Author: Staff Reports

Middletown, Connecticut — Healthcare in Tanzania has a range of issues, such as a lack of health infrastructure, an increased risk for vector-borne diseases and HIV/AIDS. However, Empower Tanzania Inc. is working tirelessly to change that. According to Denise Edwards, a volunteer nurse and mental health specialist at the organization, they completely changed the healthcare landscape in Tanzania. Additionally, they improved healthcare and resources for pregnant mothers and working with AIDS patients. Diseases Impacting Tanzania As of Aug. 6, 2021, the adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania was 4.7%, with particular regions reaching up to 15.4%. With limited resources, this is…

DOWNINGTOWN, Pennsylvania — Period poverty is a global problem, spanning across borders. It is often described as a lack of access to sanitary products due to financial or cultural burdens. In India, nearly 71% of adolescent girls do not know what menstruation is, until it occurs for them. Period poverty in India has detrimental effects on women and girls. According to a study conducted by Dasra, a charity that works on adolescent health, every year, nearly 23 million girls in India drop out of school once they start their period. Many of them face acute health issues afterward. Women who…

CHICAGO, Illinois — The tea industry is rapidly growing. Tea plantations in Kenya, China, India and Sri Lanka account for the bulk of tea leaves. Despite the ever-growing demand, many laborers responsible for its success still face poor working conditions and decreased wages. Various organizations and hopeful startups strive to ensure that every cup is brewed fairly to bridge the gap. The Bitter Reali-tea Tea is the second most popular beverage behind water. People brew 70,000 cups of tea around the world every second. Furthermore, demand is rising by 5% annually. The global network of the modern tea industry is…

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — COVID-19 has dealt a heavy blow to the Jordanian economy. The pandemic, along with pre-existing Jordanian economic vulnerabilities, has stalled the kingdom’s economic growth and swelled poverty and unemployment. The World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Jordanian Government are funding a $1.1 billion program to accelerate the country’s recovery from COVID-19 while promoting a “climate-resilient and inclusive recovery” as well as long-term Jordanian economic development. The program is called the Inclusive, Transparent and Climate Responsive Investments Programme-for-Results. It builds on previous Jordanian Government economic reform efforts while also assisting Jordan’s most impoverished…

SACRAMENTO, California — Businesses play key roles in the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in countries that lack adequate government funds like Nigeria. Per Nigeria’s 2020 Voluntary National Review priorities, the nation focuses on issues of poverty (SDG-1), an inclusive economy (SDG-8), health and wellbeing (SDG-3), education (SDG-4), gender equality (SDG-5), peace and security (SDG-16) and partnerships (SDG-17). The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the Nigerian government’s attempts to raise the necessary funds to achieve these goals. There is currently a funding gap of more than $300 billion standing in the way of Nigeria reaching the SDG goals by…

SEATTLE, Washington — The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has seen massive success in the past few seasons. But despite their widespread success, the team continues to face gender discrimination and unequal pay. As they advocate for change by embarking on lawsuits and campaigning for the fight against unequal pay, the team raises awareness for gender pay gaps on a global level as women continue to encounter poverty at a higher rate than men. An Accomplished Team with Little Compensation On July 7, 2019, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, earning the team a…

LOS ANGELES, California — On April 13th, 2021, Representative Hakeem S. Jeffries [D-NY], accompanied by seven bipartisan co-sponsors, introduced H.R.2471: The Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act. The act aims to measure the progress of post-disaster recovery efforts in Haiti and address allegations of corruption in governance, rule of law and media freedom. Background of H.R.2471 The 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti left at least 220,000 people dead, 300,000 injured, 115,000 homes destroyed and 1.5 million Haitians displaced. Further, Hurricane Matthew in 2016 exacerbated the earthquake’s destruction and thwarted previous recovery efforts in Haiti. The damage and flooding…

DOWNINGTOWN, Pennsylvania — As the world becomes more interconnected through technology, new challenges have emerged in the developing world. Climate change has accelerated food insecurity and water scarcity, threatening people’s livelihoods all over the world. Roughly “1.6 million people already live in countries with water scarcity.” That number is expected to double in the next 20 years. Water is a necessity for life and a necessary ingredient for food. That is why SupPlant, an Israeli technology startup, is attempting to bridge this gap through technology. The Trifecta: Water, Food and Poverty According to the United Nations, “water is key to…

SYRACUSE, New York — COVID-19 has illustrated the urgent need to support the world’s impoverished with foreign aid. The economic hardship of the pandemic leaves many low and middle-income countries without sufficient resources to combat the crisis. One such nation is Colombia where organizations working to reduce poverty are still facing significant challenges. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Colombia is harsh. Without additional support, the nation could risk losing some of the ground gained in recent years. The Colombian Economy Prior to COVID-19 Colombia’s economy has been on a consistent upward trajectory since the turn of the century…

SINGAPORE, Singapore — The term “hikikomori” refers to a socially isolated individual and the sociological phenomenon of growing social isolation among the youth and elderly in Japan. While “there are several core features of hikikomori,” the essential ones include physical isolation for a minimum period of six months, the active avoidance of any situation that may involve social interaction and feelings of inadequacy or despondence. Based on these features, about one million people are affected by hikikomori in Japan. However, the actual number is believed to be significantly higher given that not all people experiencing hikikomori seek help immediately. An…