Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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The Economic Potential of the IWOSS Sector in Nigeria

IWOSS sector in Nigeria
High levels of joblessness have emerged as a critical policy issue in Nigeria. From 2010 to 2018, the unemployment rate surged from 5% to 23%. Compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy is failing to create an adequate number of employment opportunities, especially for women and young people. As the shortcomings of traditional sectors like manufacturing in driving economic growth and employment have become apparent, attention has pivoted toward investigating alternative sectors that can stimulate both economic development and job opportunities.

Industries Without Smokestacks and Their Impact

Industries without smokestacks (IWOSS) encompass industries with superior labor productivity compared to traditional agriculture. These sectors encompass agro-processing, financial and corporate services, information and communication technology (ICT), tourism, formal trade and transportation.

The growing significance of the IWOSS sector in Nigeria is particularly important, given that data suggests the employment crisis has escalated into a significant issue. For instance, the financial and business services sector led to an increase in employment rates, accounting for 23.5% of the growth share between 2010 and 2018. In contrast, sectors like mining demonstrated minimal improvement, registering a mere 0.1% increase, underscoring the transition from traditional sectors to newer, service-oriented ones.

IWOSS sectors provide diverse job opportunities that cater to individuals with a range of skills and expertise levels. This opportunity means that people with lower levels of education or skills can still find employment in these sectors, helping reduce unemployment and alleviate poverty.

Job Opportunities for Women and Youth

A notable feature of the IWOSS sector in Nigeria is their propensity to hire women, young individuals and those with low education and skills. These sectors have consistently attracted a greater proportion of workers from these specific demographics in comparison to sectors outside the IWOSS realm. In 2018, for example, 34% of the IWOSS sector in Nigeria consisted of females, while the non-IWOSS workforce exhibited a lower representation of women at 32%. Predictions indicate that the IWOSS sectors will experience a continued rise in female employment by 2025. These figures demonstrate the advancement of gender equality in the labor force. This sector offers favorable prospects for women to overcome the obstacles that have historically hindered their participation and progress in conventional industries.

Advantages of IWOSS

An important benefit of IWOSS is its adaptability, which allows women to manage both their professional and family obligations effectively. Introducing remote work choices, freelance positions and flexible scheduling has transformed the job market, especially for women.

Given that IWOSS sectors in Nigeria prioritize skills over physical strength, they offer an equitable platform for women to excel and prosper. By offering flexible work arrangements and prioritizing skills over physical strength, IWOSS sectors create a more inclusive environment for women to participate in the workforce. Empowering women with employment opportunities can lead to economic independence and, in turn, reduce poverty among female-headed households.

Just like the manufacturing sector, these industries share the characteristic of being export-oriented, meaning they engage in trade and benefit from global markets. Additionally, they harness the advantages of technological innovations, leveraging cutting-edge tools and processes to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

Furthermore, their substantial reliance on a workforce encompassing individuals with lower to intermediate skills and expertise sets them apart. This reliance means that these sectors offer employment opportunities for a wide spectrum of workers, ranging from those with basic skills to those with more specialized training, making them accessible to a broader segment of the population.

The IWOSS sector in Nigeria is swiftly gaining prominence and playing a progressively larger role in employment. IWOSS can create many job prospects for Nigerians, particularly for the younger generation. The adaptability, inclusiveness and resilience that IWOSS has exhibited over the last two decades, even amid the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic posed, underscore its capacity to foster job growth.

– Susanna Andryan
Photo: Unsplash

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Mercy Ships Brings Health Care Services to Africa

Health Care Services to Africa
Mercy Ships, a U.K.-based charity, has offered to improve health care in developing nations for more than 40 years. With more than 44% of the world’s population living within 100 miles of a coast, Mercy Ships utilizes a fleet of repurposed and purpose-built vessels to bring life-changing health care where it is needed most. In recent years, Mercy Ships has focused on bringing health care services to Africa, particularly the sub-Saharan region. Central Africa has the highest extreme poverty rate in the continent at 54.8% as of 2022, making it a key area for Mercy Ships’ aid efforts.

Mercy Ships: History and Mission

Mercy Ships, founded in 1978, currently operates two hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy. Both ships have space on board for 400–600 volunteers, who do most of the charity’s work. The volunteers include doctors, surgeons, crew, cooks, teachers, electricians and more. The Global Mercy, the charity’s first purpose-built Hospital Ship, is currently the largest charity-run hospital ship in the world.

Mercy Ships’ vision is to tackle the issues in the countries it visits by providing access to free health care and collaborating with the host government to address the root causes of these issues. In 2021, Mercy Ships brought health care services to people in Liberia, Senegal, Togo, South Africa and Benin. Mercy Ships aims to strengthen the country’s health care systems and drive policy change via training and mentoring local health care professionals and improving health care infrastructure.

The Value It Provides

In sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for two-thirds of the global extreme poor population as of 2017, medical facilities with up-to-date equipment are often few and far between, with trained professionals difficult to hire and retain. With a chronic shortage of medicine and skilled personnel in the continent, deaths from preventable illnesses have always been an issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021, there were 619,000 global malaria deaths, and Africa accounted for 96%.

Malaria can be prevented or treated with access to the appropriate medicines and treatment. As such, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 countries, providing services valued at around £1.3 billion. By working closely with their host country, Mercy Ships provides the medication, treatment and trained personnel to treat preventable illness in the locations it ports.

Mercy Ships also leaves a lasting impact through the training it provides and the medical infrastructure it assists in creating. In 2021, Mercy Ships brought health care services to Africa exclusively and provided 3,138 surgical procedures, 16,067 dental procedures and 157,812 hours of participant training.

A Lasting Impact

Mercy Ships has various strategies for the longevity of the host port long after its visit. When Mercy Ships reaches an agreement with the respective Government, two years of preparations begin before the vessel sets sail. This preparation includes extensive research on the needs of the host nation. The organization draws up a strategy to implement in the particular country. Educating medical professionals is usually a top priority. Mercy Ships aims to share its skills and knowledge with local professionals to contribute to improving health care delivery after it leaves. Local professionals observe the work aboard the vessels and receive training in plastic surgeries, eye operations, orthopedics and gynecology.

The hope is that the local professionals pass their knowledge on to others, improving health care throughout the country. Mercy Ships also provides online training courses free of charge to reach even more people beyond their direct impact. A second focus on medical longevity is the Mercy Ships Renovation Project strategy. The charity identifies that often, in developing countries, there is a choice between paying staff and improving facilities. By renovating facilities in the countries it visits, Mercy Ships solves the dilemma and enables local facilities to increase the capacity and quality of their surgical care.

Renovations are often underway before the vessel even arrives in the host country. The organization’s strategy entails acquiring and renovating outpatient facilities to house and care for patients who live far away from the port before the surgeries. A notable clinic is the hospital outpatient extension center in Madagascar, which Mercy Ships refurbished and donated back to the community. The charity also acquires and renovates eye and dental clinics. When the charity departs, the clinics and centers are given to the local government so that they can continue to use them.

Looking Ahead

Mercy Ships, a charity that aims to fight health care poverty one patient at a time, provides a life-saving service to people who need it most. Focusing on a lasting impact improves the long-term infrastructure of the places it visits and encourages the continual improvement of medical care in developing nations. Recently, Mercy Ships has acknowledged the need to bring health care services to Africa and has begun to focus on the region. Mercy Ships hopes that more attention and support will be provided to this area in need by continuing to do so.

– Myron Westgarth
Photo: Flickr

Sustainable Farming Practices in Latin America

Sustainable Farming Practices in Latin AmericaLatin America, a region endowed with rich biodiversity and abundant agricultural resources, is at the forefront of adopting sustainable farming practices that promise a greener future and play a pivotal role in fighting global poverty. As 32.1% of Latin America’s population lived in poverty in 2022, countries are taking significant strides towards sustainable and resilient agriculture. By promoting methods that reduce dependence on expensive chemical inputs and focus on efficient resource utilization, sustainable farming helps lower production costs. This article delves into sustainable farming practices in Latin America and their link to alleviating global poverty. 

The Panorama of Sustainable Agriculture in Latin America

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in its 2021 report, highlights the progress and prospects of sustainable and resilient agriculture in Latin America. The region has made commendable strides in adopting sustainable practices that prioritize preserving its farming communities’ environment, biodiversity and livelihoods.

One of the standout initiatives is the promotion of agroecological practices. These practices are rooted in biodiversity conservation, soil health and reduced chemical inputs. It not only strengthens food security, which 40.6% of Latin America’s population has not achieved but also empowers local communities by reducing costs. For instance, in 2016, a project in Uruguay implemented by the government with 2,000 technicians and producers managed to save $40 per hectare by using good practices and alternatives to pesticides. 

The Role of IICA in Promoting Sustainable Agriculture

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has played a pivotal role in spearheading sustainable farming practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Agriculture uses 69% of the planet’s freshwater, significantly impacting freshwater systems worldwide. IICA recognizes that sustainable methods reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment while simultaneously decreasing rural poverty and providing food security. 

Researchers from various international organizations found long-term incentives, such as perceived benefits for farms or the environment, drive farmers to adopt sustainable practices. While short-term economic benefits are crucial initially, the perception of favorable impacts on farms or the environment encourages sustained adoption. 

A Sustainable Future: Our Hands, Latin America and the Caribbean

The World Bank has actively pursued sustainable farming practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Latin America is a major global provider of ecosystem services and a significant contributor to the world’s food supply. However, these achievements have come at a cost, with agriculture utilizing a substantial portion of the region’s land and water resources and generating a significant proportion of its greenhouse gas emissions. The World Bank highlights the region’s successful farming systems and identifies inefficiencies, inequalities and unsustainability. The organization calls for reimagining the agricultural sector to maximize its positive outcomes for society, economies and ecosystems. 

To avoid the costs of Latin America’s achievements, the World Bank brought researchers to create 20 actions for policymakers to enhance the region’s agri-food systems. Such actions include modernizing agri-logistics infrastructure, reducing food waste and climate-smart food systems. The report emphasizes the need for strategic approaches, well-crafted policies, investments and strong institutions to achieve sustainable agri-food systems, which promise economic growth, food security, nutrition, natural resources and climate change mitigation benefits. 

Nature-Based Solutions: A Healthier Climate

The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental organization, has actively promoted nature-based solutions in Latin America. The organization challenges the notion that there must be environmental trade-offs to achieve global food security. It advocates for implementing nature-based solutions and underscores that farming can be part of the solution, helping mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity, ultimately leading to a healthier climate. 

For example, in 2017, the Nature Conservancy incentivized sustainable ranching practices in Colombia, resulting in increased productivity, reduced chemical inputs, enhanced biodiversity and substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly a million native trees have been planted, and 23,000 acres of land have been converted to silvopastoral systems as pastures and native land have been integrated. The success of such initiatives showcases the potential for scaling up low-carbon agriculture and its significant role in mitigating global emissions while increasing food production. Allying farming and habitat is the way forward for sustainable farming practices in Latin America and the fight against poverty. 

A Greener Future

Sustainable farming practices in Latin America nurture a healthier planet and cultivate a greener future for its people. The region is making agriculture more resilient, productive and environmentally friendly by embracing agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, precision farming and nature-based solutions. These practices not only protect the livelihoods of smallholder farmers but also offer opportunities for economic growth. As the region continues to innovate and collaborate, it sets an inspiring example for the world in its commitment to alleviating poverty through environmentally responsible agriculture.

– Valentin Lyazov
Photo: Flickr

Successful Efforts to Avoid a Polio Outbreak in Ukraine

Polio Outbreak in UkraineThe war against Russia has heavily affected the country’s facilities. With supplies coming from around the world, it’s easy for infections to run wild, which is what happened when polio entered the Ukraine. While the polio was expected to drown Ukraine, the country managed to pull through, thanks to the perseverance of people determined to rid the country of this disease. Thanks to the efforts of global partners, the country successfully avoided a potential polio outbreak in Ukraine.

Background

Polio is a disease that causes paralysis, primarily in children under 5. The disease is highly infectious and transmitted through contaminated food or water. The last time polio cases were detected in Ukraine was in 2016, caused by the lack of an efficient health care system. The country went through a reform, but it was not easy. Corruption plagues the country, with health care money going towards corrupt individuals. As a result, the price of medicine and vaccines went up. From 2016 onwards, Ukraine took major strides to reform its health care, ensuring it was accessible to as many people as possible. Through these efforts, Ukraine ensured another polio outbreak would never happen again, with 83% of young children vaccinated for polio in 2019. 

The war with Russia halted this progression, sending Ukraine into distress. On the health side, things were just as bad. The destruction of various medical institutes led to the delayed delivery of multiple medical supplies. The progress to protect the health of the citizens had slowed down, with only 53% of one-year-olds receiving vaccinations for Polio by October 2021. The displacement of a majority of the population did not help this deficit. Nearly one million people fled across the borders of Ukraine, and with them, the risk of polio spreading to other countries. With all this chaos in the air, something disastrous was bound to happen. 

Efforts to Combat a Potential Polio Outbreak in Ukraine

In October 2021, polio was detected in Ukraine from a young boy. The polio had stemmed from an infection that traced back to Pakistan, one of the few countries still dealing with polio. The disruption in water and food made the polio very transmittable. Soon enough, 19 people tested positive for polio but showed no symptoms by December 2021. This increase led to an action plan to prioritize young children who had not received a vaccine. Unfortunately, that approach proved more difficult than planned. 

With a campaign in place, the delivery began in February 2022. Considering the dangerous situation in Ukraine, the supplies proved challenging to deliver. WHO, the World Health Organization, assisted in delivering the vaccines. While the campaign initially went smoothly, things became harder when Russians invaded the area. Citizens had to scatter, interrupting the progress of health care workers. With thirty-four hospitals destroyed, the goal to rid polio seemed dire. There were still 100,000 children who required vaccination. Despite this disruption, international health organizations remained steadfast in their eradication of polio. GPEI, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, assisted WHO in distributing the vaccines to citizens still in Ukraine, setting up laboratories to help with the process. To ensure the disease does not emerge from outside the country, UNICEF set up vaccine stations along refugee routes. No matter the difficulty, the teams continued to push forward, dedicated to protecting the people of Ukraine. Thankfully, through the hard work of many, UNICEF delivered 890,000 doses of inactivated polio vaccine to Ukraine by 2023, with a large majority being administered to the remaining citizens in need of vaccination. 

In May 2023, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners conducted an assessment. After testing most of the Ukrainian population, they determined they had eradicated polio within their borders. Ukraine had overcome polio. Ukraine is still not in the clear. Because of its vulnerable position, polio can still enter the country. Thankfully, The Ministry of Health has dedicated efforts to ensuring that another outbreak does not occur. 

Final Thoughts

Through combined efforts, one of the most deadly diseases has been stopped during one of the deadliest times of war. It is a testament to what belief and hope in a cause can do for an entire population. If Ukraine can overcome polio, they can certainly do anything they want. 

– Uzair Khan
Photo: Flickr

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Imran Khan’s Humanitarian Legacy Uplifting Pakistan’s Poor

Pakistan's Poor
After losing his mother to cancer in 1985, Imran Khan dreamed of constructing a free cancer hospital to help others. Imran Khan spent significant time and effort raising money for this cause because he was committed to building a center that would offer quality cancer care to low-income patients in Pakistan regardless of their ability to pay.

Khan’s dream came true in 1994 when the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital opened in Lahore as the first charitable cancer hospital in South Asia after almost a decade of tireless fundraising. The hospital carries Khan’s mission that low-income people should have access to advanced cancer care. Later, Khan built two more hospitals, one in Peshawar and another in Karachi. These medical facilities have restored health to tens of thousands who had given up hope while empowering Pakistan’s poor.

Providing Access to Health Care to Help Pakistan’s Poor

With nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s population living below the poverty line, millions lack access to quality health care. Rural communities in particular face shortages of medical infrastructure, staff and essential medicines. Cancer patients are especially impacted, as treatment is often prohibitively expensive. Shaukat Khanum’s free cancer care is therefore highly significant, providing world-class diagnosis, treatment and medicines to thousands of underprivileged patients who would likely not receive care otherwise. Charity hospitals worldwide help get people out of poverty by giving them access to high-quality health care. In a country where getting good medical care can be expensive, SKMCH’s free cancer treatment is nothing short of remarkable.

The hospital guarantees that cancer will not put families deeper into poverty by covering all medical expenses, so they can focus on improving. Since it opened in 1994, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital will have seen more than 127,900 people with cancer by 2022. Breast, colon and lip/oral cancer are some of the most common types of cancer treated at the hospital. The hospital’s cancer registry listed more than 7,300 new cancer cases in 2022 alone. These numbers show how many cancer patients are in Pakistan and how hard Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital works to help them.

Paving the Way for Better Policies

Policymakers have taken notice of the success and impact of SKMCH’s work to aid Pakistan’s poor. The hospital’s innovative way of treating cancer for free has led to talks and plans to make health care easier to receive nationwide. SKMCH’s work to improve health care infrastructure has affected policy decisions, leading to more government support and funding for health programs that help people in economically disadvantaged regions.

Beating the Odds: A Teen Overcomes Cancer

At the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in 1999, 14-year-old Waqas Khan learned he had blood cancer. Even though the news was terrible, Waqas found hope in the charitable cancer hospital. He was able to access free treatment and medicines that his family could not afford on their own. Waqas kept going through years of hard chemo treatments with the help of caring doctors at SKMCH. He got strength every day from his hope to finish school. He beat the odds and beat cancer after 3.5 years of hard treatment. In 2023, Waqas is a successful university student about to graduate. His story shows how impoverished cancer patients find life-saving care and hope at Shaukat Khanum Hospital that changes their lives.

A Gateway of Opportunity: The Founding Vision of Namal University

Imran Khan founded Namal University in 2008 to empower Pakistani youth through access to higher education, regardless of socioeconomic standing. Namal provided poor, hard-working students with a chance to go to college, which seemed like an impossible dream.

Namal University, located in Mianwali, was envisioned as Pakistan’s first model institution of higher education. More than 500 students have graduated with the help of the program’s merit and need-based scholarships. The school encourages students with exceptional potential from all walks of life to apply.

Building Skills to Uplift Communities

The main subjects in Namal’s curriculum are engineering, science, computer science, business, marketing and agriculture. Students learn technical and analytical skills that fit the needs of their communities. For example, engineering graduates work on projects like irrigation and clean water, which help farmers make more money.

Through her studies at Namal University, aspiring electrical engineer Bushra Sardar has earned a chance to break new ground. Sardar, from Faisalabad, joined the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in the United States. It is a very competitive program. A woman from Namal has been accepted into an academic and cultural exchange program, making her one of the first two from her region to do so.

Sardar is a pioneering woman in engineering, a field men have always dominated. During her time at Namal, her love of engineering and passion for doing well in school has opened doors for her. Sardar’s selection shows how talented Namal’s many different students are. It shows that the university wants to give female students the tools to reach their goals.

The World Needs More Leaders Like Imran Khan

Imran Khan is known for his impact on sports, politics and humanitarian efforts to help Pakistan’s poor. Imran Khan’s charitable projects are aiding Pakistan’s underprivileged population. Khan, hailing from Pakistan, has gained immense popularity worldwide. This is evident from the huge number of followers he garnered within a week of creating his TikTok account. He has gone from being a cricket star to a philanthropist to a political leader.

Khan has given the people of Pakistan hope and pride. Shaukat Khanum Hospital made many cancer patient’s dreams come true by giving them the care they needed. Namal University gave bright students from low-income families a chance to attend college. By helping people get better and giving them more power, these humanitarian projects show how much Imran Khan cares about improving the country he loves.

– Asia Jamil
Photo: Flickr

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Slovakia: The World’s Highest Rate of Income Equality

Income Equality
In today’s stark reality, the richest 10% of individuals hold more than half of global income, while the poorest half of the world’s total population shares 8.5% of it; a disparity that has doubled over the last 20 years. However, Slovakia is one of the few success stories of inclusive growth, maintaining the third-lowest risk of poverty in the EU in addition to achieving the world’s highest rate of income equality.

Defying Poverty and Disparity

Europe constitutes no exception from the global trajectory of wealth distribution. Among the EU’s most equitable nations, Denmark and Sweden have witnessed income inequality increase by approximately 14% since 2006. In contrast, Slovakia experienced a reduction of the same amount during this period. While income levels in Slovakia remain relatively low, they are nevertheless the most evenly distributed.

In fact, the Slovak Republic attained a Gini coefficient of 23.2 in 2023 — a statistical measure quantifying income inequality and economic concentration — which constitutes the lowest figure achieved by any nation today. Meanwhile, Slovakia is also recognized as having the world’s fourth-best Palma ratio, a gauge of wealth disparity between the top 10% and bottom 40% of the population.

Additionally, Europe’s income growth has generally remained stagnant over the past quarter-century, while Slovakia exhibits one of the most rapid income growth rates among OECD states. A 2019 OECD report found that in 2022, 21.6% of EU citizens were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, while the individual figure for Slovakia averaged around 12%. Finally, as poverty can be understood as an extreme expression of inequality, Slovakia’s progress towards equality attained commendable triumphs on the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which is towards the eradication of poverty.

A Closer Look at Slovak Policies

Since the split of Czechoslovakia into Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the two republics have introduced a number of social policies along with the phased introduction of market-based democracy. Slovak efforts encompassed state-directed reforms aimed at improving the national level of education, labor force participation and occupational class structure in addition to a number of social safety nets. Notably, since the 1990s, Slovakia saw a significant increase in the share of university graduates, as well as an expansion of routine non-manual jobs that currently employ one-fourth of the Slovak population.

Slovakia exhibits a unique tax mix with extensive pre- and post-income distributive functions. Much of Slovakia’s tax revenue stems from the social security contribution tax, which accounts for 13.3% of Slovak GDP, while corporate income tax constitutes the state’s second-largest source of tax revenue. Slovakia’s progressive tax is attributed to a 42% reduction in the inequality rate within the country, where a 17% to 20% tax rate is enforced on the highest earners, while a 0% to 5% is taxed from the lowest incomes. On a national level, this results in the top 10% of earners in the workforce accounting for 30% of all social contributions, while the collective taxed amount from the lowest-earning half of the population contributes a quarter of the total funds. In fact, the majority of retirees’ income, about 80-90%, is derived from progressive tax, deeming it primarily funded by those with the highest incomes.

From the earliest days of independence, pension schemes introduced in Slovakia aimed to better employment rates without having to suppress wages. To reduce labor supply, Slovakia increased personal income tax for workers above retirement age along with marked increases in pension benefits. Despite earnings in OECD states averaging more than three times those in Slovakia, public spending on pensions comprises 7% of Slovakia’s GDP. In fact, 2013 studies on OECD and G20 countries revealed that poverty rates for the elderly were among the lowest in Slovakia, averaging 4.3% in 2010, while the overall OECD average stood at 12.8%.

Another notable dimension of Slovak welfare schemes includes parental leave. Early reforms in the Slovak Republic established a three-year paternal allowance, that continues to rank Slovakian parental leave policies amongst the top 10 in the world, with Slovakia being the first on the list with equal days of fully paid leave for male and female parents.

How Social Welfare Has Improved Income Equality in Slovakia

Furthermore, Slovakia’s dynamic of proactively seeking social welfare has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to endure in the face of international economic shocks. According to the projections of the European Commission, Slovakia was among the EU economies tackling the 2008 global economic crisis most effectively. Slovakia was quick to establish the Institute for Subsistence Law, which defined vulnerable portions of the populace based on fixed amounts of minimum monthly incomes below which they would become entitled to social assistance benefits. Consequently, between 2008 and 2015, the risk of poverty in Slovakia dropped by 2.5%, with an 8% decrease in the overall poverty level within the 10 years leading up to 2015.

Moreover, studies by the Slovak Institute for Financial Policy found that intergenerational elasticity in Slovakia — the extent to which an individual’s income is determined by their parents’ economic status — was at 18.4%, a figure significantly lower than that of any Western European nation. Therefore, Slovakia also stands out in the fact that parents’ income levels serve as a poor indicator of their offspring’s earning prospects, indicating a limited effect on a child’s opportunities.

In the words of the Center for Eastern Studies’ Tomasz Dąborowski, the Slovak experience is “a model of successful economic transformation,” demonstrating that a focus on economic justice and social welfare can yield transformative results amidst the current landscape of challenges to income equality.

– Nadia Asaad 
Photo: Flickr

India’s Quest To Build the World’s Largest Solar Parks

 

Solar ParksSolar power is a big asset in helping countries grow their economies and fight global poverty. With its vast population and economy, India has set forth an ambitious mission to build the world’s largest solar parks. Such parks stretch across massive areas and house numerous solar panels, harvesting clean energy and fostering economic growth in their countries. This choice is a huge step forward that could redefine the energy landscape and, if successful, serve as an inspiring model for the rest of the world, particularly in alleviating poverty.

Solar Park Projects

Energy poverty is a major obstacle to development in India and several other regions of the world. India houses nearly a fourth of all people worldwide who rely on solid fuels for cooking and nearly a fifth of those without electricity. However, the cleaner and more accessible method of converting solar energy to electricity can light a path out of poverty for the millions of people struggling with these problems.

India’s numerous solar park projects represent a massive step forward in increasing access to solar energy. One such notable project is the Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka, covering over 13,000 acres of land and boasting a capacity of approximately 2,000 megawatts. Another is the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, with a capacity of 2,245 megawatts, placing it among the world’s largest solar parks.

Benefits

India’s solar initiatives, including but not limited to these expansive park projects, are a great source of enhanced electricity access for the poor. Especially in rural and remote areas, they can help power homes, schools and other essential facilities, illuminating a path out of poverty for those who need it most. This change can greatly improve the standard of living and economic opportunities.

Moreover, solar projects create a wealth of employment opportunities on several levels. Workers are needed to install and maintain solar panels and related technologies, and the generated energy helps run small businesses, which are another source of jobs. The solar energy job sector is growing incredibly fast, with millions of jobs provided each year. Job creation empowers poor individuals to make a living for themselves, aligning with India’s broader goal of poverty reduction.

Future Lessons

However, there are still lessons to learn from the failings of the solar projects implemented so far. India’s ambitious dreams have often clashed with local life, displacing communities in the process of acquiring land and impacting their livelihoods. At first, it seemed that the government was keeping the locals in mind, offering hefty compensations in exchange for the land.

However, Pavagada Solar Park has not delivered many of the promises it made years ago. Thousands remain unemployed, and hiring at the solar park involves discriminatory practices. In the future, it is imperative to approach land acquisition with sensitivity, ensuring fair compensation, proper rehabilitation and meaningful community engagement.

Looking Ahead

India’s solar endeavors present a fascinating opportunity to bolster technological innovation and build capacity for renewable energy. As with most projects of this scale, India must achieve a delicate balance between forward progress and upholding the rights of landowners. However, if they achieve such a balance, India’s solar energy projects can be a shining example. As solar infrastructure is developed, skill enhancement and knowledge transfer are inevitable, creating opportunities for the poor and facilitating economic growth.

Solar parks are a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and a strong commitment to protecting the environment. Solar energy is not just about clean power; it’s about empowerment, economic upliftment and providing opportunities for the poor. As India pioneers this journey towards sustainable energy, it sets a precedent for others to follow, leading to a world where poverty is steadily replaced by prosperity and progress.

– Namit Agrawal
Photo: Flickr

Disability and Poverty in South Korea

Disability and Poverty in South KoreaAlthough South Korea ranks as one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, the nation’s advancements toward equality for people with disabilities are lacking. Out of the 1.3 billion people worldwide living with a disability, as reported by the World Health Organization, about 2.5 million reside in South Korea. That makes up about 5% of the country’s total population. This includes those with physical disabilities, speech and hearing disabilities and visual disabilities. Multiple factors contribute to the challenging environment surrounding disability, and both disability and poverty in South Korea share an evident link.

Disability Plunges People Into Poverty

Poverty casts a vicious shadow over more than 30% of households with disabled people in South Korea. Those with disabilities face more barriers to success than their abled counterparts, including inaccessible education and employment environments, reduced human rights, discrimination and a general lack of inclusion in their communities. A higher rate of chronic diseases found in disabled people also contributes to excess health care expenses and a higher mortality rate.

Stigma Increases Difficulties and Decreases Resources

One of the most serious factors pushing disabled households into poverty is discrimination due to stigma. Disability is viewed negatively in South Korea. Families often consider disabled members as damaging to their social status and limit their public interactions with them. This often leaves disabled members confined to their homes, cared for by relatives, but never given the opportunity to fully join society. Common Korean superstitions also play a role in stigmatization. Many believe that disability is a result of sins committed in a past life, an ancestor’s misdeeds or being haunted by a ghost.

After a surge in activism following the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics, Korean policymakers supported institutionalizing the disabled as a cost-effective way to satisfy both activists and government agendas. Through these residential institutes, the government promoted social order and promised to alleviate family burdens so that nondisabled members could join the workforce. However, major human rights abuses plagued these institutes. Celeste Arrington, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, writes that these abuses included “forced sterilizations, sexual abuse, beatings and deaths due to such mistreatment.” Although such institutions still exist, activists have brought attention to the abuses and a push for deinstitutionalization in recent years has encouraged reform.

Protests Continue in Subway Stations Across Seoul

Even those currently protesting for accessible transportation are facing discrimination as well. Protesters in Seoul have gathered during the morning rush and advocated near entrances to major stations for well over a year. The protests center around increasing funding for improving accessibility, primarily the installation of elevators in every subway station.

However, commuters’ attitudes toward the protesters remain hostile. Some say that protesters are inconveniencing commuters and that what they are doing is wrong. Others point out that people with disabilities already have access to many facilities. Even the mayor of Seoul, Oh Se-hoon, chooses to highlight how damaging the protests have been to everyday commuters and states he is taking a “zero tolerance” stance. Progress on his plans to install the elevators has been slow.

The Fight for Rights Rages On

One of the protesters, Hong Yunhui, and her wheelchair-bound daughter, Jimin, are playing their part to help make life easier for people with disabilities in South Korea. Yunhui’s social venture, Muui, works to combat the disability stigma by encouraging people with disabilities not to be defined by them. The mother-daughter team also works on creating interactive maps showing accessible locations in Seoul and has already completed more than 1,000 maps.

The organization Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) has aided the subway protests since its inception. Even a chief of SADD, Park Kyoung-seok, has personally participated. Despite being referred to prosecution earlier this year, he promised that SADD would continue to support the protests. SADD staged the five-year sit-in to eliminate the grading system responsible for generalizing the individual needs of people with different disabilities. Eliminating discrimination, fighting for equal rights, upholding the right to mobility and labor and supporting independent living are what SADD stands for and how it works to improve disability and poverty in South Korea.

Despite a history of mistreatment and stigmatization, South Korea is slowly progressing toward better conditions for people with disabilities. The voices of those with disabilities are now amplified thanks to the work of organizations such as SADD and innovative individuals like Yunhui and Jimin.

– Isabella Rothe
Photo: Flickr

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Makeup Brands Helping Women in Poverty

Makeup Brands Helping Women in PovertyOn average, more women across the world live below the poverty line than men, facing the same issues with poverty as men with an added layer of gender-based violence to further it. Recently, different beauty organizations have stepped in to help these women. Makeup brands helping women in poverty across the world are creating and working with organizations like Project Beauty Share and the L’Oréal Fund for Women. 

These brands not only provide women with money and resources but also help to protect women from domestic violence and other issues that women face. Many of these brands do this by setting up good education systems within developing countries which help to provide young women with the education they need to provide for themselves. 

Project Beauty Share 

Project Beauty Share is an organization that was founded in 2010 with the goal of helping women by donating previously owned, but unused, makeup products to women in poverty. It was founded by a makeup artist after discussing with a client how many makeup products she buys and never uses, giving her the idea to create an organization that donates these products to homeless women and women in poverty. 

Makeup empowers women because it is a form of self-expression. It allows women to express all sides of themselves and show their own uniqueness, something that many women who are struggling with poverty do not have the luxury of doing. Makeup can help people to feel prepared, empowering them as a result. 

Project Beauty Share is currently funded by over 100 agencies that are helping to support women across the world. Some of these companies and organizations are SMILE, Ronald McDonald House, The Salvation Army and more. Project Beauty Share is a great example of an organization that is independent of the makeup companies that are helping women in poverty, and helping these women instead of actually providing makeup to them. 

Makeup Brands Helping Women in Poverty

  • L’Oréal has set up the L’Oréal Fund for Women, a charity based on helping women who are in poverty to get back on their feet and preventing violence against women. The fund was started in 2020, hoping to empower women through education. Because of this, similar to what the brand Tatcha has done, L’Oréal has funded many charities and organizations that work to set up schools for women in developing countries. 
  • Tasha has set up schools to fund girls’ education in multiple countries, like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos and more. The brand has done so continuously over the past six years, funding over five million days of schooling for girls across the world. 
  • Burt’s Bees is another brand that has given back to the women in the countries from which they source their products. The company uses shea butter sourced from West Africa to make its famous lip balms, and, in return, donates both money and resources for the improvement of the lives of women in the country. As of 2021, they have planted billions of wildflower seeds in order to restore the bee population in West Africa and have donated over $1 million, in both grants and products, to better the lives of over 14,000 women there. 

Final Thoughts

Makeup companies like L’Oréal, Tatcha and Burt’s Bees are helping to empower women living in poverty across the globe. These brands are not only offering financial assistance and resources but also tackling the root causes of gender-based violence by promoting education and empowerment. These endeavors highlight the potential for corporate resources to make a profound impact on women’s lives, breaking the cycle of poverty and violence.

– Allison Groves 
Photo: Flickr

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Everything You Need to Know About Lual Mayen’s Video Game Activism

Video Game ActivismWhilst growing up in a Ugandan refugee camp, Lual Mayen wished for a computer. His mother saved for over three years to make this a reality. Today, Lual Mayen’s video game activism highlights the relationship between digital media and social justice.

Many people share the opinion that video games cause violent behavior. There are thousands of games centered around violence and warfare on the internet and most gaming platforms. Although the link between video games and aggression is unclear, the social impact of gaming is undeniable. There are approximately 3 billion gamers globally, more than 38% of the population.

This staggering market is the target audience of Lual Mayen’s video game activism. After receiving his computer, Mayen began playing Grand Theft Auto, a game notorious for conflict and violence. Mayen’s gameplay prompted him to consider the relationship between digital media and children’s development. In an interview with the Guardian, he said,

“In South Sudan, most of the population is under 30. They were born in war, raised in war. I saw conflict every day in the refugee camp. I realized that if more kids in the camp play Grand Theft Auto, they might think that’s how things are done.”

This assessment of the immense influence of video games sparked Lual Mayen’s video game activism journey.

The Beginning: Junub Games

In Uganda, Mayen taught himself to code and develop games promoting peace. After receiving recognition for his admirable work, he moved to the United States in 2017. Lual Mayen spent the first 22 years of his life in a refugee camp.

After moving, Mayen founded Junub Games. With Mayen acting as CEO, Junub Games has since created a range of games to counteract violence. Mayen clearly keeps his own experiences in a refugee camp at the heart of his company, as the games are made accessible to IDPs (internally displaced persons) and refugees. This decision increases digital literacy, morale and positive behavior in impoverished areas.

However, this is only the beginning of Lual Mayen’s video game activism within Junub Games. Junub Games’ first product, Salaam, was launched in 2020 on Facebook Instant Games.

In Salaam, players play as a refugee fleeing their war-torn community. Salaam, an Arabic word, translates to peace, the game’s very aim. The company urges players to find peace for the virtual character and current refugees. Mayen based the game’s plot on his parents’ escape from the Sudanese civil war in the 1990s.

The game is free to download, but players can make in-app purchases. These purchases are essential to Lual Mayen’s video game activism, as buying resources in-game sends supplies to real-world refugees.

Maximizing Impact: The Lual Mayen Foundation

Lual Mayen continues to support impoverished refugees through the Lual Mayen Foundation. Mayen developed the organization to teach refugees animation skills. Subsequently, the foundation provides career prospects to refugees through digital literacy.

Mayen’s nonprofit partnered with Unity Technologies, a software company, in 2021 to fund the Ugandan tech center. Mayen developed the center for the very refugee camp he grew up in. Unity supplied a staggering $50,000 for the project.

The center focuses on providing refugees with skills to make STEM-related careers accessible. The organization’s goal is to make the program a permanent fixture.

Spreading the Message: Public Events

The year 2023 marks six years since Mayen lived in a refugee camp. However, Lual Mayen’s video game activism continues to spread. In July 2023, Mayen attended the Games for Change 2023 Festival and spoke at the Games and SDG Summit. The summit is uniquely innovative, combining the games industry with the U.N. to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs are the 17 core aims of the U.N. to achieve “peace and prosperity for people and the planet.” These goals include eradicating poverty, hunger and gender inequality. Moreover, these goals
strive toward sustainability, access to clean water and educational opportunities for all. The Games and SDG Summit discussed how digital media industries can support these goals, with Mayen’s activism being a perfect example.

Immersive media, such as video games, hold a wide audience that has only continued to grow in recent years. Luan Mayen’s video game activism illustrates how tapping into this large industry can put a spotlight on issues such as poverty and displaced people.

Mayen’s story is one of hardship and, more importantly, hope. As a former refugee turned video game mogul, Luan Mayen embodies human determination. “Talent is evenly distributed but opportunity is not,” according to Mayen.

– Bethany Brown
Photo: Flickr