Archive for category: Nonprofit Organizations and NGOs

Information and stories about nonprofit organizations and NGOs

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5 Charities Operating in Wales

Charities Operating in WalesAs a devolved government, the Welsh Senate exercises much control over domestic matters, but international affairs such as foreign aid remain the purview of the United Kingdom, and therefore, of the Parliament in Westminster. Nevertheless, Wales remains a political and economic entity with an international presence and a role to play in the global fight against extreme poverty.

The Welsh Third Sector, made up of non-governmental organizations and charities in Wales, plays an essential role in advancing this cause through such programs as Wales and Africa. Moreover, statutes such as the Well-Being of Future Generations Act 2015, with its commitment toward creating a globally responsible Wales, have also empowered the Welsh populace to provide much-needed aid to developing nations around the world. Here are five charities operating in Wales that are contributing to that effort.

1. Welsh Refugee Council

The first of the charities operating in Wales is the Welsh Refugee Council. Operating in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Wrexham, and working with local communities all over Wales, the Welsh Refugee Council’s stated mission is to help asylum seekers and refugees build new futures in Wales. Of the tens of thousands of displaced peoples who flee to the U.K. each year to claim asylum, there are currently 3,353 asylum seekers receiving support in Wales.

The Welsh Refugee Council is one of the main charities in Wales providing such support, which includes English and Welsh language classes and access to other education, assistance in seeking work (when legally allowed) and forming local connections, and arranging accommodation and basic financial support to pay for food, clothing, toiletries, transport and other essentials. One of the principles that governs this charity is “integration from day one,” the belief that people are more likely to make positive contributions to their communities when they feel connected, supported and empowered to do so.

2. Size of Wales

Founded in 2010, Size of Wales works with indigenous and local communities in developing nations to protect tropical forests in areas measuring 2 million hectares — the size of Wales. In addition to the conservation activities that such work entails, this involves supporting deprived communities in South America, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, and helping to address social injustices and break down barriers. One example of this is the charity’s project in the Madre de Dios and Ene regions of the Peruvian Amazon, where support from Size of Wales has helped indigenous groups attain sustainable livelihoods that empower them to protect their forests.

Another is the project in Fuluma Butta in Uganda, which is striving to promote gender equality by helping women grow their incomes and become active agents in their communities. Size of Wales understands that changing weather patterns and global poverty are inextricably linked and that raising such communities out of extreme poverty is a vital step in addressing deforestation.

3. The S.A.F.E. Foundation

The S.A.F.E. Foundation is a Welsh-based group that has modelled itself in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the United Nations outlined in 2015, the first point of which is to end poverty in all of its forms. Like other charities in Wales, this group works both domestically and abroad and is committed to bringing about positive change through humanitarian projects, with particular focus on health care, education and human rights for impoverished communities. One of its ongoing projects is a fundraiser for a boundary wall and secure gates to be built at Kankalay Islamic Primary School in Sierra Leone, to keep the school safe from risk of break-ins and allow the children of Lumpa and Freetown to pursue their education in peace, an endeavor that will cost £12,000 to complete.

Donations to the S.A.F.E. Foundation go towards funding similar projects, and individuals who wish to make a difference can also apply to volunteer with one of the organization’s partners overseas.

4. Dolen

Dolen’s mission is to curate a communal bond between the two similarly-sized countries of Wales and Lesotho. Launched in 1985, Dolen has overseen a 40-year-relationship between the two nations, an alliance founded on collaboration and mutual friendship and respect, going beyond humanitarian aid to promote cultural exchange and common action. Projects funded by this charity have helped bring clean water and sanitation to deprived communities, Red Cross first aid training to correctional officers, and perhaps most critically support for the COVID-19 response initiative in Lesotho, including donations of masks and other personal protective equipment. Dolen has also forged links between schools in Wales and Lesotho, promoting greater understanding of issues such as global poverty to young children and empowering them to take positive action.

5. Tools for Self-Reliance Cymru

Based in the town Crickhowell in Powys, Tools for Self-Reliance works in partnership with the Kalwande Vocational Training Centre in Tanzania to bring artisan tools and sewing machines to rural communities, helping to create new opportunities and improve the livelihoods of local craftspeople. The donated tools that this small charity collects are supplied to local skilled workers such as carpenters, bricklayers and tailors, along with free training, and the sewing machines have been especially prized by women’s and girls refuges for helping survivors learn a trade through which they might rebuild their lives. Supporters can contribute not only through donations, but also by purchasing vintage and collectable tools from the organization’s online store.

Looking Ahead

With proposals from some parties within the Welsh Senate to scrap “international aid” programs that the charities operating in Wales support, public support is vital if Wales is to remain a globally responsible nation. 

– Aled Warren

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

Photo: Flickr

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Volunteer Nurses in Honduras

Volunteer Nurses in HondurasAs of 2024, almost 63% of people in Honduras lived in poverty. The main reasons for such a high poverty rate are extreme food insecurity, lack of access to basic services, climate disasters and violence.

Particularly in the city of La Ceiba, poverty is at a severe high of almost 93%. Located on the northern coast of Honduras, La Ceiba has a population of about 285,000 people. If 93% of these people are living in poverty, then about 265,000 people are in poverty in just one city in Honduras. The city experiences common hurricanes and flooding, which exacerbates the poverty rate.

A Broader View

The nonprofit A Broader View sends volunteer nurses to La Ceiba to assist in public hospitals. The organization was founded in 2007 and runs volunteer programs in 32 countries around the world. Since its founding, A Broader View has raised and donated more than $4.5 million to partners in need and has had almost 70,000 volunteers.

The Premedical and Student Nurse program in La Ceiba sends volunteers over the age of 17 to work in public hospitals and clinics. These volunteer nurses in Honduras work alongside local doctors to help the largely understaffed facilities. Volunteers assist with basics such as charting patients, cleaning and bandaging wounds and taking vitals. No experience is required to participate in the program. Spanish immersion lessons are offered to those interested. Volunteers are asked to bring several pairs of scrubs, a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, masks, gloves and pens. La Ceiba has limited availability of supplies and cannot provide these basics to each volunteer. Volunteers are housed on-site and work eight-hour shifts Monday through Friday. Program lengths range from one week to 12 weeks.

Volunteer Nurses in Honduras

The Borgen Project interviewed Nancy Crane, a volunteer nurse who went to Honduras in 2017. In January of that year, La Ceiba experienced major flooding that affected thousands of people. September and October 2017 saw heavy rain and frequent flooding. Nancy went to La Ceiba in September 2017 as a volunteer nurse for 12 weeks with A Broader View. Her motivation for going was a desire to move into the nursing field. She had no prior experience, and A Broader View provided hands-on experience. Nancy was placed in Hospicentro Okens in the emergency room four days a week and at a small local clinic one day a week. She was placed in a homestay with a man who taught her Spanish in her free time.

Nancy told The Borgen Project that her expectations for her time in La Ceiba were to do more observing, handle basic first aid and take vitals. She quickly learned that it would require a lot more patient care than she had prepared for, as well as tasks that do not take place in U.S. hospitals. Nancy was the only volunteer at Hospicentro Okens and was welcomed by everyone, even though her Spanish was not perfect.

“When they heard that I was from the U.S., they actually called me ‘Doctor,'” she said. She was surprised by this since she had no experience or training. Hospicentro Okens was very limited in resources. Nancy recalled some of the more basic tasks she had to complete to help with hospital functioning. “At the emergency room where I worked, they do not have computer systems to log people in, and so we actually would have to sit down in our free time and create lined paper so that we could have people sign in,” she said. She also had to cut and sterilize gauze to be used as needed.

Poverty in La Ceiba

When asked about poverty in La Ceiba, she described walking 10 minutes through flooded streets to reach the emergency room each day. The clinic she worked in was in the most impoverished part of La Ceiba. “When I would go there, there would be hundreds of people lined up to come in to the un-air-conditioned ER, and there are dogs running in and out,” she said. She described it as “organized chaos.” The only running water at the clinic came in through the kitchen window during rain and flowed into a barrel, serving as the only fresh water available.

When patients came in for care that required supplies the hospital or clinic did not have, they were sent to the medical store to buy the supplies themselves before returning for treatment. Nancy described all of the people seeking care as very patient and accepting of the quality care they were receiving. She recounted a man who arrived having a severe heart attack in an open-back jeep with no gurney — he had to walk himself to the entrance.

Nancy also recounted what happens when no surgeons are available. The osteopathic surgeon only comes in once a week, so if someone had a broken limb, doctors would clean it, remove all the bone pieces, clean them, put the clean bones back and stitch it up. The patient would then wait in that condition for one to six days until the surgeon returned.

Nancy also spoke about the severity of diabetes in Honduras. Most people do not have access to whole foods or blood pressure devices, which causes a large number of people to require amputations.

Nancy greatly valued her time as a volunteer nurse in Honduras and later went to school in the U.S. to become a nurse. She volunteered at a clinic in Guatemala in the fall of 2018 and hopes to return to Honduras in the future.

Healthcare in Honduras

Since 2017, several organizations have worked to improve health care in Honduras. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) worked with the Honduran Ministry of Health to improve the quality of one of the main public hospitals in Tegucigalpa. In September 2024, UNOPS announced a plan to upgrade and construct six operating rooms not currently in use. As of December 2025, Hospital Escuela now has four stretcher elevators to better transport staff and patients. A Temporary Equipment and Sterilization Center was also handed over to the hospital to provide more space during construction and to ensure proper sterilization of medical supplies.

On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa announced a $46.5 million five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Department of State will provide $29.5 million over the next five years to help the Honduran health care system address HIV/AIDS and other noncommunicable diseases. The Honduran government commits to increasing its health spending in HIV and global health security by $16.8 million. The MOU gives Honduras greater national autonomy over its health care system and integrates U.S.-funded frontline health care and laboratory workers into the national health workforce.

Looking Ahead

Volunteer nurses in Honduras still play a critical role in supporting the health care system. Several organizations beyond A Broader View send volunteers to the country. With limited local staff available, volunteer nurses provide immediate, short-term care and relieve pressure on local nurses. Volunteer programs also bring critical supplies that Honduras lacks. In the years since Nancy Crane volunteered in La Ceiba, funding has increased and more volunteer nurses have helped support the health care system for those living in poverty.

– Kaitlyn Crane

Kaitlyn is based in Rohnert Park, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Reducing School Dropout Rates In Nigeria

School DropOut Rates In NigeriaDaramola Toluwalope Oluwaseun, founder of the Menitos Charity Foundation, leads an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged children complete basic education and pursue vocational opportunities. She notes that school dropout rates are shaped by multiple factors, including poverty, drug abuse, child neglect or abuse, limited access to opportunities and deeply rooted limiting beliefs.

Menitos introduced a feeding program in 2019, and by 2022, more than 7,000 underprivileged pupils had benefited. The organization’s outreach model is intentionally community-rooted. Most beneficiaries are identified through schools or during grassroots engagement events, and are then invited to a center where they receive empowerment materials. This approach ensures support reaches children in environments where need is most visible.

Toluwalope explained that the program equips children with essential educational tools while motivating them to pursue their academic goals. Furthermore, the school lunch intervention further boosts attendance by providing nutritious meals to children who come to school. According to Toluwalope, the foundation aims not only to tackle hunger-related barriers but also to create a supportive environment that nurtures students’ well-being.

Causes of School Dropout Rates in Nigeria

Toluwalope described school dropout rates in Nigeria as rarely a single event but rather a gradual erosion driven by a “poverty of hope.” Economic pressure often pushes children into petty trade or manual labor to support their families. Missing a few classes leads to falling behind, and many withdraw permanently. A lack of guiding figures creates a “ceiling effect,” where education is seen as a luxury rather than a pathway out of poverty.

Poverty acts as the baseline stressor. It manifests as chronic hunger, which directly affects cognitive function and classroom behavior, making it harder for children to learn and stay engaged. Menitos views drug abuse as both a cause and a symptom of school disengagement. Children in neglectful environments are more likely to be exposed to substance use by older peers or guardians, often turning to drugs as a coping mechanism for trauma, instability or boredom.

Educational neglect often appears as what Toluwalope calls “educational abandonment.” Parents overwhelmed by economic hardship may become less involved in their child’s schooling or fail to provide basic supplies. This leaves the child emotionally disconnected from the school system.

The WACANDA Program

To address rising school dropout rates in Nigeria, Toluwalope created the War Against Child Abuse and Drug Abuse (WACANDA) sensitization program. The initiative travels across schools and communities to raise awareness about drug demand reduction, child rights and reporting channels, and provides psychosocial support through volunteer psychologists and counselors.

The program is built on “hyper-local engagement.” Instead of formal lectures, Menitos uses community town halls, street theatre and peer-to-peer workshops to de-stigmatize difficult conversations. This approach brings the issue to the doorstep of communities and transforms passive bystanders into active protectors of children’s rights.

Psychosocial Support Services for At-Risk Children

Menitos’s volunteer psychologists and counselors provide trauma-informed support through three key services:

  • Individual counseling, addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and low self-esteem.
  • Group therapy creates safe spaces for children to process shared community trauma.
  • Crisis intervention, offering immediate emotional stabilization for families in acute distress.

The Back2School Initiative

Menitos has reached more than 2,000 children through its Back2School projects. Launched nearly a decade ago, the annual program provides essential school supplies — including textbooks, bags and uniforms — to reduce dropout rates. In its early years, the program supported more than 200 beneficiaries annually.

The initiative identifies at-risk children through community mapping. Volunteers collaborate with teachers to flag students with high absenteeism or those lacking uniforms and books. Once identified, children receive a Success Kit, which includes supplies, uniforms and a mentor. Parents also sign a Commitment Pact to ensure consistent school attendance. Sustainable funding turns one-off donations into multi-year partnerships, allowing Menitos to support a child from primary school through graduation.

Community Engagement Models

Menitos operates through a multi-stakeholder model. Schools serve as an early-warning system, parents participate in Caregiver Circles where they receive tools to support their children’s education, and Menitos partners with health care nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to address medical needs that may hinder school attendance.

One of the most notable shifts resulting from Menitos’s work is an increase in community reporting. Residents now flag cases of abuse or neglect that previously went unaddressed. This has led to renewed interest in schooling, higher attendance rates and a decline in the normalization of drug use among teenagers.

In one case, a young boy’s father refused to buy him school supplies. After the school contacted Menitos, the team convinced the father to support his son’s return to education, assuring him that supplies and ICT fees would be covered. With the right resources, parents and caregivers become more willing to keep their children in school, reducing both dropout rates and vulnerability to drug abuse.

Challenges and the Path to Broader Access

Toluwalope identifies entrenched silence as one of the biggest challenges. In many underserved communities, drug abuse and domestic issues are viewed as private matters. Breaking through this code of silence requires patience and long-term trust-building rooted in nonjudgmental engagement.

There is also a growing need for vocational integration. For older teenagers who have missed years of schooling, traditional primary education may no longer be suitable. Bridging formal education with technical skills can create pathways to employment and long-term stability.

To maximize impact, Menitos requires mobile counseling units to reach remote areas, digital tracking tools to monitor long-term progress and temporary shelters for children in unsafe environments. Indeed, with adequate resources, Menitos can expand its reach across Nigeria and continue supporting vulnerable children through education, psychosocial care and community engagement.

– Gabriela E Silva

Gabriela is based in A Coruña, Spain and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Emergency Backpacks and Flood Relief in Bangladesh

Flood Relief in BangladeshOn March 31, 2025, the day of Eid al-Fitr, a massive flood hit Satkhira, Bangladesh, covering seven villages in the region and displacing more than 15,000 people. Many citizens, still in their Eid clothing, built makeshift dams and dug holes to divert the water, but the tide was too overwhelming, and all 15,000 people in the area became stranded. In addition, most businesses were not working due to the holiday, so almost no local emergency services were available to help. CARE, an anti-poverty organization and a pioneer in flood relief in Bangladesh, foresaw this potential disaster and was still able to make life-saving materials available to the flood victims

Flooding and Poverty in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a poverty rate that has fluctuated significantly in recent years. In 2022, the poverty rate dropped to 18%, but as of 2025, it has risen to 28%. More than a quarter of the population suffers from increasing amounts of infrastructure vulnerability, food insecurity and chronic illness. A huge reason for this recent rise in poverty rate is due to floods brought about by climate change.

In recent years, Bangladesh has been the country that became significantly vulnerable to natural disasters, since its geographical location makes it particularly prone to floods. This is due to nearby basins that receive massive amounts of rain year-round. The rain pools in basins and then washes through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. Plus, the location of the country’s residential infrastructure is placed right in the way of the flood path. The facts make Bangladesh’s future seem daunting, but hope is not lost.

CARE and Emergency Backpacks

In the midst of the flood, no help could get in to those in need because of the harsh conditions, except CARE, which had planned ahead of time. It placed 500 emergency backpacks in easy-to-access places, so that when the need arose, emergency tools would be available. In addition, CARE operated to distribute more packages to those most in need, even during holiday hours.

These CARE packages are compact, lightweight tube-shaped backpacks that consist of essential hygiene products, first aid materials, and emergency equipment personalized to the needs of each individual. They may contain any of the following:

  • Water purifiers, purification tablets, and collapsible buckets
  • Stoves and kitchen utensils
  • Menstrual pads, soaps, and underwear
  • A solar-powered light and solar-powered chargers
  • Tarps and ropes
  • An instruction packet that explains how to optimize each tool

During post-effort surveys, CARE recorded some inspiring metrics. Women specifically reported that the menstrual hygiene products provided were extremely helpful, improving their wellbeing in ways beyond just cleanliness. 66% of women used the kits mainly because of their hygiene products. Solar-powered technology was also among the most used items; 72% of households used solar power to restore use of their mobile devices to contact help and find crucial information. Sixty four percent of people reported that solar-powered lights helped them remain safe and calm at night.

Overall, backpacks helped 336 households, and 99% of those who received the packages reported their satisfaction with the tools provided. Thanks to this success, CARE has been able to implement CARE packages in Nepal, Malawi, the Philippines, and Mozambique in addition to Bangladesh. CARE has even partnered with The Coca-Cola Foundation to expand the production and distribution of the packages.

CARE’s flood relief aid in Bangladesh is a beacon of hope for poverty eradication. If projects like this continue to be well-funded and backed by influential donors like Coca-Cola, positive change is on the horizon.

– Lucas Cain

Lucas is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Legal Aid Clinics in Uganda Help Deliver Justice

Legal Aid Clinics in UgandaFor many families in Uganda, a legal problem can quickly become a poverty problem. A land dispute can threaten a family’s income. A child’s support case can leave a parent struggling to provide basic needs. When legal services are expensive or far away, many people are left without a realistic way to act. That is why legal aid clinics in Uganda matter. By offering free legal advice and representation, they are helping vulnerable people protect both their rights and their livelihoods.

Why Access to Justice Matters

Legal problems are widespread in Uganda and they often hit low-income households the hardest. A 2024 justice-needs study by The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law found that 45% of legal problems had not yet been resolved, with 29% still ongoing and 16% abandoned. The report also identified land problems, family disputes, crime and domestic violence as some of the most serious justice issues people face. It noted that family problems and domestic violence are more common among people who say they cannot cover their basic needs.

These figures help explain why legal aid clinics in Uganda matter for poverty reduction. Legal support is not only about court cases. It can help families keep land, secure child maintenance and settle disputes before they become even more damaging. For households already living on tight budgets, that can protect income, housing and long-term stability.

How Legal Aid Clinics are Improving Access to Justice

One of the main ways legal aid clinics in Uganda are expanding access to justice is by bringing free services closer to vulnerable communities. The International Development Law Organization’s (IDLO) 2022 annual report says the Uganda Law Society clinic in Kampala is one of six regional legal aid clinics supported through its Community Justice Programme. These clinics provide pro bono services on both civil and criminal matters, including legal representation, legal advice and counseling. They also support cases involving land disputes and run community sensitization on issues such as gender-based violence, family law and children’s rights.

This matters because many justice problems have a direct connection to poverty. Land disputes can threaten the asset a family depends on most. Family cases can determine whether a parent receives financial support for a child. By offering free legal help, clinics make it more possible for low-income Ugandans to act on rights that might otherwise remain out of reach.

Results for Vulnerable Communities

The impact of legal aid clinics in Uganda becomes clearer in the numbers. IDLO reported that in 2022, Uganda Law Society clinics supported through its programme provided free legal advice and representation to 10,423 vulnerable justice seekers. In the same year, 956 people secured timely remedies through mediation, plea bargaining, police bonds, bail or quick-win sessions. Another 163 civil cases were concluded through litigation. IDLO also reported that through the clinics, 34 complainants recovered 154 acres of disputed land, while 10 others received monetary compensation.

IDLO’s 2023 annual report shows that this work continued. It says the six clinics provided free legal aid support to 4,390 people in 2023, including legal representation, advice, counseling and community sensitization. The report highlights the importance of land cases in particular, noting that one of the main reasons people approach the clinics is for help resolving disputes over land rights.

Justice at the Individual Level

The benefits of legal aid clinics in Uganda are also visible in individual cases. In one example from IDLO’s 2022 annual report, a university student Rose went to a Uganda law society legal aid clinic in Kampala after the father of her child refused to provide support, with help from the clinic, she took the case to court. After several court appearances and home mediation sessions, the case was settled with a monthly support payment that allowed her to provide a more stable life for her child.

IDLO’s 2023 report also describes a land case in Masese, where a resident sought help from the Uganda Law Society legal aid clinic in Jinja after learning that land titles in his community had been sold off to outside buyers. Lawyers from the clinic filed the case in court and advised the community on how to understand and claim their rights. The beneficiary won his case, beginning a process to cancel the illegal land titles and strengthening the community’s position in future negotiations.

Technology is Helping Close the Justice Gap

Some organizations are widening access through digital tools as well. BarefootLaw, a Ugandan nonprofit founded in 2013, says it has empowered more than 1 million people across Uganda, Kenya and Malawi through pro bono legal support. Its 10th anniversary report says its lawyers receive support from Winnie, an artificial intelligence tool that helps respond to legal questions more quickly. For people who cannot easily travel to a legal office, that kind of support can offer an important first step.

As organizations such as the Uganda Law Society and BarefootLaw continue to expand legal support, more Ugandans are gaining practical ways to defend their rights. In that sense, legal aid clinics in Uganda are doing more than improving access to justice. They are helping vulnerable families protect land, income and personal safety, making justice more reachable for people living on the economic margins.

– Tom Basu

Tom is based in Buckinghamshire, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Poverty in Nigeria’s Rural Communities

Poverty in Nigeria's Rural CommunitiesWhile Nigeria has high growth potential, immense poverty exists in neglected areas. However, organizations like the Rural Poverty Reduction and Empowerment Initiative (RPREI) are doing great work. They are empowering local communities to identify, plan and manage microsocial infrastructure projects, such as school repairs, water supplies and clinic repairs, giving them control over funds to prevent corruption.

Poverty in Nigeria

According to a World Bank report, as of 2025, 75.5% of Nigeria’s rural population was living below the poverty line. This is in comparison to just 41.3% of the urban population in the country. These numbers have increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are expected to continue rising, given the current situation.

There is a clear inequity in the country’s economy, leaving many areas ignored by certain initiatives and programs. Confounding factors, such as limited access to education in some rural areas, also contribute to inequality. As a result, many organizations have emerged to specifically support Nigeria’s rural communities.

The RPREI

The RPREI is a nongovernmental, apolitical organization that works to reduce rural poverty in Nigeria. It aids impoverished communities and, overall, sustains safe and healthy lives for Nigerians. The nonprofit addresses these issues through a variety of initiatives. 

These include empowering Nigeria’s rural communities, promoting climate-smart agriculture, providing clean water, preventing HIV/AIDS, providing relief after natural disasters, supporting women and children and building communities. Over the past 15 years, the RPREI has worked on six projects across 10 local government areas. By working with the youth to create long-lasting projects, its mission continues to grow. 

It has also ensured equality among its programs, prioritizing women and farmers. It is through these actions that the initiative gets closer to its goal of breaking the cycle of rural poverty in Nigeria. It hopes to help in creating strong communities that continue to thrive.

ActionAid Nigeria

Originally established in 1999, ActionAid Nigeria is also a nonprofit that is a part of the greater ActionAid International Federation. Its work focuses on eliminating oppression and poverty in Nigeria and achieving justice. It works directly with communities experiencing poverty and prejudice to do so. 

ActionAid Nigeria aims to empower communities to make a larger-scale impact. By starting local movements across the country and supporting existing campaigns, its advocacy work is more likely to be recognized by the government and the private sector. ActionAid Nigeria is working to bring about sustainable change for rural populations across Nigeria.

One initiative it helped start is the Local Rights Program (LRP), founded in 2005. It funded the program to improve the quality of life for women and children in rural areas through local policy.

Lutheran World Relief

While it began operations in Europe in 1945, Lutheran World Relief now helps impoverished communities across the globe, including those in Nigeria. The organization has established a significant presence in Nigeria, focusing on agricultural development and strengthening smallholder farmers, particularly in cocoa-producing communities. Its work in Nigeria specifically aims to increase rural incomes and build agricultural resilience. 

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress Program and others, Lutheran World Relief is helping to implement the Traceability and Resilience in Agriculture and Cocoa Ecosystems of Nigeria (TRACE) project. TRACE is a five-year program, running from 2022 to 2027, that increases cocoa productivity in the country through climate-smart agriculture and supports Nigeria’s cocoa in the market. It has been implemented in many of the country’s cocoa-producing states. 

The project aims to train 51,000 smallholder farmers and provide 68,400 farmers with access to larger markets. By working with smaller farms in rural communities and connecting them to the broader market, Lutheran World Relief is strengthening these communities’ economies and reducing poverty across Nigeria.

Final Remarks

Even though poverty rates in Nigeria continue to rise, the RPREI, ActionAid Nigeria and Lutheran World Relief remain steadfast in their missions. As long as poverty persists in the country, organizations like these will continue to work hard to support citizens in rural areas.

– Megan McGrath

Megan is based in Verona, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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CRY India and Their Promise of Childhood

Cry IndiaIndia is one of the countries most affected by extreme weather and natural disasters. Floods account for more than 40% of natural disaster crises in India, damaging infrastructure and displacing communities. Children make up approximately 40% of India’s population, yet only 2.46% of the national budget is dedicated to child welfare and children’s health in India. Children are among the groups most affected by these extreme weather events. 

Natural Disasters and Children’s Health in India

India is among the world’s most disaster-prone nations, with 27 out of 29 states vulnerable to hazards such as cyclones, earthquakes, landslides and floods. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more than 17,000 children lost their lives between 2000 and 2016 as a result of these events.

Multiple aspects of a child’s life are adversely affected by natural disasters, including access to education, displacement and access to sanitation facilities. Between 2016 and 2021, 6.7 million children were displaced. One of the most severe consequences is the impact on children’s health in India, due in part to injuries caused during these events, but also to lost access to medical care that prevents children from receiving immunizations, nutrition or proper monitoring from medical professionals.

According to the UNICEF child displacement report, India is one of the top three countries with the highest record of disaster-related child displacement, with 95% of child displacements driven by floods and storms. These hazards leave 21.4 million people in need of health assistance, 27.6 million in need of nutritional assistance and 28.1 million in need of access to clean water.

A study on the effects of natural disasters on children’s health in India found that extreme events such as floods and droughts increase the likelihood of acute illnesses like diarrhea, fever and acute respiratory illness (ARI) in children under five by 9% to 18%. Both diarrhea and ARI are the leading causes of child mortality in children under five and together account for 40% of the child mortality rate in this age group each year. The research also found that exposure to disaster in the past year is linked to significantly worse nutrition, increasing the risk of stunted growth and being underweight or malnourished.

CRY India’s Work in Children’s Health

Child Rights and You (CRY India) has recognized this issue with children’s health in India and has been working to address it. Established in 1979 by Rippan Kapur, an Indian Airlines purser, CRY began with six co-founders to restore children’s rights. Today, the organization has 144 partners and works across 20 Indian states, having reached 4.7 million children.

CRY’s data shows that two out of five children in India are not fully immunized, two out of three child deaths are due to malnourishment and every third child under five is severely malnourished. The organization addresses these issues through health programs that focus on pre- and postnatal care for mothers, monitoring children’s growth and development, and creating community gardens and kitchens where families can receive proper nutrition in times of disruption and displacement.

According to research on the impact of disasters on children’s health, boys and children under one are more likely to receive medication and food during crises. CRY works to share access to medical care and nutrition with all children and mothers, regardless of socioeconomic background or gender. The organization connects families to communities, aid, schools and government services.

CRY India’s Impact

CRY’s impact on children’s health in India has been substantial. The organization has helped 2,500 children recover from malnutrition through medical monitoring and care from governmental health care centers. Collaboration with the national government has allowed CRY to expand its work and reach children and families in both rural and urban regions. Additionally, 600 kitchen gardens have been set up across seven states under the sustainable nutrition initiative, and more than 7,000 children under one have been immunized.

Looking Ahead

The issue of children’s health and welfare in India is being addressed through collaboration between the government and organizations such as CRY. While the scale of displacement from natural disasters remains large, these efforts represent measurable progress. With continued support, programs like those run by CRY India can help restore stability and equal access to health care for children across the country.

– Jaya Noonan

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

Photo: Unsplash

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EDISCA in Brazil

edisca in brazilEDISCA is an example of showcasing how dance can be a supportive outlet for young girls in turning their lives around. Dancing, no matter who does it or where it’s happening, can convey a stronger, deeper message underneath. Dancers don’t always need lights, costumes, or a stage to learn everyday skills that many kids, who don’t dance, don’t get the opportunity to, or tell an important story.

If dance groups are lucky enough, they have the chance to make a difference in the world. In Brazil, using the unique medium of dance as a way to help children create a life for themselves that is safer than the roads on which many young girls fall in Fortaleza.

Background

Escola de Dança e Integração Social para Criança e Adolescente (EDISCA) is a non-governmental group based in Fortaleza, Brazil. Fortaleza faces many challenges with urban poverty, extreme inequality, and a large expanding slum population, and these problems infiltrate the lives of young girls who want to make a life for themselves.

According to the 2025 census data, Fortaleza could have a population of around 2.58-3.24 million. With an estimated 23.1% below the country’s poverty line in 2023-2024. The majority of the children who go to EDISCA cannot read or write, many have health problems, and are close to running away from their violent home lives. EDISCA is important for these young girls to break the habit of global poverty that many children face.

Importance of EDISCA with Poverty

The mission of EDISCA is to promote human development through education, art, and practices that encompass goodness, beauty, and justice. Founded in 1992 by Dora Andrade, EDISCA was made to “provide dance, theater and various other art forms… helps the children understand their and their families’ struggles.”

Andrade first started her dance career in the USA, but quickly changed her pathway when she returned home to teach girls to dance their way out of the slums, along with multiple life skills, critical skills, education, and self-esteem.

Andrade, along with other staff members, teaches the students about health care, nutrition, art, theater, and reading and writing. There is even a psychologist at EDISCA, Madeline Abreu, who talks to the children about the emotional burdens they may carry, according to PassBlue.

EDISCA focuses on children and adolescents who live in the most vulnerable favela communities, offering them an opportunity for an empowering path. The idea is that the girls can become ambassadors of change and take control of their lives by breaking the cycle of poverty and social exclusion. Families and government officials have the opportunity to come and witness the changes being made in EDISCA.

Dance as a Stepping Stone for Change

EDISCA helps outsiders understand that children, specifically from favela communities, can be an important resource for change. Indeed, the performing arts give people the chance to “learn teaching, and teach learning,” SIT study abroad reports. Politicians who come to see some of the work going on at EDISCA see that these underprivileged kids are part of the change, not just the elite

In a country facing extreme poverty, like Brazil, dance serves as an important outlet for young people. For children who go to EDISCA, it is a way to learn basic everyday skills, the chance to turn their life around, and even develop healthy habits, instead of falling down a pathway of prostitution or drug abuse.

EDISCA goes around the world, performing for a wide audience, showcasing the talent that the children have, with the potential to gain more students. It uses dance as a way to push for social justice and build a better future. EDISCA has changed so many lives, and hopes to continue that.

With all the success EDISCA has achieved using dance as a unique medium, it has become a stepping stone for other organizations, including “Dance Out of Poverty” in India, to create their own dance group. The poverty these children face in the favela communities was imposed on them by the higher communities, but EDISCA has flipped the cards by showing them the problems and how EDISCA is making a change.

– Elizabeth Fryer

Elizabeth is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Gender Equality in Nigeria: Fighting For Female Safety

Gender Equality in NigeriaNigeria has a population of 242.4 million, making it the most populous country in Africa and the sixth most populous in the world. About 46% of Nigeria’s population live below the international poverty line and 3.4 million people are internally displaced including vulnerable women and girls. A further 60% of adolescent girls are absent from secondary school.

Gendered Issues in Nigeria

Gender equality in Nigeria remains an ongoing struggle. According to Girls Not Brides, 12% of girls marry before the age of 15 and 30% before 18. These statistics are influenced by poverty and education rates, with 71% of women with no formal education reporting having married before the age of 18. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), one in three women experiences physical violence by the age of 15, often related to domestic circumstances.

Poverty is a driving factor, as 46% of the population lives below the poverty line. Economic pressures can lead families to arrange early marriages, which perpetuates unequal gender norms and limits women’s educational and professional opportunities.

Women for Women International

Women for Women International (WFWI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1993 that works to support women across 17 countries affected by conflict or injustice. Since 2000, WFWI Nigeria has reached more than 84,306 women. Its flagship program, Stronger Women Stronger Nations (SWSN), promotes gender equality in Nigeria through vocational and financial skills training, academic education, health education and support networks for vulnerable women.

WFWI has also taken action to address the root causes of gender inequality by engaging men. Given the data on domestic abuse, forced marriage and gender-based violence (GBV), WFWI identified that creating allies within the male population in Nigeria is integral to resolving gender inequality.

According to a study published in the Pan African Medical Journal in 2022, the highest prevalence of physical or sexual intimate partner violence was reported in Sub-Saharan Africa, at 65.64%. In Nigeria, information from the 2018 National Demographic Health Survey shows that 33% of women between 15 and 49 experience physical or sexual violence. The prevalence rate of GBV is 74.4% among survivors under 18, further reinforcing the risks for girls in early marriages.

WFWI’s men’s engagement program launched in Nigeria in 2002 with the aim of educating men on women’s health, the social and economic issues women face, and how men can offer support. The program creates focus groups and targets men in the community with religious, military or civil society backgrounds, creating a pathway for these men to advocate for women’s rights and gender equality in Nigeria.

Results of SWSN and Men’s Engagement

SWSN has had a measurable impact on gender equality in Nigeria since its launch in 2000. Change agents, women who received SWSN training and spread it through the community, have navigated the challenge of educational equality by establishing a mixed-gender primary school in the state of Bauchi. These agents were responsible for bringing nearly half of the 92 students to this school.

The program has reached more than 92,000 Nigerian women, with more than 5,000 graduating from SWSN in 2024. WFWI reports that graduates doubled their monthly earnings through newly acquired business skills, and 83% of graduates reported feeling actively involved in their public and private lives, compared with 36% at enrollment. Women’s knowledge of their political and national rights increased from 55% to 92%.

In the men’s focus groups, results have also been positive. WFWI acknowledges that women’s empowerment is not only achieved by reducing men’s power but that gender equity also benefits men’s health, household environments, financial matters and communities. Nearly 53,000 men have been reached since 2002, with more than 17,000 joining the project in Nigeria. One man, Murhula, has claimed that “my life has really changed” from his participation. His realization that “We thought that certain jobs are just for men […], but today I can say that the work a man can do, a woman also can do it.”

Looking Ahead

With the continuation of SWSN and the men’s engagement program, progress toward gender equality in Nigeria extends beyond policy into education, homes and communities. WFWI’s model demonstrates that addressing gender inequality requires engaging both women and men.

– Jaya Noonan

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Vietnam and Cambodia: Mekong Plus Poverty Reduction

Mekong PlusIn the rural heartland of the Mekong Delta, severe droughts and the volatility of seasonal harvests create deep economic hardships. These environmental pressures hit countryside communities most acutely, as they must constantly adapt to an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Because of these compounding pressures, it is vital to examine the Mekong Plus approach to poverty reduction in Vietnam and Cambodia. Their model stands apart from traditional charities by prioritizing sustainable, independent community development over temporary aid.

The Mission

In 1994, Bernard Kervyn saw the urgent needs of citizens and farmers in the rural regions of Vietnam. Kervyn called for his friends, all of whom had worked previously in the French NGO ‘Frères des Hommes’ and together they formed Mekong Plus that same year. The NGO began in the tiny commune of Tiên Thành.

Mekong Plus’ mission foremost is to “eliminate poverty.” The staff of the NGO also realized that pouring internationally raised funding into these communities would only make these struggling rural citizens reliant on those distant nations. Thus, it set out to use all funding to build sustainable grassroots-level improvements within rural communities. In order to do this, the organization broke down its core mission into three clear areas: Education, Sustainability and Microcredits.

Mekong Plus Poverty Reduction

Mekong Plus considers education a core mission goal, as according to the NGO, it is the “fundamental basis for sustainable development.” To provide as much as can be, the organization split up this goal into many different sections, such as providing safe hygiene for students or making schools more accessible to children in difficult or outlying areas. They provide schools with equipment like computers, allowing children access to greater learning tools, as well as a means to interact with the larger world. To cater to the needs of students, the organization creates inclusive curricula read to target the students’ varying needs. Mekong Plus’ curricula also offer training in sectors important to the community, such as agricultural schemes, which the organization used to increase food yields by 100% in regions used to famine.

Sustainability

Sustainability is another of Mekong Plus’ core focuses, helping to create cheaper and healthier long-term living strategies. While some of Mekong Plus’ work focuses on hygiene, the NGO has equipped more than 13,000 houses with sanitation facilities. Beyond this, the organization also helps rural communities with upcycling and plastic collection efforts, where the NGO turns old recycling into classroom equipment and furniture. This even covers houses, and last year Mekong Plus built 10 houses entirely out of recycled materials. In recognition of its work promoting sustainable and healthy living, Mekong Plus received the 2021 Energy Globe Award.

Microcredits form one of the organization’s most important initiatives in rural areas. The NGO’s Microcredit scheme provides a system where citizens can take loans as small as 50 euros, providing a lifeline to businesses and families. As of this date, the organization supports 7,500 houses through the NGO’s microcredit system, in the worst-hit regions of famine and drought. The NGO has also managed to raise 35,000 people out of extreme poverty, with an impressive non-repayment rate of 1% by those taking the loans.

The Future

The success of Mekong Plus poverty reduction is important because the NGO provides a model that is not simply a charity; it is a development partner. Its cooperation with communities provides essential, everyday benefits that have lifted thousands in regions on the cusp of ecological disaster. Its model also provides a multi-dimensional means to tackle the issue of extreme poverty, showing that, just like any other crisis, fighting poverty is possible.

– Eli Thomson

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

Photo: Flickr