Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Disability and Poverty in Cuba

Disability and Poverty in CubaCuba is a developing country in the Caribbean, with a population of 10.9. Cuba’s economy relied heavily on the Soviet Union, which started in 1960. However, during the early ’90s, the Soviet Union fell and Cuba’s economy suffered. Since 2018, the Cuban economy has been severely impacted by international blockade and sanctions. The COVID-19 pandemic has also hindered Cuba’s economic growth. In 2020, Cuban gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 11% and only increased by 0.4% in 2021 and 1.8% in 2022. Moreover, Cuba’s economy has recently experienced inflation and the population has had limited access to essential resources like food and health products. The nation’s fuel supply has also struggled to meet the needs of citizens, causing periodic energy and transport crises.

In 2023, more than 360,000 people with disabilities lived in Cuba and they were all impacted by these economic challenges. The Data Disability Initiative published that women with physical disabilities experience a higher level of multidimensional poverty than women without physical disabilities. Despite these challenges, the Cuban government has made efforts to develop education policies that better cater to children with disabilities. International organizations like the United Nations Children’s Fund and Humanity and Inclusion (HI) have been helping improve the quality of life for people living with disability and poverty in Cuba.

Challenges

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Cuba has not established its domestic laws in agreement with the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, nor has the nation’s government developed effective disability rights policies related to accessibility, legal capacity, education, independent living and employment. As of 2022, Cuban law suggests that public buildings, health services and transportation services should all accommodate people with disabilities. However, the government generally has not enforced this law effectively, resulting in the needed facilities and accommodations being rarely available for people with disabilities.

According to the 2019 Multiple Indicator Survey 6 results, 10% of women ages 18 to 49 with much functional difficulty have less than primary school as their highest level of education received, while only 1% of women with some functional difficulty and 0% of women with no functional difficulty have less than primary school as their highest level of schooling. Significant differences exist in the number of women with adequate housing and asset ownership. Women who have some functional difficulty are less likely to have these resources and women with much difficulty have even lower rates of access to these resources. Women with some functional difficulty and much functional difficulty were also more likely to report being discriminated against or harassed based on any ground, with rates of 3% and 15%, respectively.

Government Support for Education

Cuba’s 2012 Population and Housing Census took note of 41,374 children and adolescents with disabilities and many live in rural areas. About 57% of this total are visually impaired children and children with intellectual disabilities. Cuba has 355 schools for children who have disabilities, with 33,975 children and students enrolled in these schools in the 2017-2018 school year. Also, 1,978 mainstream schools at all levels educate 11,037 students with disabilities.

Education is state policy in Cuba. The government puts much effort into financing education, resulting in residual illiteracy of 0.2%, an average of 10.1 years of schooling and 10% of the GDP being used for school funding since 2004. Cuba has special and inclusive schools that work together to educate children with disabilities. In 2019, out of 10,598 schools, 342 (3%) of the total schools in the country were special schools. Special schools use the same teaching materials and curriculum as mainstream schools. However, they are flexible so that they can adapt to the specific needs of each student.

Special schools were established as resource centers with exit strategies that help students with disabilities smoothly transition into mainstream schools. In 2019, the number of students attending different centers was 102,477 in mainstream schools, 33,639 in special schools, 1,070 in technical and professional education and 180 in higher education. According to data collected from UNICEF Cuba in 2020, 15% of the students who attended trade schools were graduates of special schools.

Nonprofit Aid

HI is an international nonprofit that focuses on helping vulnerable populations, especially people with disabilities. It has been working in 60 countries around the world, including Cuba. This nonprofit helps Cubans with disabilities, especially women and young people, find employment by giving them kits with the necessary tools to become economically self-sufficient. HI’s teams also raise awareness about disability issues for local employers and help develop new adapted activities and jobs. In 2016, HI’s project helped more than 1,400 people with disabilities in Cuba. The organization’s project partnered with 800 health professionals and community officers, further assisting people with a disability and reducing poverty in Cuba.

Similarly, in 2019, UNICEF helped train 548 specialists across all 16 provinces of Cuba to provide the necessary care for students with disabilities who attend mainstream schools. UNICEF has been working on improving the capacities of teachers, principals and families in rural areas to ensure that students with intellectual disabilities attending mainstream schools receive the educational services they need. UNICEF also uses a communication-for-development strategy to encourage social and academic inclusion for children with disabilities.

Summary

While there seems to be further work to do to strengthen the country’s policies on transportation, employment and independent living for people with disabilities, progress has been made in addressing the needs of children and adolescents through institutions like special schools. International organizations like UNICEF and HI have also been helping to fill the gaps in providing the resources citizens living with disability and poverty in Cuba need.

