Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from several difficulties, including hunger, insufficient schooling programs and a lack of medical resources. Fortunately, there are several nonprofit organizations helping these countries become more prosperous and overall creating positive change in sub-Saharan Africa.

UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946. Initially, the organization was created to provide mothers and their children with emergency care during World War II. Now, the nonprofit assists women and children in underdeveloped countries everywhere.

In Eastern Africa, malnutrition and hunger have become very prominent. Due to extreme weather patterns, the region has experienced its worst drought in decades. The devastation has made it nearly impossible for crops to grow and sustain people in the easternmost part of Africa. Approximately 37 million people are suffering the consequences of this drought. Among those, 20 million are children.

UNICEF has been called into action and continues to create several positive impact plans for the future of this region. For example, UNICEF uses its Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) as a protein substance for many children lacking in nutrition. RUTF is a peanut paste that is known to be an effective way to increase a malnourished child’s health stability.

Additionally, UNICEF is working to improve East Africa’s access to water and sanitation products through a more efficient delivery process. Its new action plan creates emergency interventions, including immunization processes for children. Overall, UNICEF is striving to create positive change in sub-Saharan Africa.

MIET Africa

The Media in Education Trust Organization was established in 1996 in Durban, South Africa. The program strives to promote schooling and socioeconomic development (as it relates to education) in the Southern region of Africa.

In sub-Saharan Africa, over one-fifth of young children between the ages of 6 and 11 are out of school. This stat increases its numbers to one-third with 12- to 14-year-olds and then drops off to about 60% of 15- to 17-year-olds not in school.

To enhance the quality of education in South Africa, MIET works with Ministries of Education to create better research development programs, meaningful and inclusive partnerships between students and staff and technology-based solutions.

MIET has become so big and impactful that the organization has created regional satellite offices in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community.

MIET offers several projects and programs for children looking for a sufficient education. Programs addressing barriers to learning and development include the Amani Project, the Boys’ Vulnerability Study and the Education: My Right! My Future! program. Programs aimed to enhance the quality of one’s education include Maths 4 All, the Pongola Science and Mathematics Enhancement Programme and the FNB Primary Education Projects. Finally, youth development projects include Future-Life Now!, Bright Futures and Learn to Earn. Each one of these programs has a unique teaching style that will prepare students for their futures in the working world.

The Power of Nonprofits in Sub-Saharan Africa

Both UNICEF and MIET use their power and influence to create change for sub-Saharan Africa and help enhance the lives of many. Fortunately, these are not the only nonprofits to improve underdeveloped countries. Programs such as The Nyagi Project and Tostan are raising money and awareness in Africa for those who do not have as large of a voice in the corporate world. The Nyagi Project is teaching local doctors in Africa how to use more advanced medical technology to get more precise diagnoses on a given patient. Tostan enables young entrepreneurs in Africa to train in more advanced IT-based settings.

By implementing nonprofit programs within the sub-Saharan region of Africa, lower-income countries are given an opportunity to learn, grow and create change that will help provide them extended economic and social opportunities in the future.

– Nina Donlin
Photo: Flickr