cause Tom Webster receives just 3.83% of expenses, netting a base pay of 53,000 dollars.

3. Lisa Hopper – World Care

Serving to provide emergency relief within 24 hours of a natural disaster, World Care made in difference in 2012 with over 4 million in revenue. Of the expenses, Lisa Hopper receives only 1.1 percent. This equates to a salary of $45,000. Her dedication to the cause is reflected through this information.
It is easy to assume that CEOs of organizations take home a large piece of the pie, regardless of whether the organization is for or not for profit. The CEOs above have taken significantly lower annual earnings to help their charities succeed. As a result, these charities with low paid CEOs are some of the highest rated today.

– William Norris

Sources: Charity Navigator, OSOT America
Photo: Open

Why Do Slums Exist?

Why do Slums Exist?
Put simply, the term “slum” refers to “a heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor.” But why do slums exist? In an effort to include quantifiable data in the definition, a group of UN experts suggested expanding it to refer to areas that combine inadequate access to safe water, sanitation and other infrastructure, structurally poor housing, overcrowding, and an unstable residential population.

Today, slums are becoming the most obvious materialization of urban poverty in developing world cities; in Nairobi, Kenya, 60% of the population lives in slums. That 60% is crowded onto only 5% of the land.

The existence of slums is caused and sustained by a number of forces, including rapid rural-to-urban migration, insecure tenure, and globalization.

 

Why Do Slums Exist? 4 Illuminating Facts

 

Rural-to-urban migration amplifies slum formation because city planning and management systems are unable to effectively manage the considerable population influx. For perspective, consider these facts:

  • UN-HABITAT projects that by 2030, Africa will no longer be a rural continent, as more than 50% of its population will be in cities.
  • Today, 75% of the population of Latin America lives in urban areas as the result of a significantly rapid rate of urbanization since the 1970’s
  • Asia, home to 80% of the world’s population, currently sustains 36% of their population in cities.
  • Mumbai, Calcutta and Bangkok are home to over 10 million people; between one-third and one-half of them live in slums.

Insecure tenure means tenants are not protected from unpredictable rent increases and eviction processes. Insecure tenure inhibits opportunities for residents to acquire credit, which limits tenants’ ability to improve upon their homes. A revolving door of tenants does little to inspire feelings of community or pride in one’s home.

Globalization also promotes slum living. Global economic booms and busts lead to uneven wealth distribution. Historically, global economic cycles have been responsible for creating many of major city slums in the developed world, and it is likely globalization will do the same to the developing world.

Addressing slums and their contributing factors are keys to sustaining progress toward the Millennium Development Goal to significantly improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. Although the percentage of people living in urban slums has decreased from 39% in 2000 to 33% in 2012, 863 million people are estimated to still be living in slums as of 2012.

– Dana Johnson

Sources: UN-HABITAT, Business Dictionary, UN
Photo: Portal OZK

3 Top Charities for Measurable Returns

Charities_for_Measurable_Returns
When people choose to donate to one charity over another, they frequently do it guided by a strong conviction or emotion rather than pure rationale. Charity evaluators, however, are rapidly changing the way people think about giving back to society.

They argue that rather than giving to the cause that is closest to one’s heart, one should give to those charities that are the most effective, in measurable terms. One of the most trusted of these charity evaluators is GiveWell, a San Francisco-based group founded in 2007 by two hedge-fund staffers.

It recommends charities to donors according to four main criteria. First, the organization must provide strong evidence of positive impact on people’s lives. Second, it must be involved in highly cost-effective activities that provide a high, measurable return for every dollar invested. Third, the program must demonstrate that there is room for more funding and that it can productively put to good use additional donors’ dollars. Fourth, the charity must be transparent and accountable to donors.

Although GiveWell has been criticized for its results-based approach – leading it to favor health care interventions in the developing world, while ignoring others that cannot provide evidence of success due to the nature of their activities –  its evaluations do carry weight in the world of philanthropy.

Its top three recommended charities are:

1. Against Malaria Foundation (AMF)

GiveWell believes that AMF effectively expands access to bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 1 million people – mostly children – die each year of malaria. Through providing insecticide-treated bed nets that cost only $5 each, AMF prevents deaths and many other non-fatal cases of malaria.

2. GiveDirectly

According to GiveWell, GiveDirectly effectively distributes cash to extremely low-income individuals in Kenya. By directly transferring money to the very poor, recipients are allowed to spend more on their basic needs – such as food – and other investments that have high returns.

3. Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI)

GiveWell states that SCI effectively expands access to deworming treatments in sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, a large percentage of the population, especially children, are infected with parasite worms that cause short-term symptoms such as anemia, and long-term developmental problems. This condition is relatively easy to treat: around $5 can protect a child for 10 years.