UNICEF is improving education for children with disabilities by training teachers, principals and families in rural areas to understand intellectual disabilities better. HI’s program in Cuba supports people with disabilities by helping them find employment and providing materials for economic self-sufficiency. Overall, progress is being made in supporting people with disabilities in Cuba and continued support will be crucial for sustaining this advancement.

– Elisabeth Nwasokwa

Elisabeth is based in Bellerose, NY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Addressing Poverty in Madagascar

Poverty in MadagascarSituated in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southern Africa, Madagascar has one of the worst poverty rates, exacerbated by recurring natural disasters. According to Global Finance Magazine, Madagascar is ranked the ninth poorest country in the world, with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $1,979. With a population of 29.61 million, its residents face the threat of losing their livelihoods due to rising deforestation and adverse climatic conditions across the island nation.

As a result of these factors, poverty remains a consistent problem within Madagascar. Marks Jacobs, managing director of SEED Madagascar, weighs in his knowledge on the effects of poverty within the nation and its people. “Poverty is a highly complex issue and there can be many types of poverty. It encompasses various deprivations beyond income, including education, health, living standards and access to services,” Jacobs said, “it’s most evident in Madagascar; people are monetarily incredibly poor.”

The Causes of Poverty in Madagascar

Homelessness is one of the major causes of poverty in Madagascar. The nation has a housing shortage of approximately two million. Homelessness exacerbates poverty by eliminating access to stable employment opportunities and essential services, thereby trapping individuals in a cycle of economic instability. Without a permanent address, securing jobs, health care and other critical resources becomes increasingly difficult, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

The biggest issue is food security. In the past 35 years, more than 50 natural disasters have struck the island nation and, in their wake, have left major food shortages. Responses to food shortages target the most vulnerable and undernourished communities by creating income opportunities for rural households. However, only some households are lucky. “Most recently, this monetary poverty has played into dire food security, particularly in the South,” Jacobs said, “This (year) has seen mashed to the edge of famine in some areas where families lack financial resilience to compensate for poor agricultural outcomes,” he further added.

The effect of poor agriculture is mainly due to much of Madagascar’s infertile soil and scarce water resources. Government and road services are inadequate and access by humanitarian agencies to communities in need is extremely difficult.

The Long-Term Solutions

However, organizations such as the World Bank believe the country can break the vicious cycle of poverty by receiving a sustained period of robust economic growth spanning multiple years. Jacobs, however, believes there is more to this theory. “Though extremely poor and low on the human development index, Madagascar does have a democratic government,” Jacobs added, “and a relatively stable currency with strong elements of international trade, which could argue that Madagascar was already, in fact, stable but poor.”

Madagascar needs to build a pro-growth coalition that prioritizes a strong institutional framework to foster a competitive sector. Addressing the urgent need for robust economic growth has long been a focus and to effectively reduce poverty, the country has to implement a strategic approach to development. Organizations trying to induce growth in Madagascar have attempted to implement a stable, reliable and effective public administration that can provide infrastructure and services that meet regulatory requirements. Some of these organizations include the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which helps the country slowly recover from a political crisis. However, the development challenges remain vast.

International Organization for Migration

A solution from IOM is careful migration, which can help explore possible employment opportunities and gain new resources. A base of operation in Antananarivo provides programs to channel the provision of capacity-building and advisory for those seeking to grow their communities with safe economics. IOM advocates for careful migration, which can help individuals explore employment opportunities and acquire new resources. With a base of operations in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, IOM offers programs that provide capacity-building and advisory services to support community growth through safe and sustainable economic practices.

On the other hand, another nonprofit organization, GlobalGiving, believes that a holistic approach to poverty can transform the lives of local inhabitants. In partnership with SEED Madagascar, it is working toward a $250,000 goal to fund product development and market access projects. This initiative aims to enhance the resilience of local flora and fauna suffering from poverty. By addressing these issues, the long-term impact will help people in Southeast Madagascar rise out of poverty and improve the quality of life for both the people and the vulnerable ecosystems they depend on.

Final Remark

Madagascar is a country in need of extensive support as it recovers from decades of adversity, including natural disasters and infertile soil that hindered crop growth. Despite these challenges, global organizations are committed to helping the country rebuild and create new opportunities for its inhabitants.

– Jacob Barker

Jacob is based in Ames, IA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything You Need to Know about Health Care in Bangladesh

Health Care in BangladeshAs of March 2024, Bangladesh has committed to transforming into a Smart-Bangladesh High-Income Country by 2041, with health care identified as a key priority in this plan. A collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bangladeshi government has been established to advance health care. As of 2022, Bangladesh had only 13 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people, compared to the global median of 49. This partnership aims to improve these figures and enhance health care access for millions.

Life Expectancy in Bangladesh

Life expectancy in Bangladesh has increased significantly, from 65.6 years in 2000 to 73.1 years in 2021. This compares favorably to Southeast Asia’s overall life expectancy, which rose by 5.01 years from 63.4 years to 68.4 years in the same period. Bangladesh has improved the accessibility of health care, but there is more to be done.

Smiling Sun Clinics 

Smiling Sun Clinics has been a prominent part of health care in Bangladesh since 1997. It is the world’s largest nongovernmental organization (NGO) network of maternal and child health clinics globally. The NGO Health Services Delivery Project supports the Smiling Sun network, allowing millions of Bangladeshis to access health care. This network is composed of 25 NGOs and 399 clinics that are located in both urban and rural areas.

The services provided include emergency obstetric care and maternity care. More than 10,000 part-time clinics also operate and refer clients to full-time clinics if they believe more care is required. This allows community health workers to offer personal health care to their communities and helps to ensure universal health coverage.

The World Bank and USAID’s Roles in Health Care in Bangladesh

By 2025, one in every 10 people in Bangladesh will be 60 or older and this figure is expected to rise to one in five by 2050. In response, the World Bank organized a workshop in August 2023 to bring together health experts, stakeholders and policymakers. The goal is to foster progress in shaping health care to better address the needs of an aging population in Bangladesh.

Additionally, in August 2023, the World Bank approved $200 million to support primary health care in the country. This pledge benefited the Urban Health, Nutrition and Population Project, which will help 2.5 million children and provide 250,000 pregnant women with at least four antenatal checkups. Furthermore, in 2019, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in Bangladesh provided more than 46 million health service consultations. Technological improvements included developing solutions to detect deadly drug-resistant TB within two hours and digitizing national health information.

UNICEF’s Role

UNICEF’s immunization programs in Bangladesh have reached 3.5 million newborns with the Measles and rubella vaccine (MR1). Additionally, its nutrition interventions have improved the health and growth of countless children. The organization also helps strengthen health care infrastructure and train health workers to enhance service delivery for vulnerable populations.

– Amy Fox

Amy is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Innovative Education Programs in Haiti

5 Innovative Education Programs in Haiti Education in Haiti has faced significant challenges in recent years, from socio-economic issues to natural disasters, leaving the education system struggling to keep pace. Statistics reveal that more than 78% of students drop out after primary school and more than 40% of the population is illiterate. Most schools in Haiti are private and charge tuition, making education inaccessible for many. Only 29% of students advance to secondary school and the average age for girls dropping out is 7 years old. However, there is a positive shift occurring. Several charities have introduced education programs in Haiti that are transforming the educational landscape. Here are some innovative education programs in Haiti that have made a considerable impact.

Locally Haiti

Locally Haiti is a charity centered on community-driven, locally-led volunteer work in the Nippes region of Haiti. It manages several impactful projects, including hospitals, agriculture and women’s empowerment. A flagship educational program of the charity is St. Paul’s School, founded in 1989, which has educated more than 5,000 students from pre-K through high school. The curriculum includes basic academic subjects and emphasizes agricultural education in areas such as botany and horticulture.

Entrepreneurship also plays a critical role in the curriculum. Professor Vladimy, a St. Paul’s alum, teaches courses in business and economics, equipping students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for various career paths. St. Paul’s enrolls more than 54% female students, reflecting the school’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment for all attendees. Locally Haiti has awarded scholarships for higher education to more than 25 students and built a school facility that doubles as a relief center and community hub, further fostering a strong connection between students and their local community.

Blue Butterfly

Blue Butterfly is an innovative charity that creates engaging and informative media programs for schools in developing countries. It blends local culture and traditions with professional consulting to produce videos tailored to the needs and interests of children. The organization produces content locally, enabling children to use their mother tongue and connect with cultural figures familiar to them. Not only is the content rigorously researched, but it is also widely distributed to reach as many children as possible.

A notable educational program from Blue Butterfly in Haiti is the video series “Lakou Kajou,” which follows a brother and sister experiencing adventures around their family’s courtyard. This program includes episodes on math, science, literacy and problem-solving. The episodes, which feature animation, Haitian fables, live-action documentaries and artwork by local Haitian artists, are designed to be accessible. Blue Butterfly also partners with Université Quisqueya in Port-au-Prince, which helps extend the charity’s reach to schools in areas with limited internet and electricity.

Summits Education

Summits Education is a charity that supports schools in remote parts of Haiti. Established in 2015, the organization is dedicated to transforming education through teacher development and community engagement. In Haiti’s Central Department, where literacy rates are particularly low, the charity operates 40 schools in an area predominantly inhabited by farmers earning around $2 a day. For many residents, education represents a pathway out of poverty, enhancing community life, health and gender equality.

Summits Education emphasizes the crucial role of teachers in education. Instead of primarily investing in buildings and supplies and allocating leftover funds for teachers, the charity prioritizes its spending on educators. It adopts a ‘whole child approach,’ ensuring every child feels supported in their environment. This approach includes intensive training for the teachers and principals of their schools. Summits Education collaborates with the Haitian Ministry of Education and together they have trained 350 administrators and educated 10,000 students, to improve education programs in Haiti.

Model School Network

In 2016, the Model School Network was established to create a sustainable solution to the problem of underperforming schools in Haiti. Furthermore, three years earlier, education representatives in Haiti had convened three networks—EFACAP-Mirebalais, BDE-Hinche and Summits Education—to develop a strategy for improving the country’s educational system. These networks formed the Model School Network.

A key initiative of this network is the Longitudinal Benchmarking and Evaluation Systems (LBES), which aims to establish a data management system to monitor and enhance learning outcomes. The project has built a skilled team of managers and field agents who collect, process and analyze data on learning outcomes. It focuses on outcome-based measures to guide educational decisions and boost student performance. By gathering this data, the Model School Network can set precise future goals. Ongoing data analysis enables accurate progress evaluation, leading to data-driven decision-making and robust long-term solutions. The mission of MSE is straightforward: to recognize the potential of children and support it fully. “As long as we all come together and commit to helping one another look in all the right directions, we will find all the answers.”

The Haiti Project

The Haiti Project is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with students from Vassar College to support six primary initiatives: Art, Education, Water Access and Purification, Reforestation and Women’s Cooperative. Based in Chermaitre, Haiti, its education program enables 250 children to access primary education and provides scholarships for 10-20 students to pursue further education. These scholarships cover food, books, housing and enrollment fees, crucial support since the nearest secondary school is a four-hour journey from the village.

This initiative began as an effort to enhance the lunch program at École St. Paul. Additionally, The Haiti Project is launching an Adult Education program proposed by the Women’s Committee. The aim is to improve adult literacy and math skills to help start small businesses or pursue further education. Beyond these, the charity is developing a range of other programs including anti-trafficking classes, a breakfast program, a summer program, a medical fund, health and sexual education and a textbook-lending library.

Looking Forward

Education in Haiti has faced significant challenges. Despite the ongoing difficulties, several organizations have implemented innovative education programs in Haiti that are making a substantial impact on the country’s educational landscape. These ongoing initiatives, ranging from locally-led schools to digital learning resources, are providing critical support to students and teachers, helping to improve educational outcomes and offering hope for a brighter future in Haiti.

– Sofia Hattiangadi

Sofia is based in New York City, NY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Togolese-German Program: Togo’s Path to Development

The Togolese-German ProgramTogo’s political history has impeded the country’s democratic aspirations. The recent parliamentary approval to extend President Faure Gnassingbé’s term, following his father’s 38-year rule, has heightened tensions. However, the government is transitioning from a presidential to a parliamentary system. This promises an end to decades of dictatorship and fosters opportunities for progress.

According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Togo is one of the most impoverished countries globally. Years of autocratic rule have exacerbated corruption and hindered development. Amid these challenges, Togo’s move toward democratization is reflected in its new partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ).

The Togolese-German Program

This collaboration aims to achieve food security and provide job opportunities. Initiatives include loan programs, infrastructure funding for rural roads and vocational training programs, such as motor vehicle mechanics courses. The aim is to attract private investment and boost the economy.

The Togolese-German program focuses on creating jobs suited to the local market and attracting private investors. Vocational training, including motor vehicle mechanics courses, equips young people with skills to repair motorcycles and engines. Recognizing agriculture’s economic potential, the BMZ program supports the sector with school-based and industry-based training in six cities, enhancing skills nationwide.

Ensuring Food Security While Expanding Opportunities

Agriculture is vital to Togo’s economy. However, it remains largely traditional, with widespread poverty in rural areas driving youth to cities due to limited job prospects. To address this, Germany supports improving key agricultural value chains like coffee, cocoa and fruit through tailored farmer training, which boosts yields, reduces costs and creates income opportunities.

Efforts also include developing financial products for smallholders, improving rural infrastructure and enhancing national food security under the “Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems” initiative. From 2012 to 2020, more than 80,000 farmers received training, leading to increased incomes for most, the creation of thousands of jobs and significant improvements in food security and rural infrastructure.

Enhancing Local Infrastructure and Services

Germany is focused on strengthening local infrastructure and services in Togo by enhancing public service delivery, increasing municipal revenues and promoting civic participation. Efforts include supporting the construction of markets, town halls and citizens’ affairs offices, modernizing civil registration and training municipal workers.

These initiatives empower local communities, ensure more responsive governance and provide citizens with better access to essential services. As a result, millions of Togolese now benefit from improved public services, active participation in community development and greater access to education through streamlined civil registration processes.

Final Remark

Germany is committed to empowering local communities in Togo by improving infrastructure, enhancing public services and promoting civic participation. These efforts ensure better governance, increased municipal revenue and greater access to essential services, benefiting millions of citizens nationwide.

– Lydie Udofia

Lydie is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Girl Generation: Organization Helping FGM Survivors in Kenya

The Girl GenerationFemale Genital Mutilation (FGM) carries many risks, perhaps the most unspoken one being the psychological impacts of the often traumatic procedure. Though there is little research on the mental effects on survivors of FGM, it is widely accepted that many women suffer from conditions like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

In Kenya, where prevalence rates of FGM are high, various forms of therapy are being used to help girls and women deal with the lasting consequences of FGM on their mental health. Art therapy has been proven to be an effective way of processing the trauma survivors of FGM in Kenya have experienced.

What Is It?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as “all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons.” There are many serious risks to these procedures, including short-term issues like shock, infection and serious bleeding. Furthermore, long-term issues include urinary problems, complications in childbirth (increasing the likelihood of newborn death) and psychological trauma.

FGM is considered a violation of human rights. It is most often performed on girls and so can also be a violation of the rights of the child. More than 200 million girls and women alive today are survivors of FGM. It is estimated that around 3 million people are at risk annually. In Kenya, FGM remains a significant issue, with a prevalence rate of 15%. While this marks progress from 21% in 2014 to 38% in 1998, more work is needed to reduce the rates further. In the meantime, it is crucial to support survivors of FGM in Kenya.

Lasting Impacts

After undergoing “the cut,” many girls leave education to marry, meaning the number of girls who remain in education is very low. Out of 80.8% of girls in rural areas who attend primary school, only 14.3% enroll in secondary school. FGM perpetuates poverty for girls by obstructing their access to education and pathways out of poverty.

With one-third of Kenyans living below the national poverty line, FGM exacerbates education gaps, excludes women from the workforce and imposes health care costs due to the procedure’s immediate and long-term effects. This prevents the country from achieving full prosperity.

Support for Survivors

The Girl Generation, in partnership with the U.K. Aid, is providing counseling services for survivors of FGM in Kenya. This initiative helps survivors cope with trauma and rebuild their lives. Since 2022, the organization has helped more than 500 survivors in Kenya. The Girl Generation also supports girls who dropped out of school to continue their education. Indeed, this allows them to escape the cycle of poverty.

Summary

Many girls and women remain silenced after experiencing FGM, with their suffering often ignored or dismissed. Art therapy and counseling provide a platform for these women to express their struggles and receive the support they need. The Girl Generation is one organization delivering these services to FGM survivors in Kenya.

– Eryn Greenaway

Eryn is based in East Sussex, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Guardians of Dreams: A Brighter Future for Children in India

Guardians of DreamsA team of innovative minds based in Bangalore, India, set out nine years ago to enhance the social and physical infrastructures of children’s homes. Since 2015, the nonprofit organization, Guardians of Dreams actively reformed the delivery of childcare institutions, ensuring the essential needs of every child within are effectively provided. The Borgen Project spoke with one of the co-founders, Mekha Thachankary, to discuss the work of Guardians of Dreams and its journey ahead.

A Home of Diverse Backstories

There are nearly 400,000 children across 10,000 children’s homes in India. Within these homes, children come from a variety of environments. Some children come from families that are economically unstable and cannot sustain the essential needs of a child such as nutrition, clothing and health care. Children who have been orphaned, in conflict with the law or been rescued from human trafficking also require a rehabilitative environment. 

Challenges Strung Upon Childcare Homes

Enacted in 2015, the Juvenile Justice Act allows childcare institutions such as children’s homes, orphanages and juvenile justice homes to provide care and protection through specific practices and resources. These resources include 24-hour supervision, education, nutrition and basic amenities like beds and hygiene care. Despite the critical need for these resources, most childcare institutions in India lack the financial capacity to consistently maintain their infrastructures. The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained the childcare sector’s ability to deliver effective services. Additionally, individuals who turn 18 and are legally considered adults must leave these institutions. This forces them to abandon plans for higher education and take the nearest available job. Aftercare is crucial for these young adults to integrate into society successfully. Without life skills training and a reliable support system, they remain vulnerable to a systemic cycle of poverty.

The Beginning of The Story

In 2011, Thachankary began volunteering as an English teacher in children’s homes. Over time, she became acutely aware of the broader challenges these children faced, realizing that teaching English alone was insufficient for providing long-term protection and support. “You start realizing the problem is much deeper,” Thachankary said, as she encountered the complex issues these children dealt with. This realization sparked an initiative to reform children’s homes in India. Many children suffer from malnutrition and inadequate health care, trapping them in a continuous cycle of illness. Additionally, a lack of opportunities for relationship-building has stunted their social skill development. Recognizing these issues, Thachankary concluded that a holistic approach was essential for a brighter future in child welfare.

The Guardians of Dreams

Alongside a team of inspired individuals, Guardians of Dreams was created to support the children and their aspirations going forward. “The whole point of the name Guardians of Dreams for us is to make sure that we’re able to guard their dreams,” Thachankary said. Ensuring the appropriate resources within childcare institutions fosters greater opportunities for young adults. Since 2015, this organization has expanded to helping 450 pre-existing childcare institutions across 6 Indian districts: Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Guardians of Dreams is intent on upgrading the providence of childcare institutions through financial, educational and emotional support. Through a noninvasive technique, Guardians of Dreams builds a relationship with the leaders and workers of the institutions and collaborates to deliver positive development for the children.

A Glimpse Into The Projects

A new three- to five-year program currently rolls out across 10 homes and incorporates a curriculum developed by Guardians of Dreams. This curriculum is crafted in collaboration with subject matter experts, such as nutritionists and hotel management professionals experienced in sanitation care and childcare institutions with established practices. The curriculum acknowledges a variation of domains such as nutrition, mental health, hygiene and more and promotes these guidelines within the homes. Volunteers called ‘embedded managers’ go on-site to train and evaluate. In this newly developed program, the organization provides approximately $2500 to $4000 in grants annually to support enhanced meal plans and mental health coaching. 

A program such as the Scholastics Awards Program provides unrestricted financial support for one year to 10th-and 12th-grade students who demonstrate academic success. So far, it has reached 974 students across three districts, encouraging young adults to pursue their preferred career opportunities without financial strain.

To address financial instability and the lack of facilities at childcare institutions, Guardians of Dreams conducts thorough assessments and executes upgrades, including additional toilets and enhanced dormitory and recreational spaces. This project has successfully revitalized six homes and is currently making progress with more than 300 homes.

The Journey Ahead

The United Nations asserts that childhood deserves special care and attention, establishing a framework that supports a child’s right to a suitable standard of living. Numerous local nonprofit organizations and government-run childcare institutions in India are committed to achieving making this a reality for vulnerable children, but resource shortages can compromise consistency. The efforts of organizations like Guardians of Dreams have significantly improved childcare institutions, benefiting the institutions, members and staff. A notable success story involved assisting a Bangalore childcare home in securing the official license required to operate as an established institution after 16 years. The ultimate measure of success is seeing vulnerable children from any background thrive in a supportive environment.

– Abigail Lobo

Abigail is based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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South African Women: The Young Women for Life Movement

South African WomenThe socioeconomic system set in place during South Africa’s apartheid era continues to pervade the country today. HIV’s disproportionate impacts Black South Africans, particularly women, is but one example. South African girls and women are disproportionately impacted by HIV due in part to gender- and race-based inequality. South Africa’s 2023 strategic plan for HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reports that nearly two-thirds of all new HIV infections occur in women.

According to the International Journal for Equity in Health, the low socioeconomic status of women, especially Black women, in the country places them at greater risk of contracting HIV. Poverty — which in South Africa is the result of historical inequalities — is a “significant factor” in the way HIV/AIDS spreads — the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are experiencing poverty. In response, the Young Women for Life Movement works with girls and women who are affected by poverty, marginalization, gender-based violence and HIV/AIDs, helping them to “break free of the cycle of poverty and violence.”

Cape Town’s Young Women for Life Movement

The Young Women for Life Movement was founded in 2019 when 80 adolescent girls and young women came together in a backyard in Cape Town. The program receives support from the United Nations (U.N.) Women, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Southern Africa Catholics Bishops Conference and Peace Commission. With their support, the program has grown and, as of June 2024, has impacted 8,000 women and girls in South Africa.

Women can grow within the program as it provides financial literacy training, skills-building training in business and entrepreneurship, leadership dialogues and peer support through a network of women and girls who face similar circumstances. The Young Women for Life Movement “models a unique approach to building resilience against gender-based violence and HIV among young women,” stated U.N. Women HIV/AIDS Specialist Jacqueline Utamuriza-Nsizabira. The movement also helps women influence policy through advocacy. It has grown into a “powerful network for influencing policies,” Utamuriza-Nsizabira said.

Overcoming Stigma

According to a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine, stigma and discriminatory attitudes against individuals with HIV are “persistent” throughout communities in South Africa, both urban and rural. HIV stigma in South Africa is correlated with HIV-affected individuals undergoing less medical treatment in terms of voluntary HIV antibody testing, palliative care and counseling — subsequently increasing HIV transmission. According to AVAC, HIV stigma is “deleterious to health-care use and delivery behaviors in South Africa.”

AVAC also stated that Black women living with HIV in South Africa experience significant trauma, with their positive HIV status adding further stress to their lives. Extreme cases of HIV stigma can manifest as violent behavior. The Madridge Journal of AIDS reports that stigma affects South African adolescent girls and women “socially, economically and mentally,” undermining their chances of seeking health care and improving their quality of life.

The Young Women for Life Movement helps girls and women “break through” this stigma and fear of discrimination, providing a sense of community where women and girls feel safe to disclose their HIV status and are encouraged to seek proper care. Program coordinator Phindile Maseko informed U.N. Women that some young women and girls in the Cape Town movement are living with HIV. “They were so discouraged when we met them that they had even stopped taking antiretroviral medication,” she said. But now, they have hope and are fighting for a better future.”

Overcoming the Cycle of Poverty

Maseko met Gugulethu Mdoba, who had gotten pregnant when she was 18 and struggled to raise her child, encouraging her to join the program. When Mdoba joined the Young Women for Life Movement, she sold baked goods to raise money to support her child. After gaining support and learning business skills through the program, she now has a bakery and recently began to teach other girls and young women how to bake.

“My business has grown a lot,” said Mdoba. “I have many customers now. I deliver my products to salons and shops. Sometimes I just walk a short distance and my muffins are sold out because people pre-order them and I deliver them the next day.” By providing girls and women with financial literacy, the initiative empowers them to access better health care and support services, which can improve their health outcomes and overall well-being. With increased economic stability, they are better equipped to confront and challenge stigma, reducing their social isolation and improving their ability to live openly and confidently.

Closing Thought

By empowering South African girls and women living with HIV/AIDS to break through stigma and the cycle of poverty, the Young Women for Life Movement promotes resilience, promotes better health outcomes and enhances their overall quality of life.

– Ahna Fleming

Ahna is based in Minneapolis, MN, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Supporting Rural African Women Entrepreneurs

Women’s Business Centres: Supporting Rural African Women EntrepreneursIn rural Africa, the poverty rate stands at 17.2%, more than triple the urban rate of 5.3%, according to the United Nations (U.N.). More than half of Africa’s women reside in rural areas and “significantly contribute to Africa’s agriculture and rural enterprises, fueling local and global economies,” as reported by the U.N. Rural African women encounter more challenges than men in agriculture, including issues related to resource control, access to financing and ownership of livestock and land. Self Help Africa’s (SHA) Rural Women Empowerment (RWE) project is actively working to address these challenges by establishing Women’s Business Centres, thereby investing in efforts to alleviate poverty in rural Africa.

The Return on Investing in African Women

According to the U.N., research indicates that when women work globally, they typically reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into their families’ and communities’ health, nutrition and education, compared to men who reinvest up to 40% of theirs. More than half of Africa’s women reside in rural areas, where they play a “key role” in enhancing the livelihoods of their households and communities, the U.N. notes. Thus, investing in gender equality and expanding opportunities for rural African women directly contributes to the development and alleviation of poverty in rural Africa.

Launch of SHA’s Rural Women Empowerment Project

SHA, an international development organization based in Dublin, Ireland, launched its RWE project in early 2023. This five-year strategy aims to alleviate poverty, social inequality and hunger through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, according to its website. The RWE project represents the second phase of an initial effort titled “Scaling Rural Women Entrepreneurs for Community-Led Digital Adaptation and Resilience in Africa,” which concluded in December 2023. The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) funds the project.

Expansion and Impact of Women’s Business Centers

The project now focuses on empowering rural African women entrepreneurs by providing support in financial literacy, digital learning, product market development and more. It works closely with women entrepreneurs to connect them with new opportunities in fields like agriculture and nutrition while integrating their existing business practices. By establishing Women’s Business Centres (WBC), the RWE initiative helps women enhance their innovation skills and build economic independence and digital capabilities.

The WBCs provide startup support and train rural African women on digital business strategies and social media marketing. They also provide networking communities for women entrepreneurs and those planning to launch new businesses. The centers serve as both business incubators and vibrant communities where women business owners can connect and learn about nutrition, health care, finances, savings and more. The WBCs are “transforming lives, not just for the women involved, but for their families and communities at large,” states SHA’s website.

Successful Outcomes Across Kenya, Nigeria and Malawi

Since June 2023, the RWE project has supported almost 2,000 rural African women entrepreneurs in Kenya, Nigeria and Malawi and has established 90 WBCs in the three countries. In Kenya and Malawi, the RWE and WBCs share the same goals. Through the project, 13,600 women in Malawi and 4,000 women in Kenya have accessed information, services and resources related to nutrition and digital literacy.

At WBCs in Nigeria, women are trained to produce and market “Tom Brown” — a traditional Nigerian food supplement made from locally sourced produce such as soya beans, corn, groundnuts and millet. The supplement has a high nutritional content — it supports weight gain, prevents malnutrition and is particularly beneficial for babies, children and breastfeeding women. It is commonly eaten as porridge for breakfast. More than 400 Nigerian women have been trained to prepare Tom Brown with locally produced ingredients across 20 WBCs in Nigeria.

“Due to the training I received here, I know how to talk to the customers and draw their attention to the goods that I have. It can boost your energy and appetite for food, especially for people in hospital, it’s very good for them,” Bridget Beekombo, a producer, seller and consumer of Tom Brown, told SHA. By establishing WBCs in rural Africa, SHA’s RWE project is empowering women to shine as innovative leaders and entrepreneurs. The project is, in turn, investing in the poverty alleviation and economic and social development of Africa’s rural areas, placing rural African women at the helm.

Looking Ahead

Self Help Africa’s Rural Women Empowerment project actively supports rural African women by providing essential resources and training through Women’s Business Centres. These centers equip women with financial literacy, digital skills and market development strategies, fostering economic independence and innovation.

– Ahna Fleming

Ahna is based in Minneapolis, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Smallholder Farmers in Kenya and Their Challenges

Smallholder Farmers in KenyaProlonged drought, rising global temperatures and economic challenges have caused food insecurity to increase in Kenya. Food insecurity affects large urban cities like Nairobi and arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) in the country’s northernmost region as impoverished Kenyans face rising food prices, making affordability hard for families in extreme poverty. Agriculture production makes up much of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is essential to feeding domestic consumers. Large farms are an important part of the nation’s agriculture sector. However, smallholder farms produce more than 70% of the food used domestically and exported globally. Without efficient production by smallholder farms, Kenya’s protracted food insecurity will continue to take hold of the country. However, smallholder farmers in Kenya face several challenges.

Lack of Access

Lack of access to various services and resources is one of the biggest problems for smallholder farmers and a main reason for stagnant economic growth. Small farms are usually located in rural areas, isolated from wholesale markets, forcing farmers to sell goods via brokers, leaving many needy farms vulnerable to fluctuating prices. Due to land grabbing by larger companies, access to fertile land is limited, making the jobs of small farmers much harder.

Without access to better markets, smallholder farmers in Kenya will continue to fall victim to multinational corporations selling products at low prices to rack in massive profits. Through methods like land grabbing and enacting repressive policies, small farmers have become dependent on larger companies for agricultural inputs needed to produce fresh crops.

Due to traditional lending institutional practices, credit remains one of the most difficult resources for smallholder farmers to access. Demand for high collateral, high interest rates and a shortage of credit lending educational services make it hard for small farm owners to gain credit.

A Need for Quality Infrastructure

Mobile communication devices are becoming essential tools for smallholder farmers, making accessing and exchanging agricultural information easier. Challenges in infrastructure have been exposed due to rural farmers’ limitations when using mobile devices. The availability of reliable power has become a concern among multiple rural counties, as well as internet connectivity issues and high prices for data packages.

Water scarcity has also become a problem that affects not only smallholder farmers but small-scale irrigation systems as well. ASAL areas depend on artificial water applications for farming. However, growing urbanization, rising water consumption and various water uses have led to dwindling water distribution throughout the nation, greatly affecting farms in rural areas.

Multinational Competition

Government-enacted laws and policies focus more on controlling large money producers, leaving small farmers at the mercy of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) looking to make a profit. To develop, promote and regulate a modern and competitive seed industry, the Kenyan government gave larger agricultural corporations control over processes like seed certification, making it harder for impoverished farmers to afford certification and obtain seeds for planting.

Seed sharing was a system of exchange that helped domestic farmers for generations. However, as a way to keep producing money, the government criminalized seed sharing, affecting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who depend on the cost-effective method that many would consider a timeless tradition.

Outside Assistance

Nongovernment organizations like Nuru are working to provide education and assistance to agribusinesses in low-income communities facing food insecurity. Through the introduction of various cultivation methods, farmers are better equipped with the resources to self-sustain and improve food productivity in the area. Since 2008, Nuru has reached more than 320,000 people in five African countries, including Kenya. Nuru farmers in Kenya have seen more than 200% of their crop yields from baseline.

Additionally, the Grameen Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ending global hunger, has launched a five-farmer-to-farmer program in Kenya that will connect smallholder farmers to financial volunteers whose focus will be to train farmers in business planning, financial management and financial literacy and establish alternative credit scoring methods. Farmers will receive better chances at obtaining loans, making affording seeds, equipment and other resources easier.

Final Remark

Smallholder farmers in Kenya are the key to unlocking the nation’s full agricultural potential. They make up almost 70% of agricultural production without full government assistance or access to credit markets. As a way to not only put an end to food shortages nationwide, investments in smallholder farmers need to increase to provide economic improvements across Kenya.

– Immanuel Wiggins

Immanuel is based in Jackson, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr