Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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The Bolivian Chagas Platform

The Bolivian Chagas PlatformChagas disease, a parasitic disease commonly found in Latin America, has become a global public health concern. Affecting more than six million people annually, Chagas is one of 17 illnesses acknowledged as neglected tropical diseases. Also known as American trypanosomiasis, Chagas is primarily transmitted to humans through the feces of triatomine bugs, also known as “kissing bugs,” when they bite and feed on blood. The disease can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplantation, contaminated, uncooked food and from mother to child during pregnancy.

Chagas claims more than 12,000 lives each year and is the leading cause of heart disease in the Americas. However, the disease is treatable. While most Chagas patients are infected as children, symptoms often only manifest in adulthood, by which time it is often too late. The majority of cases occur in poor communities in Central and South America, where 99% remain ultimately untreated due to inadequate global Chagas surveillance. Today, Bolivia has the highest worldwide prevalence of Chagas disease.

Bolivia’s Efforts at Disease Control

Although the Bolivian Ministry of Health declared the prevention and treatment of Chagas to be of national interest, lack of resources, management, implementation and regulation of solutions prevented the introduction of treatment until the early 2000s.

In 2009, in conjunction with the CEADES Foundation and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Bolivia established the Platform for the Integral Care of Patients with Chagas Disease. The platform aimed to provide comprehensive care for individuals with chronic infection. It was based on four pillars:

  1. providing care
  2. training health personnel
  3. performing research
  4. engaging with the community

The Bolivian Chagas Platform developed a two-stage plan aimed at addressing the situation. First, the platform implemented a top-down test program to introduce a health care plan using protocols to work closely with local health authorities in seven local centers. From 2009 to 2014, the program was recognized as a successful approach for effectively handling Chagas disease in three of Bolivia’s most affected cities.

In the second phase of the Bolivian Chagas platform, starting in 2015, the model was expanded to 52 primary health care centers. This expansion was achieved through a decentralized and horizontally scaled-up approach. At the end of the second phase in 2018, more than 181,000 people at risk for Chagas received testing, resulting in a 32% increase in diagnoses and considerably improved patient care. Additionally, 67% of health care workers in the intervention area received training specific to the Chagas Platform guidelines. Chagas screening has now been implemented for regulatory health care visits.

Current Situation and the Way Forward

Although Bolivia ranks as the leading country in the global prevalence of Chagas, it fell from first to fourth position in terms of the number of people infected by the disease as of 2015, after the program’s first stage. The global impact of Chagas disease has demonstrated a consistent decrease in the number of cases.

While most are still concentrated in Latin America, the rising numbers in North America and Europe underscore the need to screen high-risk populations and increase awareness of this overlooked tropical disease. Chagas persists today as an endemic disease in 21 countries. With adequate resources, quality of diagnosis, proper treatment and primary health care integration, the effects of the Bolivian Chagas Platform can ensure long-term success.

– Bella Simokaitis
Photo: Flickr

Roadside Clinics in Africa Helping Hard to Reach Communities

Roadside Clinics in Africa Helping Hard to Reach CommunitiesAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than half the population lacks access to essential health care services, including those provided by roadside clinics in Africa. The burden of acquiring these essential services, as a result, currently drives more than 100 million people into poverty.

Established in 2006– initially in response to health care needs of migrant communities during the height of the AIDS epidemic–, local nonprofit known as North Star Alliance, has responded to this challenge with what they call Blue Blox Clinics, roadside clinics in Africa offering often-free, mobile health care to go.

The Economics of Mobile Health Clinics

According to Mobile Health Map, mobile health clinics offer high-quality care at a reduced cost compared to traditional health care delivery methods. Their data indicates that for every $1 invested in mobile health services, $12 is saved.

These projects aim to provide cost-efficient solutions that don’t rely on frequent, additional visits. Tactical, prevention-focused treatments from roadside clinics provide, on average, the equivalent of 65 years of perfect health, considering both the length and quality of life.

Upcycling to Innovate

Made from recycled shipping containers, North Star’s Blue Box clinics are strategically located along busy transportation routes in East and Southern Africa.

Specifically, the project has displayed a commitment to quality health care that extends beyond traditional health care settings, reaching individuals who may not have easy access to medical facilities due to their transient lifestyles or remote locations. With many patients residing along the Kenyan-Ugandan border, these roadside clinics in Africa accommodate difficulties that traveling and crossing borders present to keeping an account of extensive health information.

Roadside clinics in Africa provide an array of solutions via referrals, prevention, outpatient care and treatment, some of which include:

  • Emergency medical care
  • Basic primary health care and consultations
  • Vaccinations and immunizations
  • Health education
  • Family planning services
  • First aid training and community outreach programs
  • Screening for common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS

Success and Scaling Up

North Star currently operates 23 roadside clinics in 10 countries in Africa. In 2022, more than 50,000 truck drivers were reached through the program and more than 2 million individuals received care since the clinics’ inception.

Mobile health care clinics like these stand to provide treatment to predominantly mobile or low-income communities, at a necessarily and exorbitantly lower rate than traditional hospitals or health facilities.

Looking Forward

North Star’s roadside clinics in Africa serve as community anchors, fostering a sense of security and support among travelers and residents. By offering a range of services tailored to the diverse needs of the population, including vaccinations, consultations and basic medications, these clinics contribute significantly to promoting public health and safety along Africa’s roads.

Through tireless dedication and strategic placement, North Star’s roadside clinics serve as beacons of care, enhancing the overall health infrastructure and resilience of the communities they serve. The organization plans to implement more clinics in underserved areas to meet demands for health services.

Investments in health are investments in people and properly scaling up means to acquire vital health services is imperative to securing a future of healthy individuals.

– Bella Simokaitis
Photo: Unsplash

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8 Facts about Education in the South Pacific

Education in the South PacificEducation in the South Pacific often takes a backseat in the minds of those picturing it as a luxury holiday destination, renowned for its crystal blue waters, tropical beaches and exotic wildlife. However, the daily reality for the islands’ inhabitants is far less glamorous.

8 Facts about Education in the South Pacific

  1. Impact of tourism on education. While tourism undeniably boosts foreign revenue, the benefits for infrastructure and the economy often fail to reach the poorest groups in society. Consequently, the education systems on these islands remain overlooked as the tourism industry garners more attention.
  2. History of education in the South Pacific. For informal education, anthropologists have discovered that education in the South Pacific has historically taken an informal approach. This method emphasizes practical situations where young members of society observe and imitate adults, learning not just culture and traditions but also vocational skills for working life. Elders in the community share legends and stories, serving both as a history lesson and as instruction in societal values and their understanding of the universe. This informal system fosters creativity, philosophy, personal history, practical and physical skills and preserves native culture and traditions. In the case of formal education, Christian missions initially introduced more structured learning on the islands, followed by government efforts that led to a more regulated and formalized education system. However, the value of cultural traditions and communal teaching continues to play an integral role in the education system.
  3. Other forms of education. Agro-Technical Education – In the 1970s, South Pacific governments recognized the need to extend education beyond traditional academic subjects. Fiji saw the opening of practically oriented schools, backed by the Education Commission, which emphasized the necessity for these institutions to meet high standards and not be considered inferior.
  4. Low Literacy rates. Although the education sector has seen improvements, low literacy rates remain a significant concern for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) governments. The impact of insufficient quality education at the primary school level is undeniable, affecting not only educational attainment but also attitudes toward study. The Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) provides evidence of this, with only 46% of participating Year 4 and Year 6 students meeting or exceeding the expected literacy proficiency levels.
  5. Equity Gaps. Education distribution in the South Pacific continues to pose challenges. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, estimates indicated that 50% of children with disabilities were not attending school, a figure that soared to 90% in some rural areas. The pandemic has worsened these conditions, with the loss of social interaction and limited access to distance learning and support services significantly impacting this demographic. Furthermore, UNESCO estimates that 15 million women and girls in East Asia and the Pacific were not enrolled in school, with an additional 1.2 million girls at risk of not returning since the pandemic. Facing greater challenges such as child marriage and pregnancy, exploitation and abuse and reduced economic and financial capacity, women and girls rank among the groups most adversely affected by limited access to education.
  6. Insufficient Infrastructure. The South Pacific islands rank among the regions most severely affected by the worsening climate crisis, with school buildings and other educational infrastructure facing disproportionate impacts from natural hazards. Tropical Cyclone Gita, which hit Tonga in 2018, damaged 72% of schools, resulting in 109 schools being damaged or destroyed. This disaster severely affected the education of approximately 23,000 students. The lack of sufficient infrastructure makes it nearly impossible to deliver effective and innovative education.
  7. International Aid. Much can be achieved through international aid and support, which offer expertise in educational frameworks and funding to enhance facilities. UNICEF collaborates with governments and civil operations to ensure more children, especially the most vulnerable, attend and learn in pre-primary, primary and lower secondary schools.
  8. Domestic Support. Local governments in the South Pacific must actively promote educational development and support international efforts to maximize growth and efficiency. The education ministries in Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu contribute to the Pacific Safer Schools Program’s mission to enhance the safety and resilience of schools.

Looking Ahead

Significant work remains to advance educational opportunities in the South Pacific, but initiatives are underway to foster development across the board. By strengthening partnerships and leveraging international support, the region is taking steps toward a more inclusive and effective educational landscape.

– Chloe Thomas
Photo: Flickr

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Innovation and Development in Armenia: Success and Optimism

Development in ArmeniaIn 1991, Armenia experienced transformation into an independent democratic state from a once Soviet Socialist Republic. Despite impressive reductions in poverty, the country has faced difficult times throughout its turbulent history. Most of the recent news out of the mountainous nation has centered around its troubling conflict with Azerbaijan, greatly neglecting the sucessful development in Armenia.

Background

The current situation in Armenia is complicated: although the nation has seen its Human Development Index increase by more than 20% since 1991, more than a quarter of Armenians were still living below the poverty line in 2019 and every third child is currently living in poverty. These consequences can be partially attributed to the trend of over-reliance on a few sources of prosperity, such as the export of commodity goods, tourism and financial services, which has restricted the opportunities available in the country to working-age individuals and their children.

Furthermore, Armenia had the largest agriculture sector as a proportion of GDP among  Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus (EESC) countries at 11% in 2021. The need for modernization and diversification is key to Armenia’s development success and the nation has solid foundations for continued poverty alleviation to be achieved. Armenians can look within for inspiration, with exciting, high-value industries such as the ICT sector proving to be catalysts for new growth and innovation. This highlights the importance of sustained innovation, education, opportunity creation, creativity and modernization for the ongoing development success of Armenia.

Government Initiatives

The Ministry of High-Tech Industry seeks to capitalize on Armenia’s high-tech potential by improving education in the sector. This initiative aims to attract influence from foreign high-tech specialists and establish a National Venture Fund to provide grants and support for startups in the country.

Armenia typically struggles with high outmigration. So, supporting bright young prospects as soon as they enter the labor force may lead to further innovations and the growth of new markets in the country. Furthermore, the arrival of tech specialists from Russia has “opened up new opportunities, with the potential to positively affect start-up creation, investment and growth of the ICT sector.”

The Ministry is also planning to increase the digital literacy of the general population through digital education programs and the widespread expansion of high-tech communication services. This is to ensure public digital literacy, improve accessibility to digital services for persons with disabilities and ensure the availability of a fixed internet connection.

Armenia has a legacy of “entrepreneurial culture and pockets of innovation excellence, such as the information and communication technology service exports sector.” Therefore, “strengthening innovation will play a central role in ensuring the country’s sustainable development, building a solid foundation for its transition to a knowledge-based economy.” New sources of growth for Armenia’s economy will inevitably bring some relief to the worst off in society, as the nation will be able to move away from things such as remittances from Russia to boost GDP, which usually only benefit the better-off.

NGO and International Efforts

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development laid out its priorities in its 2019-2024 country plan for Armenia. It is prioritizing increasing the ability of small- and medium-sized enterprises to grow and add value, broadening access to finance, in particular for underserved segments and improving economic governance and greater competition. It will aim to achieve these goals by providing direct financing to SMEs, supporting the introduction of innovative technologies, bringing together and working with various financial interest groups and improving the quality of legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks that competition authorities can tackle monopolies.

Furthermore, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been doing great work in Armenia. This includes investing in small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting local start-up initiatives and tourism development. The program is actively boosting entrepreneurism, developing a future-proof labor market and improving preparedness for shocks in rural communities. Through the promotion of technology-based education, re/up-skilling and upgraded public service models, the livelihoods of nearly 30,000 people have been strengthened to date.

Conclusion

While Armenia continues to work through difficult circumstances, the country is full of exciting initiatives seeking to push it far beyond simple subsistence. 

– Arshiya Eslamdoust
Photo: Unsplash

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USAID programs in Egypt

USAID programs in EgyptFor more than four decades, the collaboration between the U.S. and Egypt has thrived, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the USAID. Since 1978, USAID has made a substantial investment of more than $30 billion in Egypt, focusing on crucial sectors such as education, health, economic development and governance. With the poverty rate in Egypt standing at 29.7% across its population, USAID is doing everything it can to support the overall growth of the country. The tangible impact of USAID programs in Egypt is evident in the positive transformations across Egyptian society, reaching women, minorities, and the broader population.

Education for Empowerment

Education stands at the core of USAID’s commitment to Egypt’s future. More than half of students in Egypt do not even meet the lowest benchmarks when it comes to international test assessments. However, the agency has significantly enhanced reading abilities in early grades, creating a foundation for lifelong learning. With a specific focus on STEM education, USAID has established schools and degree programs to equip students with the skills needed for a rapidly evolving job market. By fostering critical thinking over rote memorization, USAID is not only contributing to Egypt’s economic growth but is also preparing a skilled workforce for the challenges of the 21st century.

A noteworthy initiative in this regard is the USAID Egyptian Pioneers program which was established in November 2022, for which USAID has awarded the American University in Cairo $86 million. This nine-year cooperative agreement aims to provide scholarships and training to Egyptian students, emphasizing sectors critical to “Egypt’s economic growth, including women’s empowerment, health, digitization…” The program seeks to build a more inclusive and capable workforce, addressing the needs of young, low-income Egyptians and empowering them with market-relevant knowledge and skills.

Economic Growth and Prosperity

With its investment, USAID has facilitated the expansion of telecommunications networks and enhanced water and wastewater facilities, benefitting more than 25 million people. By supporting the private sector, USAID has created jobs, stimulated entrepreneurship and strengthened enterprises, contributing significantly to the realization of Egypt’s Vision 2030.

To support Egyptian university students in launching successful careers, USAID, alongside the Egyptian government and private companies, is setting up 30 career centers at 22 public universities. These centers will offer internships, training and other career development programs. USAID has also organized three virtual career fairs, connecting students with employers and generating nearly 20,000 job opportunities.

Additionally, USAID is partnering with Google to provide 500 students with professional certificates. In workforce development, USAID is enhancing technical education to meet industry needs, resulting in thousands of jobs and internships. It is implementing the “3R” strategy with 30 companies to recruit, retrain, and retain workers.

Agricultural Transformation

Recognizing the vital role of agriculture in the Egyptian economy, USAID has invested $1.4 billion in the sector since 1978. These investments have not only increased agricultural export revenue by 1,500% but have also empowered small-scale farmers. Through innovative technologies, training and market-oriented strategies, USAID has elevated the entire agriculture value chain, ensuring that farmers meet international standards and gain confidence in their products.

The Feed the Future Egypt Rural Agribusiness Strengthening initiative is a USAID program that began in 2018 and has continued expanding into 2023, USAID aids farmers in improving self-reliance and producing export-quality crops. Aligned with the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security campaign, this program connects Egyptian farmers and food processors with domestic and international markets, offers financial support and promotes food safety practices. Additionally, it modernizes agribusinesses by upgrading processing facilities, refrigeration trucks and irrigation systems. USAID programs in Egypt like this one are being used to grow the agricultural sector in order to help economic growth and food security within the country.

Current Programs and Future Prospects

The ongoing USAID programs in Egypt reflect a commitment to sustainability and continued impact. The Center of Excellence for Agriculture established in 2019 and expanding into 2024 supports research necessary for the steady growth of Egypt’s economic and agriculture sectors. Providing them with vital agricultural information that can be used to capitalize on Egypt’s current agricultural strengths.

In education, USAID’s initiatives such as STEM Teacher Education, Early Grade Learning, Teach for Tomorrow and Literate Village are addressing the challenges in the education system and preparing students for the demands of the modern workforce.

As the partnership between the U.S. and Egypt continues to evolve, USAID remains dedicated to creating lasting positive change. Through strategic investments, collaborative efforts and a focus on sustainability, USAID contributes to the realization of a prosperous and inclusive Egypt.

– Tristen Jerkins
Photo: Flickr

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Helping the Deaf Community in Pakistan

5 Organizations Helping the Deaf Community in Pakistan Estimates put the deaf population in Pakistan at around 10 million people. Unfortunately, these 10 million Pakistanis face several barriers in society, starting at an early age. Less than 5% of deaf children, especially girls, attend school in Pakistan, leading to widespread illiteracy and ultimately, high unemployment rates among the deaf youth.

The following is an overview of five organizations dedicated to helping the deaf community in Pakistan overcome obstacles that contribute to their poverty. Ayesha Raza, whose parents and brothers are deaf, remarked in 2022 that “the majority of the deaf youth is unemployed in Pakistan, and they face issues like language barriers, inequality and discrimination.”

5 Organizations Helping the Deaf Community in Pakistan

  1. Pakistan Association of the Deaf. Founded in 1987 and based in Karachi, Pakistan, the Pakistan Association of the Deaf strives to promote the welfare of the deaf community in Pakistan. It affiliates with the World Federation of the Deaf and networks with 12 deaf associations across Pakistan. The organization’s current initiatives include advocacy for the deaf, interpreter services, a women’s empowerment program, sports activities for the deaf, Pakistani Sign Language education and a “Needy Deaf Child Sponsorship” program. This sponsorship program allows donors to support one or more deaf children by providing essential school supplies.
  2. Deaf Reach. Founded in 1998 and with its headquarters in Karachi, Pakistan, Deaf Reach is a sub-organization of the Family Educational Services Foundation. Deaf Reach particularly serves the deaf community in Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces. Every year, more than 1,500 deaf students receive education through Deaf Reach’s schools. Deaf Reach also ensures this education is accessible to those experiencing financial difficulties, as they use a “pay-as-you-can-afford” method. The curriculum at these schools encompasses core subjects, academic literacy and vocational training, with a focus on information technology (IT) skills. Pakistani Sign Language is the primary language of instruction, with a strong emphasis on helping students develop language and literacy skills in Pakistani Sign Language, Urdu and English. Besides serving a large number of students annually, Deaf Reach also trains about 150 teachers each year in the best practices of deaf education.
  3. DeafTawk. Based in Islamabad, Pakistan, DeafTawk is a multinational organization that serves deaf communities in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Denmark and Puerto Rico by bridging communication gaps between the hearing and deaf communities. Since launching its mobile app in 2018, DeafTawk has connected deaf individuals with qualified interpreters for real-time interpreting services. DeafTawk takes pride in having uplifted deaf Pakistanis by providing them with essential communication tools for success. The organization’s team, already well-connected with the deaf community in Pakistan, has forged partnerships with major Pakistani corporations and development companies through its services.
  4. ConnectHear. Growing up as the interpreter for her deaf parents, Azima Dhanjee understood firsthand the opportunities her parents missed when she wasn’t available. Drawing on her experiences, Dhanjee founded ConnectHear in 2017 to increase the number of interpreters available to the deaf community in Pakistan. Based in Karachi, ConnectHear focuses on training Pakistani Sign Language interpreters and connecting organizations across Pakistan with both virtual and in-person interpreters. The mission of ConnectHear and its team is to broaden accessibility for deaf Pakistanis and make Pakistan more inclusive for the deaf community. ConnectHear emphasizes that access to interpreters and thus to communication, enables deaf Pakistanis to achieve true independence.
  5. Pakistan Ear Foundation. Based in Lahore, Pakistan, the Pakistan Ear Foundation actively supports the deaf community with a focus on enhancing ear and hearing care across the country. This support includes offering early detection services, increasing education and awareness about deafness and hearing loss, facilitating communication services and making hearing aids and cochlear implants more accessible to those who qualify and desire them. Additionally, the Foundation engages in political advocacy to promote better policies for the deaf community and works to improve education for deaf and hard-of-hearing Pakistanis.

Looking Ahead

The deaf community in Pakistan continues to face many challenges related to discrimination and lack of access to resources compared to their hearing counterparts. However, these five organizations have made great progress toward promoting equitable access for deaf Pakistanis in the future.

– Natalie Coyne
Photo: Flickr

Retirement Insecurity in Africa

Retirement Insecurity in Africa Retirement insecurity in Africa presents a significant challenge, not just due to the current lack of social protection for the elderly but also because of the expected rapid growth of their population in the coming years.

Demographic research forecasts a sharp increase in the number of people over 60 years in sub-Saharan Africa, despite the misconception of a predominantly youthful population, projections show the number of elderly individuals in sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2030. This demographic shift poses a challenge as the labor market is predominantly informal nature exacerbates the situation, leaving many without formal pension systems.

In 2018, informal work, including agriculture, laboring and street vending, accounted for 89.2% of employment, signaling a future of financial insecurity for a vast number of African workers. Additionally, changing household structures, from multi-generational to skipped-generation or one-generation homes, further diminish social support for the elderly, contributing to this financial insecurity.

Improved Social Protection in Africa

A working paper on Pension Funds in Africa, published in August 2022, raises significant concerns about retirement security. It reveals that despite the contributory nature of pension funds, only 8.9% of the Sub-Saharan African labor force contributes to a pension scheme, a stark contrast to the global average of 53.7%. Consequently, just 22.7% of those aged 60 years or over receive any form of pension, whether contributory or non-contributory, compared to 68% worldwide. The report points to low earnings and a critical lack of access to contributory schemes during individuals’ working lives as key issues, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced social protection mechanisms.

This systemic gap leaves the majority of workers without financial assistance or security upon retirement. Shifts in family structures significantly impact Sub-Saharan Africa, where limited job opportunities for the elderly and scarce pension availability increase dependency on family support systems, which are becoming unsustainable. The report also highlights the disproportionate effect of this systemic gap on elderly women, who, often excluded from formal, higher-paying jobs, work in the informal sector without access to the pension schemes available to some of their male counterparts. The prevalence of informal work, coupled with the changing family structure, exacerbates retirement insecurity among older individuals in Africa.

Pension Protection in Africa

The 4th Annual African Supervisors Pension Association (ASPA) found that “600 million of the 778 million working-age population in Africa are excluded from formal pension and social protection arrangements”. This extreme lack of support for those retiring could lead to disaster, as the aging population may face extreme poverty. When discussing these problems, they propose their solution: The African Supervisors Pension Association.

The Role and Impact of ASPA

ASPA was established in 2019 and hosts a platform for supervisors and pension industry regulators to network and facilitate the development of pensions in Africa. Its founding member countries are Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Rwanda, and the current membership is made up of regulators from 15 countries. ASPA aims to create a secure and dignified retirement future for all Africans, and its impact is notable. It is responsible for over 86% of pension assets in Africa, holding US$350 billion.

Its current structure ignores the largely important ‘informal’ sector workers, preventing them from gaining a real sustainable wage. It suggests numerous solutions, including increasing financial literacy and building trust among those saving for retirement. It also highlights the relative successes of micro pension schemes individual countries like Uganda have undertaken.

In Uganda, the Ugandan Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) supervises, regulates, and manages retirement schemes and aims to promote a “stable and effective” retirement benefits sector. It notes that retirement benefit coverage now covers 18% of people in Uganda. ASPA aims to emulate and build on URBRA’s success, paving the way for more sustainable futures for African people.

Looking Ahead

By establishing an expansive network of African delegates and global experts, the conferences can potentially foster innovative and creative solutions, like stakeholder collaborations, significantly impacting retirement insecurity in Africa.

– Beth Keith
Photo: Unsplash

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Organizations Empowering Women and Girls in Malawi

Women and Girls in MalawiWomen and girls in Malawi have many challenges to face. According to a study done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 42% of Malawian girls can expect to be married before they turn 18, while 9% of those are married before they turn 15. These percentages are among the highest in the world. Also, according to The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), about 42% of school-aged girls drop out of school, with most citing education costs and pregnancy as their reason. Consequently, Less than 15% of women receive schooling beyond their primary years. Additionally, instances of gender-based violence are a prevalent issue in Malawi.

The conditions described have devastating effects on the lives of women and girls in Malawi. Many young girls in the country are not encouraged to pursue independence, resulting in them becoming women who are often dependent on the men in their lives. While these issues persist today, several organizations are working hard to provide women and girls in Malawi with the knowledge and opportunities they need to be successful.

Girls Empowerment Network (GENET)

The Girls Empowerment Network in Malawi, also known as GENET, was established in 2008. GENET focuses largely on inspiring young, school-aged girls to stay in school. The organization does this by urging community leaders to assist in funding scholarships and provide mentorship and friendly, safe spaces for girls to share their concerns. GENET also instills girls with digital, social and economic skills that help them become empowered and independent as they grow older.

More than 5,000 young girls in Malawi have completed their education thanks to scholarships provided by GENET. The network has also supported more than 2,500 survivors of gender-based violence by providing them access to legal and mental health services. Overall, GENET has impacted the lives of more than 100,000 girls in Malawi, many of whom were inspired to become leaders and mentors within their communities, thus multiplying the organization’s impact.

Fund a Girl

Yvonne Kamange founded Fund A Girl in 2018 to help underprivileged girls afford an education. The initiative has identified that families already living in poverty often resort to enrolling their children in school, which makes it more likely that those children will remain impoverished. To break this cycle, the organization collects donations from sponsors to fund the education of numerous Malawian girls. These donations go towards buying school supplies, books, uniforms and tuition fees.

Along with funding young girls’ educations, Fund A Girl also offers mentorship, vocational training and sexual and reproductive education. These services are making a huge impact on the lives of underprivileged girls in Malawi.

The Sparkle Foundation

While supporting school-aged girls is crucial, empowering and supporting women is equally vital. The Sparkle Foundation is actively addressing this need through its organized women’s groups. These groups are designed to offer local women the chance to engage in recreational activities, fostering connections within the community. Additionally, the initiative imparts resourceful knowledge and skills to women through these groups. Overall, the Sparkle Foundation’s women’s group “fosters a sense of unity” while equipping “women with the knowledge, tools and resources to uplift themselves.”

Continuing Support

Women and girls in Malawi face many challenges throughout their lives. However, organizations such as the Girls Empowerment Network, Fund A Girl and the Sparkle Foundations continue to support and advocate for them. By doing so, these organizations are opening doors of opportunity for thousands of girls who would not have had such chances.

– Kimber Peters
Photo: Flickr

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Child Soldiers in Guatemala

Child Soldiers in GuatemalaMilitary groups worldwide recruit children and although the U.N. has put measures in place to prevent this, the issue is still prevalent. Their roles are not restricted to only soldiers or gunmen, but spies, messengers, sex slaves and suicide bombers. The U.N. receives regular “reports of children as young as 8 or 9 years old associated with armed groups”. When discussing child soldiers in Guatemala in the present day, separating state and non-state armed groups is essential. Guatemala’s gangs and guerrilla groups rely on child recruitment and, as these are not state institutions, these groups are harder to study or control.

Child Soldiers in the Civil War

From 1960 to 1996 Guatemala stood as a site of internal conflict. The leftist guerrilla movement Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) fought against the Guatemalan Government in the Civil War. In this 36-year war, it was “common practice” for both the national army and the guerrilla groups to recruit children. There is a lack of information on the exact number of child soldiers involved in the war. However, the U.N. estimates that out of the 3,000 members of the URNG, 214 were under the age of 18. Unfortunately, this lack of data meant that, after the war, child soldiers in Guatemala did not receive compensation, or benefit from any reintegration programs.

Progress

In 1992, the U.N. wrote the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to tackle issues of child safety and exploitation. This states that parties cannot recruit anyone under the age of 15 into the armed forces and pushes the State to take preventative measures.

In 2000, the Optional Protocol to the CRC that focuses on the involvement of children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) raised the age from 15 to 18. Guatemala signed both of these documents, however, there is no evidence of progress.

Military Schools

Guatemala’s military schools are a key example of how the state is still subjecting children to violence and ignoring the concerns raised in the CRC and OPAC. Children in these military schools take part in combat training and weapons handling. Many of these military schools do not meet the government’s educational standards and there are numerous complaints of the use of corporal punishment. Child Rights International Network (CRIN) revealed that in 2016 at least three students reported rape by soldiers at the military school Adolfo V Hall.

Even if these children are not legally members of the armed forces until they are adults, they are still victims to and witnesses of violence at such a young age. In these cases, differentiating voluntary and coerced enlisting is extremely difficult.

Child Soldiers in Gangs

Maras are a type of gang in Guatemala and the 2023 CRIN report shows that recruitment is hard to regulate as maras control large residential areas.

The Maras specifically target children on their way to and from school. These children are coerced and threatened into becoming spies or gunmen and many children have been murdered on their way to school for refusing to take part. According to a 2023 CRIN report “Save the Children reports that children as young as 6 are recruited to transport guns…and have been coerced into homicides as young as 13.” This has had a detrimental impact on education. School is no longer a space of safety and learning but “a site of recruitment.” This creates a vicious cycle, as with lower access to education more children turn to gang activity.

Schools of Peace

Save the Children has worked with Guatemalan families suffering from poverty since 1999. In the last year,  Save the Children positively impacted 201,000 young people. Aside from alleviating poverty, Save the Children has created a Schools of Peace project. This project results from education and child protection services working together to prevent any disruption to the education of young people. The initiative interrupts the process of gang recruitment and ensures that schools in Guatemala have the right protection from any danger due to armed conflict.

Save the Children tells the story of 16-year-old Estrella, a daughter of a gang leader. Her life was wrapped in violence and her education was sacrificed until Schools of Peace intervened. She is doing very well at school and works as a youth leader near Las Canoas to help others who have suffered like her.

Toybox

Toybox is a charity that provides young people with safe spaces and communities outside of school. The organization works in the country’s capital, Guatemala City and provides counseling and therapy to young children. It has provided children across the world with psychosocial support. Toybox identified that 10% of annual births in Guatemala are undocumented. This reduces the amount of protection the state can provide in conflict situations.

In 2022, Toybox helped 2,794 children around the world obtain legal identity documents. The charity also holds weekly sports activities to develop and maintain trusting relationships between staff and children. It is setting up a support network for these young people, while also demonstrating that other, more constructive, paths are still viable to children who live under gang rule.

A 2023 CRIN report identifies that poverty exacerbates non-state violence and increases child recruitment. It suggests treating the root cause of poverty to see a drastic difference in the levels of child soldiers in Guatemala. Initiatives such as these are important to show that there is a path out of the violence that dominates their lives.

– Liz Johnson
Photo: Flickr

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Poverty in Angola: Top Three Priorities to Reduce It

Poverty in AngolaAlthough the second-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, Angola has a projected poverty rate of 12.4 million in 2024. This estimated figure is based on rising food prices and slowing growth in the nation during 2023, consequently leading to 33% of Angolans living below $2.15 a day. In hopes of limiting 2024 projections for Angola, the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework has offered support to the Central African region. It comes in the form of a development plan from 2024-2028, which highlights key areas of improvement. Sitting down with Jonathan Kenda, a recent volunteer worker in Angola, we learn whether the three priorities he spotted as reducing poverty in Angola are included in the U.N. development plan.

Issues on the Ground

“I did a lot of community service,” Kenda explains when describing his day-to-day role within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “I was based in Luanda, but over the course of the year, I covered the whole of Angola.” With such broad awareness of Angola, Kenda pointed to a “scarcity of pure and clean water,” a divide between “areas that weren’t properly developed” and those that were and “waste pollution” as contributing factors to poverty in the Central African nation.

Validating Kenda’s observations are the droughts that the Southern provinces of Angola have suffered over the last decade and the six thousand tonnes of solid waste produced daily by Luanda, Angola’s capital, alone. To such issues, there have been responsive solutions. One is the “Water for All” campaign. The other and more recent, is the formation of a plastic reduction task force made by the Angolan government.

During the interview, however, these three issues, which have prompted respective aid campaigns, only form three of Kenda’s formative priorities to reduce poverty in Angola. Later in the conversation, he outlined the top three priorities to reduce poverty in Angola: Education, Infrastructure and Medicine.

Education

Kenda noted that “as a sector, its importance is rising in Angola.” This is mirrored in the U.N.’s Development Framework, with its top priority being to transform education. Nationally, Angola has shouldered responsibility, too. The government has not only set education as a top priority but has done so for the next four years.

However, “a lot more could be done”. Kenda explains that after “countless conversations [with] locals,” it became clear that “the majority of schools taught at a basic level due to the site not having resources to help students better their understanding.” Due to this material deprivation within schools, Kenda highlights that it is common to see families with money “sending their children overseas to receive an education.” The fact that less than 1% of Angolans attend university in the country, despite the growing education sector, underscores a systemic issue that fails to cultivate an attitude toward learning that exceeds expectations.

Kenda also pointed to teachers’ pay as a contributing factor to the growth of the education sector without significant progress. However, there are solutions in motion and just before the new year, a World Bank pledge offers even greater hope. The commitment involves a 10-year, $150 million aid service aimed at strengthening specifics such as school governance, teacher training and education courses across Angola.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure, identified as a priority to reduce poverty in Angola, is demonstrated in the material deprivation within the school system. However, according to Kenda, the infrastructure sector in Angola faces a bigger issue. “During the time I spent in Angola,” Kenda explains, “there were only a few areas that had a good network of roads and modes of transport.” This area of civil planning is a niche area within the sector of infrastructure. Aligning with the U.N.’s Development Framework, Kenda’s priority for reducing poverty in Angola through road planning is mirrored in the intent to develop rural roads.

As Kenda went on to explain that “of the road network, there were parts of it that needed improvements” due to roads prone to flooding, the approach made by the UN in its 2024-2028 plan reflects the on-the-ground concerns of the voluntary worker. As Kenda continued to explain, “of the road network, there were parts of it that needed improvements” due to roads prone to flooding. The approach made by the U.N. in its 2024-2028 plan reflects the on-the-ground concerns of the voluntary worker. The development of road planning is part of a broad national intent, too, which hopes to provide a significant transformation in Angolan infrastructure and which, in January 2024, was commended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Medicine

Kenda’s final priority to reduce poverty in Angola: Medicine. The U.N.’s Development Framework for Angola notes the intent to enhance the funding and quality of primary health care services. Although, no emphasis is placed on medicine. “Accessing medicine was difficult for the locals,” explains Kenda. “It was often too expensive and most of the time, the local pharmacies did not have many medicinal products that could effectively combat an array of illnesses.” Kenda’s worries stem from the one pharmacy for more than 22,000 Angolans and the drug shortages that hinder pharmacies across the country.

However, in a similar fashion to the growing sector for Infrastructure, financial predictions are set on the Angolan pharmaceutical market to experience significant growth over the coming years. Aside from the £130 million investment made by the U.K., investments to prompt such growth in the Angolan pharmaceutical sector fail to pile in.

Angolans in 2024

Kenda and the countless Angolans he encountered during his time in the nation have experienced and identified with these three priorities to reduce poverty in Angola. Responsive aid campaigns in the sector of education and infrastructure have provided more than ample solutions that are fit for the future. They contribute to a broad development in professional and academic experience, inspiring an upcoming generation of Angolans. Investments in the medical and pharmaceutical sector, however, flail behind slightly. To reduce poverty in Angola, the sector must undergo a transformation similar to the ongoing developments in education and infrastructure.

– Joseph Wray
Photo: Unsplash