Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Higher Education in Bhutan

Higher Education in BhutanHigher education in Bhutan is bringing a tremendous opportunity to this remote land. Bhutan is a remote, landlocked and mountainous country in Central Asia, between Tibet (China) and India, with a population of 750,000. Bhutan may be small, but it has a lot of potential. One of the few countries to avoid colonialism, remain self-governing and maintain a sense of mystery. While Bhutan may try and be isolationist, it is now heavily reliant on agriculture and tourism. However, this historic Kingdom may be small and resource-limited, but its innovation and investment are not. Bhutan was the first country in the world to have happiness be a state policy and now higher education in Bhutan is bringing limitless opportunities to its people.

Prioritizing Education

Bhutan recently established democracy, with the country becoming a constitutional monarchy in 2008, but for the past 100 years, Bhutan has prioritized education. While secular, it still effectively incorporates traditional values, its unique heritage and culture into it. Its constitution also reinforces this, with article 9 ensuring “spiritual and emotional development are equally as important as the promotion of material consumption and modern physical comforts…and that the ultimate purpose of the government is to promote the happiness of its people,” according to a 2016 article. It certainly is the happiest, with its king, his majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk having coined the term Gross National Happiness (GNH). Bhutan strikes a balance between modernization and maintaining its identity.

While formal education may have originally started in the 1950s, before this the monasteries delivered education on a tiny scale, with only 2,500 children enrolled in primary school. There are now two universities, both providing the only college and post-college education within the country. In 2003, The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) opened and was The first establishment. In 2008, a separate school split off into its separate institution, the Gedu College of Business Studies. This has meant that there are now more than 10000 students in various programs.

Environmental Education

Environmental education is also part of higher education in Bhutan. The Royal Thimphu College offers Environmental Management (BSc) and there is also the Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) scholarship, provided by the World Wide Fund (WWF) Bhutan’s Youth and Education Program, to help support future conservationists. From 2016-2018, 18 students benefited from the scholarship.

The WWF also offers The Education for Sustained Development (ESD) project, which promotes knowledge and development of fundamental skills necessary for young people to help create a sustainable future, through environmental conservation. There is also the chance to become a Living Planet ambassador, for those who demonstrate a passion for environmental action, with the first one appointed in November 2020.

Foreign Aid and Governmental Funds

The Government of Bhutan funds both universities, which gets part of its funding from grants from the Government of India. Not only does India help fund Bhutan education, but Indian teachers also serve in remote Bhutanese villages, to bring education to even the most distant parts. In fact, in 2019 Jai Bir Rai, the education minister in India, organized a special ceremony to honor 80 teachers and celebrate diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India.

Foreign aid also contributes to this funding. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has dedicated a total of $1.2 billion to Bhutan, as of 2024. The EU also allocated €31 million from 2021 until 2024, which renews this year and dedicates €9.3 million of this funding to strengthening local government and digitalization in education.

Bhutan spends a lot of its own money too. For example, from 2015 to 2020, Bhutan’s GDP increased by 33.4% whereas the public education budget increased by 58% within the same period, demonstrating that Bhutan reinvests profit from growth.

However, 12.4% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2022, and with the U.N. stating that globally, 420 million could escape poverty by finishing secondary education, this level of investment can make a real difference.

Prioritizing Universal Values

Higher education in Bhutan does not mean that the state exclusively benefits from this investment in education, the world does as well. For example, through Erasmus+, “more than 600 student exchanges between Bhutan and the EU have taken place over five years(2015-19).” From humble beginnings, Bhutan has demonstrated that a country can prioritize universal values, knowledge, happiness and the world.

– Jack Timmins
Photo: Flickr

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Somalian Children: Malnutrition Amidst Poverty and Conflict

Somalian Children:Somali children face the threat of malnutrition and disease daily. With high poverty rates and violent conflict infiltrating the nation, the children are bearing the brunt of the struggles. The African nation has a large population of slightly more than 18 million. The number is growing rapidly despite high infant mortality rates and low life expectancy. The outcome of malnutrition and disease is a high infant mortality rate, with 1/10 Somalian children dying before the age of 5.

Malnutrition and Disease in Somalia

Alongside malnutrition, children in Somalia are severely affected by life-threatening diseases, often succumbing to them due to a lack of resources. A common disease among children in the nation is cholera, with the number of cases rising in recent years. The spike in cases has been a result of the lack of clean water resources, especially in rural areas.

Millions of children in Somalia do not consume enough food, leaving their bodies weakened and susceptible to disease. Additionally, the mothers of children are often undernourished themselves, having illnesses such as anemia and vitamin deficiencies. As a result of these diseases, almost half of all Somalian children do not attend school.

Natural Disasters Affecting Children

The geographical location of Somalia makes it prone to drought and flooding, depending on the time of the year. As Somalia borders the Indian Ocean, it is vulnerable to the natural elements, with several of its largest cities situated along the coastline.

Flooding is a recurring issue in the country, accounting for 45% of all natural occurrences since 1980. This has led to the outbreak of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and malaria, due to the ideal breeding grounds flooding produces. Furthermore, droughts have been a major point of concern as in 2019, affecting upwards of 2.3 million Somalians, furthering the issue of the nation’s malnourishment.

Displacement Due to Conflict

Conflict in the nation has been ongoing for many years, with civil disputes resulting in high levels of displacement across the country. Many Somalians have been forced to leave their homes to find refuge in other areas, often neighboring countries.

Due to this conflict, 2.6 million Somalians have been displaced internally, with 30% of those displaced being under the age of 11. With countless children orphaned, abandoned or separated from their families, it has left them vulnerable to disease.

Necessary Aid

It is estimated that 5.1 million children in Somalia need urgent humanitarian aid. There is a necessity for nationwide food banks and health centers for children in Somalia. They are not only faced with disease and malnutrition but also risks due to conflict and natural disasters, all contributing to the poverty rates.

How Help Is Reaching the Children of Somalia

Many organizations are working with the Government of Somalia to increase funding and support the population, especially children. In 2020, Somalia received $2 billion in official development assistance to help those in need. Through global financial assistance, Somalian children are receiving help in the form of access to food, water and health resources.

– Lily Thornhill
Photo: Unsplash

Kilimo Salama: Microfinance To Lift Kenyan Farmers Out of Poverty

Kilimo SalamaRural poverty accounts for 84% of all poverty. Smallholder farmers struggle to meet their basic monetary needs. This is due to the low yield and productivity that they can obtain with the methods that are affordable and accessible to them, often manual and obsolete. Due to the low margins these farmers make, a bad harvest season can mean plunging into deeper poverty and not being able to survive. In response to this pressing issue, Kilimo Salama, a microfinance insurance scheme, was introduced in Kenya in 2009. The primary objective of this initiative is to protect smallholder farmers from the adverse impact of extreme weather-induced crop loss. Notably, Kenya, where this scheme originated, has, as of 2022, 7.8 million people living on less than $1.90.

Insurance for Crop Loss Due To Extreme Weather

The soil in several African countries requires sustainable farming practices to prevent degradation. However, human activities, primarily mining, have resulted in significant nutrient depletion in African soils. This depletion, intensifying over the past decade, has further decreased the already low harvest output. Another key characteristic of smallholder farming in Africa is its heavy reliance on rainfed agriculture.

The combination of soil nutrient depletion and the unreliable weather patterns countries like Kenya have been experiencing in the past decades, ranging from drought to extreme rain, makes harvests unpredictable. This puts smallholder farmers at risk of falling into extreme poverty and not being able to afford to harvest next season.

Kilimo Salama

Kilimo Salama, which means safe farming in Swahili, was created based on the learning of a pilot in Kenya’s Laikipia district. The Laikipia district’s largest economic sector is agriculture at an estimated 35.5 billion Kenyan Shillings or $217.791.410. The region experiences dry and wet seasons, causing challenges such as droughts and excessive rainfall for small-scale farmers. In the first pilot in Kenya, hundreds of maize farmers were insured against drought in 2009. Following the drought that season, the initiative compensated all farmers between a 30% to 80% payout, depending on the extent of the drought.

Kilimo Salama holds significant importance for smallholder farmers, recognizing that the effects of a bad harvest season do not end in that season, affecting subsequent seasons. By providing insurance coverage, Kilimo Salama enables smallholder farmers to continue earning money, actively engage in the local and global economy and pursue cultivation in the following seasons despite setbacks caused by drought or excessive rain. This pivotal support prevents smallholder farmers in the eight countries where the program operates from plunging further into poverty. Instead, it empowers them to generate income that can be invested in adopting more efficient farming techniques or acquiring higher-yielding seeds.

Conclusion

Programs like Kilimo Salama can help tackle rural poverty. These microfinance insurance programs are highly tailored to the needs of the communities they serve, are more accessible and are designed to be affordable and easily understood.

– Sara del Carmen Navarro Galvan
Photo: Pexels

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Child Marriage in South Africa

Child Marriage in South Africa Each day, approximately 41,000 girls worldwide, become brides before reaching the age of 18, entering into child marriage. Every such marriage results in a girl losing her freedom, childhood and any chance for autonomy. These girls are more than 50% more likely to face sexual or physical harm. Girls Not Brides, a female-led NGO, directs its efforts toward ending gender-based violence and child marriage in South Africa and globally.

Women Leading Change

Men often dominate public discourse, making it notable when women lead the charge for change. Such was the case in South Africa in November 2023, when female philanthropists, activists and leaders convened to strategize support for adolescent girls, with a focus on eradicating child marriage.

Prominent among the attendees were Mrs. Michelle Obama and Ms. Melinda Gates. Mrs. Obama, the former First Lady of the United States (U.S.), underscored the critical role of education for young girls in breaking the cycle of child marriage and called for sustained investment in grassroots organizations and leadership. Ms. Gates advocated for a comprehensive approach that includes policy and legal reforms. She emphasized the importance of community awareness supported by government action to empower girls with choices over their futures. Both women, celebrated authors and influential figures, alongside other local dignitaries, issued a call to action against child marriage.

Benefits of Ending Child Marriage

Ending child marriage in South Africa and globally, brings a multitude of benefits that span social, economic and health dimensions. By addressing this issue, South Africa could unlock the potential for individual growth, societal advancement and economic development. Notable sources, including the United Nations (U.N.), World Bank and various NGOs, have highlighted these benefits in their research and advocacy efforts.

According to UNICEF, by delaying marriage, girls are less likely to face early pregnancy, which is associated with higher risks of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity and more likely to stay in school and complete their education. Education equips girls with the knowledge and skills necessary to support themselves, fully participate in their communities and make informed decisions about their lives and health, setting a foundation for improved health outcomes both for themselves and their future children.

Furthermore, the World Bank indicates that eliminating child marriage could significantly boost economic growth and productivity by enhancing a country’s earnings and growth potential. In fact, educated and empowered women are more likely to enter the workforce and contribute positively to the national economy.

Economic Implications

Eradicating child marriage has positive ripple effects on the economy, including a reduction in birth rates that alters a population’s age structure, thereby enhancing what is known as the ‘demographic dividend.’ This term refers to the economic growth potential when a larger portion of the population is of working age. It boosts health, productivity and the overall economy. The effect on productivity is particularly significant.

Child marriage sidelines girls, excluding them from the workforce and depriving economies of half their potential labor force, presenting a substantial obstacle to development. The World Bank estimates that countries lose on average about 1% of their economic base due to child marriage.

The Role of Girls Not Brides

Girls Not Brides is a global network dedicated to ending child marriage, focusing on girls as central to the solution. The organization collaborates with communities, local governments and faith leaders, emphasizing that only a collective effort can eliminate the outdated stigma of girls being inferior and end the practice of child marriage as a means of connecting families and kin.

This strategy aims to end the treatment of girls as currency and sees empowering them as a way out of poverty. By mobilizing young girls and improving their access to education and sexual health care, Girls Not Brides helps lift nations out of poverty.

Empowering the Future

The global fight against child marriage, led by influential women and organizations like Girls Not Brides, is carving a path toward empowerment and equality for girls in South Africa and beyond. By fostering education and legal reforms, these efforts are unlocking the vast potential for personal and economic growth, setting a precedent for future generations.

The collective drive and dedication to ending child marriage reflect a powerful commitment to reshaping society for the better, ensuring every girl has the opportunity to control her destiny and contribute fully to her community.

– Isaac Rowlands
Photo: Unsplash

Escaping Poverty: Zoe Empowers Is Helping Orphaned Youth

Zoe EmpowersAfrica is the least developed continent, struggling with food and water security, job opportunities and economic and political instability. This environment creates a struggle for the 50 million child orphans spread across the continent, who must fight, steal and beg to survive. While money can be pumped into Africa to assist with urgent issues such as lack of resources like shelter and food, there must also be a focus on breaking the never-ending cycle of poverty by empowering the youth and escaping poverty.

A Long-Term Change

A significant proportion of the African youth are unemployed; 10-12 million youth enter the workforce in Africa every year. However, only 3 million jobs are created annually, leaving vast numbers of youth unemployed.

Zoe Empowers aims to resolve this issue by prioritizing self-sufficiency for orphaned youth to enable them to escape poverty. The organization achieves this by teaching them skills for long-term success, such as lessons in accounting and investing. With minimal job opportunities, these lessons in self-sufficiency are a lifeline to orphaned and impoverished youths, allowing them to forge their path out of the poverty cycle. The charity has empowered nearly 200,000 children across the world, including Africa, with work being done in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Sudan.

Success Story From Zoe Empowers

Welshman, a man from the Zoe Empowers program in Zimbabwe, finally achieved his dream of opening a bakery when he was financially supported with a small loan to purchase basic supplies such as flour and loaf pans. After a few months, the profits from his trade allowed him to send his siblings back to school. Today, his bakery is a booming business in the local community. Before Zoe Empowers, Welshman had spent years caring for his younger siblings while working jobs that paid less than $1 per day. The financial and emotional support from Zoe Empowers has allowed Welshman and his family to escape poverty, giving him new sources of income, new career prospects and a new prosperous life.

Zoe Empowers shows impoverished and orphaned children how to turn their passions and natural skills into profitable businesses and trades. The organization has undeniably opened doors of opportunity for struggling youths such as Welshman and Priya. With their success, they and their families now have a steady income that will lift them out of poverty and help rebuild the local economy, ending the cycle of poverty. Zoe Empowers offers impoverished children a long-term solution to escape poverty and empowers the local youth, establishing grassroots change for generations to come.

– Abigail Tidball
Photo: Unsplash

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Onesmus Okamar on Art and Education in Kenya

Onesmus Okamar“There are many people with great talents that only lack information. If you don’t know where to take your work to sell or how to approach galleries or individual clients – how to relate to them – that becomes the biggest challenge and an obstacle for many artists and people in all fields.” The Borgen Project interviewed Onesmus Okamar, a self-taught Kenyan artist, discussing his work with the Kobo Trust, art as a tool for alleviating poverty and education in Kenya.

About Onesmus Okamar

Born in Teso-North, Busia County, Kenya, Okamar is an award-winning visual artist based in the country’s capital city, Nairobi. With no formal training, Okamar began pursuing art at age 17. Two years later, in 2014, Okamar received a commendation for the Mask Prize, an award celebrating the creativity and innovation of African youth.

While discussing art and education in Kenya, Onesmus Okamar states that one of the biggest problems that Kenyans face is an insufficiency of information and access to resources, explaining that a particular struggle for creatives is to find “a physical space where they can work and where they can invite clients to get to know their art.”

The Kobo Trust

According to Onesmus Okamar, the Kobo Trust, a charitable foundation and nonprofit founded by Kobo Safaris Ltd. in 2011, works both with artists and children from disadvantaged backgrounds, seeking to create a solution to this problem. The Kobo Trust provides a creative space for artists to use while educating, rehabilitating and sheltering children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Okamar describes that many “kids end up in the streets because they don’t have anything to do when they finish school.” However, the Kobo Trust sponsors children through their primary, secondary and tertiary levels and “empowers them by getting them involved in businesses of their own.”

Having worked as an artist for the Kobo Trust since 2017, Okamar explains that the foundation receives 20% of any sale from its exhibitions while the remainder profits the artist directly. Through a circular scheme, the 20% returned to the Kobo Trust funds further investment in the foundation’s children, projects and partnerships.

Art as a Tool 

The Kobo Trust is dedicated to sponsoring both children and artists. However, its primary goal is to use arts and culture as a tool for alleviating poverty. The foundation achieves this by using art as a tool for healing traumas while empowering, transforming and building resilience.

When asked how art can practically translate to alleviate poverty, Okamar says, “First and foremost, art must be used as a tool to find an individual’s inner voice, to help expand creativity and freedom of expression.”

The Kobo Trust encourages the freedom of expression as a means to address issues and traumas associated with poverty. It provides an outlet for children and young people to respond positively to their circumstances through art. In doing so, individuals learn that art can be used to overcome a wide variety of challenges and are edified about art as a tool to amplify wider discussions of social, economic and political concerns.

In a brief given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) discussing the role of art in alleviating poverty, Dr. Kessous, UNESCO artist and ambassador for peace, described it as this: “The impact of art is underestimated today. We have a limited view of an artist as someone who produces beauty devoid of social conscience. In response, many artists decide to combine activism and art to become ‘artivists’ – offering their talents to alleviate suffering, promote peace and prevent war.”

Education in Kenya

Since 2005, Kenya’s economy has steadily grown, transcending from a low-income to a middle-income country. However, disparities in wealth distribution and access to education and health care have created a large divide between Kenya’s rich and poor. Okamar explains that “at times, even the people who may have finances around them lack the information that can help them in their careers.”

When discussing whether art is supported in the Kenyan education system, Okamar laughs, saying that “most parents in Kenya still want their children to become lawyers and doctors.” While this remains prevalent in many countries worldwide, a 2020 study showed that only 19% of Kenyans enrolled in tertiary education, indicating 23% less than the global average.

According to Onesmus Okamar, the latest curriculum does include art but doesn’t address it to be beneficial for development beyond the educational level. He states that “they [students] don’t know anything about the finance part of it. They’re not taught about marketing or using it as an income.” He likens the current system to “giving someone the equipment without giving them the manual on how to use it.”

Alleviating Poverty

Increasing education and access to resources has been proven as a way of reducing poverty. However, when combined with art, it creates a positive medium to address issues synonymous with poverty while increasing awareness and visibility of this suffering. By engaging people in the arts, disadvantaged individuals are encouraged to find their voices and positively contribute to the world around them. Art transforms mentalities, making it a powerful tool in the battle against poverty reduction.

– Zoe Winterfeldt
Photo: Courtesy of Onesmus Okamar

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Reducing Poverty in the Amazon Rainforest

Poverty in the AmazonA groundbreaking alliance is emerging in the remote reaches of the Amazon rainforest, where the lack of governance has left an indelible mark of destruction. Brazilian ecologists are embarking on a mission to preserve the world’s largest tropical forest and reduce poverty in the Amazon’s communities. Managing a stretch of land along the Juruá River, this venture seeks to counter the forces that have continued to deforest the Amazon. Their ambition extends beyond their immediate efforts, aiming to create a replicable model for other regions in the vast Amazon.

The Environmental Crisis and the Role of the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest sprawls over an area twice the size of India. It hosts unparalleled biodiversity and holds vast carbon reserves, serving as a crucial buffer against the changing climate. Unfortunately, deforestation has reached a 15-year high in recent years. 

According to WWF.org, deforestation in the Amazon remained at the highest levels since 2009, with the extent of destruction in the eastern Amazon transforming it from a carbon sink to a carbon source.

Concerning Poverty

In the sprawling expanse of the Amazon rainforest, poverty intertwines with environmental degradation in a complex and troubling nexus. Approximately 9.7% of the region’s population grapples with extreme poverty in the Amazon. 

In a region plagued by some of Brazil’s highest poverty levels, inhabitants with scant alternatives often confront a grim dilemma: abandon depleted fields and encroach further into the forest, perpetuating a vicious cycle of environmental decline. As Judson Ferreira Valentim, a soil scientist at Embrapa, the government’s agricultural research agency, aptly observes in an AP News interview, “The biodiversity is rich, but so many people are impoverished.”

Addressing the pervasive poverty gripping the Amazon is not only a moral imperative but also an indispensable component of safeguarding its ecological treasures. Without concerted efforts to alleviate poverty and provide viable livelihood alternatives, the relentless march of deforestation imperils not only the Amazon’s delicate ecosystems but also the global climate and the myriad species that call it home.

A Troubling Reality of Deforestation

According to AP News, 10% of the Amazon has been decimated in less than four decades.

Brazilian ecologists aim to establish a model that can be replicated across the vast expanse of the rainforest. The genesis of this movement can be traced back to a four-month expedition along the Juruá River in 2016.

The researchers, diving into the heart of nearly 100 communities, initially encountered a seeming uniformity of rows of wooden homes on stilts along the water. However, the striking contrasts in living conditions laid bare the harsh reality. A crucial piece of information is that 29% of the Amazon, an area roughly three times the size of California, is either unprotected public land or public land with no recorded information, making these areas more susceptible to deforestation.

João Vitor Campos-Silva, a tropical socio-ecologist, expressed the glaring inequality: “Inside protected areas, many positive things are happening  but outside, they seemed to be 40 years behind.”

Designing a Conservation Model on a Basin Scale

Recognizing the disparities, the ecologists identified the Medio Juruá region near Caraua. Here, communities managed their resources sustainably within “extractive reserves,” public lands allowing residents to harvest fish and crops. However, many communities faced oppression from self-appointed landowners, restricting access to vital resources.

The solution took shape in the form of the non-profit Juruá Institute, which acquired a 13 km rainforest property along the Juruá River. This unique parcel includes about 20 lakes with significant potential for sustainable practices, including cultivating pirarucu, the world’s largest freshwater scale fish.

Bridging Science and Community

The institute’s ambition, as expressed by Campos-Silva, is to promote high-quality science grounded in collaboration with the region’s people. In proximity to the Institute’s land, 12 communities of former rubber tappers, known as “Ribeirinhos,” find their livelihoods tied to the pirarucu fishery. A shift from rubber trees to sustainable fishing practices has not only revived a declining species but also generated income without resorting to forest clearance.

Empowering Communities in Governance

To ensure the active involvement of riverine communities, the institute established a steering committee and initiated public meetings named “Community of Dreams.” These sessions allowed residents to prioritize improvements, conducted in three groups: women, youth and men to avoid potential biases.

Fernanda de Araujo Moraes, president of the river communities’ association, emphasized the initiative’s primary purpose: preventing river people from migrating to Amazon cities, where the unemployment rate has declined. In the community of Lago Serrado, both men and women identified 24-hour electricity as their top priority, showcasing the tangible impact this collaboration aims to achieve.

A New Paradigm

Residents like José Alves de Morais see this initiative as unprecedented, stating that José, already involved as a lake keeper for the institute, is eager for his family to participate in managing pirarucu fishing, awaiting federal approval.

On the scientific front, the Juruá Institute has erected a houseboat and a wooden house, accommodating up to 20 researchers, to study various aspects of the region. The initiative, spearheaded by Carlos Peres, an Amazon-born professor of tropical conservation ecology at the University of East Anglia, earned recognition when Peres and three other scientists won the Frontiers Planet Prize in April, bringing $1.1 million in support.

A Vision for the Future

The Amazon grapples with the ongoing challenges of environmental degradation. Recent revelations from a 2023 NPR report offer hope, as tree clearance has decreased by 34%.

Amidst the lush landscapes of the Amazon, the synergy between data-driven insights and unwavering resolve points toward a promising trajectory, where preservation and prosperity intertwine to forge a path toward sustainable coexistence with nature. However, the broader context of poverty in the region casts a shadow. Overall poverty, projected at 24.3% in 2022, remains on par with 2014 levels after peaking at 28.4% in 2021. While the 2023 poverty outlook appears promising, addressing striking inequalities necessitates faster job creation and more substantial investments in human capital.

Their mission along the Juruá River seeks to counter the forces perpetuating deforestation and aims to address the underlying poverty that fuels this cycle of environmental decline. By bridging science and community, empowering local governance and fostering innovative conservation models, this initiative represents a paradigm shift in our approach to safeguarding the region and reducing poverty in the Amazon.

– Quinn Higby
Photo: Pixabay

How Is Axian Energy Transforming Africa?

Axian EnergyAxian Energy is a group working on establishing renewable energy throughout Africa. In a change of direction in their strategy, they changed their focus from oil and gas dispensation to renewable energies in 2017. This is especially strategic as Africa will be one of the hardest hit areas by the effects of the changing climate, particularly those in poverty-stricken areas. At the beginning of this year, AXIAN Energy announced that it had received a $30 million pledge from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), an affiliate of the Private Infrastructure Development Group. They aim to use this to launch more than 460 Megawatts of “utility-scale renewable energy generation capacity” across Africa in the next 10 years.

Africa’s Energy Crisis

The percentage of people in Africa with access to electricity is the lowest in the world at just more than 40%. Energy consumption per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, is 180 kWh compared to 6500 kWh per capita in Europe and 13,000 kWh per capita in the U.S. This crisis has been exacerbated by recent wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, more than 25 million African people live without access to electricity. The International Energy Agency predicts that demand in Africa will grow rapidly by a third between 2020 and 2030. This means that the crisis must be faced with efficient and sustainable solutions, which AXIAN Energy Group is proposing.

Renewable Energy

The new funding to the AXIAN group will allow them to access rural areas with “limited power access.” The CEO of the AXIAN Energy group, Benjamin Memmin, expressed that this “marks a pivotal moment in our journey toward sustainable development and energy inclusion across Africa.” In an interview with IT News Africa, he expressed that this initiative will “bolster our unwavering dedication to delivering clean and accessible power to communities throughout the continent.” This includes greenfield solar projects, akin to the Burkina Faso PIDG project in which their first ever solar greenfield was implemented, allowing them to produce sustainable power independently.

Specifically, there is heavy investment in Madagascar, as it has some of the lowest access to electricity rates in the world; more than 18 million people are without access. Therefore, the boost in investment in renewable energy will allow for a sustainable boost to electrification rates. Furthermore, the funding will give households stable electricity, improving living standards and employment rates, which will boost economic activity across the continent. The focus on renewable energy also recognizes the importance of the global energy demands alongside addressing environmental concerns.

The AXIAN Energy group aims to provide electricity to millions, enhance economic markets, raise the standard of living and position Africa as an innovator in the sustainable power initiative. A Ninety One director, Tidiane Doucoure, argued in Africa Business that stable electrification will boost investment in African nations, as it will “de-risk projects,” making them more attractive to additional investment and improving supply reliability in line with international standards.” Therefore, AXIAN Energy certainly has the potential to transform Africa.

– Beth Keith
Photo: Flickr

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Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances: PFAS in India

PFASTypically, when people think of pollution, we imagine tangible contaminants such as plastics that may take more than 500 years to degrade. However, recently, with the rise of global industrialization, more and more countries have introduced a new chemical that takes thousands of years to break down, known as PFAS (per- or polyfluorinated alkyl substances).

What Are PFAS?

These chemicals, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” belong to the fluorine-based group. They find widespread use in various household items like paint, fire extinguishers, cookware and more. PFAS has been shown to have many negative health impacts, including higher rates of cancer, decreased vaccine effectiveness and increased blood pressure and cholesterol.

The everlasting nature of this chemical means that once it comes into contact with humans, it leaves a lasting impact and accumulates over time. While many countries race to find solutions and create preventive pieces of legislation, India has remained quiet on the matter. With various risks to human and environmental health, the question arises: “How has the government been addressing the impact of per- or polyfluorinated alkyl substances in India?”

The Problem of PFAS in India

A major difference between PFAS in India and several other countries is the culture behind the burning of waste. However, when waste containing PFAS is burned, these chemicals are released into the air, posing a higher risk of exposure to individuals through inhalation. The limited research conducted on pollution levels in different locations across India reveals a significant correlation between population density and the levels of PFAS in both the air and dust. Additionally, these studies show that younger generations tend to have higher levels of PFAS in their body, indicating recent exposures.

PFAS is disproportionately affecting low-income neighborhoods, where residents often depend more on drinking water from nearby rivers, streams and wells, making them susceptible to contamination with these substances. Additionally, these areas are typically closer to large factories and plants that tend to use PFAS, further contributing to increased levels of exposure. With most of the people living in these communities also working in the plants, their exposure levels are exponentially higher than those who can afford to move away and work in less labor-intensive and less hazardous jobs.

What Is India Doing?

In 2006, India took a significant step in environmental protection by joining the Stockholm Convention in 2006. In 2009, the convention established a list of various PFAS substances considered harmful and recommended restrictions on them for member countries. However, India has not accepted this amendment to the convention and thus does not show any initiative towards regulating PFAS within the country.

With the nation focusing on industrialization and boosting the economy, there has been limited research on alternatives to PFAS in India and methods to combat pollution. PFAS remains the most convenient yet harmful substance that can create water, oil and stain-resistant materials. The lack of extensive research inhibits the formulation of concrete legislation and hinders the development of innovative solutions. To move forward, India could consider slowly implementing a blank ban across PFAS substances, taking cues from other countries that have successfully reduced pollution in bodies of water.

– Aman Chaudhary
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Spreading Awareness: Movies About Period Poverty

Period Poverty MoviesAccording to Action Aid, more than 500 million women and girls across the globe face period poverty. This condition is defined as a lack of access to safe, hygienic menstrual products, inadequate sanitation facilities and difficulties accessing proper waste management. Period poverty is driven by various factors, such as the expense of sanitary products and long-standing taboos and stigmas associated with menstruation. However, awareness about period poverty is gradually spreading globally and one impactful method contributing to this awareness is movies about period poverty

Over the years, films and documentaries have been a key way in which audiences across the globe can gain a deeper understanding of historical, social and political issues, such as poverty. Period poverty is a deeply misunderstood issue and often disregarded in society. However, in the last few years, filmmakers and organizations have begun spotlighting period poverty and spreading necessary awareness on the stigmatized issue. Here are three movies that spread awareness about period poverty.

PadMan

This is a 2018 Bollywood biopic that chronicles the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham. He was an Indian entrepreneur who invented a low-cost, revolutionary sanitary pad machine after becoming aware of the improper sanitary products used by women in India who could not afford expensive manufactured products. Due to taboos, Muruganantham faced challenges recruiting female volunteers for his research. To overcome this, he boldly broke social stigmas by personally wearing the sanitary pads, leading to him being nicknamed “PadMan.”

Since creating the machine, Muruganantha has supplied more than 4,000 machines to women in India. His focus has been on providing these machines to NGOs and female support groups. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar takes on the role of “PadMan” in the film, which documents Muruganantham’s journey in developing the machine and the challenges he encounters. The movie serves more purpose than solely providing entertainment; it brings to light important issues surrounding period poverty and confronts the widespread stigmas surrounding menstruation in India.

Period. End Of Sentence

This is a short documentary that follows a small group of women in the rural Indian village of Kathikher. The idea to make the documentary came from a group of high school students at Oakwood High School in California. They successfully raised more than $55,000 to produce the film and provide the Kathikher community with one of the pad-making machines pioneered by “PadMan.” The documentary highlights the awkwardness and embarrassment that girls and women face when talking about menstruation. It also addresses the widespread lack of knowledge and negative attitudes toward menstruation within entire communities.

Despite these challenges, the documentary presents an uplifting story of women in the village learning to use one of “PadMan’s” pad machines, ultimately creating their own brand of sanitary pads called “Fly.” By making and selling pads, the women in the community are provided with safe and affordable sanitary products. They also become empowered by their employment and ability to earn a living independently. This inspiring documentary won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 2019 Oscars. Since its release, the short has been viewed by almost 27 million people worldwide. This has led to an increased acknowledgment and discussion on menstruation and period poverty issues usually seen as taboo in society.

Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Menstruation

In 2019, DivaCup CEO Carinne Chambers-Saini developed the concept behind “Pandora’s Box,” a documentary that delves into the issue of period poverty across the globe. The title of the film reflects its objective to expose truths on period poverty and spread awareness of the stigmas, discrimination, misinformation and often abuse that surround menstruation across the world. Led by director Rebecca Snow, the documentary was intentionally made only by women. 

This was to ensure the female subjects participating in the film felt safe and comfortable, fostering their willingness to discuss their personal experiences with period poverty. Although period poverty is often more severe in developing countries, “Pandora’s Box” presents the globalized nature of this issue. The documentary shows the challenges faced by women not only in countries like India, Kenya and Uganda but also in more developed nations such as the U.K. and the U.S.

Final Remark

The use of films and documentaries, such as those discussed above, successfully challenges social stigmas and taboos surrounding menstruation. It is an innovative means of encouraging society to expand its understanding of this global issue and to spread awareness about period poverty.

– Lucy Jacks
Photo: Wikimedia Commons