All three charities work in Africa, which is not surprising given that money can go much further in the poorest regions of the world. Twenty-five dollars, for example, allows someone in the developing world to get an eye surgery, while in the United States, this is an insignificant amount. Although most people prefer giving back to causes that are close to home, sometimes those in greatest need are far off.

– Nayomi Chibana

Sources: GiveWell, The Guardian, The New York Times
Photo: Harpers

, , , , ,

5 Ways to Make Your Workout Fight Poverty

Workout_Fight_Poverty
We all know working out is good for us. It makes you feel good and improves your health. But what if your workout could fight poverty as well? Sound too good to be true? It’s not! Here are 5 ways that you can help end poverty with your workout:

1) Charity Miles: This free app will track how many miles you run, walk, or bike and sponsor your efforts. For every mile you run or walk, they’ll donate a quarter, while a mile biking translates to a dime for charity. When you’re done with your workout, you share your success on a social media site and they send the money to a charity of your choice!

2) Run For Charity: This website will help you find a charity to run for. Charity runners use their training and hard work to raise money for the charity of their choice. Charities are extremely supportive of their runners, providing help with registration, training, and fundraising. Some will even have race day events for their runners. This is a great opportunity for runners to put all those miles to good use.

3) Plus 3 Network: This network was created by four guys who wanted to encourage people to get out and ride their bikes more. It has since grown to include all forms of exercise, which you can log on their website. You earn money for charity by logging your activity, so you feel even better about that yoga class or walk around the block.

4) Eco-Friendly Workout Gear: You show yourself some love by working out and staying healthy. Show the earth some love, too, by purchasing eco-friendly workout gear. Be sure to buy your shoes, socks, and clothing from eco-friendly companies like Montrail (shoes), Teko (socks), or Patagonia (clothing). Using reusable water bottles will keep plastic ones out of landfills and save you money. You can also look for secondhand fitness supplies, like weights, treadmills, and exercise balls to cut down on waste.

5) Donate Your Old Workout Gear: That fitness equipment that you just don’t use anymore could help someone else lead a healthier life. You can donate old sports balls, shoes, cleats, and the like to Sports Gifts, which redistributes old workout gear to underprivileged kids. Old tennis balls can go to Rebounces, which restores them and resells them as practice balls, saving space in our landfills. Your old orthotics that helped you get back to the activities you love can be given to Rebounces’ philanthropic organization, Joni and Friends. The nonprofit will give the equipment to disabled or injured people in the developing world.

– Katie Fullerton

Sources: Charity Miles, Plus 3 Network, SparkPeople, Oprah
Photo: DX Foundation

Asian Americans Facing High Poverty Rates

asian_americans
It is often assumed that Asian Americans are one of the minority groups in the United States that is doing well economically. However, this statement too broadly categorizes all Asian subgroups. According to the official poverty rate from the U.S. Census in 2011, the Asian American poverty rate was actually 2.5% higher than that of Caucasians.

In fact, amongst poor Asian Americans, Southeast Asians face some of the highest poverty rates in the whole country. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles conducted a study on income sources, home foreclosures and housing burden. The study indicated that Southeast Asians in the United States have consistently relied on food stamps for many decades. Moreover, language barriers are still major roadblocks that prevent Southeast Asian Americans from entering new labor markets.

The poverty rate for Asian Americans is highest amongst Hmong, Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese. Hmong Americans have a startlingly high poverty rate at 37.8%, followed closely by Cambodian Americans at 29.3% and Laotian Americans at 18.5%.

According to a study by UCLA scholars on Asian Americans in eight different states, 23% of Hmong Americans in Fresno, California relied on cash public assistance for income. This is comparably higher than the 10% of Asian Americans that also did so. It is also significantly higher than the 3% of Caucasians who used public cash assistance. Hmong Americans were also amongst the least likely to receive social security benefits or retirement income.

Additionally, Southeast Asians have especially high rates of depression and suffer higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder compared to the rest of the general Asian American population. These facts definitely counter the model minority stereotype that all Asian Americans belong to one monolithic group.

A study on social trends by Pew Research has found that with a population exceeding 18.2 million – or 6% of the U.S. population – Asian Americans have become one of the fastest growing minority groups in the U.S. Moreover, Asian Americans have become the nation’s best-educated and highest-paid racial or ethnic group. Yet these findings run the risk of perpetuating the stereotype of Asians as high achieving.

Additionally, such facts tend to hide the growing poverty amongst Southeast Asian Americans.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans has stated that the media has narrowed in on “one-dimensional narratives of exceptionalism,” of successful Asian American families, usually eastern Asians such as Chinese or Japanese.

Due to popular perception of Asian Americans in general, poverty amongst sub-groups is not well known. Thus in order to truly fight poverty in the United States a more inclusive examination of poverty trends is vital.

– Grace Zhao

Sources: LA Times, Diverse Education, White House, National Alliance in Mental Illness
Photo: Asia Foundation