Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How Surf Tourism is Helping Fight Poverty in Bali

Poverty in baliBali, an island and province of Indonesia, is best known for its turquoise waves and world-class surf breaks, but behind the island’s booming tourism industry lies a more complex reality. While mass tourism has strained local livelihoods and the environment, surf tourism in Bali is quietly creating economic opportunities that help local communities escape poverty.

Tourism and Inequality in Bali

Over the past two decades, tourism has driven extraordinary economic growth in Bali. Before the pandemic, the island welcomed more than six million international visitors a year, generating jobs, foreign investment and global visibility. But this growth has not been evenly shared.

As tourism expands, wealth tends to concentrate in already-popular areas, widening the gap between those who benefit from the industry and those who are left behind. Developers have increasingly converted agricultural land, including Bali’s iconic rice terraces, into hotels, beach clubs and shops aimed at foreign tourists. For many rural and working-class communities, this shift has meant higher living costs, fewer traditional livelihoods and mounting pressure to adapt or relocate.

Surf Tourism in Bali

What surf tourism in Bali occasionally reveals is not a solution to poverty, but a different way tourism value can circulate at the margins. At Kima Surf, the surf camp embeds charitable work into its everyday operations. Kima Surf instructors bring children from the Bali Orphan Day Center into the water for surf sessions, while guests and staff take part in beach clean-ups that address the environmental pressures tourism generates.

Beyond the beach, Kima Surf supports initiatives such as the NF Kinder Foundation. The foundation funds health care, research and aftercare for families facing the high and ongoing costs of Neurofibromatosis, helping them avoid financial strain that could push them deeper into poverty. Similarly, Bali Green Surf School supports educational access by providing food, clothing, toys and essential school supplies to local orphanages, helping reduce material barriers to learning for children from low-income backgrounds.

Fundraising for SurfAid’s Make a Wave Challenge and awareness campaigns promoting disability inclusion in Bali also support groups that are often excluded from tourism jobs and social services. These interventions remain limited in scale and cannot offset the structural inequalities that tourism development produces; however, they illustrate how surf tourism can contribute, albeit incrementally and unevenly, to poverty alleviation. It eases access to care, skills and resources where state support is often insufficient.

What This Means for Poverty Reduction in Bali

Examples like Kima Surf and Bali Green Surf School show how surf tourism in Bali can intersect with poverty in ways that are often overlooked. Rather than transforming the economy or reversing gentrification, surf tourism can create smaller, more immediate forms of support. These include reducing financial vulnerability by improving access to health care and educational resources that might otherwise push families further into poverty.

These impacts are limited and uneven, but they matter in a place where tourism dominates everyday life. Surf tourism in Bali does not solve poverty. However, when its benefits reach local people, it can make everyday life more affordable for some families.

– Iona Gethin

Iona is based in Exeter, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Productive Safety Net Program Combats Poverty in Ethiopia

Productive Safety Net ProgramEthiopia launched the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) in 2005 to reduce food insecurity and strengthen resilience to climate-related shocks. The program operates through cash transfers, public works and targeted nutrition support. According to the Climate Policy Initiative, the program reaches more than 8 million households each year, representing more than 7% of the population.

Background

The Climate Policy Initiative reports that Phase V of the PSNP began in November 2020 under the Strengthen Ethiopia’s Adaptive Safety Net Project. This project received a $200 million credit and a $312.5 million grant. It also received $430 million from USAID, $281 million from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and $600 million from the Government of Ethiopia.

This phase aims to expand the geographic scope of the program, improve PSNP implementation and strengthen disaster response efforts. These objectives support broader policy goals. According to the European External Action Service, this focuses on reducing extreme poverty in targeted rural areas and strengthening household resilience to recurrent shocks. 

It also aims to prevent harmful coping mechanisms, promote sustainable livelihoods and improve food security and access to essential services for vulnerable populations.

Project Components

The PSNP includes a range of components and policies. The European External Action Service reports that this program provides cash or food payments to about seven million people who participate in public works initiatives. Participants receive benefits for up to six months while engaging in community-building tasks.

One million people identified as chronically impoverished or unable to work receive unconditional benefits for 12 months. The program implements public works projects in both livestock-based and non-livestock-based areas to protect residents from resource losses linked to poverty and disasters. These projects focus on strengthening infrastructure, improving soil and water conservation and supporting environmental protection efforts.

Some policies include developing roads and schools, planting seedlings for reforestation, preventing soil erosion and creating or rehabilitating irrigation systems. PSNP provides financial and social services to beneficiaries. This program facilitates grants and loans for farming and nonfarming activities to support poverty reduction.

This program connects beneficiaries to social support services across nutrition, health and education. The Shock Responsive Safety Net administers assistance to beneficiaries facing food insecurity, particularly those affected by droughts and other shocks.

Environmental Shocks

Environmental policy plays a key role in the PSNP. As stated by the European External Action Service, integrating climate shift adaptation into public works projects helps minimize the impact of climate shocks on food insecurity. For example, watershed rehabilitation and area closures can promote vegetation growth for livestock feed.

In addition, environmental management efforts can lessen the risk of landslides, floods and soil erosion. According to the World Bank, a significant portion of Ethiopia’s population depends on rain-fed agriculture. The country has endured recurrent droughts in previous decades, historically occurring every three to five years.

While the frequency of environmental shocks has varied over the years, they remain a consistent concern that has shaped Ethiopia’s social protection response. The World Bank further states that droughts and famines have affected millions of people over multiple periods. Environmental degradation, weak resource management and shrinking landholdings driven by constraints in policy implementation have worsened the effects of droughts.

These factors have led to the degradation of productive assets and the erosion of household and community resilience.

Economic Impacts

Programs like the Productive Safety Net Program help stabilize incomes and productive assets, enabling households to participate in local and regional markets. By reducing financial uncertainty connected to recurrent shocks, PSNP helps create a predictable economic environment that supports trade and investment. Over time, these factors can expand consumer markets and reinforce supply chains, creating trade opportunities for companies based in the U.S. and the U.K.

– Sasha Banaei

Sasha is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Creations for Charity: Brightening Children’s Holidays With LEGO

Creations for CharityLEGO bricks have long sparked the imaginations of people of all ages. Ole Kirk Kristiansen founded the LEGO Group in 1932, with its name being an abbreviation of the Danish words “leg godt,” meaning “play well,” emphasizing the power of play. Today, LEGOs serve as building blocks of hope, learning and opportunity for underprivileged children.

This is the mission of Creations For Charity (CFC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks by uniting fans from around the world. Nannan Zhang is an adult fan who has been active in the online community for eight years. Initially, a college student with a lot of free time dedicated to LEGO sets, he wanted to see fellow builders in the community use their extensive building skills to give to others.

As such, Zhang founded the CFC in 2009 with the intent of showcasing the talents of fellow LEGO fans and giving to needy youths.

How It Works

The CFC is entirely volunteer-run and hosts an annual fundraiser. The nonprofit prides itself on its unique fundraising strategy, which involves selling one-of-a-kind creations donated by volunteers from around the world from October 15 to November 30. Coordinators then use the funds to purchase new LEGO sets for underprivileged children.

In hopes of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks, the CFC’s coordinators travel around the world and use these funds to purchase brand-new LEGO sets, donating them to local organizations of their choice that serve underprivileged children. Such organizations include shelters, orphanages, hospitals and impoverished schools. People can also make monetary donations through the organization’s website.

Zhang has acknowledged the high prices of the creations displayed in the CFC’s store. He explained that those who have put in immense effort into their creations deserved recognition. Near the end of the sale, discounts are made for remaining items.

The CFC has collaborated with popular LEGO event organizers, including Brick Convention and Beyond the Brick. Brick Convention is a long-running event that features numerous LEGO attractions, including massive creation displays, retired LEGO sets and life-size models. A portion of the money raised during the convention goes to the CFC, supporting its goal of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO.

Beyond the Brick’s YouTube channel, hosted by Joshua Hanlon, houses the CFC’s annual 24-hour livestreams. Hanlon founded Beyond the Brick in November 2011, initially as an audio-only podcast. It is usually held on the day after Thanksgiving.

Many LEGO fans from around the world have participated in the livestream since 2014. In 2025, Beyond the Brick delivered sets to Transformation Ministries, an organization that provides food and other necessities to underprivileged children.

Successes and Contributions

The Creations for Charity has traveled to both developed and developing countries in support of its cause. For example, the team has traveled to Hungary, Kenya, Brazil, Chile and Japan. Since 2009, CFC has raised approximately $17,000 annually, which it used to donate more than 1,100 new LEGO sets to organizations such as Make-A-Wish and children’s hospitals.

In 2024, CFC donated 150 LEGO kits to refugee children in Nairobi, Kenya, where more than 800,000 refugees sought shelter from war, famine and natural disasters. In 2025, the CFC raised $25,906, with $4,500 from the sale of custom creations and $7,000 from the live stream. The rest came from donations from the Brick Convention, Brickworld and the Great Palia Charity Hunt.

LEGO builders and event organizers alike have collaborated for the sake of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO sets. As of now, the CFC plans to travel to 17 locations around the world, which have yet to be fully disclosed.

The Impact of LEGOs

It may seem surprising how the Creations for Charity’s mission focuses on brightening children’s holidays with LEGOs. However, the truth is that the language of play is universal. As freshman computer science major Jenna Curtis put it: “That’s why they’re so relevant, because you don’t have to change the formula. You can just rearrange what pieces you use and create something different.”

Not only do LEGO bricks encourage creativity, but they also help to hone fine motor skills, vocabulary, cooperation and problem-solving abilities. Approximately 90% of brain growth occurs before the age of 5. LEGO kits facilitate learning through imagination and independent play. A 2022 study found that LEGO sets have been used for developmental art therapy for children.

These building blocks are versatile and can enhance social and behavioral skills in children, which are crucial to a child’s future.

Conclusion

Through his simple love for LEGO bricks, Zhang has built the Creations for Charity into a foundation for fostering creativity and brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks. When children play with LEGO blocks, they aren’t just building for fun. They’re also building their futures with one brick at a time.

– Cindy Nguyen

Cindy is based in Albuquerque, NM, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Parliamentary Quotas Increase Women’s Political Representation

Parliamentary QuotasWomen across the Western Balkans have faced historical barriers to political participation, despite the increasing implementation of democratic reforms and efforts to integrate with the European Union (EU). However, parliamentary quotas in the Western Balkans have emerged as a central policy tool, increasing women’s presence and representation in inclusive decision-making. Such reforms demonstrate how prioritized political measures can reshape government structures and contribute to poverty reduction within the region.

Parliamentary Quotas Aim To Correct Political Imbalances

Multiple nations in the Western Balkans have now adopted quota systems to address the existing gender disparities within their political institutions, including Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Parliamentary gender quotas require a political party to include a minimum percentage of women on candidate lists during elections. Legislators design these measures to tackle the persistent structural barriers.

Unequal access to party networks, campaign financing and political mentorship are all consequences of the absence of gender quotas. By incorporating gender quotas into electoral law, women’s visibility in politics can increase and governments can expand opportunities for female politicians to compete for office on an equal footing with men.

Women’s Representation Has Increased Following Quota Laws

The implementation of quota legislation resulted in countries in the Western Balkans achieving measurable gains in women’s parliamentary representation. Serbia is now ranked among the top nations in Europe for women’s representation in the national parliament, with women holding 37.2% of parliamentary seats. Additionally, steady increases were reported in Montenegro and North Macedonia.

This reflects the effectiveness and positive impact of quota requirements on election eligibility, as well as how they can rapidly change the gender composition of political institutions when properly enforced.

Effective quota systems rely on enforcement and in Montenegro and Serbia, electoral commissions require parties to comply with quota laws; failure to do so may result in disqualification from elections. These stringent enforcement mechanisms have prompted political parties to recruit and train female candidates, rather than placing them in symbolic or noncompetitive positions. As a result, parties have expanded leadership pipelines for women, increasing long-term political participation beyond a single election cycle.

Why Women’s Political Representation Matters for Poverty Reduction

Women’s political participation plays a crucial role in poverty reduction. Research indicates that women legislators are more likely to prioritize policies related to education, health care, social protection and labor rights compared to men. Effectively, these policy areas disproportionately benefit low-income households, including children and marginalized communities.

In the Western Balkans, inclusive governments have supported the expansion of social assistance programs, gender-responsive budgeting and family benefits. All these reforms play a massive role in reducing poverty risk, especially for single mothers and rural populations.

Despite notable gains, challenges remain as cultural resistance, unequal access to campaign financing and uneven enforcement continue to limit women’s political advancement in parts of the Western Balkans. Women from rural areas, ethnic minorities and low-income backgrounds remain underrepresented. This highlights the need for complementary reforms. Without continued political persistence, quota systems risk stagnation or symbolic compliance.

Looking Ahead

The effectiveness of parliamentary gender quotas in the Western Balkans has proven to be an impactful strategy for increasing women’s political representation in the region. With continued international support and legal reform, women’s leadership can further expand and reduce poverty by promoting an inclusive and responsive government system. As the region advances toward greater political and economic integration, women’s representation remains essential to maintaining long-term stability and equitable growth.

– Hana Abulkheir

Hana is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Child Marriage in Argentina

Child Marriage in ArgentinaChild marriage is an example of the gender inequalities that girls and women face, which prominently exists in countries of extreme poverty. It is an issue that harms the lives of girls in Argentina as there can be an increased risk of adolescent pregnancies in addition to reduced access to education.

In Argentina, the gender pay gap is leading more girls and women to poverty. UN Women states that “Women and girls aged 15+ spend 23.4% of their time on unpaid care and domestic work, compared to 9.2% spent by men.” The power dynamics girls face regularly put them in a position where they do not have the resources to withstand poverty, therefore, leading them to child marriage in Argentina.

Leading Factors for Child Marriage

Girls Not Brides has stated that “16% of girls in Argentina marry or enter a union before age 18, and 2% marry before age 15.” The percentage of girls getting married as adolescents is proof of the scary reality that women and girls have to live through every day.

The law in Argentina works to prevent marriage before 18, however, parents and guardians have the right to enforce marriage at 16. This power dynamic is another social norm which influences gender inequalities to prevail. Other factors that result in child marriage include getting pregnant at a young age, which socially isolates young girls from their families and education. Girls also may feel compelled to stay in a union if it is their only support.

Improvements to Child Marriage in Argentina

Thankfully, there is a plan to eradicate child marriage in Argentina by 2030. Argentina is actively co-sponsoring legislation to prevent child marriage. It also aims to prevent violence, which enforces gender-based inequality and leads to issues such as child marriage. Significantly, the government will be prioritizing services to support those involved in child marriage.

People all over the world have been actively helping to stop child marriage in Latin America as well. This includes organizations such as Girls Not Brides. It has given a voice to girls and women who feel like they cannot speak freely.

In Argentina specifically, Girls Not Brides is improving the lives of young girls by utilizing The Foundation for Studies and Research on Women (FEIM). It researches and advocates against the issue of child marriage in Argentina, while training people to provide education on child marriage.

Meanwhile, SOS Children’s Villages has actively been working to stop adolescents from falling into the trap of entering marriage before 18. This organization creates a living environment for children to grow up in, providing them with education and support in their childhood and helping them move into the future independently. So far, “SOS Children’s Villages supports 1,270 adults and children, 1,610 attend their school and further training, 150 children grow up in their care and 840 are supported on their way to independence.” These factors all play a part in preventing child labor and marriage, and increasing quality of life.

Looking Ahead

While the injustice many young girls in Argentina face is immense, Argentina’s government and various organizations have actively worked toward protecting the rights of girls and improving the quality of life for girls in the country. Hopefully, with continued action, child marriage in Argentina will completely disappear.

– Freya Bryers

Freya is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing HIV/AIDS in Malta

HIV/AIDS in MaltaMalta is a developed island located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. With a relatively small population, 532,956 in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the population still suffers from HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Despite these challenges, promising progress from NGO HIV Malta and the country’s effective health care facilities and expertise continue to steady the rate of positive infections. Here is information about HIV/AIDS in Malta.

What Are HIV and AIDS?

HIV, also known as human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that results in illness from a weakened immune system. The virus attacks healthy cells in the body, ultimately exposing the body to other infections. People most commonly spread it through unprotected sex, contact with the body fluids of someone with HIV or even when sharing injection equipment.

Eventually, if people leave it untreated, it can lead to AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is described as the last stage of HIV, where the body’s cells and immune system are severely damaged. It can eventually lead to death if people leave it untreated during the initial HIV stage.

The Times of Malta recorded Malta’s first case of AIDS in 1984. In 1986, an estimated 25 individuals had a positive HIV test, which triggered a national health response. The Health Education Unit published leaflets named Fatti dwar 1-AIDS, to warn people of the untreatable infection. Moving into the 2000s, positive HIV tests mounted to 210 in 2003. According to The Times of Malta, “HIV was then named a notifiable infection on January 27, 2004.”

According to the HIV Justice Network, Malta passed a disease transmission law in 2005, which made it a crime for someone with an HIV infection to recklessly or intentionally pass it on to another. The sentencing powers include life imprisonment, and monthly sentences or fines.

Poverty in Malta – HIV/AIDS Prevalence Amongst Migrant Groups 

While Malta’s economy continues to excel as a developed nation, poverty still affects the less fortunate, in this case, migrants fleeing their home to settle elsewhere. According to Trading Economics, Malta’s risk of poverty in 2024 reached 16.8%. Over the years, Malta has seen a fluctuating poverty rate, with both high and low peaks. Its highest recording reached 17.1% in 2019. The factors influencing poverty in Malta include variations in living conditions, unemployment rates and income inequality.

Across Malta, HIV/AIDS prevalence in migrants is more common than in nationals. To date, the country has welcomed 2,000 asylum seekers and 11,000 refugees, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). HIV testing is free for all individuals in Malta; however, if migrants receive a positive test, the treatment policy differs. Ultimately, those who do not have legal employment must pay for their treatment, resulting in higher untreated cases amongst migrants, due to high medical costs ranging between €600 to €1,500 monthly according to HIV Malta.

Background on HIV Malta 

HIV Malta is a non-governmental organization working to help focus on the well-being and necessary quality of life of those with HIV/AIDS in Malta. The NGO addresses HIV in Malta by implementing educational programs, prevention methods, advocacy groups and support services. Its main aims also include:

  • Relevant treatment and policy work should be carried out to improve the quality of life of those with HIV.
  • Educational campaigns that provide factual, knowledge-based information.
  • Making sure those with HIV can live their life with respect for their human rights.
  • Providing accurate information that is scientifically proven for testing and prevention. 
  • Working with stakeholders in the medical sector to perfect treatment. 
  • Working with the community and with other NGOs with strong, compatible objectives.

Key Accomplishments and Collaborations 

We Are Positive is an advocacy group that HIV Malta created in partnership with Checkpoint Malta and activist/artist Emma Grima. It aims to humanize HIV and promote sexual health in communities.

Its first artistic action, held in 2014 at the LOVE Monument in Spinola Bay, St Julian’s, included plastering the monument with 620 self-testing boxes and urging people to interact with them. The general public engaged in conversations, and people received encouragement to tell their HIV journey story. The box contained cards and stickers explaining where people could get tested. They highlighted the success of the campaign across their web page.

Checkpoint Malta also set up monthly peer support in 2024, encouraging those living with HIV to share their experiences in a confidential and safe space. Their ongoing monthly meetups provide an opportunity for people to communicate outside of medical settings.

The Future of HIV/AIDS in Malta 

With HIV Malta leading as a forefront NGO in providing expertise to reduce the spread and risk of HIV transmission across Malta, the country is looking at a promising decline in infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of new HIV infections in Malta (per 1,000 uninfected population) has remained at 0.1 per 1,000 since the 1990s up until 2024. HIV/AIDS in Malta is showing promising progress with the availability of testing methods, prevention methods and treatment from expert clinics and hospitals. However, changes to treatment availability across the country, particularly for migrants, will help tackle the decline in positive infections.

– Zara Ashraf

Zara is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Women’s Cooperatives in Guatemala

Women’s Cooperatives in GuatemalaIn the highlands of Guatemala, women’s cooperatives are writing a tale of defiance against poverty. Historically marginalized groups of women have united through cooperatives to become the lifeblood of their local economies. The benefits are cascading in metamorphic ripples, transforming entire communities in their wake.

Economic Independence

The most immediate impact is a dramatic rise in household income. Cooperatives like the Cojolya Association guarantee members more than twice the local market rate, shattering legacies of exploitation and establishing women as primary economic actors. This empowerment was a product of necessity, born from the ravages of a civil war that left countless women widowed.

Survivors, now solely responsible for the welfare of their families and the rehabilitation of their communities, founded cooperatives like Trama Textiles, which has grown into a network of more than 400 weavers. Cooperatives like Ixoq Ajkeem demonstrate the power of a collectivist approach with their strategy of pooling resources, leveraging bulk orders and constructing common storefronts. In this way, women’s cooperatives in Guatemala integrate vulnerable and disparate artisans.

They unite them under a single, resilient organizational model. This structure protects families from economic volatility. It also shields individual producers from the unpredictability of the market.

Investing in Health and Nutrition

This economic power creates a direct second ripple: improved family health and nutrition. As primary earners, women consistently reinvest in their families’ well-being, marking a critical shift in a country where a severe poverty crisis drives chronic malnutrition. Through cooperatives, this care becomes institutionalized.

UPAVIM, for instance, has channeled its collective resources into a medical and dental clinic while also initiating targeted campaigns, like a soymilk program, to combat child malnutrition. The women of rural Guatemala continue to teach a lesson in ingenuity by using the cooperative model to transform earnings directly into community health care, ensuring the windfalls of their work are felt throughout their entire locality.

Keeping Children in School

The third ripple and perhaps the most foundationally transformative, manifests in education. Protection from poverty enables children to return to the classroom instead of toiling away in the workforce of manual labor. This commitment is structurally embedded in cooperatives like UPAVIM, which operates its own school.

It also provides members’ children with scholarships for school supplies and meals. These efforts significantly reduce costs and make education accessible to many more families. The result is both tangible and visible. Children in school uniforms are now a common sight.

This change reflects their mothers’ success in securing a right to education denied to earlier generations by poverty. It also signals systemic transformations capable of breaking long-standing cycles of deprivation.

Building Skills and Confidence

The impact of women’s cooperatives in Guatemala transcends material gain, mounting to a fourth ripple of personal empowerment. Beyond the loom, women receive vital training in financial literacy, business management and leadership, highlighting cooperatives as institutions for holistic human development and collective self-sufficiency. This newfound expertise fuels a powerful shift in communal identity. As one weaver from the Aj To’ooneel cooperative asserted, “Women today are entrepreneurs.”

This transformed identity is reproduced at home, reshaping the perceptions of forthcoming generations. “The children of the artisans are seeing that women also have an important role or they occupy the same position as men in the family,” observed Lidia Garcia of Mercado Global. This cycle of empowerment, once begun, becomes self-perpetuating.

Strengthening the Entire Community

These individual ripples converge into a fifth: community fortification, transforming cooperatives into vital civic institutions. Aside from its school, UPAVIM established a health clinic and bakery, establishing a grassroots community support system. This role as a community pillar becomes most evident and most critical during crises.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperatives like Multicolores, Kakaw Designs and Mercado Global leveraged their networks to facilitate emergency food baskets, hygiene supplies and public health information when state aid was insufficient. Ultimately, these women’s textile cooperatives in Guatemala amount to something far greater than the sum of their parts; they weave a stronger, more resilient social fabric for the future.

Final Remarks

The story of Guatemala’s cooperatives is a testament to how women’s empowerment creates a cascade of change. From individual economic independence to healthier families, educated children and resilient communities, the ripple effect is lifting rural communities in Guatemala out of poverty. These cooperatives demonstrate that the most sustainable path to development is not through top-down aid alone, but by empowering those at the heart of communities to become the architects of their own futures.

– Georgio Moussa

Georgio is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Educational Reform in Egypt: Successes and Setbacks

Educational Reform in EgyptEducational reform in Egypt has encompassed various projects, collaborations and strategies aimed at achieving multiple objectives to improve the well-being of Egypt and its people. In 2012, USAID and Egypt partnered with World Learning on a $25 million project, which was later extended to $30 million in 2016, according to a 2018 USAID audit report. This project has involved a collaboration between the Egyptian Ministry of Education (MOE) and USAID to advance STEM education in Egypt.

According to Egypt’s government, Egypt established Strategic Vision 2030 in 2016, a national agenda for sustainable development across social, economic and environmental dimensions. A key intention of the strategy is to enhance the quality of life for Egyptian citizens and achieve inclusive, sustainable economic growth. In 2018, the Egyptian government introduced an educational reform program as part of Vision 2030.

Egypt’s reform program was backed by the World Bank in 2018, with a $500 million project between the two. Egypt has also established an Education Sector Plan for 2023-2037, a strategy outlined to effectively transform Egypt’s educational system.

Reform Goals

The investment and prioritization of educational reform in Egypt underscores the intrinsic importance of education within the broader context of sustainable development, enhancing lives and reducing poverty. According to 2021 World Bank Data, the poverty rate (the percentage of the population that lives below the national poverty line) in Egypt is 33.5%. According to the World Bank, education is “one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace and stability.”

By working to improve educational outcomes, Egypt enhances the country’s economic and social standing, as well as that of its population. Egypt’s educational reform occurs within the context of a contemporary job market where employees require skills that traditional education systems have been unable to provide. A major goal of the project is to transform the examination system into one that fosters analytical and critical thinking skills, better equipping students for career success.

A feature story published by the World Bank includes testimony from a secondary student in Egypt. They say the new examination system has given them a greater sense of personal responsibility for their education and the ability to apply their learning to real-world situations. The student states, “My father is ill; sometimes my biology readings enable me to help him.”

Other goals of educational reform in Egypt include improving access to and the quality of early childhood education, expanding access and use of education technology and “enhancing the capacity of teachers and education leaders.”

Persistent Challenges

While there have been several victories for educational reform in Egypt, challenges endure as well. According to Egypt’s 2023-2027 Education Sector Plan, some of the setbacks include: overcrowding and insufficient infrastructure in schools, a shortage of fully trained and qualified teachers and gaps in educational participation across different demographic groups. According to the report, Egyptian students rank low in foundational knowledge and skills internationally.

These setbacks underscore the need for ongoing reform and adaptable strategies. Though challenges may prove persistent, Egypt’s strides in educational reform show the potential of such reform projects.

Project Successes

University of Illinois professor Linda Herrera documented the ongoing reform of Egypt’s educational system, recognizing the digital transformation of education in Egypt. According to Herrera, in 2016, the Egyptian Knowledge Bank was established, featuring 120 databases, videos, books and other materials. The online library is accessible free of charge to anyone with an Egyptian ID.

Herrera notes the significance of this reform when considering Egypt’s greater context: it is the largest country in the Arab world by population, with a major influence on other Arab countries. According to Herrera, Egypt is an exporter of teachers, learning materials and ideas to its Arab neighbors. What Egypt does to bolster its own education system can have a reverberative effect across an entire region.

Summary

The successes of the educational reform in Egypt have been a result of several projects and partnerships, including with the U.S. According to the 2018 USAID audit report, USAID’s collaboration with MOE resulted in nine STEM schools being established in Egypt by 2016, surpassing the initially expected three to five schools. The report states that this is a testament to MOE’s capability not only to implement but also to advance and replicate the STEM model.

In 2017, numerous STEM students in Egypt participated in local and international science competitions and many received international scholarships or were placed in exchange programs. The fact that there had been no students achieving such things previously shows the impact of Egypt’s advancements in STEM education. Subsequently, the Egyptian Government planned to open more STEM schools in each of the 27 governorates, indicating the program’s staying power and potential for expansion.

– Emma Kelsey

Emma is based in St. Paul, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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5 Charities Operating in China

Charities Operating in ChinaBy 2020, China had eradicated extreme poverty. Over the past four decades, the country lifted around 800 million people out of extreme poverty, accounting for roughly 75% of global poverty reduction. The speed and scale of this achievement are unmatched. Charities operating in China played a crucial role in the elimination of extreme poverty and continue to contribute as the country advances towards its goal of common prosperity. 

Poverty Persists

However, poverty in China has not disappeared entirely. While China has eliminated extreme poverty under the national standard of $2.30 a day, the World Bank, using a higher poverty benchmark of $8.30 a day, shows that around 15% of the population still lives in poverty, which is nearly 300 million people. Using a higher poverty standard line typical of upper-middle-income countries such as China, set at $6.85 a day, around 17% of the population still lives in poverty, with close to half living in rural areas.

Following the elimination of extreme poverty, China has shifted its focus toward the goal of common prosperity with charities operating in China playing a key role in supporting vulnerable communities and reducing inequality.

China Charity Federation 

Founded in 1994, the China Charity Federation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to poverty alleviation and helping disadvantaged and vulnerable groups across Chinese society.

The Federation assists people living in poverty or facing other difficulties through a wide range of initiatives, including emergency relief, elderly and orphan assistance, as well as medical and educational aid. Over the years, it has raised more than 160 billion yuan ($ 22.4 billion) in charitable funds, benefiting tens of millions of people.

The Happy Home Village and Community Mutual Aid Project provides rural villages with a digital platform to raise and manage funds for projects supporting poverty alleviation, rural revitalization and community development. Beyond fundraising, the project also provides volunteers to support children, the elderly, the poor and other groups requiring assistance.

Red Cross Society of China

The Red Cross Society of China is part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world’s largest humanitarian network. It aims to protect human life and health, safeguard human dignity and promote peace and progress. The society provides emergency relief and humanitarian assistance in emergencies, such as war or natural disasters.

Following the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, the organization raised funds, collected supplies and distributed aid, clothing and emergency items. It also supported the reconstruction of homes for vulnerable families, providing training and financial assistance to help them rebuild earthquake-resistant houses. In addition, it implemented programs to help families generate income and recover economically, while building disaster preparedness systems to strengthen communities’ capacity to respond to future emergencies.

China Foundation for Rural Development

The China Foundation for Rural Development focuses on tackling the root causes of rural poverty. One major challenge it addresses is child malnutrition in rural areas, where many students lack access to balanced meals or to meals at all. The problem is that many schools do not have the necessary equipment to prepare nutritious meals, and many communities are unaware of the importance of proper nutrition. 

Its Nutritious Meals Program aims to improve rural children’s nutrition by providing a daily serving of milk and eggs to students, equipping schools with kitchen facilities and equipment and offering nutrition training and education for parents and teachers. Since 2008, the program has delivered around 57 million nutritious meals to more than 1 million children and established approximately 2,000 “Love Kitchens.”

The Amity Foundation

The Amity Foundation is an independent Chinese organization committed to public health, social welfare and community development. One of its programs focuses on the education of young people in rural areas, aiming to provide students in underdeveloped regions with access to equal educational opportunities. This initiative seeks to provide educational equity by improving access to quality education and creating supportive learning environments. Schools benefit from upgraded infrastructure, along with sports and learning equipment, to support both academic and physical development. The program places particular emphasis on supporting orphans and girls, for example, by offering financial aid to female college students. It helps students return to school and supports university students in completing their studies. Amity’s work contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering inclusive, continuous and holistic education for disadvantaged children in China.

One Foundation 

Founded in 2007, One Foundation is dedicated to public welfare for all, focusing on three main areas: disaster relief, childcare and development and public welfare support and innovation.

Its Water Purification Plan aims to improve drinking water conditions in rural school campuses by providing water, purification equipment, drinking cups and water and health education to students and staff.

Coca-Cola partnered with the initiative by creating a bottled water brand that supports providing clean drinking water to rural schoolchildren. Under the slogan:  “Drink Good, Do Good,” their sales supported One Foundation’s efforts to build water facilities and improve access to safe water in rural areas.

The Path to Common Prosperity

Charities operating in China play a vital role in supporting vulnerable communities, providing education, healthcare, nutrition, disaster relief and other essential services. Their work helps reduce inequality and lays the groundwork for the country’s broader goal of common prosperity.

China has made common prosperity, a society in which wealth and opportunity are widely shared, a central policy objective. The country aims to make significant progress by 2035 and fully realize this vision by 2050. Xi Jinping has described common prosperity as transforming China’s current income distribution, which he compares to a pyramid, with many poor people at the bottom and a few very rich, into the shape of an olive with very few people at either extreme and a more balanced distribution of wealth. Key strategies include implementing rural revitalization and urbanization initiatives, ensuring equal access to basic services such as health care and education, revitalizing underdeveloped regions and supporting low-income individuals facing special difficulties. Common prosperity aims to reduce the wealth gap between China’s rich and poor.

– Jeanne Pellet

Jeanne is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Internet Access in the Solomon Islands Reduces Poverty

Internet Access in the Solomon IslandsLack of internet access in the Solomon Islands significantly impacts daily life in many rural communities, limiting access to education, income opportunities and essential services. Students in remote areas often lack access to online learning platforms, forcing schools to rely on printed materials, radio lessons and audio resources as alternatives. Schools use these alternative learning methods to avoid excluding students who lack access to digital devices or reliable internet connections.

Limited electricity further worsens the situation, as many rural schools are not connected to a stable power grid and depend on generators or solar systems to operate basic technology. Teachers working in these communities often face severe resource shortages. They must adapt their lessons creatively without access to modern teaching tools.

Why Internet Access Remains Uneven

The Solomon Islands comprise hundreds of islands scattered across a vast oceanic area, making infrastructure development challenging and costly. Although fiber-optic cables now connect some provincial centers, many outer islands still rely on slower satellite-based connections. This uneven development has created a digital divide in which urban communities experience stronger connectivity while rural areas remain largely offline.

As a result, internet access in the Solomon Islands varies sharply depending on geography.

How Digital Exclusion Deepens Poverty

More than 25% of the Solomon Islands’ population lives below the poverty line, with more than 80% of those affected residing in rural areas. Limited internet access prevents many families from using digital financial services such as e-wallets and electronic transfers. In regions where bank branches are scarce or nonexistent, poor connectivity makes it difficult for households to save money, receive remittances or build financial security.

Small businesses, women and young entrepreneurs also struggle to reach broader markets or adopt digital payment systems, which limits their income growth and innovation. Students face similar challenges, as weak digital infrastructure hinders their ability to acquire the skills necessary for future employment.

The Solomon Islands government has identified digital transformation as a key pathway toward inclusive economic development. Its ICT in Education Master Plan aims to connect schools to the internet and equip them with computer labs to support digital learning. Earlier initiatives, such as the Distance Learning Centers Project, expanded satellite-based internet access to rural schools and community centers.

Together, these efforts help reduce isolation by improving affordable access to information and communication technologies.

Evidence of Progress and Future Impact

Improved connectivity has supported platforms such as the iResource online portal, which distributes educational materials digitally across the country’s islands. The national curriculum directly links digital skills to self-reliance and paid employment, showing how technology supports improved living standards. Expanded internet access in the Solomon Islands also improves the growth of an inclusive digital economy that benefits women, youth and small businesses.

By continuing to invest in digital infrastructure, the Solomon Islands can reduce geographic isolation and create new opportunities to help families lift themselves out of poverty.

Conclusion

Better internet access in the Solomon Islands can make a real difference for people living in remote areas. When communities can access the internet, students have more opportunities to learn, families can utilize basic financial services and small businesses have a better chance to grow. These changes may seem small, but together they can help reduce poverty over time.

By continuing to expand internet access, the Solomon Islands can give more people the tools they need to improve their lives and build a more connected future.

– Aila Alsakka

Aila is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay