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Sudan’s Child Soldiers: Rehabilitation Efforts by World Vision

Sudan’s Child SoldiersSudan has experienced the largest displacement since the civil war outbreak in April 2023, affecting approximately 12 million civilians. The conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Janjaweed leader Hemedti and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has displaced more than 1 million children, primarily across South Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt. This sudden instability has resulted in numerous deaths and disabilities and has brought the country to the brink of famine.

Child Soldiers

Child soldiers often come from poor backgrounds and are forcefully recruited and, in some cases, decide to join, having witnessed violent streaks in their villages under the influence of the warring parties. In 2000, the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly warned militias. It recognized that the use and recruitment of children as child soldiers is a crime act. An optional protocol was initiated to protect children from recruitment.

Despite extra measures, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has accounted for 7,622 child soldiers in global conflicts as of 2022. The militia abducts and indoctrinates children to be porters, guards, cooks and combatants; the minors are also used as shields and for sexual exploitation, according to the U.N.

World Vision

World Vision is a Christian faith-based organization that seeks to create safe and harmonious environments for vulnerable children, irrespective of their backgrounds. It is dedicated to ending child exploitation in developing countries by tackling the root cause of poverty. World Vision’s main aim is to end all forms of child exploitation with a holistic approach, providing hope to Sudan’s former child soldiers.

Measures Set in Rehabilitating Child Soldiers

  1. Prevention: The primary focus of World Vision is to prevent child recruitment and ensure child safety by educating the affected communities on how family/community violence can lead to malleable decision-making. It believes that reinforcing protective measures can prevent recruitment. Furthermore, integrating tools and skills for young boys and girls in decision-making can lead to a more harmonious community.

    Elders and caregivers are encouraged to participate in social networks to eradicate harmful beliefs and help protect their youth. In partnership with civic organizations, community-based organizations and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), World Vision provides economic opportunities, social assistance, universal birth registration and family support funds.
  1. Reintegration: Despite the atrocities Sudan’s child soldiers have faced, many find hope in World Vision’s rehabilitation centers. So far, 2,000 children have recovered with the aid of UNICEF and the education sector in the two centers currently operating in South Sudan. Former war children receive counseling tailored to their traumas. Additionally, opportunities for a new life are created through access to formal education, various apprenticeships like tailoring and other vocational training.

    Additionally, World Vision has funded space in the Blue Nile region with a volleyball court, basketball court, board games and art equipment. Children-friendly spaces are important for the psychological development of former child soldiers, allowing them to feel like children again. One former child soldier, Grace, who was abducted at 17, shared her gratitude for the rehabilitation center and how she found hope again through tailoring.

Final Remark

World Vision’s efforts have transformed the lives of children who once knew only violence. By promoting social cohesion and providing access to education, the NGO aims to prevent further child exploitation. The long term goals is ensuring a better quality of life for the children and their communities.

– Lydie Udofia

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

Photo: Flickr

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3 Sisters Raise More than $700K to Help Tackle Global Poverty

Tackle Global PovertyKhadeejah, 8; Haziqah, 13; and Leya, 20, have raised more than $700,000 to help tackle global poverty and are eager to continue their work. Known as Team H&K, these young girls have been raising money for poverty-stricken families in Pakistan for nearly five years.

What Do They Do?

The kind-hearted family raised more than $90,000 (£75,000) during this past Ramadan for those experiencing the hardship of the 2022 Pakistan floods. From collecting mosque buckets to university sales, these sisters have done everything they can to ensure people have access to a good and safe life. They set up regular food drives and also ran health awareness campaigns focusing on hygiene and nutrition. The money that team H&K has raised will support the Jigsaw charity, whose mission is to change the world for the better.

They have regular fundraisers that are partnered with Jigsaw charity, which range from food appeals to cake auctions to educational and health programs. However, the sisters aren’t the only generous ones in the family. Their Father, Yuser, not only balances his home life and his job but also visits countries where he helps others distribute aid. Specifically, Yuser “has recently visited the Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Neelum Valley districts of Pakistan to supervise humanitarian efforts.” He also helps set up and support projects and programs that ensure people can start small businesses and support their families.

Moving Forward

Currently, they have many fundraising projects aimed at combating food insecurity and providing essential nutritional support to families. One such initiative is the “Just Feed” project, which aims to provide regular, fresh, hot meals to families of 5-7. This project is dedicated to ensuring that no family goes hungry by delivering nutritious hot meals daily. The initiative seeks to make a substantial impact on the well-being of families, reducing the stress and health issues associated with food insecurity.

In addition to their food support programs, they also have an initiative focused on education, social welfare and livelihood support. This appeal aims to alleviate the burdens of those experiencing poverty in Hajira, a small town in the Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, by providing them with essential educational infrastructure, health care and livelihood assistance.

Final Remark

Overall, their story is a testament to the power of community action. Their innovative approach and endless dedication inspire many, proving that whether you are young or old, you can help tackle global poverty, even with the smallest of actions. Through their various initiatives, they have shown that collective effort and compassion can lead to meaningful improvements in people’s lives. Their work not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the foundation for long-term positive change.

– Alice Davies

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

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Charities Operating in Spain

Charities in SpainSpain has experienced a wave of poverty ranging from 2019-2022. The highest recorded rate was during 2020 (21.7%), when the pandemic hit, leaving the economy to shrink severely. Improvement significantly hit around 2021 (20.4%), decreasing by 1.3%. Though poverty in Spain has grown to shift throughout the years, it remains a significant issue.

In May 2020, the government modified the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) program, though support levels were high, the cause of inflation ultimately surpassed them. The plan affected particular individuals, those who had not been residents for an entire year and young adults ages 18 through 22. Eventually, it made it more difficult for the IMV to offer sufficient social support. In August 2021 and August 2022, price inflation had increased by 10.5%, reaching the highest level since the official measurement began in 1994. As a result, staple foods increased in price by 25 to 40% by September.

As inflation fluctuates and prices continue to rise and fall, the fight against poverty continues. Charities operating in Spain like the ones listed below advocate to help those in need.

Lanzaderas de Empleo y Emprendimiento Solidario

In the first quarter of the year, the unemployment rate in Spain increased to 12.29% from 11.80% in 2023, demonstrating that the issue remains consistent. Lanzaderas de Empleo y Emprendimiento Solidaria (Employment and Solidarity Entrepreneurship Shuttles) is an educational workshop established in 2013 by the Santa Maria la Real Foundation. The program focuses on supportive proactive training to help individuals overcome the challenges that come with unemployment. More than 800 Employment Shuttles have worked at this free-of-charge program across the country. About 20,000 people have participated and around 60% have improved their employment situation.

Fundación Balia

Founded in 2001, another of the charities operating in Spain is the Fundación Balia, which aims to promote social inclusion by helping disadvantaged children. Its goal is to break the pattern of poverty through education, allowing minors the opportunity to develop their fullest potential. The organization has delivered numerous programs through 27 public primary and 31 public secondary schools. In June 2020, The Scheinberg Relief Fund worked with the foundation to provide “a year’s supply of masks and hygiene items” when its doors reopened after the mass pandemic. Children began to attend the restarting of face-to-face events to prevent the inequality gap from increasing. Its various initiatives have helped more than 1,444 families and 914 children in 2020.

The Human Safety Net España

Developed by Generali in 2017, The Human Safety Net focuses on vulnerable families with children under 6 helping more than 150,000 families. Its For Families program aims to support parents who live in difficult circumstances by providing the best possible foundation for their children’s future. The program allows parents to invest in courses on positive parenting and learn how to educate their children at each stage of their growth. It joins forces with NGOs and private sectors that share the same objectives to accomplish its goals.

Acción Contra el Hambre

Since 2014, Acción contra el Hambre (Action Against Hunger) has been approaching the food safety problem. It helps the unemployed by offering training and programs to detect food insecurity. In 2023, its programs opened employment opportunities for more than 5,000 people. By offering employment and training itineraries, they achieved a labor insertion rate of 43% in less than six months. The organization has helped around 24.5 million people working in 55 countries.

Cáritas Española

The Spanish Episcopal Conference established Caritas, associated with the Catholic Church, in 1947. Its objective is to improve conditions and promote social justice by helping in areas of health and housing. One of its many projects includes Nueva Esperanza (New Hope), a temporary house for women seeking sanctuary. Cáritas has provided support to around 500,000 people in Spain in 2023 and continues to make a difference.

Poverty remains an issue in Spain as the cost of living fluctuates, resulting in higher prices. However, with the work of charities operating in Spain, a difference is being made.

– Savannah Garza

Savannah is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty among Migrant Workers in Singapore

Migrant Workers in SingaporeFor many people, dorm rooms evoke memories of sharing close quarters in college or the halcyon days of summer camp. However, in Singapore, dorm rooms mean something very different: the cramped and inhumane living conditions of the migrant workers who form the backbone of Singapore’s economy.

About Migrant Workers in Singapore

Migrant workers, primarily from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Bangladesh, compose 38% of Singapore’s labor force and play a particularly crucial role in the construction, manufacturing, maritime and service industries. A particularly large contingent of these foreign workers are classified as migrant domestic workers (MDWs). These workers, who are predominantly female and make up 4.4% of Singapore’s population and 7.3% of its labor force, are particularly vulnerable to domestic abuse and overworking.

Unhealthy Living Conditions

Human Rights Watch has reported that up to 20 workers are packed into the same room and forced to share a single bathroom. These cramped living conditions are often unsanitary and proved particularly hazardous during COVID-19 when strict government lockdowns forced workers to remain in hot, crowded dorms that lacked proper ventilation. In the early days of the pandemic, 90% of Singapore’s COVID-19 cases were among migrant workers.

Migrant workers in Singapore often find themselves in precarious positions because their work permits and legal status in the country are tied to their employers. Foreign domestic workers are especially vulnerable to exploitation because they are excluded from many labor protections, including paid days off and limits on working hours. In addition, foreign workers are barred from organizing and taking part in labor unions.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has also found a concerning decline in positive attitudes toward migrants, even toward the foreign domestic workers that many Singaporeans come into personal contact with every day.

Solutions

Despite the many challenges facing migrant workers in Singapore, various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working to address these issues. Its Raining Raincoats is a charity focused on providing services for migrant workers in need, with the broader goal of ensuring that they are welcomed and integrated into Singaporean society. The charity runs various welfare programs that ensure migrants have access to dental and vision care and assist them with salary and employment issues. It also provides English language, financial literacy and first aid classes. In 2023, the charity raised more than $1.2 million for migrant workers and distributed more than 650,000 essential items, including meals, bikes, phones and glasses.

Additionally, the Migrant Workers’ Center, established in 2009 as a collaboration between the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation, is an NGO that advocates for the uniform application of fair employment practices. It provides free legal advice, humanitarian assistance and peer support networks, among other services. It also offers an associate membership for just $6 a year, which allows migrants to access critical health and disability insurance in addition to benefits.

Despite public opinion and the dearth of substantive government action, these NGOs are working to improve the lives of migrant workers in Singapore.

– Josephine Koch

Josephine is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities in Georgia

Charities in GeorgiaGeorgia borders Russia, the Black Sea, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Its estimated population is 3.6 million. In 1991, Georgia emerged from the Soviet Union as an independent state, the Republic of Georgia. However, It was changed to Georgia after adopting its Constitution in 1995. While having a tumultuous history due to the political affairs of its neighboring countries, it has always been known for its remarkable cultural heritage. Georgia’s poverty level has fluctuated since becoming independent, notably from 70.6% in 2010 to 47.7% in 2022. Multiple charities in Georgia have made substantial efforts to support Georgians in developing successful lives as citizens. Some of these charities in Georgia include:

Caritas Georgia

Caritas Georgia was founded in 1994 and is still active today. This organization was first established to support and care for those left destitute after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The current mission of this nongovernmental organization (NGO) is to promote human development and social justice. It brings relief and support to disadvantaged citizens.

Caritas Georgia introduced several projects to improve conditions for those in social care and children and young adult protection programs. These projects work on policies to prevent families from being forced into the migration process due to economic reasons.

St Gregory’s Foundation

In Tbilisi, although a third of Georgia’s population resides here, there are very few social care services that focus on young people who are homeless. This makes it a main priority for St. Gregory’s Foundation to bridge this gap and reduce the risk of teenagers becoming incarcerated and lost in the prison system.

This organization provides skills and knowledge to local communities to enhance social welfare projects. It creates opportunities for vulnerable individuals to improve their circumstances. Workers support disabled children and teenagers who struggle with traditional methods of communication to become confident members of society and embrace independence.

The foundation also offers education and life-skills training to those leaving care from orphanages to support them in setting up a sustainable lifestyle. Since its beginning, more than 400 children and teenagers in Georgia have benefitted from the organization’s rehabilitation services.

SOS Children’s Villages

This organization focuses its resources on those without parental care or those at risk of losing it so they may grow up with suitable socialization. It does not matter the culture, heritage, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability of the child or young adult; the initiative will support the person in establishing trust and nurturing a sense of belonging in their community.

Its mission is adapted to fit the socioeconomic circumstances of Tbilisi. SOS Children’s Villages have worked in Tbilisi since 1996, offering support to families and advocating for the improvement of human rights. It collaborates with displaced people who have experienced poverty and social exclusion. The organization has supported almost 500 people and offered educational workshops regarding parenting classes and children’s rights.

Human Rights House Foundation

Established in 2010, this foundation united five separate organizations to form a social support pillar. These organizations focus on promoting Georgians’ human rights by developing a strategy to protect and strengthen awareness of human rights issues and violations.

Its organizations include the Human Rights Centre and the Media Institute. The former was initially founded in 1996 to protect freedom in Georgia. The Media Institute was established in 2011. It’s goal was to promote and guarantee freedom of speech and expression to prosper the development of impartial media reporting in Georgia.

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger’s projects throughout Georgia offer locals resources to support their businesses and startups. The organization aims to improve access to food supplies. They provide citizens with training in agriculture and the equipment needed to farm their own crops. As part of this organization, field schools and agricultural centers are set up in the countryside to teach citizens efficient ways of farming. In 2019, the organization offered services to 8,667 individuals through its programs.

Final Remark

Although the World Bank has shown that poverty has declined in Georgia, more than 10% of the population continues to live below the national poverty line, with most of these citizens living in the more rural areas of the country. Nonetheless, Georgia’s economy expanded in February of this year due to the progression of sectors such as construction and manufacturing.

However, despite the general progression of the job market, issues remain. There is an outstandingly low percentage of Georgian citizens (16.4%) unemployed, compared to the 20.6% recorded in 2021. However, there is concern about the quality of jobs offered to Georgian citizens.

It is clear that these charities are working hard to better the lives of the citizens of Georgia. However, for Georgia’s economy to thrive as a small country, social care on a larger scale than local authorities can provide is necessary to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

– Brogan Dickson

Brogan is based in Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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3 Health Care Charities In Venezuela

Health Care Charities In VenezuelaVenezuela, a country in South America, has been dealing with economic and democratic instability, which has led to millions of Venezuelans emigrating to neighboring countries. Consequently, there has been a significant reduction in trained professionals such as doctors and nurses, as well as inadequate funding for basic public health necessities. In fact, eight out of 10 Venezuelans do not have sustainable access to sanitation facilities and safe drinking water. However, issues that many Venezuelans face on a day-to-day basis are being combatted with the help of these three health care charities in Venezuela that provide efficient and life-changing care in the country.

Healing Venezuela

Healing Venezuela became a registered nongovernmental organization (NGO) in 2016 and provided several sustainable health care programs to help all sectors of society. Due to Venezuela’s current medical instability, Healing Venezuela has provided an allowance and sponsored junior doctors working in seven different hospitals around the country. This helps cover junior doctors’ expenses and makes it easier to see their patients without financial burdens.

In 2023 alone, up to 100 junior doctors were sponsored, which contributed toward the treatment of more than 120,000 Venezuelan patients. Helping Venezuela also advocates for women’s reproductive health by offering free contraceptive and sexual health devices to women as well as training doctors to specialize and perform portable ultrasounds in state hospitals. The initiative aims to improve the medical space in Venezuela by supporting and training doctors to help patients in need who are facing limited medical resources.

Cuatro Por Venezuela Foundation

Another one of the health care charities in Venezuela making a difference is Cuatro Por Venezuela. This foundation, formed in 2016, works and partners alongside other existing organizations to reach the needs of people in Venezuela by developing programs and sharing resources. The Cuatro Por Venezuela Foundation partnered with another organization in order to provide sustainable medication for Venezuelans who have epilepsy but do not have access to adequate treatment.

In 2021, up to 622 patients received seizure medication for the whole year in six areas in Venezuela. The foundation also has an ongoing program that gives children in rural areas three nutritious meals a day. Between 2021 and 2022, the organization provided 75,300 meals to people in the village of Camblanche in Eastern Venezuela, helping 60 children and 420 family members in the rural community.

Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a global group of humanitarians who all share the aim to “alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.” This humanitarian team has been working in Venezuela since 2018 and has made considerable efforts to support hospitals by donating important medical equipment. In fact, in 2022, Mercy Corps donated more than 50,000 items, such as syringes and surgical gloves.

Currently, there has been a rise in maternal and infant mortality rates, whereby nine out of 10 pregnant women in Venezuela lack access to medical care. In response, Mercy Corps encourages qualified specialists such as doctors and nurses to stay and work in Venezuelan state hospitals, particularly neonatal intensive care units, by offering financial incentives. Mercy Corps proves to be effective in its aim to “alleviate suffering” by expanding medical access to many in Venezuela.

– Zaynab Yusuf

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

Photo: UNICEF

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LWML: Mission Grants for the Children of Kenya

Mission Grants for the Children of Kenya Children in Kenya are struggling. In places like Kisumu, many are living on the streets, “begging and stealing to survive.” They sleep in unsafe and unsanitary places such as parks or the sewer. There is a lack of clean drinking water for those who attend school, especially in rural areas where children must walk long distances to retrieve water that may not even be safe for them to drink. Water-borne illness is a common cause of low school attendance and children falling behind in schoolwork. Fortunately, these problems have caught the attention of an organization that now provides mission grants for the children of Kenya. These organizations take action to improve the conditions for Kenyan children with the financial help of missionaries and auxiliaries.

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML)

Founded in 1942, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is an official auxiliary of the Lutheran Church. Its purpose is to encourage and equip Christian women to live in active ministry and support global missions. Each year, the members of LWML vote on a list of missions to support and establish a financial goal to reach for them. A few missions working on improving the lives of Kenyan children have made the list. Here are two of LWML’s mission grants for the children of Kenya.

Water and the Word for Rural Schools in Kenya

This is one of the mission grants for the children of Kenya that started in 2008 when a man from Nebraska was traveling around East Africa and saw the need for clean drinking water in rural areas and took action. Through help from social workers and educators in Nakuru, he developed a system of water harvesting equipment. The team installed water storage, filters, hand-washing systems, rain gutters and tanks in schools across Kenya.

In 2016, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod took over the project. It became an organization that continues to bring clean water resources and religious teachings to schools in Kenya. In 2019, LWLM members approved the mission grant to continue supporting this project.

Capstone Ministries

Capstone Ministries is another project on the list of mission grants for the children of Kenya that LWML supports. Founded in 2005, the organization focuses on bringing street children in Kenya, especially the areas in and around Kisumu, back to their families. There are many challenges that this process includes such as children who feel shame, hopelessness or poverty burden and do not want to go back home. By 2016, Capstone Ministries reconciled 678 children with their families, according to its website. The project’s members frequently visit these children and their families to ensure all is going well.

In Kenya, high school education is not free. The average yearly price is $650 and many cannot afford it. Capstone Ministries started a scholarship fund to provide affordable opportunities for kids to continue school. In 2016, the organization sponsored 42 boys in secondary school, according to its website.

LWML Involvement

In addition to providing mission grants for the children of Kenya, members of LWML become personally involved with the missions themselves. Shurie Scheel was one of these hands-on people in 2022 when she visited Kenya to see the progress of the Water and the Word project. Scheel is the grant administrator for Water and the Word and is an active member of LWML at her local Lutheran church in Wyoming.

While visiting the schools, Scheel and her group brought the children soccer balls, books, school supplies, as well as sanitary supplies for the schoolgirls to keep them going to school. Representing the LWML, she established groundwork and connections with the people working on the mission. She was able to bring back information and visual evidence that the money LWML was giving to the project was having a positive impact on the lives of the schoolchildren therefore encouraging more donations.

Missionary groups like the LWML are helping to provide financial support for projects like Water and the Word and Capstone Ministries. This process relieves the time-consuming fundraising efforts so the missions can work on important things like improving the lives of impoverished children.

– Heather Gisi
Photo: Unsplash

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How The BOGO Model Is Fighting Poverty

BOGO ModelThe Buy-One-Give-One (BOGO) model has gained traction in recent years as consumers increasingly demand sustainable and socially responsible business practices. This approach ensures that with every product purchased, a similar item or benefit is donated to communities in need. Despite initial skepticism about its impact on poverty reduction, the BOGO model is making strides in sustainable poverty alleviation, demonstrating its ability to marry profitability with meaningful social impact.

The Rise of the BOGO Model

The BOGO model is often traced to TOMS, a California-based company founded in 2006. TOMS gained widespread recognition for its application of the innovative business scheme, pledging to donate a pair of shoes to a person in need for every pair sold. Following promising success, TOMS expanded the program to include a range of other products including sunglasses (through a partnership with Seva Foundation).

Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS, initially sought to aid children restricted by lack of footwear in getting to school. While partnering with IMA World Health, TOMS initiated its BOGO scheme in Haiti in 2011, distributing hundreds of thousands of pairs of new shoes to children in need in an attempt to break the cycle of poverty.

Evolution and Impact of TOMS’ Giving Model

TOMS was compelled to reassess its approach after facing financial challenges nearing bankruptcy. In 2019, the company decided to move away from the BOGO model to a broader social-giving approach, donating 1/3 of its profits to community-led philanthropy. Overall, despite criticism and financial pressure, the company has made an outstanding dent in the realm of poverty alleviation through the remarkable scale of provision of footwear, sight restorations and access to safe water using the one-one model.

To date, TOMS has provided:

  • Nearly 100 million pairs of shoes
  • 780,000 sight restorations
  • 722,000 weeks of safe water

Analyzing the Critiques of the BOGO Model

While the BOGO model initially garnered praise for its direct impact on impoverished communities, criticisms arose regarding its long-term effectiveness and unintended consequences on local markets.

According to a study of the model, consumer interest is boosted by 60% when tied to charitable donations, but this enthusiasm drops to 52% when consumers consider potential negative outcomes such as aid dependency. During an independent impact study specific to TOMS shoes, several key insights were revealed. The study, which focused on TOMS Shoes’ charitable efforts in El Salvador, sought to address two main questions that have been subjects of criticism toward the BOGO model.

TOMS’ Response to Criticism and Adaptation

The study first examined the effect of distributing free shoes on local markets, discovering that for every 20 pairs of donated shoes, local vendors sold one less pair. It then evaluated the impact of receiving donated shoes on the children. While 95% of the children viewed the shoes positively and wore them regularly, evidence of transformative effects on children’s lives was minimal.

In fact, some concerning findings emerged, such as a slight increase in dependency among the children who received the shoes. Despite criticisms, the study praised TOMS’ responsiveness and commitment to enhancing its program. Through flexibility and transparency, such as offering sports shoes and exploring alternative distribution methods, TOMS demonstrates a commendable approach to poverty alleviation, showcasing the strength of adaptation for continuous improvement in the field.

BOGO Model Evolution: Spotlight on B1G1

TOMS’ move away from the BOGO model does not mark the end of one-for-one schemes but instead signals a shift toward newer strategies that focus on long-term effects and include nonproduct-based contributions.

The model has evolved to counter dependency and negative impacts on local businesses, now emphasizing donations that precisely meet the needs of recipient communities. Leading this transformation is ‘B1G1’, a social movement from Singapore, launched in 2007, that has engaged in 330 million projects worldwide to combat poverty.

So far, through its collaborating businesses, the B1G1 community has provided:

  • 375,020 days of access to income-generating tools
  • 21,214 micro-loans to support impoverished communities
  • 8.2 million days of access to education for disadvantaged children
  • 4 million education tools such as textbooks and stationery.

Combating Poverty: The Initiative’s Impact

These initiatives foster self-sufficiency by promoting job creation and entrepreneurship, vital elements for stimulating economic growth, enhancing productivity and increasing innovation.

  • The B1G1 initiative provides an accessible and seamless opportunity for businesses to integrate their activities (from a product sale, customer interaction, or a special milestone) into specific poverty-reducing projects. These include providing access to education, food, shelter, health care and income-generating opportunities.
  • B1G1 empowers long-term planning by ensuring a consistent stream of contributions, unlike ad-hoc efforts or passive approaches, providing charities and communities with reliable resources.
  • B1G1 encourages growth for businesses navigating an increasingly socially conscious market, encouraging teams to showcase efforts through live website counters, customizable widgets and more than 5,000 apps for integrating business activities with distinct recurring impacts.
  • B1G1 allows nonproduct field businesses to contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty. This diversification ensures that a wider range of societal needs are addressed, beyond those typically associated with fashion-related issues.

Looking Ahead

At the moment, initiatives like TOMS and B1G1 highlight the Buy-One-Give-One (BOGO) model’s significant role in poverty alleviation, underscoring the value of transparency and adaptability in ending poverty cycles.

As its approach to reducing poverty matures, the BOGO model’s evolution teaches that impactful change demands collaboration across all societal sectors. By offering sustained support to impoverished areas within a framework of social enterprise, these initiatives successfully contribute to breaking the poverty cycle.

– Freddie Ledger
Photo: Flickr

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The Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation: Alleviating Poverty in Cambodia

Poverty in CambodiaDespite the agricultural potential and beauties of Cambodia, the country’s people face hardships. Almost 18% of the population lived in extreme poverty in Cambodia in the year 2019. Furthermore, out of the total population, 45% are living moderately to severely food insecure.  Organizations are taking action to improve living conditions for Cambodia’s most impoverished.

The Maddox Jolie-Pitt (MJP) Foundation

The Maddox Jolie-Pitt (MJP) Foundation is an organization founded by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in 2003 that provides support to communities living in extreme poverty in Cambodia to improve living conditions and works to protect the environment. The foundation is named after Jolie’s first adopted son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, whom she adopted from Cambodia in 2002. Angelina Jolie was in Cambodia filming the movie Tomb Raider when she had the idea for the foundation after being inspired by the resilience of the country’s people. The organization’s team consists of Cambodian people, most of whom live in the local villages and have an understanding of the issues of extreme poverty in Cambodia plaguing communities. The foundation has divided its poverty alleviation goal into six main focal areas.

Conservation

In Cambodia, deforestation is a pressing issue. The MJP Foundation identifies lack of resources as the main reason that illegal logging and poaching continues- and the project aims to educate and encourage locals to preserve the natural habitat. The foundation’s website highlights that “In partnership with the Battambang Forestry Administration and local authorities, MJP has established 11 Community Forestry schemes in 4 communes in Samlout District.” This includes four community-run nurseries. In 2017, the foundation planted “more than 10,000 new trees using the seedlings grown in the community nurseries,” the website says.

Agriculture

The foundation’s work also centers on strengthening agriculture in Cambodia. Due to the level of extreme poverty in Cambodia, access to nutritious food is an issue. The MJP Foundation provides practical training for farmers in order to ensure that they are able to make the best use of their land and livestock. This is extremely important due to the fact that 80% of the entire Cambodian population works in agriculture. By increasing yields and productivity, the MJP Foundation helps people to raise their incomes and feed their families.

Education

A huge focus of the MJP project is providing access to trained educators, facilities, and libraries. Gradually, the literacy rate in Cambodia has improved. According to the World Bank, the adult literacy rate (15 and older) rose from 67% in 1998 to 81% in 2015 and then 84% in 2022.

The foundation works with 82 Cambodian school teachers and 10 schools in hopes of substantial improvement. The project provides books for the community and has organized literacy classes and after-school programs to support literacy in Cambodia. It has also provided support for local school sports teams including uniforms and training for coaches. The project also created the Shiloh scholarship, which provides support for children in extreme need.

Women’s Empowerment

The MJP works to increase female involvement in sports, health care and education. Out of 16 MJP health care workers, seven are female, along with 38 females out of 85 educators. MJP founded the Women’s Prosperity Center. The purpose of the center is to organize women-led empowerment activities. The MJP gender coordinator works with more than 30 women in surrounding villages to promote ideas about women’s rights.

Economic Growth

MJP supports economic growth by providing financial assistance to fight against extreme poverty in Cambodia. The organization aims to encourage locals to manage their finances and learn to save.

Health

The MJP health project works to provide sanitation in schools and works with mothers and children on healthy habits, advice, and support. MJP runs two health care clinics out of Cambodia that assist an average of 11,000 people yearly. As part of their approach, the MJP Foundation built two pump wells in schools and incorporated water filters in seven. The MJP also spreads awareness in schools on the importance of proper hygiene.

A Look Ahead

The Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation aims to alleviate extreme poverty in Cambodia through a six-program approach. Through numerous partnerships in local communities and attention to the environment as well as availability of resources, the Jolie-Pitt foundation has provided relief for communities across Cambodia.

– Aubrey Acord
Photo: Flickr

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5 of the Walt Disney Company’s Charitable Actions

Walt DisneyKnown for its iconic movies and world-famous parks, The Walt Disney Company is the second largest media company in the world. With over 12 parks across the world and world-renowned employees, Disney makes charity and giving back to the world a priority. In fact, The Walt Disney Company’s employees have volunteered for over three million hours since 2012. It is safe to say that Disney is extremely charitable, as it strives to “bring positive, meaningful, and measurable impacts to our communities around the world.” 

Feeding America

For the past 10 years, Walt Disney has paired up with Feeding America, a hunger relief organization that manages over 60,000 pantries across the United States. With hundreds of volunteers and countless hours sacrificed, Disney has allowed those in need access to more nutritious meals. Disney’s charity for the organization goes beyond this, though, and on top of volunteering the company made sure the food banks had what they needed to properly run and store food effectively. The company expanded the capacity of the food banks and provided more refrigeration, as keeping the donated food as fresh as possible is essential before providing it to others. 

Toy Drive

Children in poverty often are unable to receive toys during the holiday season due to low-income circumstances, but Toys For Tots is an organization that provides toys to children in need. The organization has donated over 652 million toys and has supported over 291 million children. Disney has partnered with the organization and sponsored Toys For Tots since 1947. 

First Book

First Book is an organization that prioritizes education for children in poverty. The organization provides books to classrooms and children and believes that all children should have equal access to quality education. Since Disney’s charity team made the decision to partner with First Book in 2000, the company has donated over 90 million books to the organization. The Walt Disney World refers to this specific donation as the “Magic of Storytelling,” as the company truly believes that storytelling can change the world. 

Leftovers

With the amount of food that the Disney Parks must provide, it’s hard for there to not be a great amount of waste produced. Instead of simply throwing out the leftovers, Disney donates its leftovers to those in need. Since March 2020, Walt Disney has donated over 2.1 million meals that came from Disney kitchens. Disneyland Paris, for example, has donated an additional 62 tons of leftover food to local grocery stores and disadvantaged families. 

Donations

As if all of Disney’s charities weren’t enough, the company makes donating money to these organizations a priority as well, on top of donating resources. In just the fiscal year of 2022 alone, The Walt Disney Company has donated $233 million to charities across the globe and $140 million to underrepresented communities.  

With a company as big as Walt Disney, it’s easy to become engrossed in the glamor and perks that wealth can offer. Disney has made staying humble a majority priority, as giving back to the world and donating to charities has proven to be at the top of their agenda for countless decades. 

– Ryan Balberman
Photo: Flickr