Information and stories on social activism.

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Remembering Jane Goodall

Jane GoodallDr Jane Goodall- global conservation icon, humanitarian and U.N. Messenger of Peace– was a pioneering scientist whose compassion and curiosity reshaped humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

Background

When Goodall entered the forests of Gombe in 1960, she was the first to observe chimpanzees not only using, but making tools- shattering the myth that tool-making was uniquely human. Her approach revealed their emotional depth- grief, joy, friendship- and redefined our understanding of animal behaviour, and what it means to be human.

However, to remember her merely for her time spent beneath the trees in Tanzania would be to disregard much of her life’s work, for wildlife conservation was just the beginning for Goodall. Early on in her career, she recognized that protecting wildlife and championing community empowerment were undeniably inseparable pursuits, and that conservation cannot succeed in isolation from community well-being.

Today, through education, community-led conservation and youth empowerment, her work continues to uplift communities all around Africa.

Roots & Shoots

Roots & Shoots translates Goodall’s core belief– that every individual can make a difference- into an engine for poverty reduction. Founded by Dr Jane Goodall after a conversation with Tanzanian students eager to tackle poverty and environmental decline, the initiative has grown from a small youth group into a global movement that operates in more than 75 countries.

Its mission is to foster respect and understanding for all living things and inspire youth-led action to improve communities and protect the environment. Each Roots & Shoots group identifies local challenges and designs three projects: one for people, one for animals, and one for the environment. From school gardens and tree planting to beekeeping and waste recycling, these local initiatives connect to the wider Roots & Shoots mission: to promote compassion and sustainability.

Today, the program continues to fight poverty by equipping young people with leadership, vocational and environmental skills. By empowering youth to design locally relevant projects that deliver income, food security and skills while protecting the environment, the programme demonstrates how compassion can manifest practical solutions that strengthen communities and protect the ecosystems they depend on.

The TACARE Model

In 1994, the Jane Goodall Institute launched the TACARE program in the villages surrounding Gombe National Park and the Lake Tanganyika catchment in Tanzania. Faced with a shrinking forest island surrounded by deforested hillsides, farmland and housing settlements, Goodall recognized that addressing the needs of local communities is necessary for the chimpanzee habitat to succeed.

When basic livelihoods are insecure, people turn to practices such as charcoal production, slash-and-burn agriculture or deforestation, all of which degrade ecosystems and threaten wildlife. Key provisions of the program include managing soil fertility and erosion, improving medical and educational facilities and providing micro-credit programmes to launch sustainable income-generating activities. By improving economic opportunity and local well-being, the programme creates the conditions for communities to invest in conservation.

Impacting Communities

Additionally, TACARE’s use of mapping and various geospatial tools such as satellite imaging by local community members builds local leadership, understanding and long-term commitment to the agreed land-use plans. TACARE has been implicated in more than 100 communities in Tanzania and has inspired similar programmes across the region.

By placing communities at the centre, combining livelihood improvement with natural-resource stewardship, and using innovative tools to foster dialogue and decision-making, the TACARE model offers a blueprint for conservation-led development.

The Jane Goodall Institute and Women’s Education

In 1977, Goodall founded The Jane Goodall Institute, a global nonprofit organization. Headquartered in the United States, the Institute has offices in almost 30 countries across Africa, Europe and North and South America. Its model of community-centred conservation has influenced policy, research and sustainable development worldwide. Particularly, the Institute recognises that women are central to both poverty reduction and conservation, and works to foster their empowerment.

In rural Uganda, the Girls in Action program provides reusable sanitary pads, underwear and school supplies to increase school retention for girls since nearly one in four Ugandan girls aged 12 to 18 drops out of school when menstruation begins. The Initiative also offers reproductive-health training and peer counselling, encouraging young women to make informed choices about their future. Further, Girls in Action integrates environmental education into classrooms.

By enabling girls to stay in school, gain leadership skills and understanding of conservation, the programme uplifts entire households and strengthens the resilience of communities and ecosystems alike.

Empowerment

Through Dr Jane Goodall’s tireless work, conservation has become a path to empowerment and a tool against poverty. Her legacy endures not only in the forests of Gombe but in every community she has inspired to live in harmony with nature. In remembering her, the world inherits both her mission and her boundless belief in a better world.

– Elysha Din

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

Photo: Flickr

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Nukkad Nataks: Turning Audiences Into Activists

Nukkad NataksNukkad Nataks, Indian street theatre, plays a vital role in preserving and revitalizing the cultural heritage of India; with roots in traditional storytelling and folk theatre forms that date back over 5,000 years, Nukkad Nataks emerged prominently in the 1980s as a tool for community engagement. 

Background

In a country where public life is very open – where people cook, bathe, and connect with neighbours in shared spaces – and where access to literature and formal education is not universal, Nukkad Nataks offer an ideal medium for communication. Performed in vibrant public settings like street corners, markets and college campuses, these short, high-energy plays turn everyday spaces into platforms for protest, dialogue and awareness, as Euronews reports.

Nukkad Nataks confront deeply human struggles and provoke urgent conversations. Their interactive, accessible format – featuring props, music and audience participation – ensures their messages on themes such as gender equality, political corruption, and environmental justice resonate with a wide-cross section of society.

