Author: McKenna Lux

NAIROBI, Kenya — In Kenya, there is a misconception that people with disabilities do not need to work because they are supported by family or the government. However, this notion fails to recognize that people with disabilities are often barred from the workplace despite career ambitions and qualifications. Frederick Ouko seeks to dismantle this prejudice and help job seekers with disabilities find employment in Kenya. Ouko founded Riziki Source, an online platform that benefits job seekers and employers. Its mission is to allow people with disabilities to exercise their capabilities and share their qualifications, and also extends its help to…

SEATTLE, Washington — Costa Rica is well into its transformation from a poor, rural economy into one that is modern and prosperous. Development in Costa Rica has emerged along environmental lines, providing a model for other countries in sustainable growth. Over the past 25 years, Costa Rica has tripled its GDP. Signs of development include a 97.8 percent literacy rate, widespread cellphone service, universal health care, high vaccination rates, long life expectancy and vast access to potable water. Typically, when a country undergoes such a transformation, it causes environmental degradation in the process. However, this was not the case in Costa Rica. The…

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania — Mauritania has long been a stronghold for slavery. Mirroring ancient practices, slavery in Mauritania is rooted in a rigid caste system, where social status is determined by birth. Slavery has a firm grasp on culture and politics in Mauritania, but recent anti-slavery policy suggests a turning point. Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981, the last country on earth to do so. The practice of slavery was criminalized in 2007, although laws are rarely enforced. Since then, only two cases have resulted in prosecution. In 2012, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery reported that 10 to 20 percent of the population…

SAN DIEGO, California — Bicycles are helping women across India gain access to the internet and education. The Indian government and Google have both launched programs that use bicycles to enable women and girls to access education and economic prosperity. As a result, development and education in India have promising futures. Bicycles for Access to Education In India, getting to school is often difficult or even perilous. Money is often a limiting factor, as families cannot afford transportation to cover the long distances to and from school. Consequently, many students drop out. A 2014 study found that 50 percent of…

JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan is seeking to make education accessible to all girls by 2040. While internal turmoil complicates this goal, leaders still strive to prioritize access to an equal, quality education. The right to free and compulsory education in South Sudan is mandated by both the 2008 Child Act and the country’s transitional constitution. However, the outbreak of conflict in December 2013 has hindered the government’s progress in educational development. Although the constitution orders 10 percent of the national budget to be allocated for education, only three percent of the 2015-16 budget was granted. South Sudan has…

SEATTLE, Washington — In March 2015, civil war broke out in Yemen. Prior to the conflict, more than half the population was already living in poverty. Today, more than 80 percent of Yemenis are in extreme need of humanitarian assistance. While some organizations have made big promises, international support and humanitarian aid to Yemen must improve in order to save the Yemeni people. Yemen has long been classified as a Least Developed Country, and the poorest in the Arab region. The conflict, however, has escalated these conditions. Since the onset of war, at least 10,000 people have died and three…

SAN DIEGO, California — The year 2030 not only marks the desired deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also the desired year to achieve great reforms in India’s higher education system with Vision 2030 program. The key to achieving both sets of goals lies in the empowerment of 10-year-old girls. By 2030, the SDGs aim to achieve quality education for all. A 2016 U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) report reveals that a central element to attaining this goal is investing in the education and prosperity of 10-year-old girls. The report lauded the progress of education in India, and…

NEW YORK CITY — In 2000, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The resolution recognizes and affirms the role of women in peacebuilding processes and conflict prevention. Additionally, the resolution has also contributed to a growing recognition of how conflict affects men and women and the importance of including women in peace processes. The U.N. Volunteer program is currently working to promote gender-responsive peacekeeping. The program is partnering with U.N. Women and the Peacebuilding Support Office to accelerate progress on globally implementing the U.N. Secretary-General’s Seven-Point Action Plan on Gender-Response Peacebuilding. Lakshmi Puri, deputy…

SEATTLE — The Power Africa initiative launched in 2013 by President Obama, seeks to expand access to electricity across Sub-Saharan Africa. Power Africa was strengthened in the U.S. Congress by the February 2016 passage of the Electrify Africa Act. Continued support for these efforts and further investment in Africa’s energy sector will not only expand access to electricity but will also drive development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Sub-Saharan Africa, two out of three people live without access to electricity. Power Africa and the Electrify Africa Act are working to decrease this statistic by installing at least 30,000 additional megawatts of…