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How to Help People in Armenia

As one of the earliest Christian civilizations, Armenia holds steadfast to countless traditions, including those rooted in dance, music, art and cuisine. Disappointingly, Armenia’s customs come with a bleak history of deficiency and shortage. 32 percent of Armenians live an underprivileged lifestyle. Non-government organizations have been working to decrease this large percentage and address many other issues within the country. These three NGOs offer more insight into learning how to help people in Armenia.

KASA Swiss Humanitarian Foundation
For almost 20 years, KASA has been supporting impoverished Armenians through the contribution of material aid, training opportunities and developmental tools. Education alongside communication allows KASA to promote a civil society and sustainable growth. This NGO is currently involved in three projects, with their most popular one titled Sponsored Families. Every year, 20 to 25 Armenian families struggling with illness, unemployment and inadequate housing are supported through Sponsored Families. KASA strongly encourages others to help people in Armenia by funding these families. The organization also prospers via volunteer efforts, organizing collaborated events and spreading the word.

Full Life
Originated due to civic responsibility, Full Life works for equal rights for the 6.2 percent of Armenians struggling with disabilities. Their involvement goes beyond advocacy and public awareness through the implementation of multiple programs. A recent project included employment of people with disabilities in the livestock sector. This project is certainly a priority when one considers the 35.2 percent poverty rate among Armenian households with no employed members. Full Life seeks most of its support through volunteer work and contributions. They also build awareness through various campaigns and encourage the public to join their mission of equal opportunity.

Peace Dialogue
Like many other countries around the world, Armenia has experienced its fair share of conflict. A prime example is a disagreement with their neighbor Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ethnic clashes date back centuries, with tension between the two countries still existing. Peace Dialogue studies conflict and unites experienced human rights defenders to promote peace-building initiatives. Over the course of 2015-2016, Peace Dialogue has been involved in seven projects. The programs ranged from reducing corruption risk in public transportation to using artistic means for human rights protection. Much of Peace Dialogue’s assistance is generated through sponsors, but they accept help in the form of donations as well. Involvement is also stimulated by their online presence where they feature articles, research and annual reports.

Helping people in Armenia begins with looking at what the country needs. Many of Armenia’s goals relate to poverty reduction, equal rights and peace. Successful NGO outcomes require more than subsidies to see results. Management and large-scale immersion are also crucial to successful function. Each NGO mentioned offers three methods of participation: funding, volunteerism and public understanding. If you are unable to share your money or time, exchanging thoughts on Armenia’s issues over social media is an excellent way to get the ball rolling.

– Emilee Wessel

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Greece

Help People in GreeceHow to help people in Greece? While Greece is one of the world’s most beautiful travel destinations, it is currently experiencing a great deal of poverty. The good news is that tourists in Greece have the opportunity to do much more than sightseeing, as there are many ways they can help the poor.

Some people hand out water bottles, miniature games for kids and snacks to those who are in need. Many of Greece’s refugees are so happy to arrive and are shocked at the amount of help that is awaiting them.

Another major way that tourists can help is by packing donation items in their luggage. Travel companies provide passengers who are unable to donate time with the opportunity to bring extra luggage containing donations without being charged. TripAdvisor has the option to donate via its website as well.

Greece has received two separate bailouts since the year 2010, causing budget cuts and an increase in taxes. This is another reason why donating to organizations and non-profits that assist refugees will help people in Greece and provide relief until the economy is able to regain its footing.

There are many nonprofit organizations that can help people in Greece, such as DESMOS, PRAKSIS, UNHCR Greece and SOS Children’s Villages, just to name a few. DESMOS, for example, allows people to donate used items that are still in good condition, such as computers, clothing, furniture and other items.

More good news is that the IRC has provided 17,690 people with aid packages, 1,400 abuse survivor refugees with one-on-one emotional support and eight safe spaces. One of the biggest needs for those suffering in Greece is mental health assistance. This is why safe spaces and counseling are important and necessary forms of assistance for refugees in Greece.

The International Rescue Committee, also known as the IRC, supports three major refugee camps in Greece by supplying necessities and access to showers, toilets and other aids in hygiene. Altogether, the number of people assisted in Greece by the IRC is around 31,000. With such a large number of citizens getting relief through the IRC and other organizations, there is rising hope for the poor and the refugees. As a tourist or simply a citizen, simple actions can be taken to help people in Greece.

– Noel McDavid

Photo: Google

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How to Help People in Namibia

How to Help People in Namibia

Located in Southwestern Africa, adjacent to Botswana, Zambia, Angola and South Africa, the Republic of Namibia is an arid and sparsely-populated nation of 2 million people. The country faces one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world of approximately 13 percent, a chronic malnourishment rate of 20 percent and fluctuating levels of water supply.

Needless to say, the situation begs the question of how to help people in Namibia.

Firstly, and perhaps the most obvious, many charities based in Namibia work to improve the situation of the country’s population. For example, Books for Africa is a non-profit that provides books and educational materials to 48 countries across the continent. “Books for Africa is a simple idea, but its impact is transformative. For us, literacy is quite simply the bridge from misery to hope.” says former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Another method useful in answering the question of how to help people in Namibia is to support DAPP (Development Aid from People to People) Namibia, a not-for-profit organization based in Namibia that empowers local communities in a variety of ways. Some of DAPP’s initiatives include agricultural training networks and camps, creating programs responsible for combatting HIV/AIDS and increasing the availability of contraceptives across the nation. As an organization based in Namibia, DAPP is in a unique position to understand, identify and tackle national issues on a first-hand basis.

Finally, wildlife conservation is a key factor in understanding how to help people in Namibia. Preserving the country’s wildlife is indispensable to maintaining a steady tourism industry as many people come to the country to visit its wildlife and safari parks. Naankuse is a nonprofit based in Namibia that works to preserve the country’s rich and colorful variety of not only wildlife but indigenous cultures and people as well. Naankuse specifically focuses on three key areas: wildlife conservation, the preservation of national landscapes and support of rural communities. Supporting Naankuse will enable the country to protect its most valuable assets to one of the economy’s most valuable industries.

These are just a few examples of ways to get involved in helping to boost development and reduce poverty in Namibia.

– Brad Tait

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Malawi

Help People in Malawi

Malawi is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. With a population of over 18 million people, 50 percent live below national poverty lines. Malawi’s poverty rates are widespread, with rural poverty continuing to grow. Fortunately, there are three nongovernment organizations working to decrease poverty inside the region. How to help people in Malawi is a question that three establishments below have started to answer.

  1. CARE
    CARE works to provide food, health, education and social empowerment to Malawians. A special emphasis is placed on women, with CARE referring to them as, “The faces of poverty.” One specific project – CARE’s Pathways Program – has helped Malawi women substantially improve their lives through agricultural farming. If you are wondering how you can support this organization, they offer both volunteer and fundraising opportunities. CARE also hosts learning tours so others can experience the impact they have on reducing poverty.
  2. The Hunger Project
    One of Malawi’s main challenges exists in addressing its food security needs. Malawi is prone to flooding and droughts, which make those living in rural areas susceptible to extreme hunger. The Hunger Project is helping by distributing food security programs, such as agricultural training and food banks, to Malawi communities. The organization asks for most of its support in the form of funding and donations. They also host many events, including an annual Fall Gala, where the proceeds go toward multiple food programs.
  3. Raising Malawi
    HIV/AIDS has left more than one million children orphaned in Malawi. Established by Madonna, Raising Malawi has created many programs to assist with eliminating this epidemic. The most recent project is the Mercy James Centre for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care. Childrens’ lives are now being saved with the country’s first pediatric hospital to offer surgery and an intensive care unit. You can help this organization by donating to stock the new unit with supplies.

How to help people in Malawi ranges from volunteer work and donations to a simple conversation about what is going on in order to get more people involved. These three organizations are helping to alleviate poverty in Malawi, but they cannot function alone. It takes new individuals constantly getting involved for substantial development to be seen. When more people begin to stand up for the country’s fundamental human needs, Malawi will be on the right track to seeing improvement.

– Emilee Wessel

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Ukraine by Ending Conflict

How to Help People in Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the most impoverished countries in Europe. Approximately 58 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. This is an incredible increase from 2015 when it was 28.6 percent. The main reason for this increase is the most recent political conflict, which has caused significant disturbances. Learning how to help people in Ukraine starts with ending the bloodshed in the country.

It is a well-documented fact that conflict leads to poverty. The War in Donbass is an armed conflict occurring in the Donbass region of Ukraine. The conflict started with pro-Russian and anti-government protests and then escalated into an armed, deadly conflict between the Ukrainian government and the separatist forces. This conflict has been incredibly costly for Ukraine, which spends around $5 million each day. This money could be put into their development goals instead of cleaning up the turmoil that has occurred. The country is also at risk of losing international aid because of their political climate. Ukraine is moving backward, away from its development goals.

This war has prolonged poverty for many Ukrainians. The money being spent on the war should instead be spent on development to help push these citizens out of poverty. Foreign aid is essential for a country like Ukraine—they cannot risk losing it. A civil form of communication needs to exist in order for this economically draining war to end. Once peace is established, economic advancements can commence.

Families are the most vulnerable to poverty in Ukraine and have been disrupted because of the current conflict, as unemployment rates and the prices of food and other basic goods have risen. Social assistance programs have much room for growth. Improvements such as healthcare and medical provisions, housing subsidies and security in education are all crucial for development. Focusing on families and their impoverishment is crucial in figuring out how to help people in Ukraine

Learning how to help people in Ukraine begins with addressing the current conflict. The War in Donbass has severely wounded Ukrainian citizens in almost every aspect of their lives. Once this war ends, economic goals will be able to be reached and economic and political well-being will have the ability to be permanent.

– Lucy Voegeli

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Argentina

How to Help People in ArgentinaWith over 32 percent of the population living under the poverty line, nearly one-third of people in Argentina lack the funds to purchases a sufficient amount of food for their families. From 2015 to 2016 alone, the total number of citizens living under the poverty line increased by 1.5 million. In 2016, according to UNICEF, nearly half of Argentine children were living under the poverty line. Within the same report, findings showed that households with children are disproportionately affected by poverty than those without. Here are three nonprofits showing how to help people in Argentina who live in impoverished communities.

L.I.F.E. Argentina

This nonprofit works with youth living in extreme impoverished and marginalized communities within and in the surrounding suburbs of Buenos Aires. Partnering with local soup kitchens and community and education centers, L.I.F.E. Argentina aids school-age children by providing recreational and educational activities as well as supplying food, clothes and school supplies. Programs include Happy Birthday – a weekly celebration of birthdays at each community center, Play Time – a weekly recreational program that allows children to interact with games and crafts, as well as AIDS Awareness that informs youth about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Their website offers examples on how to help people in Argentina, both by volunteering to work with youth in impoverished communities or by donating to help fund the continuation of their work.

Worldreader

According to UNESCO, there are 250 million children throughout the world who lack basic writing and reading skills. Worldreader strives to increase literacy among youth by providing e-readers – along with e-reader programs – to communities, promoting literary works by minority authors and conducting fieldwork to monitor the success of new digital publishing. Worldreader operates in 50 countries and 424 libraries and schools, and provides over 500,000 e-readers monthly. Individuals who are interested in helping can get involved in any of these three ways: making a single donation, sponsoring a school with monthly donations or becoming a corporate donor.

Medical Ambassadors International

The nonprofit Medical Ambassadors International works within impoverished communities to promote both spiritual and physical healing. The Christian medical organization focuses on providing medical resources for communities that lack basic access to health centers. This nonprofit also offers family and relationship counselling to help build stronger communities. For the past 35 years, Medical Ambassadors International has done work in 41 countries including Argentina. Making donations through their website allows funds to go toward geographic areas with the greatest need – one option for how to help impoverished people in Argentina.

Nonprofits such as these within Argentina are working to combat extreme poverty and the disadvantages it brings to marginalized communities. Spreading the word and getting people involved, either by donating or volunteering, is the first step to eradicating poverty and helping people in Argentina.

– Riley Bunch

Photo: Flickr

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Five Ways to Help People in Vietnam

Help People in VietnamSince the days of the Vietnam war, Vietnam’s people and economy have seen tremendous improvement. This is in large part thanks to Doi Moi, a sweeping economic reform which began in 1986 and turned Vietnam’s economy into a market-driven one – rather than the tightly state-controlled economy that existed there before. While the country’s wealth saw a drastic improvement, as did the poverty rate, income inequality is prevalent in the country, meaning that many people still live in poverty. Here are five ways to help correct this inequality and help people in Vietnam:

  1. Support education. Ensuring that poor children have a chance at a good education is essential in any country that wishes to see the cycle of poverty broken. In Vietnam, quality education for children can be supported in two ways: by sponsoring a child individually or by donating money to organizations committed to improving education in Vietnam. The Children of Vietnam is one such organization, providing direct educational, nutritional, medical and housing assistance to children and families in need.
  2. Invest in the country’s infrastructure. Infrastructure work not only creates thousands of jobs in and of itself, but also provides people living in rural areas with access to transportation, communication, electricity and clean water. In some areas, building a single road or bridge would make a huge difference in the quality of life.
  3. Help provide access to microfinance. Any poor person in Vietnam who hopes to start or grow a small business will need a loan to begin work. Yet, access to these types of loans is scarce and unreliable, and most people in Vietnam are forced to take private loans from their friends and family. To help people in Vietnam improve their livelihood, it is essential to make these loans more widely available. Currently, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the People’s Credit Fund System and the Bank for Social Policies are all working to make these loans more accessible for poor people trying to better their lives.
  4. Support healthcare. As the best healthcare tends to be concentrated in large cities, rural citizens are often left with low quality care or no care at all. The East Meets West Foundation (a nonprofit in which U.S. residents partner with citizens of Vietnam) hopes to change this, providing low-income families with clean water, education and medical care.
  5. Demand government transparency. Unfortunately, both the government and charitable organizations in Vietnam have, throughout the years, been extremely susceptible to corruption which more often than not results in poor people losing out. Funds promised to the poor are embezzled or mismanaged, and charities promising food and other products cut costs, meaning that they receive low quality items. To truly make Vietnam’s poor a priority, the country and its organizations must become more accountable.

Though Vietnam’s economy has improved greatly in a relatively short amount of time, many of its poorest citizens are left in the dust. And while there are many small things to do to help people in Vietnam, these being just a few of them, it will take the country actively deciding to make its own impoverished people a priority for real change to occur.

– Audrey Palzkill

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Yemen

In 2015, Shi’a rebels known as Houthis allied with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to rebel against elected President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, leaving the country in a state of chaos. The international community scrambled to determine how to help people in Yemen. The answer comes from ending the violence, increasing medical aid, and investing in infrastructure.

The civil war has already claimed the lives of nearly 10,000 civilians and seriously damaged infrastructure in Yemen. Banks in Aden temporarily shut down following a series of robberies, and Saudi-backed airstrikes have destroyed health care and water treatment facilities throughout the country.

Yemen imports 90 percent of its food, and battles over key shipping ports in Aden and Al Hudaydah make food security a serious concerns for citizens. This has grave implications for the nearly two million acutely malnourished Yemeni children and their families. Malnourishment leaves the Yemeni more susceptible to diseases, especially cholera.

There are 370,000 cases of suspected cholera and 1,800 associated deaths. Continued fighting damages Yemeni water infrastructure, contributing to what the World Health Organization is calling the “world’s worst cholera outbreak.”

Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, lacks the resources necessary to alleviate poverty on its own. Fourteen million people lack access to clean water, and 30,000 health care workers haven’t been paid in nearly a year.

The situation is dire, but not hopeless. The international community is beginning to recognize how to help people in Yemen. Thanks to support from international organizations, local NGOs are providing necessary food aid. They estimate that the number of malnourished children will be reduced from two million to 385,000.

Nearly everyone who receives adequate treatment for cholera will survive, but the key is getting treatment to those who need it. The World Bank and UNICEF have partnered to help maintain local health institutions in Yemen.
UNICEF has established 1,000 diarrhea treatment centers and oral hydration corners. They have also repaired water systems in rebel-held Taiz, giving 400,000 people access to clean water.

Ordinary citizens are also stepping up to help people in Yemen. 16,000 volunteers travel door to door, educating people on preventing cholera.

The threat of violence, however, still looms over Yemen. President Trump has recently brokered a deal to sell $110 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia, some of which will most likely be used in Yemen. Currently, U.S. aid to Yemen totals only $526 million, which has not been enough to end the violence.

Foreign aid is making a significant positive impact for the people of Yemen, but it is currently not enough. A joint statement from UNICEF and the World Health Organization says the international community doubling its relief efforts is a good solution to the question of how to help people in Yemen, and can save the country from disarray for generations to come.

– Kirk Lee

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help Refugees in Serbia

How to Help People in SerbiaOver the last two years, Serbia – along with other countries in the Western Balkans – has struggled to contain a severe refugee crisis. Fortunately, there are several ways in which to answer the question of how to help the people of Serbia.

The number of refugees in Serbia has decreased since the crisis started a couple of years ago. Refugees in Serbia come primarily from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. As of late June 2017, the number of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Serbia was 5,948. In total, 93 percent of these people received shelter. This number has decreased significantly since the higher count of 7,600 refugees in mid April; at this point only 85 percent of refugees received proper accommodations.

The EU has designated humanitarian funding to Serbia as of January 2017. About €20.1 million has been spent on emergency assistance and shelters in Serbia, along with even more funding used to manage the flow of migrants.

Despite international aid and a steady decrease in the number of refugees in the country, Serbia still struggles with overcrowding and a lack of adequate accommodations for refugees. Individuals seeking asylum who cannot obtain shelter are, for the most part, found sleeping outside in the streets of Belgrade – hardly an ideal or safe outcome.

The organization Refugee Aid Serbia (RAS) works to benefit and improve the lives of refugees in Serbia during this critical time in the country. With their headquarters based in Belgrade, the organization’s areas of focus are humanitarian aid, education and community outreach. Those who are willing to donate to the cause can do so on the organization’s website. RAS also provides volunteering options and encourages fundraising events.

The agency Help Refugees currently runs 80 projects across eight different countries in Europe and the Middle East. They have focused on improving the Serbia refugee crisis since late 2015, doing things such as organizing volunteers and helping to improve living conditions by providing food and medical aid. Most notably, the organization has made major improvements to a warehouse housing site in Belgrade where 1,000 refugees lived at the time; it was evicted in 2017.

Still wondering how to help people in Serbia? Both of these organizations provide information about volunteering opportunities, as well as how to donate to the cause. With more people educated on this crisis and more people willing to do something to help, progress will continue to be made to improve the lives of refugees in Serbia.

– Melanie Snyder

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in El Salvador

How to Help People in El SalvadorPoverty in El Salvador is high; in 2015 it was measured that 34.9 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Comparatively, 15.1 percent of the population of the United States lives below the poverty line.

Poverty is high in El Salvador due to the remnants of its violent civil war from 1979 to 1992. Although a truce was agreed to, tensions between the communist rebel movement and the conservative government remain, which has led to the growth of violent street gangs. El Salvador has the highest murder rate in the world (excluding countries at war) due to the activities of its gangs. Violence and instability have created increased poverty within El Salvador.

People in the United States can help citizens in El Salvador. Many Salvadorans have fled to other countries – including the United States – due to the violence in their homeland. American citizens can help Salvadoran refugees by donating to The UN Refugee Agency’s Children on the Run campaign. This campaign is specifically aimed at providing shelter, education and physical and mental care for children and families fleeing the violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Donations can be made through UNHCR’s website.

Save the Children works within El Salvador to help improve the quality of living for Salvadorans. Through Save the Children, one can sponsor a child from early childhood through to early adulthood. The program supports children throughout their education by providing specialized programmings, such as early literacy programs for toddlers and life-skills programs for adolescents. Save the Children also provides families with seeds and livestock that they need for survival, and tools and temporary jobs to give them an income and teach them new skills. Donating to this cause is a great way to help the people, especially children, of El Salvador.

More hands-on approaches can be used to help people in El Salvador as well. Volunteer opportunities are abundant through a variety of organizations. One such organization is Help International. Help International works on an assortment of projects including building community centers, running outreach programs to assist at-risk youth and reforestation campaigns. One can apply to participate in Help International’s El Salvador program through their website.

Finally, simply sharing this information with friends and family and brainstorming ways you can help can go a long way in helping the people of El Salvador overcome poverty.

– Mary Kate Luft

Photo: Flickr