The SOS Children’s Villages India

One powerful example is a street play that the young girls of Children’s Villages India perform, addressing the urgent issues of female education and restrictive gender roles. A 15-year-old girl Meena wrote and staged the story in a public courtyard. The play was deeply personal – shaped by her own experiences growing up in a community where girls are discouraged and shamed for seeking an education.

The absurdity of this notion was amplified through use of sharp exaggeration and satire, causing the audience to question their moral system. Recognizing the value of youth in the fight for equality, this Indian street theatre group focuses on harnessing the creativity, leadership and self-expression of young activists.

SCMS Hyderabad

SCMS Hyderabad delivered a Nukkad Natak raising awareness about the widespread issue of child labour in India and its traumatic impact on children’s futures. Their powerful Indian street theatre portrayed a series of heart-wrenching realities: a young boy injured while toiling on a construction site; a girl trapped in domestic servitude, watching other children attend school; and another boy burdened with the role of a family breadwinner as his childhood quietly slips away.

At the play’s crescendo, an actor takes on the haunting role of child labour itself, joining the children’s desperate cries for freedom – a symbolic moment that brought the emotional weight of the issue to life. Through emotive performances, the student actors revealed the audience’s passivity and naivety, urging them to join the fight for a more promising future for every child.  on the public to stand together in the fight for a more promising future for every child.

Yatri Niwas

Nukkad Natak also blends entertainment with vital education on health and safety. A striking example is the Yatri Niwas street play, where actors dressed as mosquitoes and viruses to raise mass awareness about the devastating impact of Dengue fever.

In a country where preventable diseases continue to claim lives, especially among the poor and vulnerable, this creative yet hard-hitting performance blended humour with harsh truths about the consequences of neglecting cleanliness. It shared life-saving information about Dengue’s causes, prevention and control, aiming to reach as many people as possible. The group dramatized the importance of awareness, empathy and group action in protecting public health.

Banka Bihar

Six tribal women from the Theatre of the Oprressed performed the unique Nukkad Nattax that dismantles the conventions of traditional theatre. The company serves as both a refuge and a platform – empowering women to transform their lived experiences of subordination into impactful, performative storytelling. Through a series of short scenes that expose the devastating consequences of gender inequality across India, the performances invite direct audience participation. Spectators are encouraged to pause the action, step onto the stage, and share their own stories if they feel compelled.

This interactive format not only deepens engagement but also fosters solidarity against gender-based discrimination. For many, this Indian street theatre provides liberation; several women have credited it with giving them the strength to leave abusive relationships and claim their autonomy.

Making Changes

These plays artfully expose audiences to the various forms of corruption within their society, and use cleverly executed theatre crafts to catalyse change that benefits and begins with the ordinary person. Their ability to ignite conversations, empower people across all age groups and communities and encourage civic responsibility cannot be overlooked. Hence, by turning public spaces into stages and amplifying unheard voices, Indian street theatre actively performs a more conscious, compassionate and equitable society into existence.

– Emily Wooster

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

Photo: Flickr

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The Free Burma Rangers Deliver Aid on their Own Terms

Free Burma RangersFor nearly three decades, the Free Burma Rangers have gone where few would ever dare to go, working in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones to provide humanitarian and spiritual aid to hundreds of thousands of people caught in the midst of active conflict. “We exist in the humanitarian gap that always exists in war, from the very front line, where bullets are smacking next to your head, back to the major relief organizations,” said founder and leader David Eubank, in an interview with The Borgen Project.

Humble Beginnings

Eubank, who grew up as the son of missionaries in Thailand and later attended Texas A&M, was commissioned as a United States (U.S.) Army officer after graduating and spending a decade serving in the Infantry, Ranger Battalion and Special Forces. After leaving the military in 1992, he enrolled in Fuller Theological Seminary to further his spiritual training. It was during his time there that leaders from the Karen people of Burma (also known as Myanmar) reached out to Eubank through his father, calling on him to assist in relief efforts amidst their – and many other groups’ – decades-long conflict with the junta. 

Building the Mission

Marrying his wife, Karen Eubank, in 1993 – the couple, without skipping a beat, set forth on a mission to Burma, which Eubank later called their “honeymoon” in the 2020 documentary film, Free Burma Rangers. “When we first started, I just went to the fighting with three backpacks [of medical supplies] and Ilya – a Karen medic – goes up and says, ‘Can I help you?’” recalled Eubank, discussing his first mission in Burma. He also emphasized his early commitment to respecting local autonomy, “we started helping people who wanted to be helped, [but] we never went anywhere we weren’t invited.”

The experiences of these early missions laid the groundwork for the formal creation of the Free Burma Rangers in 1997, founded by Eubank after graduating from seminary two years earlier. The group’s approach took shape in these formative years, focusing its missions on close collaboration with local communities, moving quickly and quietly in active combat zones and delivering both physical and spiritual aid where it was most needed. 

This approach also emphasized the documentation of abuses and human rights violations to ensure preservation of the evidence of these crimes. Footage recorded by the group has, for decades, made international headlines and served as a reliable source on a conflict which few others have had the ability to consistently report on.

Frontline Relief in Burma

At the heart of the Rangers’ mission is frontline relief. The organization trains and equips small, mobile teams drawn from Burma’s many ethnic groups, providing them with the skills and supplies needed to carry out relief missions in some of the harshest conditions in the world. This decentralized strategy allows the group to respond to the specific needs of each community. In many cases, Ranger volunteers receive training and then go on to serve their own communities, forming locally-rooted teams with the capacity to strengthen resilience and respond to crises from within. 

While the group’s work has centered on Burma’s ever-shifting conflict, its reach currently extends into some of the world’s other brutal war zones. “We have 150 committed teams in Burma from 18 different ethnic groups and we have a team in Syria and Iraq,” said Eubank. “We have a partnership in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, working from the Tajik side. And we have a rotation into Ukraine and the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.”

Ranger teams consist of a team leader, medic, child support counselor and a photographer and videographer. “They can combine their roles, but that’s the main structure,” Eubank explained. While some Rangers who operate in Burma carry arms, Eubank clarified that this was only done in self-defense and that the group itself never supplies weapons to their volunteers.

Documenting Human Rights Abuses

Documenting human rights abuses and reporting on week-to-week developments are central to the Rangers’ mission of keeping the world informed, Eubank noting that in the organization’s efforts, “getting the news out is of very high importance, second only to helping people.” Its website also provides a “Weekly Dispatch” on the group’s activities, as well as regular situation reports, which offer updates on the conflict zones within which they operate.

Capacity Training

Before any of the Ranger teams see the front lines, they pass through a rigorous “capacity training” to ensure that they are prepared for their missions, often returning home to help their own communities in deployments that can last up to three months. “The ethnic groups choose their own team members, send them to us and we train them and send them back to the ethnic groups – our job is to train, equip, inspire and support these teams,” said Eubank, describing the Rangers’ training and operational approach. 

Speaking on the scope of the training, he added, “We start with spiritual and relational questions and training and then we go to the physical, frontline first aid, dental work, reporting, reconnaissance and we practice dangerous things, swimming in rivers, rappelling, climbing, clearing landmines.” This training also includes security instruction, preparing volunteers to operate in active combat situations. 

The Jungle School of Medicine

The Jungle School of Medicine of Kawthoolei, started in 2011, trains dozens of medics each year. These medics are then assigned to their area-specific Ranger teams and some have even helped to staff the Karen Department of Health and Welfare.

Once training is complete, teams receive enough supplies to treat 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). They are also outfitted with any other gear that they require for their efforts, such as hiking and camera equipment, as well as educational materials for children. Outlining the order of loyalty within the group, Eubank explained, “If you come and join the Rangers and let’s say you’re Karen. First of all, you’re a child of God. Second of all, your Karen. Third of all, you are your loyalty [to a community]. Fourth and last, you’re a Free Burma Ranger.”

He stressed that the organization was not a political force, but rather a resource to train people to serve their own communities. While acknowledging that not everyone in Burma welcomed the Rangers, he recalled a fellow Ranger noting, “You can go almost anywhere and people trust that you’re (A) sincere, (B) loving, (C) loyal in your support of them, (D) competent, (E) brave and that you’re on their side, no matter where you come from.”

Away from the Front

Though the Rangers are most renowned for their frontline relief efforts, their aid to embattled communities extends far beyond the front line. Karen Eubank, who has accompanied her husband in conflict areas since their marriage in 1993, started the Good Life Club program in 1999. The program trains counselors who accompany each Ranger team and provide a wide range of services to assist both children and educators in embattled communities. They provide children with clothes and school supplies, conduct “education assessments” and work to generally foster emotional and spiritual resilience within the communities they serve.

The Rangers have also developed an aviation wing, known as Free Burma Rangers Aviation. Members of the Rangers began to undergo parachute training in 2012 and in 2016, the Rangers received a donated Cessna 172 from the Kingdom Air Corps, where a young Karen Ranger had undergone flight training. In 2018, their first operation used the donated aircraft to fly a three-day-old boy from the Thai border to a hospital deeper inside Thailand for life-saving surgery.

Looking Ahead

For nearly 30 years, the Free Burma Rangers have shown that even in the world’s most dangerous places, communities can find hope through courage, service and solidarity. By training local volunteers, documenting abuses and delivering aid directly to those in need, the Rangers have created a model of resilience that continues to inspire. As their work expands across Burma and beyond, the Free Burma Rangers demonstrate how grassroots action can save lives and strengthen communities in the face of overwhelming hardship.

– Alex Degterev

Alex is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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INSP: Street Papers Tackle Homelessness and Poverty

INSPThe notion of a street paper was first established by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to tackling homelessness and poverty based in Glasgow, Scotland. According to the INSP, street papers are‘magazines or newspapers sold by people experiencing poverty, homelessness or other forms of marginalisation. Together with investigative journalists, people living on the streets report on the challenges they face, detail their own personal experiences of homelessness and write poetry to express themselves. Not only do homeless people contribute to the written content of the papers, but they also sell them on the street and keep the proceeds.

Shifting Public Perception Through Street Journalism

Vendor Programme Director of Street Roots, the street paper based in Portland, Oregon, DeVon Pouncey, outlines how the introduction of street papers has allowed readers to see how systems have failed people, rather than people on the streets have failed themselves. This helps redefine the general negative public perception of people experiencing homelessness, supporting efforts to address homelessness and poverty. The INSP has helped to found street papers in 35 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Since the first street paper was published in New York in 1989, the INSP has supported almost 400,000 people in poverty.

Employment, Voice and Empowerment

Street papers not only help address homelessness and poverty by providing people on the streets with work, but also give them a platform to express themselves and share their stories, allowing them to represent and speak for themselves. By featuring content written by homeless people, street papers raise the profile of social justice issues, such as the rise in the number of people who work but still live in poverty, or the criminalisation of rough sleeping in Australia. This challenges global preconceptions of people living in poverty. In selling the papers on the street, vendors also gain social skills and a renewed sense of confidence. In addition to the income and skills earned from selling the papers, the INSP is also committed to creating lasting change for homeless people, which is why it partners with local services to help find housing, provide employability training and supply food and clothing.

Boca de Rua: A Model in Brazil

Boca de Rua (Mouth of the Street), published in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is one example of a street paper. Founded in 2000, it features text, photos and drawings by 30 homeless people who then sell the papers and keep the profits. Boca de Rua also has a supplement, Boquinha (Little Mouth), which presents the work and activities of a group of 15 children and teenagers at risk of homelessness. Coming together in leisure spaces such as parks and theatres, the young people participate in games and create crafts and music, which is then documented in Boquinha. Boca de Rua has also partnered with Casa Alice (Alice’s House), a space for its vendors to take part in festivals, markets and classes and to access a library and lessons in reading.

The Global Impact of Street Papers

The INSP has a global readership of 3.2 million people supported by more than 900 volunteers. In 2021 alone, vendors sold 13 million street papers in 1350 towns and cities, allowing them to earn more than  £17.9 million. This model helps address homelessness and poverty in communities around the world.

– Elsa Tarring

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

Photo: Pexels

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The Road to Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth

eradicating povertyThe primary focus of efforts to end poverty has been economic growth. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights is challenging this tradition by calling for policy recommendations to establish a Human Rights Economy-based model, one making economic decisions based on human rights obligations.

About the UN Special Rapporteur

U.N. Special Rapporteurs (or Special Procedures) are unpaid independent human rights specialists accountable to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Additionally, their role involves producing thematic and country-specific reports, visiting countries in an official capacity, communicating human rights violation appeals and presenting findings to the UNHRC and the assembly.

Themes of Special Rapporteurs include the rights to health, education, food, water and sanitation, while others address themes such as extreme poverty and human rights and cruel treatment. Indeed, candidates go through a multi-stage competitive process in which they are evaluated based on objectivity and expertise, among other qualifications. As of 2024, there are 46 thematic and 14 country mandates.

A Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth

Building on the 2024 report “Eradicating poverty beyond growth,” the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights has initiated an 18-month project to develop a roadmap addressing the problems with existing aid mechanisms. It calls for policy advising submissions in five key policy areas: access to social protection and services; labour policies and the care economy; economic systems transformation; climate, environment and resources; and trade, finance, debt and global solidarity.

The original report challenges GDP growth-based methods of battling poverty by presenting the concept of a Human Rights economy. Prioritizing human rights, this economic format suggests financing social protection programs rather than economic growth. The ongoing project has involved calls for policy input from governments, academia, and multinational organizations, among other involved actors.

Policy Submissions

The Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), Tax Justice Network (TJN) and the Global Coalition for Protection Floors (GCSPF) are examples of organizations that have publicized their submissions for policy recommendations to the Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth. They each outline five ideas for policy improvement, overlapping on issues such as financial transparency along with the importance of social program investment.

BIEN’s submission stands on the idea that extreme poverty is manmade and must be eradicated. ITs overall recommendation highlights the benefit of a basic, unconditional universal income distributed individually. Under the umbrella of a basic income, BIEN’s five policy areas of improvement include access to social protection and services, and economic systems transformation.

Access to social protection and services would increase social security by creating economic stability. Meanwhile, transforming economic systems via basic income would allow individuals and households to participate in the market economy and investment, as the financial requirements to acquire basic needs would be met.

TJN and GCSPF

The TJN suggest that a fair, transparent tax policy has the potential to enable governments to reduce inequality by funding essential services. Furthermore, its 5 areas of interest contribute to achieving a human rights-based, effective taxation system. These include “Revenue to Fund Public Services” and “Redistribution to Reverse Inequalities.” The first outlines how a transparent tax system would avoid losing tax revenue to external financial centres, increasing tax revenue without needing to increase GDP.

The second advocates for income tax distribution in a way in which the wealthy cannot take advantage of tax benefits while lower-income households lack access to public services. Their submission also identifies a positive correlation between a state’s reliance on tax revenue and the strength of its democracy.

The GCSPF submission “Achieving Global Social Justice” advocates for change in the organization of poverty-related policies. Their five policy recommendations include “Eradicating Poverty With People Living in Poverty” and “Ratification of Existing and Adoption of New International Instruments.” The first addresses the need for a policy that takes into account the multidimensionality of poverty and works with individuals living in such conditions. It calls for deliberate participation and increased dialogue between relevant actors, including governments and academia.

The second identifies the need for heightened monitoring by U.N. agencies to ensure that member states are adhering to legally binding treaties and protocols. Overall, recommendations aim to provide financing and mobilization of universal social protections.

Eradicating Poverty: Beyond Submissions

The Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth is now closed to submissions, with all being eventually published in a Beyond Growth Roadmap online repository. Before implementation, a collaborative effort between the Rapporteur, consultants and contributors will involve workshops and events to ensure policies are practical and founded in lived experience. The U.N. will present the initial version of the report at the Second World Summit for Social Development in early November 2025, with its final draft presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council in summer 2026.

– Emily Galán

Emily is based in Alberta, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The IRC Improving Mental Health in Syria

mental health in syriaAfter 13 years of civil conflict, President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024 by a lightning insurgency organized by the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which put an end to his family’s more than 50-year rule. As soldiers loyal to Assad and those opposed to his government clash, along with Jihadist extremists from the Islamic State, more than 14 million people have been displaced from their homes.

Humanitarian Crisis

The prolonged civil conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and many of the survivors live in appalling conditions and struggle with mental health illnesses, including depression, anxiety and hopelessness.

The humanitarian situation within Syria is extremely serious as well. More than 13 years after the catastrophe started, millions of people have experienced repeated displacement and are dealing with psychological and physical trauma that has changed their lives. Critical infrastructure has sustained significant damage as a result of conflict, severely restricting access to necessary services.

More than 90% of the population is now living in poverty as a result of a collapsing economy, which also forces families to choose between healthcare, education, and food.

The IRC Improving Mental Health in Syria

The changing circumstances also give Syrian refugees in nearby nations a glimmer of optimism that they will one day return to their home regions, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Notwithstanding the most recent events in Syria, any talk regarding the return of refugees must remain focused on the necessity that they be voluntary, secure and supported by the provision of all the information necessary for them to make wise decisions regarding their futures.

In a refugee camp in northeastern Syria, Samia provides counseling services to displaced individuals and their families at a mental health clinic that the IRC established, BBC reports. She focuses on raising awareness in crises and enhancing her patients’ mental health despite the limited resources. The IRC has been working in Syria since 2012 and currently has more than 1,000 employees there who offer safety, early recovery assistance, and life-saving medical care.

Samia provides essential counseling services to displaced individuals and their families at a refugee camp in northeastern Syria while working at an IRC mental health clinic, the IRC reports.

She is steadfast in her resolve to enhance her patient’s mental health and increase public awareness of mental health issues despite her low resources. Her personal experience and her conviction that mental health support is essential to post-crisis recovery drive her work with camp inhabitants.

The Future

For Syrians to survive, recover and ultimately regain control over their futures following 13 years of a protracted crisis, the IRC urges all sides to commit to a lasting peace.

In addition to primary, reproductive and mental health services, they offer life-saving medical care, including assistance for medical facilities and mobile health teams that provide vital trauma care. Along with financial aid, early recovery, and support for the development of young children, the IRC also provides counseling and protective services for women and children, especially those who have experienced violence.

It is helping partners in Turkiye provide emergency financial aid, protection and medical treatment to people impacted by the 2023 earthquakes. Additionally, the IRC aids Syrian refugees in nearby nations.

The IRC is unwavering in their resolve to help Syrians in need, wherever they may be, even if the humanitarian needs in Syria are at an all-time high.

– Taylor Naquin

Taylor is based in Gilbert, AZ, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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World Day of Social Justice 2025: Bridging Inequality

World Day of Social JusticeOn February 20, 2025, the global community observes the World Day of Social Justice, a crucial moment to reflect on systemic inequalities and advocate for sustainable solutions to poverty. This year’s theme, “Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps Of Social Justice,” highlights the urgent need for inclusive economic policies, fair labor practices and equitable access to education and healthcare. Nonprofits, policymakers, and grassroots organizations are addressing social justice in the fight against poverty by featuring insights from key advocates and real-world examples of impactful initiatives. With growing concerns about economic disparities and reduced foreign aid, this year’s observance serves as a call to action for a more just and equitable world.

Understanding the Theme

Through a day dedicated to confronting systemic inequalities and advocating for sustainable solutions to poverty, this year’s theme is meant to highlight the urgent need to address key issues. Economic disparities, unfair labor practices, unequal access to education, and inadequate health care systems are some specific reasons for the world to join annually.

As global concerns grow over widening wealth gaps and declining foreign aid, this observance is a critical reminder that social justice is not just an ideal but a necessity. From policymakers to grassroots organizations, change-makers around the world are working to create a more equitable future that ensures opportunity and dignity for all.

The theme “Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps Of Social Justice” reflects the pressing need to address the structural barriers that keep marginalized communities in cycles of poverty and inequality. Bridging these gaps requires comprehensive policies and community-driven initiatives that promote inclusion and long-term sustainability.

Keys in the Fight for Social Justice

The fight for social justice relies on a network of committed organizations and individuals working to dismantle systemic inequalities. There are three key players: nonprofits, policymakers and grassroots organizations. Each is instrumental to providing social justice efforts that lead to lasting change.

Nonprofits play a crucial role by providing necessary aid, fighting for policy change and raising awareness about urgent social justice issues. They often serve as a bridge between marginalized communities and essential resources, ensuring that those in need receive support ranging from education and health care to employment opportunities.

Policymakers, on the other hand, have the power to enact legislative reforms that address economic disparities and protect vulnerable populations. Furthermore, their commitment to fair labor laws, equitable taxation and social welfare programs is vital for systemic change.

Meanwhile, grassroots organizations amplify the voices of affected communities, mobilizing local efforts to challenge injustice and demand accountability. By working together, these key players create a multifaceted approach that tackles inequality from multiple angles, paving the way for a more just and sustainable future.

Real-World Initiatives Driving Equality and Inclusion

Across the globe, various initiatives have been launched to advance social justice by promoting equality in education, healthcare access, and economic inclusion. These efforts have demonstrated the power of targeted policies and grassroots movements in transforming communities and ensuring fair opportunities for all.

  • Expanding Educational Access in Colombia – Ser Pilo Paga, a scholarship program in Colombia, aimed to break the cycle of poverty by providing financial aid to high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. By covering tuition costs at top universities, the initiative helped thousands of students access higher education, reducing disparities and fostering social mobility. Though the program was replaced with a broader initiative, its impact underscored the importance of investing in equitable education systems that empower disadvantaged youth.
  • Universal Health Care Reform in Thailand – Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), introduced in 2002, revolutionized healthcare access by ensuring medical services for nearly all citizens, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. By reducing financial barriers to healthcare, the program significantly improved health outcomes, lowered infant mortality rates, and demonstrated the feasibility of universal healthcare in developing nations. The UCS continues to serve as a model for other countries seeking to expand healthcare access without imposing financial hardship on vulnerable populations.
  • Inclusive Economic Growth in Kenya – The Ajira Digital Program in Kenya has provided young people with access to digital job opportunities, addressing unemployment and bridging the digital divide. By offering training, mentorship, and access to online work platforms, the initiative empowers marginalized groups, particularly women and rural populations, to participate in the digital economy. This program highlights the potential of technology-driven solutions in fostering economic inclusion and creating sustainable livelihoods.

These initiatives showcase the tangible impact of policies and programs designed to advance social justice. The World Day of Social Justice is an opportunity to highlight such efforts and inspire further action. By learning from successful models and supporting similar initiatives, governments, organizations, and individuals can contribute to a more equitable and just world.

Making the Observance Count

The World Day of Social Justice is more than just an observance—it is a call to action to address the root causes of inequality and take meaningful steps toward eradicating global poverty. Indeed, by championing inclusive economic policies, fair labor practices, equitable education, universal healthcare and grassroots empowerment, the barriers that keep marginalized communities in cycles of hardship could be dismantled.

Real change requires sustained commitment from individuals, organizations and governments alike. Whether through supporting local initiatives, pushing for systemic change, or simply raising awareness, every effort counts in the fight for a just and equitable future.

– Bailie Cross

Bailie is based in Pensacola, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fragility and Rule of Law in South Korea

Fragility and Rule of Law in South KoreaSouth Korea, a nation often celebrated for its economic success and democratic progress, is now grappling with one of the most significant political crises in its recent history. The impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024, following his controversial declaration of martial law, has exposed deep-rooted tensions in governance. As authorities attempt to arrest the impeached leader, the events highlight the fragility and rule of law in South Korea, raising questions about the resilience of its democratic institutions.

The Historical Shadow of Martial Law

Martial law has long been a contentious issue in South Korea. The infamous Gwangju Uprising of 1980, where military forces violently suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations, remains a painful reminder of the dangers of unchecked executive power. Indeed, this history amplifies public distrust of martial law declarations and underscores the need for transparent governance.

President Yoon’s decision to impose martial law in early December 2024, citing vague national security threats by attributing them as “North Korea’s communist forces,” revived these fears. Citizens argued that the move lacked sufficient justification, prompting widespread protests.

These demonstrations mirrored the spirit of South Korea’s Candlelight Revolution in 2016, demonstrating the resilience of its civil society in demanding accountability and upholding democratic norms.

Protests: Lack of Evidence and Growing Distrust

The government’s failure to provide evidence justifying martial law further fueled public outrage. The lack of transparency led to accusations of authoritarian overreach, prompting citizens to take to the streets. Protesters and legal experts alike questioned whether the declaration adhered to constitutional principles, revealing the fragility and rule of law in South Korea, according to The Guardian.

These events emphasize the importance of strengthening democratic processes to ensure that emergency powers are not misused. Furthermore, transparency and accountability remain critical in rebuilding public trust in South Korea’s institutions.

Presidential Impeachment and Challenges in Arrest

President Yoon’s impeachment marked a turning point in this crisis. However, his subsequent refusal to cooperate with law enforcement has highlighted significant flaws in the country’s legal framework. On December 31, 2024, a South Korean court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, citing his alleged abuse of power and unconstitutional actions. Yet, attempts to detain him have faced resistance.

The first arrest attempt on January 3, 2025, resulted in a standoff at Yoon’s residence, with presidential guards preventing investigators from entering. Authorities suspended their efforts, seeking a warrant extension as the original expired on January 6, 2025. A renewed warrant was issued on January 7, but Yoon has continued to evade arrest.

Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided arrest due to his security team’s resistance and the strong support of loyalists rallying outside his residence, BBC reports. Despite losing his powers, Yoon’s security detail blocked police attempts, citing loyalty. The political stalemate reflects broader legal uncertainties and deep divisions within South Korea.

Strengthening Rule of Law in South Korea

The political turmoil in South Korea has underscored the urgency of safeguarding democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law. During this critical period, organizations like People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), Transparency International Korea, and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) have stepped up to address the crisis, advocating for accountability, reform, and the resilience of democracy.

The PSPD, an NGO that engages “in various democratic movements for participatory democracy and human rights,” hailed the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol as a victory for the people. The organization emphasized that the National Assembly’s decision reflected public outrage over unconstitutional actions, including attempts to suspend democratic institutions. In their statement, PSPD called for President Yoon’s arrest and thorough investigation, declaring:

“Today’s passage of the impeachment motion is the result of the people’s firm determination to not recognize as the head of state someone who has thrown away the democracy and constitutional order they have worked so hard to achieve,” PSPD stated on its website.

Transparency International Korea

Transparency International Korea aims to “raise greater awareness in people, to eliminate the widespread corruption in the society, and to contribute in building a righteous society through anti-corruption activities.” It condemned Yoon’s declaration of martial law, labeling it unconstitutional and a grave assault on democracy. Its statement read: “Democracy is a system where diverse political groups coexist through negotiation and compromise. President Yoon’s rhetoric, labeling opposition as ‘anti-state forces,’ undermines the core values of a democratic society.

Furthermore, Transparency International Korea has called for Yoon’s resignation and impeachment to restore trust in South Korea’s democratic framework.

ADN aims to “promote and advance democratization and democratic governance at all levels of society through effective solidarity and cooperation among civil society organizations and democracy advocates in Asia.” It has expressed solidarity with South Korean citizens, applauding their dedication to defending democratic principles. ADN emphasized the broader significance of the crisis, stating: “This moment serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to defend and nurture democracy across Asia and the world.”

Together, these organizations highlight the path forward: addressing systemic weaknesses, fostering accountability, and ensuring public trust in South Korea’s democratic processes.

Resilience Amid Crisis: A Hopeful Future

The fragility and rule of law in South Korea have been severely tested but also reinforced through civic action and institutional accountability. However, with President Yoon Suk-yeol now arrested and accountability measures underway, South Korea stands at a pivotal moment in its democratic history.

By supporting the efforts of organizations like PSPD, Transparency International Korea, and ADN, South Korea can turn this crisis into an opportunity for reform and progress. Indeed, this moment serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to protect democracy—not only in South Korea but across Asia.

Through resilience, collaboration and a commitment to justice, the nation can emerge stronger, reaffirming its place as a leader in democratic governance and the rule of law.

– Mmanoko Faith Molobetsi

Mmanoko is based in Pretoria ,South Africa and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Zanmi Lasante is making an impact in Haiti

zanmi lasanteHaiti is a small country located on the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, carrying a population of 11.72 million. Many problems are actively eroding the country’s prosperity, including poverty, poor health care and malnutrition. UNICEF reports that only 41% of Haitians live above the poverty line and malnutrition affects approximately 25% of children living in the capital. Amid all this anguish, many non-profits have started up in Haiti to help its citizens prosper and flourish. One in particular is Zanmi Lasante, a sister organization of the multi-national NGO Partners In Health, which operates in 11 countries and employs 18,000 workers worldwide.

Zanmi Lasante: HIV Initaitives

Established in the 1980s, Zanmi Lasante has impacted many Haitians. It supports many causes including HIV/AIDS reduction, mental health, nutrition and water sanitation.

In 1990, Zanmi Lasante created an HIV Equity Narrative to supply antiretroviral drugs to poor, rural areas. Patients who have been diagnosed with HIV early on can receive these drugs to prevent its replication. The organization also employs many community workers who distribute medicine to patients and care for them at home. The program also holds screening programs to detect the virus. So far, the program has tested more than 100,000 for HIV this year and an estimated 15,000 people have received antiretroviral drugs during the same period.

Mental Health

Zanmi Lasante expanded its range in 2005 and started focusing on alleviating mental health issues in Haiti; it improved its services in 2012 and now employs community health workers, nurses and psychologists who support patients with depression, epilepsy, psychotic disorders and children with psychological issues. The organization has also created the Zanmi Lasante Depression Symptom Inventory, which is a depression assessment tool manual written in Haitian Creole.

Zanmi Lasante held more than 9,000 therapy visits annually. From July 2023 to June 2024, it held 385 community outreach programs and 408 learning seminars regarding psychological issues.

Malnutrition and Hygiene

Furthermore, since 2013, Zanmi Lasante has been producing the food item Nourimaba, which is an extremely nutritious paste that it distributes for free among Haitians suffering from malnutrition. The organization makes Nourimaba from peanuts, milk powder, canola oil, sugar and vitamins. Consuming this for less than two months consistently can restore a severely malnourished child to health. Today, Zanmi Lasante successfully produces more than 120 metric tons of Nourimaba each year.

In order to improve Haiti’s water sanitation, the NGO provides soap to numerous hand-washing areas and improves old plumbing infrastructure by putting in newer pipes that connect to pure water reserves. The organization targets more than 50,000 people with these activities per year.

Partners In Health and Zanmi Lasante are making big changes in Haiti and increasing the country’s living standards daily. This non-profit’s work is likely to make even more improvements for Haitians and drastically reduce poverty, hunger, and sickness rates in the future.

– Mustafa Tareen

Mustafa is based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Gardening in Conflict: Sowing seeds of hope in war zones

Gardening in ConflictGardening in conflict offers a vital antidote; the planting of seeds is analogous to the transformation of lives uprooted by destruction. Gardens offer both symbolic relief and tangible rewards for citizens as they grapple with the reality of environmental devastation and displacement. The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports found that gardening promotes reminiscence and a sense of self, endowing communities and individuals with purpose.

Gardening in Conflict

Communities across the globe exhibit gardening in conflict as they cultivate alternative land and futures in the aftermath of war. War correspondent Lalage Snow writes of the desensitization associated with conflict, noting the wantonness of destruction in her book War Gardens: A Journey Through Conflict in Search of Calm.

Yet such desensitization is being challenged by community projects in areas once defined by war. From Burkina Faso to Afghanistan, gardeners display a belief in tomorrow by planting seeds that will outlast human conflict. Three projects particularly exemplify this sentiment and demonstrate that gardens can provide not only a means of survival but also sanctuary against a backdrop of unrest.

The RECOSA Project in Burkina Faso

Around 1.9 million people are now seeking refuge in disparate parts of Burkina Faso as armed groups have claimed entire regions of the country. The closure of 6,000 schools and rising food insecurity come alongside a sense of disconnection from personal land and heritage.

Initiated by the Red Cross and Handicap International, the RECOSA garden project is addressing such issues by creating shared spaces for growing crops and flowers. In Sebba, social cohesion is growing through communal gardens. Cross-border populations are particularly vulnerable to social dislocation, inhabiting a place characterized by the transitory movement of people. Seventy-five Sebba households learned to create shared gardens which has been transformative for those experiencing food insecurity and isolated from their communities.

Chihilsitoon Garden in Kabul

The Chihilsitoon Garden, like much of Afghanistan, suffered the civil war of the 1990s. It lay in ruins, a remnant of looting and destruction, for 25 years. However, in 2015, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture restored the 12.5-hectare Chihilsitoon garden to its former glory. By planting 5,000 new trees and populating the park with native flowers from nearby hills, a space became a sanctuary for the citizens of Kabul.

This drastic landscaping has created multifaceted opportunities for those still recovering from the turmoil of war and occupation. Waterways and paths, long lost under the rubble of conflict, have been recovered to form trails that connect various spatial experiences. Picnic and an amphitheater are linked through paths lined with flowers now tended by a team of Afghan farmers.

The rehabilitated garden provides citizens a sanctuary to socialize and form new associations with a place once tainted by war. The preservation of green spaces is restoring Afghan culture and social history; the planting of native flowers supplants former devastation.

Since its restoration, the gardens have annually attracted more than 400,000 visitors. The transformation of a former warzone into a green sanctuary has provided newfound hope for Afghanis.

Gardening in the War Zone of Kharkiv

Alla Olkhovska lives 20 miles south of the Russian-Ukraine border in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Confronted with daily air raid sirens, a reminder of the battlefield surrounding her, she seeks solace in the flowers and trees in her garden. Lacking the means to escape the country after Russia’s invasion, she has sought refuge in clematis and wild flowers. Her remarkable work has garnered international attention, allowing her to make a documentary, Gardening in a War Zone.

The documentary shows her horticultural skills and the therapy she finds in tending to her plants. At one point she admires the seedlings in her hand and the ability to hold multiple lives and future lives in one hand. This sentiment offers relief against a backdrop of conflict which threatens to destroy a generation’s future.

Alla’s work has also spawned a book, Clematis, which covers how best to cultivate the flower. In a message to the reader Alla says that writing the book during the war was particularly taxing and, faced with ‘constant missile attacks’ and a volatile psychological state, writing conditions were far from ideal. Yet a passion for gardening drowned out the wail of sirens in the distance. It has provided her with a sense of purpose, helping it grow into hope for her nation.

Whilst the reality of war can not be ignored, she refuses to accept defeat when confronted with the life found in plants every day. Her story is a testament to the power of gardens in reminding us that new life will prevail despite imminent threats to it.

Gardening in Conflict: Final Thoughts

The cultivation of seeds produces more than just plants; each seedling spawns newfound hope and autonomy. Gardening in conflict offers social cohesion. Yet it also speaks of human fortitude, and a remarkable ability to see potential in spaces once threatened by war.

– Lucy Tappin

Lucy is based in the UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr