Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

,

Farmers and Food Security in Africa

Food Security in AfricaFood security in Africa is a serious issue caused by many different factors. Poverty is certainly a pressing one, but factors like extreme weather, disease outbreaks, political or market instability and conflict also have significant impacts. Often, these things play off of each other — yet poverty is nearly always a central figure. The global poor are significantly more likely to lose secure access to food in the face of other coinciding circumstances. That is why there are a number of initiatives that respond to food crises in impoverished places.

Agriculture Food Insecurity and Africa

In Africa, drought spreads across much of the continent, COVID-19 continuously threatens the economies of many countries and 281 million people are food insecure. In fact, 55 million African children under the age of five are considered severely malnourished. Yet, agricultural development to foster food security is consistently a small portion of national investments, as 48 out of 54 African governments spend only about 3.8% of their budgets on agriculture. Without access to nutritious food to eat every day, many Africans are looking for ways to make the agricultural systems more efficient and resilient. In a 2022 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference, representatives from more than 50 African countries came together to discuss regional agricultural systems and how they might be improved. Ultimately, it was decided that there are a number of factors that play into the development of agriculture in Africa — such as digitalization, education, infrastructure and financing. Agricultural development, through whatever form it takes, must be a priority in the future if food insecurity can ever be eradicated. 

The CAADP

A number of programs support this move toward continent-wide food security in Africa. The Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) is one initiative that looks to reduce poverty and foster food security in Africa through agricultural development. It is a continent-wide program led by a number of African countries. It has four primary goals: Sustainably manage land and water control systems, improve rural infrastructure and trade, increase food supply and improve agricultural development. Participating governments allocate around 10% — or more — of national budgets to agricultural and rural development. As a result, they have achieved agricultural growth rates of 6% per annum.

The FSRP

The Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (FSRP) is an impressive new project to increase food security in Africa. As of 2022, the World Bank Group approved $2.3 billion of funding to make it possible. With a focus on food crisis response strategies, the FSRP works to strengthen warning systems, increase emergency support, supply food reserves and create trade measures. It also increases the resilience of food systems — meaning they rely on the production of farming to provide for food-insecure places. This is done through the support of agricultural programs such as the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA). Thus, the FSRP can strengthen agricultural resilience and allow people to sustainably live and eat. 

Beyond Food Security in Africa

Agricultural development surely combats food insecurity, but its positive impacts go beyond that. Agriculture is the backbone of many African economies — crops, livestock, fisheries and more provide 80% of the population with jobs, contribute 43% to the continent’s GDP and account for 70% of export earnings. Thus, initiatives such as the FSRP are more than just food-based programs. They fight poverty itself.

– Char Nieberding
Photo: Unsplash

Combating Genocide in Iraq

Genocide in IraqIn 2021, the U.N. ruled that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, had committed genocide in Iraq against the Yazidi people in 2014. In an effort to combat the effects of this genocide, an organization called Yazda, with the help of funding from the U.S., created 45 videos to help preserve and empower the Yazidi heritage and culture.

Who Are the Yazidis? 

The Yazidis are an ethno-religiously distinct minority group, based predominantly in the Nineveh Province of northern Iraq. There are also significant populations in Turkey, Syria, Armenia and Georgia. The Yazidis practice a distinct religion, Yazidism, which is a monotheistic religion that incorporates aspects of the three Abrahamic religions as well as Zoroastrianism but claims to predate all four. 

Historically, the Yazidis have been subject to large-scale discrimination and genocide, particularly in the last 200 years. Throughout the Ottoman Empire, they were subjected to more than 70 genocidal episodes, and more recently, in 2007, suicide car bombings killed an estimated 800 Yezidis in Iraq, and in 2014, ISIS killed around 5,000 Yazidis in Iraq and caused more than 100,000 people to flee their homes. 

Combating Genocide

In an effort to combat the effects of the Yazidi genocide, the organization Yazda was created in 2014 to provide relief and support to survivors of genocide. Most recently, Yazda has produced a set of 45 videos to celebrate and increase global awareness of the Yazidi culture across the world, in light of its being attacked by numerous groups over time. The videos were released on the Yazda YouTube channel and were created by Yazidi filmmakers. 

This project was made possible by the funding that the U.S. provided to Yazda as part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since 2017, the U.S. has made a concerted effort to concentrate Iraqi aid on helping fund stabilization programs that benefit oppressed minorities in Iraq as well as programs that aim to bring justice to victims of war crimes and genocide in Iraq. Hence, in addition to support for the 45 videos celebrating Yazidi culture, USAID has helped Yazda create a program that offers a multitude of services to survivors of the 2014 Yazidi genocide in Iraq. This includes mental and psychological support, help with legal documentation and emergency cash relief. 

Personal Story

One such example is a 10-year-old girl named Amsha, who in 2014, along with her mom and sister, had been kidnapped and subjected to immense torture for three years by ISIS. After experiencing immense traumatic events as a little girl, Amsha developed severe PTSD and sleeping difficulties along with other psychological challenges. Yazda has provided Amsha with psychological support services, material aid including food and hygiene products, and legal support to help obtain compensation as a genocide survivor. Thankfully, because of Yazda and the support that they have received from USAID, Amsha is now doing much better. 

Conclusion

While it is impossible to bring back the lives that have been lost from the Yazidi genocide in Iraq, this does not mean that combatting genocide in Iraq should not be an object of concern for U.S. foreign aid. By supporting organizations like Yazda, the U.S. can play a large part in helping preserve the heritage and culture of minorities that have been threatened by genocide as well as offering psychological and material support to survivors like Amsha. Most recently, Yazda’s release of 45 videos celebrating Yazidi culture, made possible by U.S. foreign aid, will go a long way towards helping cement the importance of Yazidi people and their heritage across the world. 

– Athan Yanos
Photo: Unsplash

,

SHE Project Expands Financial Opportunities for Women 

Financial Opportunities for Women 
The country of Sierra Leone suffered from the onslaught of an 11-year civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in displacement, thousands of deaths and sexual violence. Since then, the country has continued to experience hardships, with many living in extreme poverty. Adding to this, Sierra Leone’s citizens continuously face the effects of multidimensional poverty due to the absence of strong financial and education systems. Rural areas, specifically, endure the harshest impacts of poverty, most notably because of the lack of resources found in these neighborhoods. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the extent of poverty in Sierra Leone, but the rural areas ultimately garnered the most difficult consequences, including the closing of locally-owned businesses and a reduction of incomes and salaries. As the pandemic ravaged the nation, the Solar Harnessed Entrepreneurs (SHE) Project came to fruition as a saving grace. The project allies with the most vulnerable and expands financial opportunities for women. 

The Intentions of the SHE Project 

The SHE Project secures and provides women with renewable energy-powered sources to operate their businesses. Prior to the installation of the project, many businesses located in the rural areas of Sierra Leone did not own or utilize this technology, and thus, they often suffered at the whims of debt crises, virus outbreaks and the global pandemic. Items such as a solar-powered freezer, for instance, allow businesswomen to expand the products they can sell and reach larger markets. 

CARE, an international NGO, created the SHE Project in 2022. Now, the multidimensional organization receives further aid from The Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). Since its implementation, the SHE Project has worked to aid 8,000 women in Sierra Leone by providing them with the resources to transform their businesses into green organizations that employ renewable energy and technology. This transformation increases financial opportunities for women because it enables growth and consistency in ways that business owners could not guarantee beforehand. 

Why Women? 

The SHE Project supports the financial development of female-owned businesses. Female empowerment serves as one of its main goals, especially because women often complete dangerous and time-consuming tasks, like collecting fuel, that exacerbate the climate crisis and harm their health. 

In this sense, the SHE Project also boasts the humanitarian goal of restructuring the traditional, harmful manner in which women receive an income. With support from renewable energy sources, women can have greater control over their financial assets, and they can rely less on the dangerous tasks of assembling fuel, for example. 

When orchestrating the SHE Project, CARE took its development a step further in its attempts to empower women. By working with microfinance institutions to combat the fact that female-owned businesses generally receive little to no income, CARE provided women with low-interest loans. In addition to the use of solar-powered resources, women also received training sessions regarding financial development and a newfound ability to expand their businesses to new markets. The series of steps taken by CARE and other organizations incentivizes financial opportunities for women. 

Especially notable to this project is the fact that CARE also seeks to target the persistence of patriarchal values. By organizing “household dialogues,” trained professionals spoke with fathers and husbands to discuss the importance of female empowerment. 

Inspiring Stories

The SHE Project is a successful initiative that continues to find, educate and employ women with the tools to expand their businesses and succeed as financially independent income earners.

While most women in Sierra Leone did not have access to the tools to increase market access or maintain their businesses during hardships, the SHE Project has revolutionized this, increasing financial opportunities for women and increasing equality. 

Marie Squire of Ghangbatoke has experienced an increase in sales due to the freezer that the SHE Project provided her with. In fact, the freezer, instrumental for keeping cold drinks–the base of her business–fresh, has allowed her to keep her family afloat. 

Similarly, Mariama Fortune honored the imported freezer as the origin of her success. As a single mother who had difficulties beginning her fried cassava business, Mariama always wanted to provide for her children. Now that she has the freezer to help her business and supply food for her family, she believes she can focus on the future, including the prospect of educating her children. 

The Future 

Given the success of the SHE Project, which targets changing weather patterns, female empowerment and financial success, the Sierra Leonean government has recognized the importance of supporting this initiative. Bukai Bindi Hindowa, the Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs expresses an enthusiastic outlook for the continuation of the project, ultimately marking the reduction of poverty and the development of a stabilized female workforce. As the government invests time, effort and resources in the SHE Project, which bolsters financial opportunities for women, Sierra Leone can continue to see the reduction of barriers that limit forward growth. 

– Maddy Grieco
Photo: Flickr

3 Ways Tesla Can Eliminate Poverty in India

Tesla Can Eliminate Poverty in IndiaIn 2019, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, publicly voiced his interest in establishing Tesla in the Indian automobile market. Before a deal was set in stone, Tesla faced a major obstacle. Toward the end of 2021, Tesla lobbied the Indian government to reduce import taxes to under 40% on electric vehicles (EVs). The Indian government declined the condition, suggesting that Tesla assemble the cars in local manufacturing plants. In 2023, however, the Indian government presented Tesla executives with an offer to construct a Giga factory in India. If Tesla accepts, which seems to be the case as the company recently finalized locations in India, the factory will become a crucial component in India’s efforts to combat poverty. Poverty has been a major focus of India’s political agenda for the past few decades. Now that Tesla is paving a path into the Indian market, India has yet another avenue to decrease poverty. With the Indian government, Tesla can eliminate poverty in India in three ways.

3 Ways Tesla Can Eliminate Poverty in India

  1. Increases Automobile Industry Output and National GDP Value: In 2022, India ranked fourth in global car sales and grew an impressive 23% in the past year, the third-largest automobile industry growth rate in the world. As Tesla aims to enter India, it has the potential to significantly increase the value of the Indian automobile industry. The Indian automobile industry is currently valued at $32.7 billion. With business from companies such as Tesla, India’s automobile industry is projected to be valued at $54.84 billion by 2027. This is because Tesla is the 11th largest car manufacturer in the world. This also means India will soon eclipse Japan as the third-largest automobile market worldwide. The Indian EV market alone is projected to be valued at $7.09 billion by 2025. This means India will become the third-largest EV market by 2025. Tesla’s potential impact on the Indian Automobile Industry also correlates to an increase in India’s GDP. This is because Tesla plans on using India as a central hub for exports across Asia. Between 2020 and 2022, India’s GDP increased from $2.67 trillion to $3.39 trillion. As India begins to export Teslas, the increase in export revenue will continue to increase the national GDP. The higher the national GDP, the lower the poverty rates. Given these trends, Tesla can eliminate poverty in India through an improved automobile industry and a higher national GDP.
  2. More Jobs: Employment is the most effective method to help alleviate poverty. While India’s overall unemployment rate in 2022 was 7.3%, this statistic is slightly misleading. Specifically, 23.2% of the youth in India were unemployed as of 2022. This is alarming as addressing poverty in India could become very challenging if the next generation faces limited job opportunities. Fortunately, Tesla can eliminate poverty in India through the creation of new jobs. As of 2021, the Indian Automotive Industry provided jobs for more than 37 million people. Once Tesla, among other car manufacturers, enters India, the automotive industry is estimated to provide jobs for more than 65 million people by 2026. One of the reasons Tesla can create a vast amount of jobs in India is that it does not require skilled labor. Jobs such as assembly line workers do not require expertise or intensive training. This will allow people who lack education or need temporary income to have the possibility to obtain a job. As a result, more people in India will gain employment, thus preventing them from falling into poverty.
  3. Promotes India’s Initiative to Address Carbon Emissions: In the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference, India set several commitments for the country’s agenda to reduce carbon emissions. One of India’s commitments was to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. To meet this goal, India has heavily pushed for renewable energy. As of 2022, India ranked fourth in renewable energy installation. With Tesla on the horizon, India has yet another approach to further its goals. Along with the recent surge in India’s EV market, Tesla has the potential to become a prominent car brand in India. This is beneficial for India as cars are one of the largest sources of carbon emissions around the world. EVs, such as Tesla, can help alleviate carbon emissions. In turn, India’s goal to eliminate carbon emissions can also help eradicate poverty. This is because changing weather patterns induces poverty as it burdens people with conflict, hunger and inhospitable living conditions and can sabotage their source of income. Therefore, combating environmental challenges can assist the poor and present them with a path to escape poverty. As such, the environmental benefits of Tesla can eliminate poverty in India. 

Tesla’s Future in India

Although the future of Tesla in India is not fully determined, its potential benefits act as another tool for India’s efforts to eradicate poverty. These efforts have been highly successful; from 2011 to 2019, the population of Indians living below the poverty line decreased by 144.89 million people. As India emerges as a global leader in the fight against poverty, the country still has much work to do. Companies that invest in India, however, can help the country complete its efforts. In this way, Tesla can be a major boon for India and further its efforts to eliminate poverty.

– Manav Yarlagadda
Photo: Unsplash

,

A Look at Sanya: Biggest Slum in Tokyo

biggest slum in TokyoLocated within the bustling city of Tokyo is a hidden slum called Sanya — a place of hostels, displaced individuals and a dark past that lingers. During Japan’s Edo Period, many people flocked to Sanya to take advantage of the low costs of living, but when World War II hit, Sanya was converted into a makeshift town of tents for those displaced by bombings. Eventually, these tents were traded in for wooden hostels, which still remain today.

If one were to try to locate Sanya on a modern map, it would be impossible, having been erased 50 years ago in an attempt to keep the slum’s violence, homelessness and poverty from tainting the image of Tokyo. Sanya is not even located in a single district; it has been divided between the districts of Kiyokawa and Zutsumi. The biggest slum in Tokyo remains officially unnamed, but the name Sanya is kept alive by local residents.

The Population of Sanya

About 1,500 individuals of the Sanya population are low-income workers as well as retired laborers — many of whom were responsible for rebuilding Japan after World War II. Most of these people are between the ages of 60 and 70, and because of this, the once-active hostels are now being transformed into slow retirement homes. The elderly population is isolated in Tokyo’s hidden slum; poverty and age push them farther away from regular, Japanese society — outside of Sanya as well as internally. Because the average age in Sanya is so high, many of the people who reside here are only living off of pensions — contributing to the growing impoverished population in Sanya.

Gentrification Attempts Are Hurting Longtime Residents

To those who have lived in Sanya for decades and are part of the largely impoverished population in the district, gentrification is not the answer to financial problems, but the problem itself. Local authorities fight to resist commercial developments, but are no match for private landowners set on tearing down pre-existing buildings—such as hostels and other lodging facilities—to build more efficient housing. The retired, senior residents living off of mere pensions find this particularly frustrating because, with such little income, it would be incredibly difficult to relocate out of these hostels and start anew elsewhere. 

Hotels, apartments and stores are being built as tourism flourishes — completely changing Sanya’s ambiance. Many residents claim that Tokyo’s hidden slum is not only losing living opportunities for the impoverished due to gentrification but also its culture. Old and original stores are being torn down for new ones, and this irks many residents. 

Hope in the Forgotten District 

Japan is actively working to combat poverty and provide assistance to the impoverished through The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR). Currently, there are hundreds of millions being poured into vital components of the economy, such as health, transport, agriculture and technical assistance. This project was established in 2000 but is geared more toward the international population of Asian countries located near Japan. But Sanya, Tokyo’s hidden slum, has its own prominent business working to combat the struggles of the local impoverished. 

YUI Associates is a community building project based in Sanya and works to help the displaced population through a myriad of initiatives as well as bringing awareness to the issues within Sanya. This social enterprise additionally owns a couple of hotels for both travelers and Sanya residents struggling to get by. 

YUI Associates also owns the Sanya Cafe, a cafe determined to serve affordable items and provide retired laborers with meals in exchange for collected trash. This cafe was also named in an attempt to unofficially emphasize and declare that Sanya is the true name of this district — expunged or not. Not only does YUI Associates work firsthand with the impoverished population of Sanya, but workers also take to the streets on Mondays to clean the community and converse with residents and listen to any that want to talk. 

In a place nicknamed “The Lost District” and the “Place Where People Come to Disappear,” hope prevails in Sanya. Resilience is seen in the strong spirit of the residents, and with businesses like YUI Associates, Sanya improves constantly.

– Nina Argel
Photo: Unsplash

,

5 Charities Operating in Uzbekistan

Charities in UzbekistanUzbekistan has a population of 35 million citizens with nearly 17% of the population living below the national poverty line. Corruption and gender-based violence run rampant in the country with a lack of freedom of expression. Here are five charities in Uzbekistan that are actively guiding the country towards a better future.

5 Charities Operating in Uzbekistan

  1. The Rory Peck Trust – The Rory Peck Trust is an NGO dedicated to aiding freelance journalists and their families during challenging times across the globe. It was established two years after the death of Rory Peck, a brave freelance cameraman who died in a crossfire in Moscow. Peck was reporting Russia’s October coup during the Russian constitutional crises in 1993. The organization aims to elevate the visibility of journalists, safeguard their well-being and security and defend their freedom to report without constraints. One of the most innovative charities in Uzbekistan, they provide psychological support, monetary aid and safety training for journalists. The trust has supported more than 100 journalists reporting in Ukraine during the last 12 months of the Ukraine war. In 2019, at the Human Rights House Tbilisi in Georgia, the Trust partnered with the Justice for Journalists Foundation to provide safety training to Russian-speaking media professionals from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus and Armenia. They also host the prestigious Rory Peck Awards annually, a celebration that honors the bravery and accomplishments of freelance journalists and filmmakers across the world.
  2. The Smile Train – The Smile Train empowers local medical professionals across the world by equipping them with the skills necessary to provide life-changing cleft care and free surgeries to patients who might otherwise not have access to such services. Out of all the charities in Uzbekistan, the Smile Train is the biggest cleft-focused NGO. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that children in need receive the best possible treatment for their condition. They have completed more than 4,000 surgeries in Uzbekistan.
  3. Anti-Slavery International – Anti-Slavery International is the world’s oldest international human rights organization. It was founded in 1839 by Thomas Clarkson, Thomas Fowell Buxton and several other abolitionists. It is not only one of the most important charities in Uzbekistan but the entire world. The organization supports the fundamental human right of freedom for everyone. Around 50 million people suffer from modern slavery around the world today. For 15 years, Anti-Slavery International, the Cotton Campaign, the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights and several other NGOs have been advocating with the United Nations and the International Labor Organization to stop forced and child labor in Uzbekistan. In 2021, the organization made a historic achievement by eliminating state-imposed forced labor in the Uzbek cotton harvest in the country. Uzbekistan has unlocked the potential to export cotton textiles to countries around the world. However, wider labor risks remain in the country. International companies need to be ethical and stop exploitation of Uzbekistan’s cotton textiles.
  4. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – Médecins Sans Frontières is French for ‘Doctors Without Borders.’ It is a renowned international medical humanitarian organization committed to delivering high-quality medical care to individuals facing crises, regardless of their race, religion or political beliefs. Over 1 million patients are admitted to MSF clinics across the globe. MSF was established in France by a group of journalists and doctors during the beginning of the war and famine in the temporary state of Biafra in Nigeria in 1971. They extend their assistance to people affected by war, disease, natural and human-made disasters and those marginalized from access to health care in over 70 countries. In Uzbekistan, MSF primarily focuses on addressing the challenges posed by multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) patients. They introduced directly observed treatment (DOT) to combat the issue. This is an innovative approach that was invented using video links during lockdowns. Through this method, TB patients receive their treatment at home, with the guidance and supervision of a nurse virtually. By leveraging technology, MSF aims to ensure the continuity of TB treatment even during challenging circumstances.
  5. SOS Children’s Villages – SOS Children’s Villages is a prominent international NGO dedicated to providing essential support to children without parental care and families facing the risk of separation. One of the major charities in Uzbekistan, they provide support to vulnerable families and children during crisis situations, offer educational aid to teachers and children in the region and create loving and nurturing homes for children who have lost parental care. So far, they have brought up more than 170 children in the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Urgench. The organization was founded by six individuals: Hermann Gmeiner, Maria Hofer, Josef Jestl, Ludwig Kögel, Herbert Pfanner and Hedwig Weingartner in 1949 in Austria. Thousands of children had lost their families because of the Second World War. In the past 70 years, they have supported around 4 million young people with programs that are flexible and can be suited to different races, cultures and religions. The organization has roots in the capital of Tashkent in 2000. They are currently supporting around 150 adolescents in the city.

These charities in Uzbekistan endeavor to create a positive impact on the lives of the Uzbek people as well as international journalists and reporters.

– Sharvi Rana
Photo: Unsplash

,

3 Organizations Fighting Food Insecurity in Zambia

Food Insecurity in ZambiaZambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa with a population of more than 19 million. The country received lower middle-income status in 2011, but poverty and malnutrition have only increased. Currently, 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, and 35% of children under 5 years old are chronically malnourished. Food insecurity in Zambia is an urgent issue, with only 52% of the population meeting their calorie requirements. Several organizations agree that the “key to improving the food security situation is to look at new methods to increase agricultural productivity.” Below are three programs working with local communities to find sustainable solutions.

Action Against Hunger 

Action Against Hunger is a nonprofit organization that aims to end hunger through prevention and treatment programs. To help eradicate malnutrition, they created the Seeds of Hope program in Zambia’s Western Province, where 82% of the population lives in poverty. The program provides local farmers with resources and teaches them “climate-smart agricultural practices.” Climate change has challenged communities that rely on farming; therefore, they need sustainable solutions that protect their crops year-round. 

Examples of Seeds of Hope projects include teaching water management, building irrigation systems and introducing drought-resistant crops. They also provide new tools and technologies, such as fishing gear and devices that capture excess carbon. Increasing food production will grow the country’s economy “by creating new markets and supporting agribusiness models,” demonstrating the many ways Seeds of Hope can make a difference. 

The World Food Program (WFP) 

Since 1.5 million smallholder farms produce most of Zambia’s food supply, the World Food Program has introduced a two-year project to help maximize their harvests. Severe droughts between 2018 and 2019 caused half the country and millions of farmers to lose their crops. The WFP’s project works with over 100,000 farmers in five districts across southern and western Zambia. Their goal is to implement “improved farming methods and crop management practices and technologies to reduce post-harvest losses.” They educate farmers on the entire harvesting process, from cultivating land and crop rotation to transportation and storage. 

The WFP gives farming communities the resources they need to sustain production quantities, such as affordable storage bags, seeds and mulch. The project has seen promising results, with locals yielding enough crops to feed their families and create revenue. 

United Nations Volunteers 

In March 2020, Hiroaki Sonoda, a United Nations Volunteer from Japan, started the Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems in Zambia (SIFAZ) project. He came to the country as a Value Chain Development Specialist with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The project aims to resolve malnutrition and food insecurity in Zambia through economically sustainable farming. Sonoda personally “produced agribusiness and marketing information” to help communities earn more money for their harvests. 

FAO-trained officers work locally to implement marketing strategies and sustainable farming techniques. The officers collaborate with local governments to ensure that the SIFAZ project is accessible across the country. So far, the program has helped more than 150 cooperatives, totaling 16,000 farmers in 27 districts across Zambia. 

While rates of poverty and malnutrition are growing, several organizations have created programs that reduce food insecurity in Zambia. The projects provide new resources, including irrigation systems, marketing strategies and crop management, that create profitable and sustainable farming practices.

– Diana Grant
Photo: Flickr

Mental Health in Côte d’Ivoire

Mental Health in Côte d’IvoireCôte d’Ivoire, located in West Africa with a population of roughly 22 million, is the largest economy in West Africa due to its exportation of cocoa and cashew nuts. However, one element of this amazing country that is often overlooked is the mental health facilities and help available to those who need it. 

Mental Health Statistics

As of 2007, the government has funded a program titled the National Program for Mental Health (also known as PNSM) which allows civilians to receive the help that they require and deserve. This could be due to the aftermath of the First Ivorian Civil War from 2002-2007, in which many people were left with unresolved mental and psychological issues. There is no exact number of people who are suffering from mental health issues in Côte d’Ivoire, but there are only three mental health facilities for 21 million people. 

However, due to recent developments, this statistic is about to change; many charities are introducing schemes and programs targeted at reducing the number of people who are suffering from mental health issues and are unable to get help. 

Bluemind Foundation

The Bluemind Foundation is a nonprofit charity set up in 2021 to help tackle women’s mental health battles throughout Africa. Their first mission for Côte d’Ivoire was to introduce the ‘Heal by Hair’ program. 

The program is designed to give hairdressers the skills and knowledge that they will need in order to recognize the warning signs of somebody who is battling with mental health and how to adapt their visit to make it the most beneficial. This scheme was introduced to over 200 hairdressers throughout Côte d’Ivoire in August 2022 and is aiming to be completed around March 2024. 

This project is a prime example of how a community can be a massive help when tackling both local and global issues, as opening the lines of communication between hairdressers and clients creates a friendly and secure environment for conversations to occur. There are also charities that use other vectors like religion to improve the number of people suffering, such as Brothers of Charity. 

Brothers of Charity

The Brothers of Charity was first opened in 1807 by Fr. Peter Joseph Triest with the aim of teaching young religious men to care for the elderly. However, their services were first introduced to Côte d’Ivoire in 1992 when the Congregation opened a house in Abidjan, allowing the brothers to receive both spiritual advice and professional training. This then led to the two-year-long development of a psychiatric hospital. 

Looking Up

Thanks to charities such as ‘Heal by Hair’ and ‘Brothers of Charity’ alongside the development of government-funded programs such as PSNM, more help is on the way to address mental health in Côte d’Ivoire. This means that the population of Côte d’Ivoire can now finally process the traumatic events that they have experienced so far this century and move toward a life of healing.

– Ella Bushell
Photo: Flickr

Behind the Policies: Energy Poverty in Chile

Energy Poverty in Rural Chile
Chile stands out as a frontrunner in Latin America’s renewable energy landscape, with its ambitious 2022 commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Notably, this coastal nation has emerged as a solar and wind energy champion, capitalizing on both developmental efforts and government support to furnish nearly half of its population with clean energy sources.

Although these endeavors mark a commendable stride forward, a significant facet of energy consumption in developing regions remains unaddressed by the Chilean government: energy poverty. This often neglected concern looms over Chile. While affluent households already approach net-zero carbon emissions, a considerable 30% of households still rely on wood for heating, a proportion that balloons to 75% in rural locales.

Even as legislative efforts advocate for more stringent policies aimed at transitioning to renewable energy, the specter of energy poverty in Chile persists, underscoring the complexity of the nation’s energy transformation journey.

The Risks of Energy Poverty in Chile

As Chile approaches the 100% mark for households with access to electricity, the reality for many rural families is an inconsistent and unaffordable electrical line. About 90% of Chileans in a 2018 survey reported spending more than 10% of their monthly income on an energy bill, and even then many still lack access to essential amenities such as heating and consistent internet connection.

Lack of heating is a pressing concern for many rural communities, especially in mountainous regions. This leads to an influx of wood-fueled heating in rural areas where electrical heating is inaccessible. Wood-fueled heating produces far more CO2 emissions and is linked with increased risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in households experiencing energy poverty. Territories in Southern Chile also have increased firewood usage where energy is unavailable. Despite legislators’ claims to work towards shifting these areas towards clean energy, less than 5% of people in polluted areas participate in policy action.

Amidst these issues, Chilean policymakers plan to tighten their carbon tax policy, which disproportionately impacts those already living in energy poverty. These policies could lead to a 16.7% increase in the proportion of households paying more than 10% of their income for access to energy.

Providing Access in Rural Areas

Fortunately, communities and initiative programs alike are working towards improving energy poverty in Chile. One such program is the Energy Inclusion Program founded in 2018, which uses international collaboration and public-private funds to provide equitable energy access to vulnerable consumers. In 2021, an advocate for the Energy Inclusion Program assisted a rural Chilean village north of Santiago in providing hot water and electricity to elderly and struggling families who could not afford energy bills. A community cooperative for renewable energy helped 40 households in the village install a solar farm with a 50kW capacity. Similar initiatives have taken off in many parts of the nation, including programs funded by the Entrepreneurship and Alternative Energy Generation (EGEA) and EBP Chile. 

Moving Forward

Chile’s route towards renewable energy is commendable, and its initiatives have encouraged many other Latin American nations to pursue revised climate-centered legislation. Regardless, energy poverty in Chile negatively impacts rural and impoverished communities that possess limited resources to maintain the country’s lofty net-zero goals. 

Through community inclusion and global programs, families in poverty have renewed prospects towards pushing Chile’s emerging economy to become a global leader in climate change policies and renewable energy.

– Inaya Lala
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Empowering Survivors of Rape in South Africa

Rape in South AfricaThe World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately a third of women will experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner during their lifetime. In South Africa alone, more than 50,000 sexual offense cases were reported in 2021/2022; almost 42,000 of which were rapes. Jes Foord founded the Jes Foord Foundation (JFF) in the late 2000s after her own traumatic rape experience. The foundation’s mission is to restore dignity to rape survivors and preemptively address the root causes of violence against women before it occurs. It operates in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, a region that witnessed 9,617 sexual offense cases in 2021/2022, almost 8,000 of which were rapes. 

The Handbag Project: Restoring Hope to Rape Survivors 

In the aftermath of rape, survivors require care and support. Through The Handbag Project, JFF provides essential toiletries and care items like sanitary pads, soap and underwear in donated handbags, along with a note of comfort. As of 2023, JFF has distributed 54,450 handbags to rape crisis centers, 60% of which go to child rape survivors. These bags include toys and art supplies which serve as tools for art therapy and safety items for young survivors. 

Empowerment Through Awareness 

JFF recognizes the importance of raising awareness as a preventive tool against rape in South Africa. When sexual violence becomes taboo, survivors feel isolated and harmful norms fester unchecked. Through awareness lectures in schools, workplaces and other institutions, JFF covers essential topics like human rights, consent and the importance of counseling. As of 2023, it has reached more than 450,000 school-aged children, 12% of whom sought counseling after listening to an awareness lecture. 

In 2018, JFF piloted a more comprehensive Learner Awareness Impact Program. Over a six-week course, enrolled high schoolers cover subjects such as personal rights, “no means no” and what to do if you have been raped.

Additionally, through its Young Men’s Mentorship Program, JFF hosts an annual three-day camp for underserved teenage boys from Kwa-Zulu Natal. It covers topics like self-esteem, sex and relationships, bullying, the importance of communication and how to make a difference in your community. As of 2023, 148 young men have completed this program.

The importance of awareness-raising, especially among young men, could not be a more important part of addressing rape in South Africa. Globally, 25% of women who have been in a relationship have suffered sexual or physical violence from their partner. Worse, intimate partners perpetuate up to 38% of murders targeting women. The WHO cites education as a key risk factor determining whether a young man becomes a sexual abuser later in life. 

Looking Forward: A Path To Healing and Progress 

The Jes Foord Foundation’s dedication to dignity and awareness offers hope to survivors of rape in South Africa. By breaking the silence surrounding this issue and challenging harmful norms, JFF paves the way for a safer and more compassionate society.

– Faye Crawford
Photo: Unsplash