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Community Groups Supporting Indigenous Families in Mexico City

Indigenous Families in Mexico CityMexico City can offer opportunities, but for many families it also brings new pressures. Rent is high, work can be uncertain and basic services are not always easy to access. For Indigenous families, those pressures are often intensified by displacement, exclusion and the strain of trying to preserve community and identity in a city that can be indifferent to both. 

That is why local support matters. In practice, it can mean food, shelter, help staying in school or simply the reassurance that someone is taking a family’s future seriously. Community groups supporting Indigenous families in Mexico City are, at heart, about that kind of practical support and the difference it can make.

The Indigenous Education Support Program

The Indigenous Education Support Program provides lodging and food, promotes cultural identity and supports Indigenous and Afro-Mexican youth as they continue their studies. It is aimed particularly at students who do not have local educational options in their communities. This helps address longer-term issues when poverty is not only about income but also about whether young people can remain in school without being forced to choose between education and survival.

A program like this does more than meet an immediate need; it gives families a better chance of staying stable while helping younger people move forward without losing touch with their cultural identities.

Casa Tochán

Support in Mexico City also comes through shelters and community organizations that help people rebuild and settle after periods of upheaval. Casa Tochán is one such organization that supports people in migration in Mexico City through housing, medical and psychological care, job support and cultural activities. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) describes it as a place that helps people not only survive but begin to recover some sense of ordinary life.

Casa Tochán also provides paralegal advice, community health campaigns and support with local integration issues. Even though the shelter is not exclusively for Indigenous families, its work still speaks to the wider reality of exclusion in the city. Families arriving with few resources often face overlapping pressures related to housing, legal uncertainty, health and work. 

Casa Tochán’s model is useful because it treats those pressures as connected rather than separate. Its works allow families to focus on their own lives rather than becoming caught in the various bureaucratic webs these issues can create when kept separate.

The Impacts of Support 

What stands out about both the Indigenous Education Support Program and Casa Tochán is that neither treats poverty as an abstract issue. They respond to it by asking whether a child can remain in school, whether a family has food and shelter and whether people trying to build a life in Mexico City are met with respect rather than indifference. That may sound simple, but it is not insignificant.

For underrepresented families, consistent, local and humane support can shape the course of daily life. These community groups supporting Indigenous families in Mexico City are not only responding to need, but also reflecting the effort, care and quiet solidarity that help people endure and rebuild. Mexico City remains a difficult place for many families living at the margins.

However, these examples show that practical support is within reach. When organizations invest in education, shelter and everyday dignity, they make it easier for families not just to endure the city but to find some footing within it.

– Elliott Carter

Elliott is based in Mexico City, Mexico and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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The Reality of Immigrant Credential Recognition in Canada

Immigrant Credential RecognitionAhmad Salem and his family arrived in Winnipeg in December 2016. He was less than a year away from earning a degree in English-to-Arabic translation when war forced them to leave. They escaped to begin a new life in Canada.

Many highly trained immigrants arrive in Canada expecting to continue the same jobs they were trained for in their home country. However, upon arrival, they face unexpected challenges. Immigrant credential recognition is not assured in Canada. This is what happened to Salem. 

Barriers in Canada’s current credential recognition system mean many immigrants cannot work in the fields for which they were trained before coming to the country. This system failure has adverse effects on individuals, the workforce and the broader economy. Salem’s story is not unique.

Data from Statistics Canada shows that only 44% of people who immigrated to Canada in the last decade work in jobs that match their training.

How Immigrant Recognition Works in Canada

In Canada, immigrant credential recognition is the process of evaluating education and professional qualifications received outside Canada. A British Columbia-based website describes it as a program “funded by the Federal Government of Canada to help Skilled Newcomers get back into their professional fields or alternative related career fields.”

The immigrant credential recognition system is complex and decentralized. Although the federal government supports the integration of newcomers into the workforce, provincial regulatory bodies control licensing. This creates an inconsistent, fragmented system. Depending on provincial regulations, immigrants may need additional exams, Canadian work experience, bridging programs or further education before they can practice in their fields, particularly in health care, engineering and teaching.

Salem’s goal was to become an English teacher. He had nearly finished his university education in Syria and assumed he could complete it in Canada. This didn’t happen. He was told he needed to complete four years of high school to be eligible to apply to a university education program. None of his courses at a Syrian university was recognized. 

“That’s too much! It’s going to take me forever to do that. So, I decided, no, I’m going to start something new and related to helping youth and young kids at the same time,” he told The Borgen Project in an interview.

Barriers Affecting Immigrants in Canada

Systemic barriers, as those Salem faced, delay and even prevent the recognition of immigrants’ credentials. As in Salem’s situation, it can take years for an immigrant to pass the required regulatory exams or meet provincial licensing requirements. Immigrants must also compete with local candidates for jobs regardless of their work experience from their countries of origin.

These barriers result in social and economic consequences: first and foremost, underemployment. Data from the 2021 census shows that more than 25% of immigrants with foreign degrees worked in jobs that required only a high school diploma or less, compared with 10.6% among Canadian-educated workers. Financial consequences for underemployed immigrants include frustration, loss of professional identity and lack of career advancement. 

Canada recruits skilled immigrant workers but cannot fully utilize their experience. This means that, despite the many talented immigrants entering the country, sectors such as health care, skilled trades and engineering still face shortages. These shortages ultimately affect the entire Canadian population in the long term.

Salem chose not to pursue the eight years of training required to obtain his education degree. Instead, he found a related job working with children and youth through Child and Family Services. He plans to pursue a degree in social work through an online program at the University of Victoria. 

“I think I was just lucky that I had the chance to find a path that was connected to what I know back home. I… was supported by the Manitoba Jobs and Employment Organization… I was open to anything I could find here. So that helped me, but at the same time, I didn’t do what I wanted to do before, teaching,” he said.

The Cost of Overqualification for Immigrants in Canada

Overqualified workers in the workplace often have lower productivity and less job satisfaction. Highly educated immigrants are more likely to be overqualified than Canadian-born workers. A study by the C.D. Howe Institute found that 22% of family-class immigrants and 19% of refugees are overqualified, compared to 16% of economic immigrants.

Because of barriers in the immigrant credential recognition system and language difficulties, immigrants tend to enter the workforce and advance more slowly in their careers than Canadian-born workers. In fact, 40%–44% of immigrants say these challenges are the main reasons for their slower career progress. 

Underutilizing immigrants’ skills carries significant economic consequences for Canada. According to Generation1.ca, underemployment of immigrants results in a minimum annual loss of $12.7 billion in earnings for employers. In addition, the Government of Canada has calculated that immigrant underemployment results in a $50 billion loss in GDP, equivalent to 2.5% of the economy.

Closing Remarks

Canada’s immigration policy is contradictory: it selects skilled immigrants but limits their ability to use those skills. Despite efforts to improve foreign credential recognition, structural and interprovincial challenges remain. Immigrants need better pre-arrival guidance on licensing and streamlined regulatory systems. When successful, skilled immigrants make valuable contributions to research, entrepreneurship and technology.

Salem came to Canada hoping to become a teacher. However, like many skilled newcomers, he was forced to change course when his credentials weren’t recognized. His story reflects a broader systemic problem: a complex, fragmented process that prevents immigrants from working at their full potential, despite recent efforts to improve coordination and prearrival information.

The impact goes beyond individual setbacks. When skilled immigrants can’t work in their fields, Canada loses talent, productivity and innovation. A more streamlined credential recognition system could help newcomers integrate faster. Furthermore, this would strengthen key sectors and build stable careers—reducing the gap between the promise of immigration and its reality.

– Caleb Dueck

Caleb is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Freepik

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She Leads Movement for GYW in Mali

GYW in MaliThe term “girls and young women” (GYW) has no single date of origin. However, it has gained popularity in the 21st century as a concept tied to intersectionality, activism and inclusion. It bridges the gap between the categories of girls and women, allowing programs to support both groups while recognizing their distinct needs. This approach is central to the She Leads project.

A partnership program that ran from 2021 to 2025, the She Leads program brings together Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands. These organizations reflect the importance of the GYW framework in their efforts to promote education, leadership and independence for GYW. Their work in Mali, which has amplified GYW voices there, highlights the project’s impact.

Why Does the She Leads Program Exist?

At its core, the She Leads program wanted to improve gender equality across East and West Africa and the Middle East. However, this is no small task, not only because of cultural beliefs but also because of a lack of data and support to change these circumstances. Set up and supported by six organizations, She Leads worked to increase sustained influence for GYW, opening pathways for decision-making and “the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.” 

The consortium’s plan to achieve this goal was threefold. It aimed to address social attitudes and gender norms at multiple levels, from small-scale civil society to broader sociocultural perspectives and large institutions that can enable GYW participation in political spaces. The consortium also conducted an assessment to collect data on gender-based violence (GBV) and cyber abuse across seven sub-Saharan countries, including Mali. This effort strengthened data systems and broadened the initiative’s impact on GYW in developing countries.

Through this multifaceted plan and the coordinated efforts of six NGOs, the initiative has achieved notable success, particularly in Mali. Voices of GYW in Mali have historically been muted in a country where 54% of girls marry before 18, spending much of their lives outside the public sphere. Mali is also among the most impoverished countries globally; data from 2015 shows that 51% of women in the poorest households were married before 18. 

As in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, parents often marry off their daughters young, believing it will provide a better life while reducing their own economic burdens. This practice continues to promote the belief that girls are the property of their husbands. While this reflects a cultural tradition in Mali, the She Leads project worked to challenge it by collecting comprehensive data and engaging directly with GYW, enabling girls to articulate their needs and priorities.

What Is the Impact of the She Leads Project in Mali?

It is widely understood that poverty is multidimensional and linked to phenomena such as child marriage. One of She Leads movement’s major focuses was promoting education to amplify GYW voices in Mali. A UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster report from 2015 further illustrates the intersectionality of poverty in countries like Mali: 50% of women who only completed primary education were married before the age of 18, compared to 18% of those who completed secondary education. 

In fact, fewer than 74% of girls enroll in primary education, compared to 86% of boys. For girls, this figure drops to 15% for secondary education. With one of the fastest-growing populations, this educational inequality only widens the gender equality gap, according to the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index.

As such, improving girls’ education and enrollment was central to She Leads’ plan to amplify GYW voices in Mali. Specifically, She Leads took the approach of handing over educational agency to its focus groups of girls and women. It explained that its approach for all focus groups was to use the information gathered from these girls to determine the topics. The project does not decide in advance what it will focus on; instead, it brings the girls in and lets them share their own opinions.

One example of She Leads’ investment in GYW voices in Mali is the story of Fatoumata, a 17-year-old girl from rural Mali. Despite the World Economic Forum’s estimate that it will take “131 years to reach gender equality,” Fatoumata intends to “beat the clock” and become a community leader in a place where women traditionally run the home, not the world. She shared, “For me, it’s important to be able to make things happen. Today, I have come to my old school to talk to the students about important issues that affect them,” and that her “ambition is to be an accountant and a leader in my community.”

She Leads designed its community engagements to be safe spaces for GYW. It uses peer education to teach other girls in their community about sexual and reproductive health and rights, intervene on issues that concern them and take an active role in community decision-making. Now, Fatoumata not only feels more comfortable using her voice with her family but also sees a path to using it in the community to drive change and female inclusion.

What Have Been the Results of the Project?

Fatoumata’s experience highlights the impact the She Leads project has had on many communities. The project not only invested in academic education for girls but also in practical education, offering training sessions on issues like child marriage, FGM and STDs, breaking down barriers around taboo subjects. This transparency allows GYW to protect themselves and navigate life with independent knowledge, rather than relying on a family member for these truths.

In addition, She Leads encouraged community action, which culminated in GYW investment through “allocating them a quota of arable land where they can grow market vegetables, earning themselves an income.” Even with an education, cultural norms can still prevent women from entering professional and public spheres. Therefore, having community support for independent participation in the economy illustrates a break in the cycle of inequality.

Furthermore, Fatoumata and her group advocated for the representation of young women at policy forums, pushing for gender equality beyond their town or village and onto a national scale. She Leads data show that since 2021, 16 groups have been established across Mali, reaching 320 girls. These numbers might seem small; however, change is never instant. 

Meanwhile, information, the collection of which was a major part of She Leads’ work, is key to both initiating and sustaining it. Fatoumata’s experience is proof that there is room for hope for GYW voices not only in Mali but across the world and that cycles of inequality can be broken. Thanks to the She Leads project, Fatoumata can be one of many girls with agency in Mali.

– Jaya Noonan

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

Photo: Unsplash

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ZNotes: Reducing Learning Poverty Through Education

ZNotesEducation does not just reduce learning poverty. It also provides a better future and enhances the chances of people who did not have access to education before. This can provide greater access to jobs and reduce income inequality. 

Education can transform lives socially and empower people across demographics to improve their own lives. Even people in developing nations like India are achieving state ranks due to these educational opportunities. 

ZNotes

ZNotes is an educational platform created by Zubair Junjunia, who witnessed the inequalities students faced during their end-of-year exams. Junjunia launched the platform when he was just 16. Now, this platform has amassed a wealth of information to help people gain further access to educational rights.

With more than 500,000 subscribers to its databases, ZNotes has had a profound impact on more than 6 million students from more than 190 countries. Epic Angels is one of the educational platform’s biggest benefactors in the Asia Pacific region. 

The Importance of Education

UNESCO reports that global poverty would be reduced by more than 50% if everyone completed secondary education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the learning poverty rate skyrocketed to about 70% due to limited access to educational resources. ZNotes is a good way to quell this hindrance. 

If everyone (including those in developing or low-income households) had proper access to education, then 171 million people would be able to have better lives and be free from poverty. Although ZNotes has garnered support from more than 4.5 million students globally, coverage of certain topics remains limited. 

How ZNotes Is Reducing Learning Poverty

ZNotes is an immensely popular online learning tool that has also won awards for its syllabus-tailored study materials, which increase the chances of getting good grades. What started as a personal effort quickly turned into a global fight against educational inequality. It has worked to reduce the rate of learning poverty ever since by connecting learners across cultures, genders and faiths. 

In these diverse spaces, students exchange guidance on university, internships and career pathways, widening access to valuable social capital. Beyond preparing students for high-stakes exams, ZNotes equips them for life after school. Through its internship and contribution programs, young people gain real-world experience in a global social impact startup, building both academic and employability skills. The results are clear: 77% of interns report stronger candidacy for jobs and future internships.

Conclusion

Education is a powerful yet complex tool to foster growth, independence and success. ZNotes is an online educational platform dedicated to working collaboratively with students to reduce learning poverty. With millions of supporters, ZNotes has significantly contributed to reducing learning poverty by empowering students to become globally connected, career-ready leaders through a combination of academic support and real-world experience.

– Shruti Reddy

Shruti is based in Cedarhurst, NY, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Young Africa Is Bridging the Youth Skills Gap in Mozambique

Youth Skills Gap in MozambiqueSub-Saharan Africa has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world, underscoring the need to create jobs for young people entering the workforce. In Mozambique, 60% of the population is under 25, with many facing unemployment or working in low-paying informal sectors that keep them in poverty. Supporting younger generations in rapidly growing regions is essential to ensuring long-term economic stability and sustainable development.

Due to low wages, more than 70% of employed youth in Mozambique live in poverty. While 23% of youth are unemployed, many working youth still struggle to make ends meet. Young people face a complex landscape, navigating the disconnect between access to education and actual employability. This disparity between education systems and labor market needs creates a persistent youth skills gap in Mozambique, limiting economic mobility.

The Gap Between Education and Employment

Afrobarometer research finds that educational gains in Africa have not translated into enough jobs for young people. Surveyed youth identified inadequate training and lack of work experience as key barriers and many reported a mismatch between the skills they learned and those employers demand. This consistent pattern leaves educated youth, especially those aged 18–25, struggling to find meaningful employment.

Programs like Young Africa’s aim to address this gap by connecting education and vocational training directly with long-term job opportunities, helping youth break cycles of poverty.

Young Africa’s Sustainable Youth Empowerment Program

Young Africa is a youth empowerment franchise that has operated for more than 25 years, providing vocational training, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and life skills to disadvantaged youth across Africa. It created the Sustainable Youth Empowerment (SYE) program to support youth in northern Mozambique, a region affected by prolonged conflict, climate shocks and economic instability. Energy access is extremely limited in rural northern Mozambique, where 95% of the population lacks electricity.

Launched in March 2024, the program aims to equip 140 young people with green skills to become certified solar technicians by February 2026. It addresses unemployment and the youth skills gap in Mozambique while expanding access to reliable, climate-resilient energy in underserved communities. The SYE program continues to support students after graduation by connecting them with local employers, increasing their chances of full-time employment and bridging the gap between education and quality jobs.

Young Africa Mozambique’s program also provides 20 start-up kits to promising graduates, enabling them to develop solar projects in their communities with guidance from industry mentors. Young Africa Mozambique provides hands-on training through mobile units, offering flexible modules that allow students to balance training with other commitments. By bringing vocational education directly to rural communities, the program expands access for disadvantaged youth.

Building a Greener Future Through Youth Leadership

Young Africa Mozambique is fostering youth-led renewable energy growth while raising community awareness. Mobile training units host events to educate the public on the benefits of solar energy and address misconceptions about cost and accessibility. Students also demonstrate how solar products can improve daily life and reduce energy costs, distributing educational materials to local communities.

Raising community awareness about the benefits of solar energy is critical to building a green economy. With community support and interest, several trained solar technicians are now entering an in-demand industry. Young Africa Mozambique’s initiatives have already reached nearly 1,500 community members.

With 124 rural youth already graduated from SYE and 14 start-up kits distributed, the initiative is creating real opportunities to lift young people out of poverty. Students gain skills to install affordable, reliable and climate-resilient energy systems, improving the quality of life in their communities. By linking vocational training to tangible outcomes, Young Africa Mozambique is helping close the youth skills gap in Mozambique, empowering young people and strengthening both them and their communities.

– Hope Jowharian

Hope is based in Paris, France and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Cowpeas and Food Insecurity in West Africa

Food Insecurity in West AfricaAfrican farmers and consumers alike rely on a food you might never have heard of: cowpea. You may know it by one of its many other names, such as the Black-Eyed Pea, the Field Pea, the Southern Pea, the Catjang or the Yardlong Bean. Regardless of what it’s called, it’s a truly remarkable food that is helping to reduce food insecurity in West Africa

Its significance is vital when examining poverty and food insecurity in Nigeria. This country is crucial to understanding cowpea’s importance, as Nigeria alone produces 45-58% of all cowpeas worldwide. That’s about 3.6 million tons every year.

Cowpea

Cowpea is a grain legume, similar to pinto beans, chickpeas and regular green peas. It’s often dried and is a staple food in many rural recipes across sub-Saharan Africa. It is incredibly rich in protein (25%) and carbohydrates (53%) and very low in fats (2%).

It has many vitamins and minerals. Even the stalks and flowers are edible and the plant can be used in fields for grazing animals to forage and can be turned into hay for long-term feeding. It has an extensive root system that helps prevent erosion and it also grows well as ground cover under trees.

It’s also very important for the health of the soil for planting other crops, as its roots harbor nodules that soil bacteria use to fix nitrogen for the plant and, subsequently, for the soil. Most importantly, the crop helps prevent millions of people from going hungry each year. It grows easily in the tall grasses of northern Nigeria’s savannas, making it cheaper and more accessible for nearby communities.

Because it matures quickly, reaching full maturity in about 55-70 days, it provides a fast and reliable source of much-needed protein. Studies also show that cowpeas grown in West Africa have played a major role in reducing food insecurity and chronic malnutrition among women and children in countries such as Burkina Faso.

Challenges

The main drawback of cowpea is its short shelf life. Many farmers lack adequate storage facilities, which reduces the market value and nutritional quality of both seeds and leaves. Another challenge is limited access to the best farming practices.

Some farmers do not know the most effective ways to plant and harvest cowpeas, which lowers yields without them knowing it.

FarmSahel works with rural women farmers in Burkina Faso by providing equipment and training to help increase crop yields. The organization supplies pesticides and sprayers, as well as tools for drying and long-term storage of cowpeas. The most valuable support was the one ton of dried cowpeas.

These were ready for planting and were also used to demonstrate proper packaging techniques to keep crops fresh. The women also received training on harvesting cowpeas more effectively to improve yields.

– Eddie Hofmann

Eddie is based in Seattle, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Poverty Reduction in Kashmir

Poverty Reduction in KashmirIn many parts of Kashmir, income does not flow into households monthly. It depends upon tourism seasons, harvests, weather conditions and the access to markets that can disappear without any warning. For decades, this inconsistency and instability drove families through cycles of debt and unemployment. Today, poverty reduction in Kashmir is centered around rebuilding livelihoods that last more than a single season.

India has consistently and significantly reduced extreme poverty nationwide, according to the World Bank, but regions experiencing political tensions and geographical isolation face slower progress. In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, poverty stems from economic vulnerability, limited employment options, weak education systems and even weaker access to financial services. Development programs now focus on strengthening local income sources rather than relying on temporary assistance.

Farming and Handicrafts Anchoring Local Economies

Agriculture and handicrafts remain central to rural life in Kashmir. Small farmers and artisans often rely on narrow profit margins and informal markets. To address this, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) supports projects that improve irrigation, better crop diversification and connect producers to more assured markets.

These initiatives help farmers reduce losses due to climate variability while increasing productivity. IFAD reports that similar rural livelihood programs across India have raised household incomes and improved food security, especially among smallholder farmers.

Women’s Self-Help Groups Promote Savings

Women lead self-help groups that have proven to be effective tools in poverty reduction in Kashmir. Through Jammu and Kashmir’s Rural Livelihoods Mission, women gain access to services such as savings accounts, low-interest loans and overall entrepreneurship training. 

Many women pioneer tailoring businesses, food processing units and other local shops. These enterprises guarantee a steady income and therefore, the household does not solely depend upon informal lenders. Government data demonstrates that the households involved in self-help groups experience greater financial stability and better access to social services.

Education and Skills Create Pathways for Youth

For young people in Kashmir, limited employment opportunities often reflect gaps in skills and education rather than a lack of ambition. Education disruptions and unemployment perpetuate the unending cycles of poverty. UNICEF works alongside local partners to reinforce school attendance, making digital learning more accessible and vocational training in underserved districts.

Skills programs target sectors such as information technology, hospitality and renewable energy maintenance. UNICEF reports that education interventions in conflict regions increase long-term earning potential and help to reduce economic vulnerability boosting resilience.

Employment Guarantees Offer Income During Uncertainty

Social protection programs provide critical support during periods of job instability. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) provides wage employment to households while funding community infrastructure projects. 

In Jammu and Kashmir, this program supports families during the agricultural off-seasons and economic and political disruptions. Official data indicate increased participation in recent years, helping households maintain a stable income all the while improving local infrastructure.

Entrepreneurship Expands Local Opportunity

Beyond the traditional rural livelihoods, entrepreneurships play a major role in poverty reduction in Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute promotes small businesses through training, seed funding and mentorship.

These enterprises offer food processing, tourism services and handicraft exports as few of their services. Officials report that small businesses have grown significantly which has created local employment and reduces reliance on public assistance, multiplying the economic impact within said communities.

Building Resilience One Livelihood at a Time

Poverty reduction in Kashmir increasingly depends upon coordinated efforts that link livelihoods, education, financial inclusion and social protection. Challenges remain, but consistent and sustained investment in people and local businesses continue to help the economy build resilience across the state. 

Development experts emphasize that continuous progress requires sustained efforts and market access. As these initiatives expand, they offer a stable and steady path towards greater economic success for such affected families across Kashmir.

– Parthivee Mukherji

Parthivee is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Trained Local Health Professionals in Developing Nations

Trained Local Health ProfessionalsTrained local health professionals are crucial to the lives and well-being of those in developing countries. Yet, many developing countries lack them and are still limited to those trained in Western nations or even merely medical supplies. This contributes to higher rates of disease, poor health, improper care and more within these nations.

However, these issues have shown to decrease in developing nations that have had access to trained local health professionals, marking their importance. Western countries, such as the U.K. and the U.S., must make contributions to the increase in trained local health professionals in developing nations. One way to do so is through health organizations that provide training, such as Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO).

Danielle Stonehirsch, Manager of Communications and Donor Relations at HVO, recently spoke with The Borgen Project to demonstrate the importance of trained local health professionals and answer questions about the concept.

The Importance

The uneven global distribution of health care workers has left many developing nations without enough trained local professionals. This shortage places a heavy burden on public health, resulting in reduced access to treatment and higher rates of illness. While developed nations, such as the U.S. and the U.K., attempt to provide aid to developing countries, much of this support consists solely of medical supplies rather than trained health care professionals.

According to Stonehirsch, this approach is problematic because the absence of skilled professionals can lead to the misuse or complete underuse of donated equipment, ultimately depriving patients of proper care. She cites an internal medical project run by HVO in Nepal, where a physician facilitated the donation of multiple bedside ultrasound machines.

Without proper training, local staff may have been unable to use the equipment effectively. However, the physician, along with other volunteers, established regular in-person visits and ongoing online mentorship to train multiple hospital departments. As a result, local health care workers can now use the machines to save lives and educate students and colleagues on their operation.

Local health professionals hold importance as they understand the patients’ language and culture, which allows for greater trust from patients and enhances the effectiveness of treatment. Hiring local professionals in developing nations may also be economically beneficial, as it creates more job opportunities for those in impoverished areas. Additionally, according to Stonehirsch, trained health care providers who are sent from developed nations (rather than being locally trained) must eventually return to their own country. Once they do so, the areas they were serving no longer receive the much-needed assistance.

How Local Health Professionals Have Benefited Countries in the Past

Trained local health professionals have greatly benefited developing nations in the past. In Honduras, Liberia and Kenya, they were responsible for multiple tasks, including ensuring access to care, improving equity, alleviating disease and more. Twenty-four countries in sub-Saharan Africa, representing 80% of the region, relied on these professionals for risk communication, surveillance and testing.

HVO has worked extensively in regions including Africa, Asia, Latin America, Haiti, St. Lucia and Georgia, building long-term partnerships with hospitals, clinics and universities. Stonehirsch shared with The Borgen Project an example from an HVO hand surgery initiative. In this project, a volunteer met a young surgeon with an interest in hand surgery.

Although the volunteer’s expertise was in pediatrics, she encouraged him to specialize in pediatric hand surgery and trained him alongside several colleagues who formed a dedicated team. He went on to become the first pediatric hand surgeon in his country. HVO volunteers also trained the only hand therapist in Ghana, who is now teaching others across the country.

This illustrates how developing nations can benefit from trained local health professionals. The organization also offers virtual options, including Zoom lectures, mentorship, online resources and more, as well as scholarships to support partners’ travel to other countries. Its volunteers are always available to partners through texting, emailing and calling.

What Can Be Done

Multiple steps are required to ensure an adequate distribution of trained local health professionals in developing nations. This includes collaboration between the United Nations and the World Health Organization to develop policies that support the training of health care workers in these countries, as well as strategies to retain them. As one report notes, this involves “solutions to retain more health care workers, as many seek to migrate to other countries where social and economic conditions are more favorable for work and living.”

It is also important for health programs to recognize this issue and actively contribute to increasing the number of trained local health professionals in developing nations. “More organizations need to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions,” Stonehirsch says. While several organizations, such as HVO, have acknowledged the problem, they often require support from additional partners to expand their impact.

For HVO, increasing training opportunities requires both time and financial resources, making volunteers and donors essential to program growth. The organization currently trains about 3,100 health care providers each year. “I would love to see that number double,” Stonehirsch adds. “Each of those individuals then becomes capable of teaching others.” As more people donate and volunteer, opportunities to strengthen local health care capacity continue to grow.

When asked why some countries require support from organizations like HVO, Stonehirsch explained, “In many low-resource areas, hospitals and clinics are understaffed and providers are working hard to care for many, many patients. That often leaves little to no time to teach and mentor interns, residents and younger colleagues.”

As a result, early-career professionals often leave to practice in other countries rather than returning to their home countries. Expanding local opportunities increases the likelihood that these professionals will stay and contribute to their communities.

– Renata Hirmiz

Renata is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Education in Botswana

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Organizations Reducing Child Poverty in Malawi

Child Poverty in MalawiMore than half of the children in Malawi live in poverty. A report conducted by UNICEF stated that all children (0-17 years) in Malawi experience the highest levels of deprivation in sanitation, education and housing. This is particularly worse for children in rural areas, as 76.6% against 24.4% in urban areas experience multi-dimensional poverty.

A child experiencing multi-dimensional poverty is defined by their inability to access specific goods and services simultaneously. In Malawi, poverty is nationwide, but the disparity between urban and rural areas, alongside the layers of poverty, is severe. However, several charities and programs have created solutions to end the cycle of child poverty and strengthen Malawi’s youth and future.

Open Arms Malawi

Open Arms Malawi aims to break the cycle of child poverty through community-led support. By engaging directly with families, Open Arms equips and empowers them with the resources necessary to raise healthy children and achieve self-sufficiency. From birth, it provides infant care to ensure babies survive their early years.

The organization not only supplies families with medicines, milk and food formulas but also covers medical expenses to prevent delays in treatment. Additionally, Open Arms offers parenting advice and education on nutrition and child care, along with monitoring growth charts and health status to create a supportive system for both children and parents, with goals being met. In 2024, 300 children had their health monitored and were provided with food, clothing, educational and medical advice throughout the year.

Self-sufficiency is encouraged through education and collaboration with families. By providing both short-term and long-term resources, sustainable change is driven through learning and developing independence. This strengthens Malawi’s youth from their earliest years and creates a brighter future for them.

Starfish Malawi

Among Starfish Malawi’s various projects aimed at empowering vulnerable children is Glad Tidings Orphan Care. Based in Ngolowindo, a rural village in Malawi’s Salima Lakeshore District, the project is staffed by just six workers. Through home visits, workshops for guardians and medical and nutritional support, the project has improved the lives of 240 children in the area.

Like Open Arms, Glad Tidings’ community-driven support is at the heart of its work. Glad Tidings collaborates with parents, caregivers and community members to carry out its programs and support children in need. Additionally, it provides accessible nursery education as an early intervention for disadvantaged children, encouraging physical, intellectual, creative, social and emotional development.

Currently, 525 children are registered at the GTO nurseries, receiving free nursery education. As such, these orphaned and disadvantaged children can access education, which provides stability and security, a key solution to tackling the cycle of child poverty in Malawi.

Hope4Malawi

Hope4Malawi’s Youth Program concentrates on the final stages of a child’s development as they prepare to leave school. The character development component teaches young people essential life and leadership skills that they can apply in their personal and professional lives, ultimately influencing their community. Hope4Malawi received sponsorships, which have granted full scholarships to 27 students and half scholarships to 28 more students.

Additionally, it has also provided educational resources. This changes the trajectory of the families who couldn’t attend school and provides children and families with an opportunity to reach their potential. Conversely, vocational and business skills are taught to empower young people to secure a livelihood.

These include problem-solving skills, academic skills for employment and business skills to broaden job opportunities and develop business ideas. This not only provides a foundation for young adults to build their careers and enhance employment prospects but also enables them to explore their own dreams. Hope4Malawi helps strengthen Malawi’s youth by encouraging them to turn those dreams into reality.

Going Forward

The community acts as the foundation of these initiatives, working to end child poverty and make a stronger generation of children in Malawi. By addressing and finding solutions to issues faced by babies from birth, the Open Arms support system can transform the lives of children and parents. As children grow, receive an education and seek employment, community-driven efforts persist through organizations like Starfish Malawi and Hope4Malawi’s Youth Program.

These organizations not only offer a helping hand but also help stabilize children from a young age and tackle the multifaceted poverty they encounter. By increasing funding, resources and raising awareness, these community-driven solutions would further strengthen Malawi’s youth and create a brighter future across the country.

– Jule Riemenschneider

Jule is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr