Archive for category: Nonprofit Organizations and NGOs

Information and stories about nonprofit organizations and NGOs

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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

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Improving Public Health Via Clean Water in Benin

Clean Water InitiativesBenin is a small country in West Africa with a 36.2% poverty rate. Despite its economic growth over the past years, clean water initiatives in Benin remain critical, as many communities still struggle to access safe drinking water and sanitation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lower respiratory infections are the second leading cause of death in Benin, while diarrheal diseases rank fourth. 

Many of these deaths are preventable with improved hygiene, sanitation and access to clean water. Access to clean water plays an important role in improving health in Benin, as it can foster economic opportunities and growth. Partnerships between the Beninese government and international organizations are working to help address this issue.

Join For Water

Join For Water is a nonprofit organization based in Belgium that has focused on reforestation and agroforestry since 1977 by planting trees and shrubs in rural areas. According to the organization, this approach improves water management and prevents sedimentation. It operates in eight countries, including Benin.

Join For Water also supports clean water access through environmental management, food production, drinking water and sanitation, as well as responsible consumption. In 2024, the organization expanded drinking water access to more than 16,485 households, improved access to latrines for more than 1,310 people and supported more than 6,949 farmer harvests. This demonstrates that environmental protection through reforestation and agroforestry can improve water management, leading to cleaner water, better hygiene and improved public health.

Institute of Cultural Affairs–Benin

With more than 35 member countries, the Institute of Cultural Affairs–Benin is part of a global network of nonprofits focused on advancing human development. It is affiliated with the Institute of Cultural Affairs International (ICA). Its mission is to support sustainable human development while fostering lasting change within communities and organizations. As a community, ICA partners with End Water Poverty to improve access to clean water and sanitation. 

End Water Poverty is an initiative in Benin that campaigns, advocates and mobilizes the government to protect, respect and fulfill people’s right to water and sanitation. Through its “Claim Your Water Rights” campaign, the coalition funds grassroots organizations and community-led advocacy efforts that push governments to uphold the human right to water and sanitation. This indicates that water access requires both environmental protection and policy advocacy. 

Together, these clean water initiatives in Benin ensure access to clean water and sanitation for rural and underserved communities across the country.

Final Thoughts

Many communities in Benin still face challenges accessing safe water and sanitation. However, nonprofit initiatives such as Join For Water, ICA and End Water Poverty address these issues through environmental restoration, advocacy and community campaigns. With continued support, these initiatives can improve public health, strengthen sanitation systems, expand economic opportunities and improve living conditions.

– Bianca P. Gunawan

Bianca is based in Jakarta, Indonesia and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Clean Water Access in Sub Saharan Africa Expands

Clean Water Access in Sub Saharan Africa Expands Access to clean drinking water is one of the most important factors in improving global health and reducing poverty. Across the region, clean water access in Sub-Saharan Africa has become a major focus for governments, nonprofits and international organizations working to improve living conditions. While millions of people still lack reliable water sources, new programs and technologies are helping expand access and create long-term solutions.

Water Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, more than 400 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Many families must travel long distances each day to collect water from rivers, ponds or unsafe wells. This often affects women and children the most, as they are typically responsible for collecting water. In many communities, children miss school because they must spend hours each day helping their families gather water. Unsafe water also contributes to diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid, which remain major health risks across the region.

The economic impacts of limited water access are also significant. When families spend hours collecting water, they have less time for work, education or other opportunities that could help them escape poverty. In rural communities, a lack of clean water can also reduce agricultural productivity and limit food security. Improving water systems can therefore strengthen both health and economic stability.

Organizations Expanding Water Access

Several organizations are working to expand clean water access in Sub-Saharan Africa through sustainable projects and innovative technologies. One of the most well-known organizations is Water.org, a nonprofit that helps communities finance water and sanitation solutions. Through its WaterCredit initiative, the organization has helped more than 68 million people gain access to safe water or sanitation by providing small, affordable loans for household water systems.

Another organization making progress is charity: water, which funds community water projects in developing countries. Since its founding, the organization has supported more than 111,000 water projects in 29 countries, helping bring clean water to millions of people. These projects include drilling wells, installing filtration systems and building rainwater collection systems designed to provide safe drinking water for years.

Technology Supporting Water Solutions

Technology is also playing an increasing role in addressing water challenges. Solar-powered water pumps and advanced filtration systems allow communities to access safe water without relying on expensive fuel or electricity. In some areas, digital monitoring tools track performance and help ensure systems continue operating efficiently.

Experts working in water development emphasize that long-term success requires community involvement. Local training programs help residents maintain water infrastructure and manage resources responsibly. When communities participate in the planning and management of water systems, projects are more likely to remain sustainable over time.

The Bigger Picture

Although challenges remain, progress in clean water access in Sub-Saharan Africa demonstrates how collaboration between governments, nonprofits and communities can create meaningful change. Expanding access to safe water improves health, supports education and strengthens economic opportunity. Continued investment in water infrastructure and technology will be essential to ensure that more communities across the region gain reliable access to one of life’s most basic necessities.

– Nishanth Pothapragada

Nishanth is based in London, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Yoga and Poverty Reduction in China, India and Africa

Yoga and Poverty ReductionIn a report for the BBC, Jon Kelly recounts how B. K. S. Iyengar rose from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential figures in bringing yoga to the Western world. After what Kelly described as a “poverty-racked childhood in Karnataka,” doctors predicted Iyengar would not live past 20.

He went on to play a central role in yoga’s international expansion, promoting its physical and mental health benefits to a global audience. Beyond popularizing the practice, Iyengar inspired generations to view yoga as a tool for resilience, cultural connection and shared well-being.

His legacy provides the foundation for this article, which examines how yoga initiatives intersect with poverty reduction efforts through programs contributing to community well-being and livelihood development across diverse communities.

Yoga and Poverty Reduction

Advocates point to several connections between yoga and poverty-related outcomes, including reduced chronic stress, improved overall health and decreased reliance on costly medical care. Some organizations promote self-reliance through complementary initiatives such as microloan programs, while others help young people and families address trauma and participate more fully in economic life.

Hands to Heart Center, a Boston nonprofit, provides more than 700 free yoga classes in branch libraries, community centers, detention units, domestic violence shelters, high-poverty schools, homeless shelters, public housing developments and residential treatment programs, according to HuffPost.

Susan Lovett, who works with low-income youths and families through the organization, said yoga “can be practiced by anyone, in any condition, in any location.” She said the practice fosters connection among participants despite differences in background and circumstance.

Lovett added that mindfulness may increase civic engagement. “I don’t think mindfulness alone positively affects income inequality,” she said, “but I do think that people who develop mindfulness practice often seek out others who do the same.”

Yoga and Community Development in China

Taking Susan Lovett’s observations on mindfulness and social engagement as context, similar approaches are underway in China.

In the remote village of Yugouliang, Lu Wenzhen, a government official tasked with improving economic prospects, introduced yoga after noticing health benefits in his own practice, according to Global Citizen.

“As a result, they were able to spend more time working in fields and felt encouraged to pursue new opportunities,” the report said. The village has developed a yoga center and tourist sites that contribute to local economic growth.

Wenzhen’s efforts are part of a broader anti-poverty strategy that includes modernizing transportation, investing in renewable energy and expanding health care access. Yugouliang’s focus on holistic well-being is presented as one component of efforts aimed at strengthening local resilience.

Foundations Supporting Communities in India

China is not the only country using yoga in efforts connected to poverty reduction. Yogi Ashokananda founded the Yogi Ashokananda Foundation in 2013 and its U.K. sister organization, the Ashok Tree Foundation, in 2014.

The group aims to “relieve the impoverished conditions and promote academic education, animal welfare, health and wellness in communities served,” according to the foundation’s website.

Programs include the Sita Devi Primary School, which educates children ages 4 to 10; daily nutritional meals for at-risk adults and schoolchildren; and monthly health camps at Yogiville led by an ayurvedic practitioner, focusing on women’s wellness, children’s health and stress management.

By addressing poverty, education, nutrition and wellness, the foundations aim to support economic and physical well-being for children and families.

In an interview with practicing yogi Ravi Pinniti in India, he said yoga has influenced his own life. When asked if yoga has made a difference, Pinniti responded, “Of course it did. It improved my discipline, stress management and overall physical health, influencing every aspect of my daily life,” and improved his decision-making approach.

When asked if yoga creates a sense of community and belonging, Pinniti replied, “Yes, very strongly, with people from different places and communities, creating a safe, accepting environment, especially for those who feel isolated. It gives people the strength to live life more fully.”

The Africa Yoga Project in Kenya

In Africa, Paige Elenson founded the Africa Yoga Project in 2007 as an outreach program to train yoga instructors from Kenya’s poorest communities. “The goal is to help the teachers spread health and well-being throughout their communities while also providing them with a stable income,” the organization said.

The program operates in some of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, including Kawangware, Korogosho, Kibera, Mathare and Kangemi. Twenty-one-year-old Walter Mugwe said yoga changed his life. “Three years ago, I was drinking and smoking marijuana, which sometimes led to violence,” he said. “That has since subsided.”

Haydee Bangerezako of the BBC reported that the program has 42 teachers working with nearly 2,000 students each week in close to 50 locations. Workshops are held in community halls, schools, prisons and other organizations.

Looking Ahead

From the resilience of B. K. S. Iyengar to community initiatives in Asia and Africa, yoga’s reach now extends beyond personal practice. While yoga alone cannot address systemic inequality, organizations are incorporating it into broader programs aimed at strengthening well-being, supporting livelihoods and fostering community engagement.

In villages, urban centres and underserved communities worldwide, practitioners are demonstrating that improved health and shared purpose can help lay the groundwork for opportunity and ease international poverty. After all, “the organized actions of mindfulness practitioners who focus on social justice can be powerful.”

As these efforts continue to expand, yoga’s enduring lesson remains clear: sustainable change often begins within — and, when nurtured collectively, can ripple outward to transform lives and livelihoods across generations.

– Gemma Nailer

Gemma is based in Manchester and focuses on Good News, Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Mobile Clinics Are Expanding Dental Care in Rural Bolivia

Dental Care in Rural BoliviaLimited access to dental care is an often overlooked public health challenge in rural Bolivia, particularly for low-income and geographically isolated communities. Untreated tooth decay and gum disease can lead to chronic pain and infection, making it harder for children to concentrate in school and for adults to work consistently. In a country where household budgets are often tight, delaying care can also lead to higher costs later, especially when treatable problems become emergencies. Mobile dental clinics are one approach to helping close these gaps by bringing preventive and basic restorative services directly to underserved communities.

Why Dental Care Is Difficult To Access in Rural Bolivia 

Bolivia’s geography and settlement patterns create real barriers to routine care. Rural communities may be located far from clinics, with travel costs and time away from work making a dental visit impractical. Where dental services exist, they may be limited to urgent pain relief or extractions rather than preventive treatment or restorations. 

At the national level, the WHO’s Oral Health Profile for Bolivia highlights the economic impact of oral disease. It estimates per-capita spending on dental care at approximately $4.20 and productivity losses from five untreated oral diseases at $152 million. This is an indicator of how oral health problems can translate into missed work and reduced earning capacity. 

What Mobile Dental Clinics Do Differently

Mobile dental clinics reduce access barriers by bringing equipment and staff directly to remote areas, often in coordination with local schools and community authorities. Depending on the program, services may include examinations, cleanings, fluoride applications, sealants, basic restorations (fillings) and extractions, along with hygiene education. This approach is important because it shifts care upstream, preventing decay and addressing early-stage problems before they develop into infections that require more complex interventions.

Evidence From Mobile-Clinic Programs Operating in Rural Bolivia

One example of measurable outcomes comes from the Suyana Foundation. It operates mobile dental clinics in the Department of La Paz and tracks multi-year data on service delivery and oral health indicators in the communities it serves. In a program summary covering Bolivia, Suyana reports that between 2021 and 2023, its mobile dental clinics provided approximately 38,000 dental consultations. 

Over the same period, the foundation recorded improvements in standard oral health indices. These included a 21% drop in the CPOD/DMFT index (from 6.7 in 2021 to 5.3 in 2023) and a 44% reduction in the simplified oral hygiene index (IHOS) (from 2.5 in 2021 to 1.4 in 2023). Suyana also reports child-focused results: the incidence of new caries among 10-year-old children fell by 38% from 2022 to 2023 in its Bolivian program. 

Additionally, the number of students rehabilitated to “zero cavities” status increased from 296 in 2021 to 1,229 in 2023. These figures reflect the impact of a single organization rather than the entire country; however, they provide concrete evidence that mobile, prevention-oriented dental services can improve outcomes in areas with limited baseline access.

How Public Nonprofit Partnerships Expand Reach

Mobile-clinic models often depend on partnerships because logistics and sustainability are as important as clinical work. Public authorities can support coordination with schools, referral pathways into local health establishments and alignment with national standards. Nonprofits can add specialized staff, equipment, outreach capacity and external funding.

In Bolivia’s health ecosystem, organizations like Fundación ProSalud have a national presence, providing lower-cost health services through a network of clinics. These clinics help complement public provision and support broader access goals. Volunteer-based outreach models also operate in rural areas. 

In Cochabamba and surrounding regions, the nonprofit Mano a Mano runs “jornadas”—weekend medical and dental trips where teams travel to remote communities to provide care. This shows how mobile or pop-up services can reach areas that permanent facilities do not consistently cover.

Why Dental Access Matters for Poverty Reduction

Dental care can look “secondary” compared to infectious disease or maternal health, but it has direct poverty links. Pain and infection can reduce school attendance and workplace productivity, while delayed treatment can force families into higher-cost emergency care. The WHO’s estimates of productivity losses from untreated oral diseases underline that oral health is not only a clinical issue but also an economic one, especially for households living close to the margin.

Mobile dental clinics address this problem by reducing the time and travel costs of seeking care and emphasizing prevention. When clinics provide sealants, fluoride and early restorations, they can reduce the likelihood that a child needs repeated extractions or that an adult loses workdays due to avoidable infection.

The Future of Dental Care in Rural Bolivia

Mobile clinics are not a substitute for long-term investment in permanent facilities and the oral-health workforce. But in rural Bolivia, they can function as a practical bridge, expanding coverage now while building community habits around preventive care. Evidence from programs such as Suyana’s mobile clinics suggests that sustained outreach can improve measurable oral-health outcomes, particularly for children. 

As government standards, local coordination and nonprofit delivery capacity align, mobile dental services can continue reducing preventable pain, missed school days and productivity losses in underserved regions. 

– Tom Basu

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

Photo: Flickr

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Youth Development in Romania: Policies and Opportunities

Youth Development in RomaniaRomania’s young people face serious barriers in education and employment. Youth unemployment remains high compared to adult unemployment, and many young people do not complete secondary education. Since 2011, an estimated 450,000 children have dropped out of school before finishing middle school, and more than 15% of those ages 18 to 24 have not completed the eighth grade. These issues are more severe in rural areas and among ethnic minorities such as the Romani population.

Without adequate support, these trends can limit access to economic opportunities and civic engagement for young Romanians, slowing both personal development and the country’s long-term growth.

National Programs Supporting Youth

Romania is expanding national initiatives to support its young population. The National Youth Strategy (2024–2027) outlines goals to promote education, increase civic participation and reduce unemployment for people ages 15 to 35. This strategy helps guide policy, funding and program development across government agencies.

The Child Guarantee Action Plan seeks to ensure that all children, particularly those under 18, have access to quality education, health care and nutrition. The plan addresses poverty and social exclusion by focusing services on those most in need.

Programs such as School After School offer tutoring and extracurricular activities outside of regular hours to help students remain engaged and build skills in art, technology and sports. Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen youth development in Romania by expanding access to educational and personal development opportunities.

International Support and Partnerships

Romania’s youth development efforts are supported by international initiatives. The U.N. Youth Delegate Program provides young leaders opportunities to represent Romania in U.N. discussions, amplifying youth voices on human rights, peace and sustainable development.

The Youth2030 Strategy encourages countries to include young people in national development plans and promote access to education, health care, employment and civic participation.

The Global Initiative for Decent Jobs for Youth promotes gender-equal employment and works with governments and the private sector to align training programs with labor market needs. These partnerships support Romania’s efforts to expand quality education and job opportunities for young people, particularly in underserved communities.

Proposed Solutions for the Future

To further advance youth development, Romania can expand training programs that teach communication, digital literacy and professional skills, helping young people become more competitive in the job market.

Improving access to quality education and employment opportunities in rural areas would help ensure that more young people benefit from national growth. Strengthening mentorship programs, community initiatives and career guidance services may help reduce school dropout rates and better prepare youth for civic and economic participation.

Prioritizing these approaches could contribute to a more inclusive and resilient workforce while addressing economic and social disparities.

Looking Ahead

Youth development in Romania remains both a social and economic priority. National strategies, community programs and international partnerships work together to address unemployment, reduce early school dropouts and increase youth participation. Continued investment in education, job skills and civic engagement can support long-term stability and inclusive growth. Strengthening youth development efforts may help Romania build a more stable and adaptable society prepared for future challenges.

– Anaisha Kundu

Anaisha is based in Skillman, New Jersey, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Organizations Supporting Farmers in Pakistan

Farmers in PakistanMore than 54% of farmers in Pakistan live below the poverty line. According to the latest national census of agriculture in Pakistan, 97% of farmers own less than 12.5 acres and 26% own less than one acre. Meanwhile, the average farm size is now 5.1 acres. These figures suggest that farmers are not generating enough profit to save and are instead living from crop to crop.

Pakistan ranks among the world’s 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, with devastating monsoon rains, floods, droughts, landslides and earthquakes. These natural catastrophes destroy livelihoods, shove civilians into poverty and hit the agricultural industry the hardest. When the aftermath damages crop yields, farmers suffer.

There are more than 11 million farmers in Pakistan. When major climate shifts strike, the government cannot provide for such a large segment of the population. Thus, farmers have no economic security in the event of a natural disaster. On top of this, a recent sharp increase in the costs of fertilizers, diesel, pesticides, farming machinery and electricity in Pakistan makes it expensive for farmers to produce the few crops that survive amid unpredictable climate instability.

Crop costs have also fallen globally and this growing disparity leaves farmers at a loss. Fortunately, here are five organizations that uplift farmers and minimize poverty in Pakistan by providing rural farms with supportive resources.

Hidaya Trust

Hidaya Trust is a nongovernment organization that aims to help underprivileged persons in Pakistan “stand on their own feet”, including farmers. The organization runs various programs covering education, social welfare, health care, the environment and self-employment. Hidaya Trust supplies families in the farmer assistance program with fertilizers, seeds and equipment, as well as education on farming techniques.

For those in the animal farming program, the organization uses its donations to provide families with livestock to start a farm. For example, a $50 donation can buy five chickens and one rooster to start a poultry farm; it costs $70 for seven rabbits, $220 for a pair of goats and $500 for a cow.

Kissan Madadgar

Kissan Madadgar is a real-time farming advisory service that provides expert support and consultation through various channels to farmers at no cost. Farmers in Pakistan can access this service through its 24/7 helpline, mobile application or YouTube channel. Agricultural experts at Kissan Madadgar also visit farms in person to offer on-site support.

This involves teaching farmers more sustainable, productive and feasible solutions and techniques. The goal is to empower farmers, help them prosper and improve Pakistan’s agricultural ecosystem.

Chamber of Food and Agriculture

The Chamber of Food and Agriculture is an independent, nonprofit organization based in Pakistan, created by farmers, for farmers. Agricultural experts and rural development practitioners in Pakistan work with food producers and policymakers worldwide to empower farmers. Run by a people-first policy, the Chamber of Food and Agriculture directly provides training workshops and resources to rural farmers in Pakistan.

It also promotes climate-smart agriculture and technical agricultural innovation. Through this initiative, the organization aims to facilitate stable, accessible markets for farmers, support policy advocacy and increase women’s participation in the farming industry.

The World Bank Group

In 2022, the World Bank Group launched the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project, with $200 million in funding. The ongoing project supplies small rural farms in Pakistan with climate-smart farming technology to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes. This includes training farmers in climate-smart techniques, facilitating efficient and equitable access to water and building resilience to extreme climate emergencies.

The World Bank Group’s project is expected to help 190,000 rural farmers and 1.4 million acres of land.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

In 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established a livestock farmer field school in the Umerkot district of Pakistan to expand farmers’ knowledge beyond local practices. The organization also distributed 315 kilograms of animal compound feed to each farmer among more than 1,400 of the most vulnerable households to support them throughout the agricultural crisis. Additionally, with support from the World Bank Group, FAO worked with local governments to construct water storage tanks with underwater solar-powered water pumps in 25 rural villages in the Tharparkar district of Pakistan.

FAO provided the villages with water troughs for livestock and drip irrigation systems for kitchen gardens. These resources supported farmers by reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their farms. The construction of the water systems also created temporary employment opportunities for those most affected in the region.

The Future for Farmers in Pakistan

In Pakistan, agriculture is the largest sector in the economy. Farming makes up 24% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), employs half of the labor force and is the greatest source of international exports. Farmers also create food security in the country. However, the agricultural sector struggles with low productivity due to its vulnerability to climate change and volatile markets.

Farmers in Pakistan require support with modern technology that accounts for climate instability, as well as further education on proactive farming techniques to maximize crop yields and ultimately help farmers overcome poverty. Given their contribution to Pakistan’s economy, policymakers and government leaders must prioritize farms when allocating funding and resources.

– Umaymah Suhail

Umaymah is based in Karachi, Pakistan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels