Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How Countries are Helping Ukraine

Helping Ukraine
In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale land, sea and air invasion of Ukraine. As of August 2022, the fighting has caused the internal migration of more than 6.6 million Ukrainians. Military losses are extreme on both sides, with an estimated 9,000 Ukrainians dead and 45,200 Russians either wounded or killed, NPR reported in August 2022.

A Restricted Response

Due to Russia’s economic, social and military power, it is extremely difficult for other nations to assist Ukraine. Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Belgium, Netherlands and Latvia all heavily depend on Russian oil. These countries are virtually unable to assist Ukraine, as this factor has caused inflation and threatens economic collapse.

Larger, less dependent countries, such as the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, are also restricted due to the veto power of the United Nations. Because of Russia’s veto power — determined by the outcome of World War II — the United Nations as a whole has no capability of placing any restrictions or punishments on Russia for the country’s actions. However, despite these challenges, countries worldwide are still attempting to use their power to assist Ukraine.

Aid That is Helping Ukraine

In the United States, Ukrainians have risen to the top of the immigration list. As of June 2022, the U.S. has accepted more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees and has provided them with food, clothing, technology, housing and education upon their arrival. The U.S. also placed several sanctions on Russia and has invested $19.3 billion in security defense for Ukraine since January 2021. This includes $18.3 billion since “Russia’s launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal war against Ukraine on February 24, [2022].” Along with the U.S., Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and the United Kingdom have also sent military aid to Ukraine.

Countries located closer to Ukraine – Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary – are helping Ukraine by accepting and providing for millions of displaced Ukrainians. Over the past year, several nonprofit organizations have also joined in helping Ukraine, such as United24, Razom for Ukraine, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, International Medical Corps, Voices of the Children and more.

The current aid that various organizations are offering Ukraine varies from health care to psychological support. Voices of the Children, for example, is a charitable foundation in Ukraine, that aims to provide psychological and psychosocial support for children who experience war, while Save the Children helps deliver lifesaving aid to vulnerable children in Ukraine. UNICEF, similar to other major organizations, supports the sanitation and protection of the Ukrainian people by providing a variety of aid and an immense amount of assistance from volunteers.

Looking Ahead

As the Ukrainian War trudges on, these efforts are becoming vital to the country’s survival and its people. Through these efforts, the Ukrainian people may be able to focus more on themselves and their families, rather than the stress of survival.

– Sania Patel
Photo: Flickr

How EU candidate status can help Bosnia and Herzegovina

EU Candidate Status
On October 12, 2022, the European Commission recommended official European Union (EU) candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Considered a potential candidate since 2003, the country only formally applied for EU candidate status in 2016. The recommendation of the Commission does not mean that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be granted candidate status very soon. Nevertheless, it is sending a positive message to the country, signaling EU candidate status in the future if it implements more reforms.

The EU Candidate Status: A Tool for the Country’s Development

Obtaining EU candidate status to bolster development drives many countries to apply to the European Union. However, in order to obtain candidate status, countries must pass specific legal and political reforms.  For instance, the EU may ask countries to work on reducing corruption, poverty and social inequality.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Pathway

On December 2019, the Council of the European Union endorsed 14 key priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina to obtain candidate status. These 14 priorities are a roadmap for the country in its path to implement strategic reforms to achieve candidate status. Political priorities include aligning its constitutional framework to European standards and improving its judiciary. Economic priorities include improvements in educational quality and energy infrastructure.

Furthermore, the EU has a special process for Western Balkans countries, called the “stabilization and association process.” This process has three aims:  political stability and a quick transition to a market economy, regional cooperation and eventual EU membership. The Western Balkans process provides Bosnia and Herzegovina with financial assistance, trade concessions and assistance for stabilization and reconstruction needed due to the war in the 1990s.

The Progress and Obstacles

The European Commission’s 2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina outlined some progress on the 14 key priorities. The country made some progress in addressing environmental challenges and sustainable connectivity. It also made progress in its migration policies.

When it comes to the economic criteria, the country is slowly establishing a market economy. However, its economic performance is still below its potential. Its Economic Reform Programme does not include enough measures to tackle economic challenges on a national scale, such as the informal economy and unemployment, per the report.

The report also outlined little or no progress in the political sector. A key obstacle is that the country remains politically unstable. Indeed, the political entity representing the Bosnian Serbs, the Republika Srpska is trying to “unilaterally take over state competencies” and is threatening to secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina due to potential accession to the EU. The European Commission also noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina did not make a lot of progress when it comes to tackling corruption and organized crime.

The Path Forward

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been seeking to join the EU for almost two decades. To reach the EU candidate status that will foster its development, the country needs to build upon its improvements on the 14 key priorities. It also needs to step up efforts to overcome the obstacles blocking any progress. If Bosnia and Herzegovina uses the support it has gained through the special Western Balkan process, the next report on its progress should be more positive. Perhaps the European Commission’s recommendation is the encouragement that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to improve its EU candidacy potential.

– Evan Da Costa Marques
Photo: Flickr

EU Action to Address Energy Poverty in Europe

Energy Poverty in Europe
On October 4, 2022, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) issued a report entitled “Tackling energy poverty and the EU’s resilience: challenges from an economic and social perspective.” Indeed, within the European Union, there is a need to tackle the issue of energy poverty as winter approaches. With energy inflation reaching 40% due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, many EU households may not be able to heat their residences this winter due to increasing rates of energy poverty in Europe. The European Commission estimated in September 2022 that roughly 34 million individuals in the EU are enduring “energy poverty to varying degrees.”

EU Measures to Tackle Energy Poverty

The European Union has already adopted a few policies to fight energy poverty in Europe in the last few years. With the 2019 “clean energy for all Europeans package,” the EU is establishing key measures to counter energy poverty in Europe. The package aims to increase energy security by protecting vulnerable consumers from steep energy prices and a lack of energy resources. To achieve this, the EU aims to rely less on external energy supplies by diversifying its sources of energy supplies and increasing its investment in renewable energy sources within the EU.

When it comes to monitoring energy poverty, the EU receives reports from EU Member States on the number of people suffering from energy poverty. These reports are mandatory since the implementation of the “directive on common rules for the internal market for electricity” in 2019 and enable the EU to allocate more or less support according to the numbers.

The Energy Efficiency Directive (implemented in 2012 but amended in 2018) directs Member States to implement “a share of energy efficiency measures… as a priority in households affected by energy poverty or in social housing.” With such measures, those households would consume less energy and would pay lower energy bills.

The Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union stresses the obligation of EU Member States to each establish their own “national indicative objective” to reduce the number of households suffering from energy poverty. Then, each country must update the EU regarding progress toward this goal. In addition, Member States have to provide information on the measures and policies already implemented and future measures to address energy poverty.

Other Actions

Other than the directives and policies, the EU has other tools to help Member States fight energy poverty. The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) is the main EU initiative addressing energy poverty through a “collaborative network of stakeholders,” the EU website says. The EPAH builds on the energy poverty reduction work conducted by the Energy Poverty Observatory. The EPAH distributes resources to stakeholders to guide them in taking action to reduce energy poverty. This includes online courses, reports, guidebooks and technical assistance. The EPAH will run from 2021 to 2024.

Energy inflation due to the Russia-Ukraine war has increased the number of households living in energy poverty across Europe. Considering this situation, it is essential for the EU to prioritize fighting energy poverty, with a special focus on disadvantaged households. The EU is committed to energy sustainability and is taking action to achieve this.

– Evan Da Costa Marques
Photo: Flickr

Agricultural Investments in Vietnam

Agriculture Investments in Vietnam
Agriculture, forestry and fishery have been at the root of the Vietnamese economy for thousands of years. Recently, a trend of borrowing from banks like LienVietPostBank, AgriBank and BIDV by struggling farmers has allowed them to escape the poverty caused by the scars of war and colonial oppression.

These loans enable farmers to purchase reliable equipment and materials to grow their crops and yield a wider profit margin, hire more workers and cycle more capital to create stable income and community. The World Bank reported a drop in poverty from 16.8% to just 5% from 2010 to 2020.

Now the force of this agriculture boom is proving to be a vital element in the propulsion of the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a whopping 1,640 new agriculture businesses emerged. This is largely due to the agricultural investments in Vietnam.

Why the Buzz? 

As a country with a long history of food shortage due to war, Vietnam is especially wary of movements in the food supply. As the COVID-19 pandemic hurt business and now the threat of the Russian-Ukraine war shocks economies globally, agriculture is emerging as the key economic pillar of society. In 2020, the country ranked among the top five exporters of aquatic products, rice, coffee, tea, cashews and cassava.

When the pandemic started to affect other sectors such as service, construction and industry, many in the southern provinces returned to work in agriculture and that industry flourished. The pandemic stunted poverty reduction but did not set it back. Most of the growth has come from the establishment of small-scale farms that maintain themselves by becoming food secure and self-sufficient. Most of the new farms are less than 1 hectare and provide ample sustenance for the families who work them.

According to the International Fund for Agriculture Development, economic growth in small-scale agriculture is two to three times more effective at reducing poverty than in other sectors. Agro-focused banks keep close contact with their loan recipients, monitoring income and circumstances that might affect the crop, as well as consumer trends. This has created a community atmosphere where people are working alongside agricultural investors in Vietnam, effectively lifting many out of poverty.

The Effects of Agricultural Investments in Vietnam

Vietnam News reported that Vietnam’s agriculture industry comprises more than 14,000 businesses, 78 unions, 19,100 cooperatives, more than 30,000 production groups and 19,600 farms. The success of poverty reduction and business growth in agriculture is due to many factors such as increased governance capacity, capital investment, socio-economic planning policies and other public services. The recent investment and the government’s sustained efforts to keep the agriculture business in good standing have played great roles in this reduction. Moreover, the multi-industrial approach has provided basic health care and early education through new government policies. There has been a remarkable decline in those living on less than $1.25 per day from 63.7% in 1993 to 16.9% in 2008.

This massive shrinking of the poor is a great stride. While there is still a rocky road ahead for the growing country, the uptick in food security due to agricultural investments in Vietnam is a promising guidepost for increasing the quality of life in the country.

– Shane Chase
Photo: Flickr

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Rwanda’s Capital is On the Path to Green Urban Growth

Green Urban Growth
Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is on the cutting edge of African development. In May 2022, the Rwandan government launched the second phase of the environmentally friendly, $175 million Rwandan Urban Development Project. The project consists of reinforcing nature-based infrastructure and protecting the city against extreme weather conditions. A hub of architects and entrepreneurs is working out of the newly built MASS Design Group’s largest office in Kigali. The recent increase in investment in the once war-stricken city aims to set Rwanda on the path to green urban growth.

A Critical Eye

President Paul Kagame received many criticisms for taking the position of an authoritarian strongman. While Rwanda appears to be a safe space for foreigners, Lewis Mudge, the Central Africa Director at Human Rights Watch recently told CNN,  “Rwanda is a safe country for Rwandans if you keep your head down and don’t ask any questions or challenge anything. The moment you step up and start to question something or have an independent opinion and express it, Rwanda becomes a very difficult country to live in.” It is impossible to ignore the claims of citizens and spokespeople in the region. For Western and Asian allies, however, Kagame remains a “liberator” with intentions of expanding economic prosperity in the region.

Sustainability and Reframing

The Rwanda Urban Development Project focuses on developing the natural infrastructure of Kigali and surrounding cities. A green micro-mobility company called Guraride, which began a bike share scheme in Kigali in 2021 is just one of many firms setting up in the city. Guararide CEO, Tony Adesina, explained, “We’re looking at a situation where Kigali becomes the Silicon Valley of Africa.” President Kagame has made aspirational claims of making Rwanda a middle-income country by 2035.

In the decades since the atrocious 1994 genocide, the government has brought the country out of the ruins by taking several measures. For one, Rwanda now has close financial ties to China; in 2008, the country outlawed the use of non-biodegradable plastics a notable step towards its desire to be a green country. Moreover, it has closed gender gaps with 61% of its parliamentary seats, which women hold. The World Bank continues to report “strong economic growth” in the region, and a poverty decline from 77% in 2001 to 55% by 2017. With the decline in poverty and awareness of the need for renewable energy, Rwanda is a beacon of hope for the naysays of energy reform and a model country on the path to green urban growth.

Eco-Development

A coalition of architects, engineers, city planners, researchers, designers, construction and film industry has come to the MASS Design Group’s central hub. Entrepreneurs like Tony Adesina are attracted to the area because of the government’s inclination towards allowing tech-based and eco-friendly development. As increasingly severe weather conditions erupt around the world, Rwanda is taking the initiative to develop green solutions to the unique problems weather causes. Launched in 2017, The Green City Project in Kigali is an example of this initiative. It aims to be a green community in the Kinyinya Hill area of Kigali; allowing developers to use innovative climate-responsive building techniques and collect rainwater, as well as increase vegetation, tree cover and renewable energy sources. This facility is a harbinger for more green projects to come around the world, as the move to green urban growth becomes evermore important.

The region of Kigali represents hope for war-stricken countries. Often through struggle and war, many creative solutions emerge out of necessity. Western counterparts regularly overlook developing communities in Africa and view them as “reporters” of what is happening, rather than true artists and creators themselves. Though others should not ignore the iron fist of the Rwandan government, an encouraging move toward sustainability that the nation has taken is the bottom-line approach necessary to tackle environmental and economic issues.

– Shane Chase
Photo: Flickr

How African Governments Are Combating HIV/AIDS

African Governments Combating HIV/AIDS
The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major problem today. A variety of problems continue to affect the globe, such as poverty and HIV/AIDS, the latter of which has severely affected Africa for years. Globally, estimates indicated that HIV infected 33.9 to 43.8 million people by the end of 2021 and nearly two-thirds of those infected were Africans. However, the situation is far from hopeless as African governments are combating HIV/AIDS and some progress is occurring on that front.

The Current Situation in Africa

According to reports by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), new HIV infections have declined by 14% between 2010 and 2015 in Eastern and Southern Africa. Similarly, there was an 8% decline in West and Central Africa. Despite the small percentages, progress is obvious. In 2000, only 11,000 people were getting antiretroviral treatment (ARV) for HIV. Now, more than 12 million people today are receiving the treatment. African governments that are combating HIV/AIDS have also expanded prevention methods to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Some of the prevention methods are voluntary medical male circumcision and tests for pregnant women to see if they are HIV positive. Those who are positive receive medicine in order to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS to their unborn babies. Hence, there has been a decrease in infections throughout the region.

Despite the progress, the epidemic still severely affects African countries. Poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic only further exacerbate this issue. HIV/AIDS affects the region socially and economically. There are still a large number of people who are not receiving the treatment they need and the cure has yet to emerge. Sub-Saharan Africa suffers the most as it is the world’s epicenter of HIV/AIDS, accounting for two-thirds of the global total of new HIV infections. Progress continues to be slow and multiple challenges remain.

Response and Progress to End HIV/AIDS

Currently, African governments are aiming to put an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide by 2030. They have partnered with multiple organizations such as UNAIDS, PEPFAR and other global health organizations to realize this goal. Together, they are working tirelessly to respond and accelerate progress in the continent. Access to condoms and lubricants for men is increasing, programs encouraging changes to sexual behavior are undergoing implementation and affordable methods to prevent infections are spreading.

The United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong launched “Reimagining PEPFAR’s Strategic Direction, Fulfilling America’s Promise to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic by 2030.” According to UNAIDS, it focuses on key priority areas that include addressing health equity for children, adolescent girls, young women and other key populations. It also focuses on maintaining long-term sustainability, enhancing global health security, nurturing transformative partnerships and leading with science. UNAIDS has reported considerable success in many sub-Saharan African countries. The number of deaths that HIV/AIDS has caused in Sub-Saharan Africa has declined by 35% in recent years.

The Global Mission to End HIV/AIDS

Global efforts addressing the epidemic have shown promising signs. People in resource-poor countries like Africa that are receiving HIV treatment have increased dramatically over the past decade. PEPFAR has provided HIV testing services for more than 50 million people as of 2021. Additionally, 2.8 million babies were born HIV-free from parents living with it. The battle continues as African governments combating HIV/AIDS continue to work around the clock. They are strengthening public health systems and local capacity for preparedness and response to other diseases. Progress may be slow but efforts put forth by various organizations continue to provide promising results. Research is also progressing as many around the globe work to prevent further HIV infection and find a cure someday. So long as Africa and its people continue to fight the good fight, the goal to end the pandemic by 2030 may just be achievable.

– Aaron Luangkham
Photo: Flickr

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Charities Operating in Argentina

Charities Operating in Argentina
Argentina is one of the southernmost countries in South America. Though it boasts a 98% literacy rate, a solid public healthcare system and one of the most robust economies in all of South America, it suffers from a high national poverty rate and concerns in the healthcare and education sectors. Both the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must work to improve the living conditions for Argentinian citizens. Here is an overview of the country’s poverty situation and a few impressive charities operating in Argentina.

Argentina’s Poverty Situation

In 2011, the population in urban centers had an estimated poverty rate of 12.2% (earning less than $5.50 per day). However, a national economic recession in 2018 combined with the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the sharpest increase in poverty in Argentina in recent decades. Approximately 41% of the urban population now falls below the national poverty line.

Beyond high poverty, Argentina struggles with inequalities in key sectors including education and health care. Though Argentina has a relatively strong education system, there is a trend of high dropout rates and low college attendance as well as a steep inequality in education quality between urban and rural areas. Similarly, though Argentina has universal health care, it is decentralized, creating a large discrepancy in the quality of care. In particular, healthcare access is either poor or absent in more rural, remote areas of the country. These issues call for help from a variety of charities operating in Argentina.

4 Helpful NGOs Operating in Argentina

  1. Sumando Manos Foundation: One NGO doing great work in improving nutrition and health care in Argentina is the Sumando Manos Foundation. The organization has helped more than 7,000 children and their communities since its founding in 2005. It does this by “providing food and critical medical and dental attention and teaching fundamental health care.” Sumando Manos operates by visiting the same communities over a span of many years. Common dental problems and nutritional deficiencies have decreased by more than half in the communities that Sumando Manos serves. That is tangible evidence of Sumando Manos’s strong impact.
  2. La Casa Ronald de Argentina: McDonald’s humanitarian healthcare initiative in Argentina, La Casa Ronald de Argentina, provides support for families with young family members who have cancer and other complex care needs. Specifically, La Casa Ronald provides rooms within hospitals and houses where families can stay with their children while they receive medical care. This is an incredibly important service in Argentina where most quality medical care is located in urban centers and families have to temporarily migrate to accommodate the situation. Casa Ronald also has a Healthy Habits Unit that promotes healthy lifestyle choices and a Wellness Unit that provides snacks and books to families during their long days at the hospital. Since its founding in Argentina in 1998, Casa Ronald has provided nearly $37 million to 280,000 children and families facing healthcare emergencies
  3. Fundacion Leer: A third organization improving the quality of life in Argentina is Fundacion Leer. It is dedicated to providing educational resources throughout the country with the goal of 100% literacy for children across Argentina. In operation for over 25 years, its impact is no doubt a part of the literacy rate increasing from 93.9% in 1980 to 98.1% in 2015. In its time, Fundacion Leer has provided more than 2.5 million children with assistance in learning to read and write, more than 2.5 million books to educational institutions and trained 27,613 adults to teach basic literacy skills.
  4. Cåritas Argentina: Cåritas Argentina, an institution of the Catholic Church, exists to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in Argentina. The organization provides direct aid, but also more central to its mission, its 40,000 volunteers provide emotional and spiritual support for vulnerable families. As its website explains, “The challenge is not only to provide food or shelter, but to accompany families and be the gateway to listen, contain, organize and plan tasks that stimulate human development.” Cåritas Argentina works in many sectors including early childhood education, addiction prevention and food response. Two specific examples of achievements include helping 5,300 families construct and maintain their own homes through its Habitat initiative and maintaining a network of  180 inclusive educational spaces.

These charities operating in Argentina fight poverty reduction by giving citizens skills, opportunities and services essential for success in life.

– Xander Heiple
Photo: Flickr

Japan’s Support to Ukraine During Invasion

Japan’s support to UkraineSince Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraine has been in armed conflict with Russia, which has caused significant deterioration in Ukraine’s economy and an increase in poverty. However, the international community has been quick to come to Ukraine’s assistance. In particular, Japan has provided several essential services to Ukraine through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Here is a breakdown of Japan’s support to Ukraine since the recent escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Poverty Increase in Ukraine

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has worsened significantly since the start of the conflict. Approximately 34% of households reported having no income or relying on assistance as of April 2022. The country’s unemployment rate has drastically increased to 34% in 2022, according to the National Bank of Ukraine. However, the actual rate is likely more severe as “so many people in Ukraine had undeclared jobs before the invasion,” NPR says. This is a stark increase from the 8.9% unemployment rate recorded in 2021, according to World Bank data.

This increase corresponds to a third of the population suffering from food insecurity. Food insecurity affects some oblasts (provinces) more severely than others, with provinces in the east and south reporting food insecurity rates of 50%. Luhansk notes the highest food insecurity rates across all oblasts. Further, the Ukrainian economy is projected to contract by close to 32% by the end of 2022.

The easternmost oblasts of Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk are disproportionately affected by the conflict. A greater presence of landmine contamination, continued damage to infrastructure and a generally higher risk of Russian targeting makes these areas less accessible for aid and commerce.

JICA Support

Japan’s support of Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict has three focal points:

  1.  Assistance to attain financial stability.
  2. The “improvement of people’s lives and environment.”
  3. The “promotion of autonomous governance and internal reconciliation.”

The first measure the JICA took to help Ukraine in March 2022 came in the form of “a needs assessment survey team for humanitarian and medical assistance,” the JICA website says. The JICA dispatched this medical team to Moldova to assist with the influx of Ukrainian refugees. The team collaborated with the World Health Organization and the Moldovan Health Ministry to help strengthen already existing systems and also provide advice on resource allocation and data management as the crisis continues to unfold.

ODA Loans

Additionally, on May 16, 2022, the JICA signed an Official Development Assistance (ODA) contract, giving a 13 billion Japanese yen loan to support Ukrainian economic stability. However, this amount was not adjusted in light of the scope of the war, and so, on June 17, Japan modified the original ODA to give an additional 65 billion yen to Ukraine. This combined total is equivalent to a 78 billion yen loan. As stated on the JICA website, the loan’s goals include “fostering de-monopolization and anticorruption institutions, strengthening land and credit markets and bolstering the social safety net… by offering financial assistance to Ukraine, which is facing an economic crisis due to the impact of a military invasion.”

Lastly, in late June 2022, the JICA gave its first of “a series of online seminars” designed to help advise Ukrainian officials in waste and debris management amid the war. Oblasts that are particular targets of the Russian military have experienced a high level of infrastructural damage, contributing to transportation and waste management issues. Considering Japan’s experience with these matters, the JICA hopes to share its expertise and contribute to Ukraine’s stability and crisis recovery.

Looking Forward

For Ukraine to endure during these times while safeguarding the well-being of citizens, it is essential to sustain support efforts like those demonstrated by the JICA. It is likely that Japan’s support to Ukraine will continue to play a critical role as the war unfolds.

– Xander Heiple
Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Bolivia

5 charities operating in BoliviaFor 20 years, Bolivia’s poverty rates have spiraled downward due to wage increases and strongly supported social programs. For those still in poverty, there are at least 5 charities operating in Bolivia to improve the quality of life in the nation.

Bolivia’s Progress

Bolivia has made significant progress in reducing poverty. In 2009, about 40% of Bolivians lived in conditions of extreme poverty. More than 10 years later, in 2020, that percentage decreased to 4.4% (based on the 2011 Purchasing Power Parity of $1.90 a day).

Much of the credit belongs to Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales. He used income from nationalized industries and “the commodities boom,” during which the international prices of Bolivia’s key exports grew 800% between 2000 and 2014, to fund schools, hospitals and other infrastructure. Morales also raised the minimum wage multiple times and set up social programs to support vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens and pregnant women.

Current Issues

Even with all of Bolivia’s success, issues persist. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), about 16% of Bolivian children face stunting due to malnutrition. Furthermore, anemia affects almost 54% of children younger than 5. Marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities, struggle to find work or attend school. Fortunately, these 5 charities operating in Bolivia are addressing these issues.

5 Charities Operating in Bolivia

  1. Fundación Bolivia Digna. The first of 5 charities operating in Bolivia is Fundación Bolivia Digna. This nonprofit was set up in 2006 to protect the rights of vulnerable young people and other marginalized groups. It is based in the city of Cochabamba, near the center of Bolivia. With more than 250 Bolivians and almost 240 international volunteers helping over the years, Fundación Bolivia Digna provides children with a “safe environment” to receive educational support and promotes good hygiene habits and positive influences. Volunteers help children with homework, lead creative activities like singing, dancing and instrument lessons, teach English courses and run sports activities. Fundación Bolivia Digna has helped more than 200 children from roughly 100 families.
  2. Help Bolivia Foundation. In 2018, Matt and Lydia Hill established the Help Bolivia Foundation to give disadvantaged women and children access to educational and nutritional resources. Operating in the Tahuantinsuyo Community Center in El Alto and in Villa Ingenio, Help Bolivia Foundation provides children with health, education and lunch programs. In 2020 and 2021, the foundation used grants to purchase tablets for online classes. In 2022, the foundation used a grant to run a year-long Sewing & Entrepreneurship Training Program for 30 Indigenous women. Other classes include cooking classes and painting classes.
  3. Aktion Sodis. Another one of the 5 charities operating in Bolivia is a German nonprofit called Aktion Sodis. It operates within the mountainous Micani region south of Cochabamba to help the locals improve their food security and access clean water and education. One of Aktion Sodis’ current projects looks to improve food security by creating “resilient food systems and sustainable agriculture” adapted to the Micani region’s extreme weather conditions, the Betterplace.org website says. The project began in 2017 when Aktion Sodis (along with a Bolivian vocational school) established water-efficient irrigation systems for four village school gardens. These improved gardens now have rain-fed water storage and drip irrigation systems. The project later “expanded to all 16 village schools in the region.” Currently, Aktion Sodis is building solar tents over six of the school gardens to create a “microclimate” suitable for growing vegetables outdoors. For the upcoming phase of the project, Aktion Sodis will focus on families. The organization will help families create or extend food gardens and will give lessons on “balanced nutrition and sustainable agriculture.”
  4. Bolivians Without Disabilities. Matt Pepe founded Bolivians Without Disabilities in 2015 after living in Bolivia for years. Around 15% of Bolivians have some type of disability, according to the organization’s website, equating to more than 1.5 million people. Seventy-five percent of Bolivians with disabilities are unemployed and less than 40% of children with disabilities attend school. Bolivians Without Disabilities helps people by providing prosthetic limbs, raising awareness in the United States and funding other organizations that help Bolivians with disabilities.
  5. Smiles Forever Foundation. Smiles Forever, founded by dental hygienist Sandy Kemper, provides free dental care to children and hygiene education to Bolivian women near Cochabamba. Since 2000, Smiles Forever has helped more than 60,000 children and has placed 37 Indigenous women in its two-year dental hygiene training program so that the women can become professional dental hygienists. Educating women not only helps them make better dental hygiene decisions for themselves and their families but also increases their self-esteem and independence in a society rife with gender inequality.

Even with economic success, NGOs like these 5 charities operating in Bolivia are needed to educate and lift people out of poverty. In time, the knowledge gained from these NGOs will spread and Bolivia will be a better place for it.

– James Harrington
Photo: Flickr

Addressing Mental Health Inequality in Sweden

Mental Health Inequality in SwedenWilliam Russell, an international health insurance company, ranks Sweden as the best country in the world in terms of mental health care. Green spaces, work-life balance and generous government spending on mental health are just some of the contributing factors. Yet, a study by Kinza Degerlund Maldi and others, published in 2019, reveals a socioeconomic divide in the distribution of mental illness. Both educational and income disparities had an impact on mental health, but low income posed a higher risk for susceptibility to mental illness, especially among women. Another study by S Fritzell and others underlines job status, economic strain and enduring harassment as risk factors. Socioeconomic status has the most significant impact on mental health inequality in Sweden, more so than “demographic factors and psychosocial factors.”

Unemployment and Mental Health

The Centre for Global  Mental Health highlights that there are links between mental health and poverty. Unemployment contributes significantly to economic vulnerability. In particular, psychological distress is common among those without stable employment, more so than for those with secure jobs, and this is consistent regardless of gender and age bracket. Women are most impacted by economic disparities, suggesting that focusing on the gender wage gap and equal employment opportunities could help Sweden progress toward easing inequality.

The Impact of Education

The Public Health Agency of Sweden says that a “positive learning environment in school” is possibly the most important way to ensure good mental health among young people. Studies demonstrate this, with positive relationship building and maintenance in school and holistic care within these institutions shown to be integral to students’ well-being.

While education can positively benefit mental health, poverty still plays a role in educational outcomes and future prospects. Swedish children living in poverty generally have lower academic achievements in comparison to their wealthier peers and are more likely to drop out of school. This leads to reduced opportunities for employment and further education, meaning that the cycle of poverty and mental health inequities can continue in a generational capacity.

It is integral for the government to provide additional support to young people who are living in poverty and ensure children are in positive school environments to prevent further mental health inequality in Sweden. This is especially crucial considering that the suicide rate in Sweden for those aged 15–29 has shown no significant decline in 23 years, averaging between 8–14 suicides per 100,000 young people.

Migrant Vulnerabilities

Some regions are more prone to wealth inequities and mental health inequality and it is not coincidental that these regions are often densely populated by migrants. One example is Malmö, a city in Southern Sweden where around a third of children live in poverty.

Here, increased rates of poverty among migrant families have led to vulnerabilities in various aspects of life, including well-being. Migrants are more likely to suffer from both mental and physical illness due to increased difficulties securing financial independence, employment and satisfactory work, educational stability and positive social conditions. Analysis of the specifics of this inequality reveals that lack of access to social activities and support makes the largest contribution to the mental health discrepancies between natives and migrants. However, unemployment and money troubles also significantly impact the well-being of migrants living in Sweden.

Targeted Support

The 2019 Poverty Report Sweden highlights the fact that asylum seekers only have the right to emergency health services, which does not include mental health care. The institutional prioritization of mental health equality in Sweden, specifically targeting vulnerable regional areas, migrants, adolescents and low-income families, must materialize in the form of holistic structural support changes. Rather than attributing poverty and inequality to lifestyle choices, the government can look to understand the cycles of inequality that those in disadvantaged communities face.

Additionally, on an individual basis, the value of specifically targeted support is demonstrated by research on community health worker-led programs offered to migrants. Sweden’s ‘Hälsostöd’ (Health Support) program used data gathered from questionnaires to measure psychological distress. Results showed that migrants participating in health promotion programs experienced positive mental health impacts.

On the Right Path

The Swedish government took positive action in 2020 by commissioning the Swedish National Agency for Medical and Social Evaluation to assess efforts to address mental health well-being and reduce suicide among young people. This report was scheduled for completion in October 2022.

Sweden’s leaders are prioritizing young people and established five focal areas to center mental health strategies around, one of these priorities being a “focus on vulnerable groups.”

Over time, the Swedish mental health system has considerably improved and this is visible in numerous areas, including the decrease in suicide rates from 1997 to 2020. This reduction is visible among the majority of age groups, except those aged 15–29. For example, suicide rates among people 85 and older have reduced from 29 per 100,000 in 2000 to 18 in 2020.

Sweden’s government and public health agencies show commitment to improving mental health. Further focus on the mental health of those from disadvantaged backgrounds will reduce mental health inequality in Sweden.

– Lydia Tyler
Photo: Unsplash