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Initiatives to Empower Ukrainian Women Through Entrepreneurship

Ukrainian WomenImpact Force is a women-founded Ukrainian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that supports vulnerable groups with skills and resources. It helps small and medium-sized businesses grow sustainably and advises government bodies on reforms that promote transparency and inclusion.

Its program, “Dream and Achieve,” launched in 2023, has recently finalized its second cohort. The initiative was created to empower Ukrainian women through entrepreneurship. It receives support from international organizations like U.N. Women and government institutions such as France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Hope Amid Loss

Nina Levchuk and Olga Diakova are the co-leaders of the Dream and Achieve program on business development. The project emerged in response to the rising unemployment and the negative impact the Russian invasion had on women’s role in the economy. The program is designed to support those affected by war struggles, including internally displaced people, veterans and single mothers and to empower Ukrainian women through entrepreneurship.

The initiative offers a three-month training in digital marketing, socially responsible business models and strategies and personal mentorship. It also gives participants $1000 in financial assistance for their entrepreneurship initiatives.

Success Stories

The training and valuable insights have helped many women to take a bold step, whether launching a new business or reshaping the strategy of an existing one. Despite the different motivations, the program participants agree that Dream and Achieve has guided them to success.

  • Olena Vlasynevych is the wife of a veteran and also a yoga and meditation instructor. She founded Ashram Spokoiu to help women through stress and loss. Through the program, she refined her focus on women above 40 seeking harmony, strengthening her business vision. She’s expanding her offerings with new products, retreats and a solid online presence.
  • Anastasiia Filonenko created FILOCERA, a ceramics and sculpture brand that channels emotion through art. Her works decorate homes and restaurants, serving both domestic and therapeutic purposes. Thanks to Dream and Achieve, she relaunched her Etsy store and reached global customers.
  • Aliona Demchenko was relocated from Balky to Dnipro with her child. She launched Veseli Lystochky, a reusable notebook brand that combines learning and playing. They support children’s logic and memory development. After attending the Dream and Achieve program, she doubled her profits. She also gained skills in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketplaces. Now, her next goal is to open a child development center.

Impacts of the 2023 Cohort

The program received more than 1,000 applications, from which 80 women were selected. At the beginning of the program, 75% of the women hoped to acquire skills in using online platforms and e-commerce tools. By the end, 98% assured having improved their knowledge and skills in business management and the digital economy. Beyond training, the program came to be a boost to participants’ businesses. More than 32% reported an improvement in income and financial stability.

Many participants described the experience as inspirational and hope for more women to benefit from it. The initiative demonstrates a powerful truth: the first step in rebuilding a country needs people who dare to dream big.

– Sara Arias Saiz

Sara is based in Leipzig, Germany and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Venezuela’s Anti-NGO Law Looms: 2 Organizations Fighting Back

Venezuela’s Anti-NGO LawVenezuela is one of the most disadvantaged countries in the world, with poverty rates of more than 91%. Currently, there is an influx of Venezuelan immigrants seeking refuge in neighboring countries. According to the U.N., almost 8 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014 due to “rampant violence,” along with “inflation, gang-warfare, soaring crime rates, …shortages of food, medicine and essential services.” With the amount of human rights concerns concentrated in the area, Venezuelan citizens are in desperate need of additional support. However, with the passing of the Law for the Control, Regularization, Operations and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations, informally known as Venezuela’s anti-NGO law, the government seems set on making it as difficult as possible for them to access the life-saving services provided by non-governmental organizations.

According to Amnesty International, “The approval of this law aims to keep Venezuelan civil society from continuing to stand alongside victims [of poverty, violent crime, et cetera] and providing assistance in ways that authorities are unable to.” In this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to support organizations that are challenging the country’s tyrannous government.

Hogar Bambi Venezuela

Founded in 1992, Hogar Bambi Venezuela focuses on providing care to children and youth misplaced from their families “due to abuse, mistreatment or economic hardship.” The organization organizes “temporary, substitute” homes for the children, then facilitates their return to their families – or the adoption process, if the first option is not feasible.

American-based organization Bambi International Foundation is a long-time supporter of Hogar Bambi Venezuela. It funds various projects to support the Venezuelan NGO in its mission to care for displaced minors.

One project it completed in recent years was the purchase of a private vehicle. Before purchasing the vehicle, staff members of Hogar Bambi were unable to transport all of the children to necessary medical appointments due to the unreliability of the Venezuelan public transportation system. The project helped Hogar Bambi transport the children for their medical appointments and necessary services such as cardiology, dermatology, laboratory, surgical examinations, etc.

Bambi International Foundation also facilitates the building and renovation of structures to house them. In 2020, it raised nearly $6,000 towards renovating and installing electricity in a building housing 36 displaced Venezuelan infants.

Currently, Bambi International Foundation is campaigning for a new cause – the Sports and Recreation for Children and Adolescents Deprived of a Family project. It is currently 40% of the way to completing its goal of raising $25,000 to provide at-risk Venezuelan youth with access to recreational activities such as team sports, swimming lessons and various outdoor adventures.

Fundacion Jacinto Convit

Inspired by the work and values of Doctor Jacinto Convit, Fundacion Jacinto Convit has been working for 13 years to make health services and education accessible throughout Venezuela. The organization funds “scientific research, healthcare programs, and educational and community projects, through a multidisciplinary team, to contribute to the well-being of the most vulnerable populations and to the country’s social development.”

Fundacion Jacinto Convit has made revolutionary strides in medicine, particularly in making cancer treatment more accessible. One project it currently has in development is ContiVax – an immunotherapy treatment that targets breast cancer. The treatment is currently being put through clinical trials throughout the Americas and Europe, and will hopefully prove to be a safe, effective, low-cost treatment option for patients who either can not afford or cannot access chemotherapy, or prefer an alternative for any reason.

In addition to ContiVax, the NGO  focuses on providing a “highly specialized free medical assistance service for the molecular diagnosis of malignant neoplastic diseases (such as leukemia and some solid tumors) and infectious diseases (mainly HIV)” through their Molecular Diagnostic Unit, hopefully contributing “to the improvement of mortality and morbidity rates in patients with some types of cancer.”

Fundacion Jacinto Convit also focuses on educating Venezuelan youth. One of its educational programs, Values Through Science, facilitates talks, lessons, film screenings, and educational activities at schools, conferences, and other community spaces. The project is intended to encourage Venezuelan youth to develop an interest in the sciences while promoting critical thought, curiosity, and teamwork.

Venezuela’s Anti-NGO Law: In Conclusion

Although the passing of Venezuela’s anti-NGO law seems intent on preventing the country’s needy from accessing the life-saving services that they require, the country’s NGOs are not giving up.

– Helena Birbrower

Helena is based in Davis, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Bakeries Ensure Food and Job Security in Ukraine

Food and Job security in UkraineSince the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, poverty has increased across the country. In 2023, 20% of previously employed Ukrainians lost their jobs and struggled to access food and essential services. Displaced individuals report that employment opportunities are critical for their return home. The conflict has driven a sharp rise in food insecurity, with more than 7 million Ukrainians facing moderate to severe levels of food scarcity. This includes 1.2 million children. Along the frontlines, the crisis is even more severe—up to 27% of households experience food insecurity at extreme levels. Good Bread and Bake for Ukraine are working to address both food access and employment, particularly for vulnerable populations in Ukraine’s most affected areas.

Good Bread

Good Bread operates along the frontlines to provide mentally disabled Ukrainians with job opportunities and skills training while distributing food to those in need. The organization bakes 1,500 loaves of bread daily, along with cupcakes and hot meals.

A number of its active projects include Food Fighters, which distributes meals to homeless communities in Kyiv and Suspended Cupcakes, which delivers 900-gram cupcakes to military personnel and individuals in neuropsychiatric institutions. These ongoing efforts provide both nutritional and emotional support in difficult times. Good Bread also prioritizes job training and stability. Individuals with mental disabilities gain long-term skills through employment in the charity’s kitchens. An initiative, Hang a Cupcake, has become a routine and empowering task for many of the program’s workers.

Since 2022, the organization has delivered about 800,000 loaves of bread, employed more than 70 individuals with disabilities and distributed more than 200 hot lunches per week. The cupcakes—often symbolic of dignity and care—have also reached those most in need of encouragement. Good Bread relies entirely on donations to fund its mission. Its dual focus on food and employment has supported resilience in communities facing the daily realities of war.

Bake for Ukraine

Bake for Ukraine focuses on supporting local bakeries and delivering free bread to vulnerable communities, while also preserving Ukraine’s traditional bread culture, particularly the hearth-baked Palyanytsya. The initiative was launched to prevent bakery closures caused by war-related economic shocks. Through donor support, Bake for Ukraine supplies bakeries with funds, equipment and ingredients tailored to each business’s specific needs. An early project helped build a bakery in the basement of a local church. Similar efforts continue currently.

The organization also established mobile bakeries across Ukraine, including repurposed 1960s Swiss Army vehicles. These mobile units supply remote and underserved areas with fresh, shelf-stable bread, even where infrastructure is limited. Felicity Spector, journalist and author of “Bread and War,” emphasized the impact of the initiative. “At a time when people rely upon both hope and normality, workers and volunteers are delivering bread to those most in need and ensuring stability and job security for bakers across the country.” Despite challenges in maintaining funding, she described Bake for Ukraine’s work as far-reaching and essential.

Food and Job Security in Ukraine

Bread holds deep cultural significance in Ukraine, from ceremonial loaves to its role in wartime symbolism. Palyanytsya has even lent its name to military equipment during the ongoing conflict. Good Bread and Bake for Ukraine not only addresses immediate needs but also preserves a vital part of Ukraine’s identity. Their work reflects a broader effort to protect food and job security in Ukraine. Furthermore, they sustain livelihoods, provide dignity and ensure stability as the country faces continued displacement and economic strain.

– Macy Hall

Macy is based in Dover, Kent, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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NGOs Supporting Palestinians Amid Conflict and Hardship

How NGOs Are Supporting Palestinians Amid Conflict and HardshipDecades of conflict and hardship have left millions of Palestinians in need of humanitarian assistance, with 3.3 million requiring aid in Gaza and the West Bank. Amid widespread poverty—nearly half of Palestinian families live below the poverty line—80% of Gazans depend on relief supplies to survive. In response, a network of international and local NGOs are supporting Palestinians by providing life-saving aid, fostering economic resilience and advocating for human rights to support Palestinian communities.

PRCS and the Red Cross

Amid conflict, medical teams and first responders work tirelessly to deliver critical care under fire. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been treating the injured and distributing essential supplies despite extreme dangers. By early January 2024, PRCS teams in Gaza had treated about 15,000 injured people while also distributing food, water, blankets and medical supplies to displaced families seeking shelter in hospitals. However, these humanitarian efforts have come at a cost, with ambulances and medical staff frequently coming under attack.

The ICRC has reinforced PRCS’s efforts by delivering relief supplies to more than 1.8 million displaced Gazans and providing cash assistance to more than 110,000 vulnerable individuals. In the West Bank, the ICRC has implemented emergency cash grants for 910 families whose homes were destroyed while also improving water and sanitation systems that benefit many residents. Together, these joint emergency medical efforts have been a lifeline for Palestinian civilians, ensuring that those in the most dire conditions receive critical support.

Healing Hands: International Medical Aid in Gaza

Beyond emergency response teams, international medical NGOs are addressing urgent health care shortages and providing life-saving treatment for Palestinians. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which has operated in Gaza for decades, continues to provide surgical and burns care despite hospitals sustaining severe damage.

Following an airstrike on a refugee camp in northern Gaza in 2023, MSF teams treated 50 wounded patients in a single day at Al-Awda Hospital. Over the year, MSF provided more than 107,000 outpatient consultations, conducted 3,670 surgeries and led 13,300 mental health sessions for patients recovering from PTSD and war-related trauma.

Similarly, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has led one of its biggest humanitarian responses to date. In 2024 alone, MAP provided medical aid and humanitarian support to nearly 1 million Palestinians in Gaza. Working with local hospitals, MAP dispatched dozens of truckloads of medical supplies, including 32 aid trucks since a January 2025 ceasefire. Additionally, emergency medical teams have performed more than 7,593 consultations and 1,587 surgeries for injured civilians.

MAP’s work has also included hospital rehabilitation efforts, setting up new surgical wards and field clinics, while screening 47,000 people for malnutrition to prevent famine. As conflict continues to strain Gaza’s fragile health care system, these NGOs play a crucial role in sustaining life-saving medical operations.

Essential Aid for Displaced Families

Beyond medical care, NGOs are supporting displaced Palestinians by ensuring they receive necessities such as food, clean water and shelter. Save the Children, which has been active in the occupied Palestinian territories since the 1970s, has reached more than 1 million people in Gaza through relief efforts across 50 locations. The organization has distributed drinking water, food parcels, hygiene kits and winter supplies while also establishing Child-Friendly Spaces to support children’s mental health.

Similarly, Oxfam has launched an extensive emergency response, overcoming severe logistical challenges to assist. Since October 2023, Oxfam and its local partners have assisted more than 262,000 people in Gaza, including 120,000 children. Its efforts include:

  • Delivering clean water to 120,000 people through desalination units and latrines
  • Providing food aid to 140,000 individuals, including fresh vegetables from remaining local farms
  • Distributing winter supplies, including blankets and warm clothing, to 42,000 displaced people
  • Supplying cash vouchers, allowing families to buy essentials as needed

Despite ongoing fuel shortages and security threats, these organizations continue to provide vital aid to families facing extreme hardship.

Building Long-Term Resilience

While immediate humanitarian relief is crucial, NGOs are also working to rebuild Palestinian livelihoods by fostering economic resilience. The ICRC has provided cash grants to nearly 2,800 vulnerable individuals in the West Bank, helping sustain livestock and agriculture in rural communities. These grants allow farming families to replace lost animals and continue producing food despite instability.

Oxfam has also been instrumental in supporting Palestinian entrepreneurship. In Gaza, Oxfam-backed programs have helped individuals like Aya Kishko, a carpenter who opened a workshop recycling scrap wood into furniture despite the blockade. With limited raw materials entering Gaza, her business—supported by Oxfam initiatives—not only generates income but also repurposes scarce resources, showcasing NGO-driven resilience efforts. By investing in local businesses and sustainable economic opportunities, these organizations are empowering Palestinians to rebuild their futures despite ongoing challenges.

Balancing Aid and Advocacy

From field hospitals to food distribution centers, the NGOs supporting Palestinians provide a range of humanitarian services to Palestinians facing crisis and recovery efforts. While emergency aid addresses immediate survival needs, development programs focus on supporting livelihoods and long-term stability. However, demand for assistance continues to exceed available resources and aid agencies face operational challenges, including security risks and restricted access. As the situation continues, NGOs play a significant role in addressing humanitarian needs and supporting ongoing recovery efforts.

– Leah Ishak

Leah is based in Exeter, Devon, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Little Lions: Reducing Poverty Through Education in Kibera

Little Lions: Reducing Poverty Through Education in KiberaKibera, one of the world’s largest slums, is home to more than 230,000 men, women and children on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Many households survive on less than $2 a day, struggling with a lack of infrastructure, waste management, plumbing and water access. The high cost of refrigeration prevents residents from safely storing food, contributing to malnutrition and health risks. Waste accumulates in the streets and waterways, placing additional strain on the community.

The Barriers to Education in Kibera

Extreme poverty limits access to education, leaving 60% of children without formal schooling. The few available classrooms are overcrowded, with student-teacher ratios reaching 100-to-1 due to insufficient infrastructure, staff and resources. Without intervention, many children miss out on opportunities to build a better future.

Providing a Safe and Nurturing Environment

Little Lions opened its first school on the outskirts of Kibera in 2019. Through generous contributions, the team created a safe learning space for 167 students and counting. The school provides more than just education—students participate in art classes, dance competitions and soccer tournaments, building confidence and teamwork. Technology is another crucial element of the curriculum. Donated computers and online tutoring tools help students develop digital literacy, an essential skill for future opportunities. Before focusing on academics, however, the school prioritizes basic needs. Children receive two hot meals daily, sometimes the only food they will have, as well as plumbed bathrooms with running water—a rare necessity in Kibera.

Little Lions: Breaking Barriers Through Education

Little Lions is working to change this reality by providing structured, high-quality education in Kibera. The program ensures that young residents gain knowledge, skills and resources to build prosperous futures. The initiative focuses on nutrition, modern learning methods, personalized care and emotional support to address the deeper challenges of poverty.

Tuju Otieno, Little Lions Project Director, leads a team of educators who understand the hardships of growing up in informal settlements. Many teachers and staff were once orphaned or raised in slums, giving them a deep connection to the students. Little Lions offers a holistic approach to learning, combining the British and Kenyan curriculums while integrating counseling, music and art therapy to help children process the realities of their environment.

Beyond the Classroom: Supporting the Community

Little Lions’ impact extends beyond the students. The school employs about 20 staff members, including kitchen workers, teachers and sanitation crews, reducing high unemployment rates in the area. Through a partnership with Penda Health, the school provides health screenings for students and their families, ensuring their overall well-being. Parents are also included in the initiative through financial literacy, entrepreneurship and positive parenting workshops. Strengthening families allows students to thrive both at school and at home, reinforcing their ability to succeed.

A Ripple Effect in Kibera

Since its launch, Little Lions has transformed the lives of many Kiberans. Students have gained confidence, curiosity and academic skills and many have gone on to pursue secondary education. As education access expands, economic opportunities increase, helping to break the cycle of poverty in the community. By investing in education, holistic care and community development, Little Lions aims to prove that sustainable change is possible, even in the most challenging environments.

– Sarah Lang

Sarah is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Flooding in Sri Lanka: Building Resilience

Flooding in Sri LankaSince 2019, poverty in Sri Lanka has surged, doubling to 25% by 2022. More than 2.5 million individuals now live below the poverty line. Severe flooding, especially in the Colombo region, displaces thousands annually and deepens the cycle of poverty. The projections for major flood events are even more concerning, as they suggest that 34,000 people could be pushed into poverty overnight, with approximately 1,000 of these individuals remaining in poverty a decade later. The latest Yala Monsoon season, which lasts from May to September, displaced communities, destroyed property and claimed lives, highlighting the growing severity of the issue. Addressing this crisis requires immediate, sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and mitigate seasonal floods. Without comprehensive action to combat flooding in Sri Lanka, the nation risks ongoing cycles of impoverishment, displacement and economic instability.

Building Colombo’s Flood Resilience

Colombo, situated within a river basin, faces regular flooding during the monsoon season. However, the city benefits from an extensive network of wetlands, which play a vital role in flood management by absorbing approximately 40% of floodwaters. Wetlands—areas of water-saturated land—serve as natural flood defenses by absorbing excess water and slowing down its flow, which mitigates flood intensity and associated damage. This natural buffer within Colombo helps alleviate the impacts of heavy rainfall and reduces the risks of flooding in Sri Lanka.

Urban expansion, however, has drastically reduced Colombo’s wetland areas, draining and infilling these ecosystems to accommodate growth. The World Bank revealed that Colombo’s wetlands had declined by about 40% over three decades. Wetlands like the Thalangama Wetland, just outside Colombo, suffer from degradation and misuse as dumping grounds. These direct and indirect effects of urbanization intensify Colombo’s vulnerability to flooding.

In response, the government, with support from the World Bank-funded Metro Colombo Urban Development Project, launched the Metro Colombo Wetland Management Strategy in 2016. This initiative prioritizes wetland restoration and integrates these ecosystems into urban planning to prevent further losses. These efforts led Colombo to become the first capital city to earn international Wetland City accreditation from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2018, which promotes international protection for its wetlands.

Today, Colombo’s wetlands receive stronger protection. According to BBC, efforts to rehabilitate degraded areas, including the Thalangama Wetland, have turned these spaces into biodiverse tourist attractions while maintaining their role as critical flood defenses. The government has also suspended all activities involving the filling or destruction of wetlands in 2018.

Looking Forward

Colombo has successfully revitalized its degraded wetlands, transforming garbage-filled areas into ecosystems that boost biodiversity and protect against flooding. Community-led cleanups and government initiatives, such as the 2016 Metro Colombo Wetland Management Strategy, have enhanced wetlands’ ability to boost environmental resilience and improve urban quality of life. The Ramsar accreditation has curbed further encroachment by raising awareness. However, rapid urban expansion still threatens these ecosystems, BBC reports. Sustained cooperation between residents, authorities, and organizations remains vital to safeguarding these wetlands, which are crucial to Colombo’s sustainability and flood defense.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) report emphasizes the rising frequency of El Niño events, which intensify monsoons and contribute to flooding in Sri Lanka. Restoring and protecting wetlands is just one of many essential steps to strengthen the country’s flood resilience.

– William Pickering

William is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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A New Chapter: Greenpeace in Kyiv

Greenpeace: A New Chapter in KyivGreenpeace has established its first office in Kyiv amid ongoing conflict, committing to support Ukraine’s green reconstruction. The environmental NGO links peace prospects with the country’s environmental rehabilitation, emphasizing that sustainable energy fosters a sustainable future. Natalia Gozak, office director of Greenpeace Ukraine, highlighted the importance of transitioning to green technologies during the office’s opening on Sept. 10.

Greenpeace Ukraine’s Mission and Challenges

In an interview with the New Humanitarian, Natalia outlined the three pillars of Greenpeace’s mission: The sustainable and green reconstruction of infrastructure. Incorporating solar panels, heat pumps and green technologies into regeneration projects is vital to the longevity of Ukraine’s recovery. The monitoring of nuclear sources and power plants, with particular focus on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is now occupied by Russian forces. The investigation into environmental crimes, such as the occupation of nuclear sites, threatens further environmental disasters. Nuclear energy sources could be weaponized as forms of warfare. 

Economic Implications and Political Scrutiny

The cost of Ukraine’s reconstruction being estimated by the World Bank to have grown to  $411 billion. It is now vital that such reconstruction projects have sustainable foundations as Gozak has pledged to be a role model for rebuilding devastated societies in as green a way as possible. Through advocating for the sustainable rehabilitation of Ukraine, Greenpeace has also exposed itself to political scrutiny and intimidation. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office designated Greenpeace as ‘undesirable,’ interpreting its work as anti-Russian and threatening to the constitutional system and security of Russia.

Greenpeace Frameworks

Greenpeace is building on existing research and projects that advocate sustainable solutions to conflict. Guided by the European Union’s (EU’s) Green Deal, the Lugano Declaration on the Reconstruction of Ukraine committed to the rebuilding of infrastructure in alignment with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ukrainian civil organizations are similarly creating conditions for a green recovery. Environmental NGOs such as Ecoclub Rivne and ro3kvit combine environmental policy with urban planning. The organizations have initiated projects that aim to place sustainability at the heart of reconstruction.

  • Ro3kvit. Ro3kvit was founded in March 2022 by a coalition of professors in response to the destruction caused by Russian military aggression. The knowledge and expertise of more than 100 academics have spawned green solutions to rebuilding Ukraine’s urban and rural areas. Studies on other postwar countries have informed their design methods. Projects such as ‘A vision for Mariupol: City strategy’ synthesize memory, identity and ecology in their environmental solutions. Working in partnership with Greenpeace, the project ‘Dnipro River Integrated Vision’ aims to optimize the green and economic potential of the Dnipro River. Indeed, Ro3kvit looks to a post-war future in its projects, creating urban plans that will outlast Russian military aggression. 
  • Ecoclub Rivne. Ecoclub Rivne has been working as an NGO for more than 20 years and links the sustainable development of society to the development of peace. Through linking sustainability to nonviolence and tolerance, it projects a post-war future for Ukraine that centers on green policy. Its recent Modernisation Partnership project aims to increase the efficiency of energy management in hospitals. This will be achieved by training specialists and disseminating this knowledge among managers. Alongside Greenpeace and other Ukrainian organizations, Ecoclub Rivne has sought solutions to the conflict through a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Looking Ahead

The new presence of Greenpeace in Kyiv highlights a strong commitment to environmentally conscious recovery efforts in Ukraine. Through collaboration with local environmental groups, the focus remains on sustainable reconstruction, green energy initiatives and promoting long-term solutions. The efforts of Greenpeace in Kyiv represent a broader vision for rebuilding a resilient and environmentally secure Ukraine beyond the conflict.

– Lucy Tappin

Lucy is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Humanitarian Aid and Peace Talks in Sudan

Peace Talks and Humanitarian Aid in SudanPeace talks aimed at ending the prolonged civil war in Sudan concluded without a ceasefire, but negotiators achieved a significant breakthrough by securing humanitarian aid routes, offering hope to millions of civilians in desperate need. Mediators from the United States (U.S.), Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, along with other international partners, gathered in Geneva to discuss ways to alleviate the suffering caused by the 16-month war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Aid Routes Open Amid Crisis

While a ceasefire remains elusive, the Sudan peace talks have successfully opened two major humanitarian corridors: the Adré border crossing with Chad, facilitating aid into Darfur and Dabbah Road, connecting Port Sudan to regions experiencing severe food shortages. “Aid trucks are on the road to provide famine relief in Zamzam Camp and other parts of Darfur,” said negotiators. “These routes must remain open and safe so we can surge aid into Darfur and begin to turn the tide against famine.” The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that more than 25 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, urgently need assistance. The newly opened routes are expected to deliver much-needed relief to areas that have been difficult to reach due to the conflict. 

A Nation At War

The war in Sudan, which started in April 2023, stems from a power struggle between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. This conflict has roots in the legacy of former dictator Omar al-Bashir, who established the RSF as a counterinsurgency force to suppress rebellions, particularly in Darfur. After al-Bashir was ousted in 2019, efforts to establish a democratic government faltered, ultimately leading to violent clashes between these rival military factions. Since the conflict began, the humanitarian toll has been devastating, with the United Nations (U.N.) estimating nearly 20,000 fatalities. Approximately 8 million people have been displaced within Sudan, while another 2 million have fled to neighboring countries, all facing hunger and lacking access to medical care.

Humanitarian Progress Despite Setbacks

International mediators view the agreement on aid access as a critical step forward. The RSF has pledged to ensure safe passage for humanitarian convoys, previously hindered by both factions. The reopening of the Adré and Dabbah routes should alleviate suffering in famine-stricken regions. “The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is so severe that we could do four of these [negotiation rounds] and still be barely scratching the surface of what Sudanese people deserve,” stated U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello. However, the absence of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) from the peace talks curtailed the potential for a broader peace agreement. General Burhan, from Port Sudan, criticized the negotiations, claiming they favored the RSF.

Aid as a Lifeline

For many in Sudan, the newly opened aid routes are a lifeline. In Darfur, where ethnic violence has surged, the reopening of the Adré crossing is expected to help thousands displaced by fighting. Hawa Zakariya, a refugee who fled to Chad with her two children, described the dire conditions: “I don’t know if my family is alive or dead.” Her child has contracted malaria and food supplies in their camp are running low. International aid organizations, including the WFP, are preparing to ramp up efforts with the new access routes. The WFP has classified Sudan as a Level 3 emergency, its most severe designation, reflecting the magnitude of the crisis. Aid groups are urging both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to permit unhindered delivery of supplies nationwide.

International Pressure

While the Sudan peace talks failed to secure a ceasefire, there is hope that the humanitarian progress achieved could lead to broader negotiations. Perriello noted, “We hope that this will be a source of momentum for much bigger steps down the road,” although he acknowledged the road to peace remains challenging. Currently, international efforts are focused on ensuring aid reaches those in desperate need. Given Sudan’s severe humanitarian crisis, one of the worst of the 21st century, sustained international pressure and support are crucial for the nation’s recovery.

– Georgia O’Keeffe

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

Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in Tanzania

Child Marriage in TanzaniaTanzania’s Marriage Act of 1971 establishes the minimum marriage age for girls at 15 with parental consent and 18 for boys. The law also allows 14-year-old children to marry under special circumstances if a court approves. Despite this, 29% of Tanzanian girls marry before their 18th birthday and 5% marry before age 15, which could breach the Marriage Act unless courts have specifically authorized these marriages. Similarly, 4% of boys marry before age 18. Although these marriages are not illegal for boys, they still impact young males. Child marriage rates across Tanzania reveal significant regional variations, soaring to 59% in Shinyanga, 58% in Tabora, 55% in Mara and 51% in Dodoma, while rates are much lower in Iringa at 8% and Dar es Salaam at 19%.

The Current Child Marriage Situation

Child marriage remains prevalent in Tanzania, driven by outdated beliefs of male superiority and influenced heavily by poverty. The concept of “Mahari,” or bride price, involves a husband offering money, cattle or clothing to a bride’s family, making marriage a financially appealing option for girls with few other income opportunities. In addition to affecting girls, child marriage also impacts boys under 18.

Family honor plays a significant role, with premarital sex viewed as a severe taboo that can lower a girl’s dowry and damage her family’s reputation. Teenage pregnancy rates are high; a 2016 study revealed that one in four girls aged 15 to 19 had begun childbearing. Tanzanian society strongly disapproves of pregnancy outside marriage, often leading parents to marry off pregnant daughters. Schools routinely test for pregnancy and pregnant girls face bans from re-entering the educational system.

Country-specific practices and rituals also contribute to child marriage in Tanzania. “Nyumba ntobu,” one of such practices, involves an older, wealthier woman paying a bride price for a young girl to become her wife. A man is then selected to impregnate the girl and any children born from this union are raised as the older woman’s child. This is just one of many factors that contribute to the prevalence of child marriage, significantly affecting young girls across Tanzania.

National Initiatives to Combat Child Marriage

Between 2017 and 2022, the government implemented numerous action plans to support girls facing the threat of child marriage. As of 2022, the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children worked to reduce child marriages to 10% and cut violence against women and children by 50%. Following the implementation of this plan, authorities established 16,343 Women and Children Protection Committees across all levels, from villages to the national level.

In 2017, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children conducted a national survey on the drivers and consequences of child marriage. Additionally, the ministry developed the National Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2019-2022 and collaborated on the Cross-Border Anti-Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Plan of Action for East African countries to prevent female genital mutilation/cutting practices across borders during the same period.

Firelight Foundation

Firelight is committed to ending child marriage in Shinyanga, a northern city in Tanzania, believing that success in this challenging region could inspire broader change throughout the country. To combat child marriage, Firelight supports 12 grantee partners who implement a range of strategies, including economic strengthening through income-generating activities, livestock pass-on programs and psychosocial support for children rescued from child marriages. It also offers vocational and educational support for at-risk children, skillful parenting programs, community awareness campaigns via radio or drama, law enforcement interventions, training for local child protection committees, the establishment of child rights clubs in schools and training for teachers on child rights.

Looking Ahead

Tanzania continues to struggle with high rates of child marriage, particularly in regions like Shinyanga and Tabora. National efforts, such as the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children, aim to reduce these rates, but cultural and economic factors remain significant obstacles. Organizations like the Firelight Foundation are actively working on the ground, supporting local initiatives that promote economic independence and provide educational opportunities for at-risk children. Ongoing efforts are essential to address the root causes of child marriage and ensure a safer future for Tanzania’s youth.

– Sadie Virgin

Sadie is based in Newport, South Wales, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Rohingya: How the IRC is Helping Myanmar

How the IRC is Helping MyanmarSince the 2021 military coup, Myanmar, especially the Rohingya has faced severe restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly and has witnessed mass killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence and other crimes against humanity. Currently, more than 2.7 million citizens are internally displaced, with more than 2.3 million of those displaced since the coup. Additionally, 15 million people face food insecurity. In total, 18.6 million people across Myanmar struggle to meet basic needs. This crisis is the latest in nearly half a century of military control, extreme poverty and natural disasters that have plagued the country.

Deterioration of Public Services and Infrastructure

The military junta in Myanmar has deteriorated living conditions, increased food insecurity and obstructed humanitarian aid, resulting in the collapse of health care and public services in conflict-ridden regions. Conflict often disrupts communication and blocks transport routes, enforcing martial law in most parts of the country. Myanmar suffers from significant infrastructure damage, including prolonged communication and electricity blackouts. With a severe shortage of health care workers, many facilities are shut down. This leaves a large number of the 2.7 million internally displaced who reside in rural areas to take lengthy journeys to access basic and critical health care.

Intensifying Conflict and Climate Challenges

Violence escalated in Oct. 2023 when multiple nonstate groups attacked Myanmar’s central government in the Northern Shan State. Since then, the fighting has spread across the country, jeopardizing civilian safety. Poverty and inflation continue to worsen as Myanmar faces ongoing climate shocks to its agriculture sector. Cyclone Mocha in 2023 damaged crops and food production, affecting the livelihoods of more than 3.4 million people. Now, with the impact of El Niño, including erratic rainfall and high temperatures, the already stressed agriculture sector faces further challenges.

The Rohingya in Myanmar

The Rohingya people, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group of about 1.1 million, have resided in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for centuries but remain among the most vulnerable groups. Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as one of its 135 official ethnic groups and has denied them citizenship since 1982, rendering them stateless. Most Rohingya reside in Rakhine State, where they cannot leave without government permission. They live in one of the country’s poorest states, confined to ghetto-like camps with limited access to basic public services and opportunities.

When Myanmar gained independence from Great Britain in 1948, it enacted the Union Citizenship Act, which identified 135 ethnic groups eligible for citizenship. Although the Rohingya were omitted, families residing in Myanmar for two generations could apply for identity cards and, in some instances, citizenship. Following the first military coup in 1962, the government restricted Rohingyas from carrying foreign identity cards, severely limiting their access to employment and educational opportunities. A 1982 law further exacerbated their plight by officially declaring the Rohingya stateless.

Persecution and Exodus of the Rohingya

Rohingya people have been fleeing Myanmar since the ‘70s due to “government crackdowns,” which often include rape, torture, arson and murder, but many families remain in the country. Currently, much of the internal violence targets the Rohingya, who are often unfairly blamed by the government for violent acts carried out by nonstate groups. Accusations of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya by the government persist, which the government denies. Residents and activists report troops firing unprovoked at unarmed Rohingya men, women and children.

In 2018, the Associated Press released a video showing a massacre and five undisclosed mass graves of Rohingya people in Myanmar. Due to ongoing violence and persecution, not only by the junta military but also by past government powers, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to neighboring countries such as Bangladesh. Recently, tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have started protesting, calling for an end to the violence and persecution in Myanmar.

Advocacy and Aid: The IRC’s Role

Communities rely on humanitarian aid and community networks for social services such as health care and education. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is helping Myanmar by responding to the needs of the current coup, but the nongovernmental organization has been working in the country for far longer. In 2008, the IRC entered Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis for emergency response and recovery efforts. It has since stayed in the country and expanded to programs focused on improving health, protection, water, sanitation, hygiene, career training and support for community development projects.

The organization runs shelter programs for internally displaced and crisis-affected communities, significantly expanding since the 2021 coup. Currently, the IRC is particularly focused on supporting those affected by the escalating conflict, marginalized communities and individuals displaced before 2021. It emphasizes partnerships with local organizations to deliver support effectively and also operates in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have sought refuge.

Community Support and Developing Local Capabilities

The IRC is helping Myanmar to recover from ongoing conflict and natural disasters, focusing on the most remote areas, including Rakhine, Chin and Shan States. Across these regions, the IRC trains community health workers, supports mobile health clinics and partners with local communities to enhance access to clean drinking water, improve sanitation and prevent disease. It also educates farmers on modern agricultural techniques and technology, empowers communities to identify their own needs and develops unique recovery plans. Furthermore, the IRC operates skills training and support centers specifically for women and girls and manages nine refugee camps along the Thailand border, which provide shelter to nearly 140,000 refugees.

Looking Ahead

As conflict and displacement continue to escalate in Myanmar, the need for humanitarian assistance remains critical. Organizations like the IRC are working to address the urgent needs of displaced populations by providing health care, clean water and shelter. Their focus on local partnerships and community empowerment has helped deliver essential services to remote areas most affected by violence and natural disasters. With continued efforts, these ongoing initiatives aim to improve the lives of those impacted by ongoing conflict and instability.

– Anna Thibodeau

Anna is based in Omaha, NE, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr