NEW DELHI — Women are critical to a thriving rural economy, especially in developing countries such as India. Despite anti-discrimination laws, women in India have historically received second class treatment, especially in rural areas. Women’s self-help groups (SHGs) initiated 30 years ago safeguard rural women against thinly veiled bias and serve as their multifaceted support system. With approximately 70 percent of the population living in villages, rural women support India’s economy in more ways than what appears on the surface. Their overall contribution to society as primary caregivers and managers of health and nutrition cannot be overemphasized and though the…
Author: Preeti Yadav
Preeti Yadav
Preeti writes for The Borgen Project from Portland, OR. She has a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and has worked as a biomedical engineer for 6 years. Preeti recently transitioned out of this role to pursue her passion for writing and utilize her skills towards affecting positive change. Preeti's dream is to live in a bamboo cottage on a beautiful beach in Asia with her husband, pursue local humanitarian work and continue writing.
NEW DELHI — Traveling through India in the 1990s, doctors Regi George and Lalitha Regi came across the neglected tribal region of Sittilingi valley and Kalrayan and Sitteri Hills in Tamil Nadu, India. Tribal Indians, constituting 8.6 percent the country’s population, are a marginalized group in India. Deeply troubled by a lack of healthcare, anesthesiologist George and gynecologist Regi committed themselves to saving the lives of these forgotten people. With a vision of empowering them with healthcare and improving their quality of lives, the couple launched the Tribal Health Initiative (THI) in 1992. With one in five children dying before…
SEATTLE — America’s moral obligation to assuage the suffering around the world is supported by fundamental humanitarian principles. However, the altruistic motive behind foreign aid is an ethical prerogative and cannot be argued objectively. Its positive impact on the U.S. economy is, however, an undeniable fact. The evidence of how doing good can help corporations is in the tangible returns on U.S. global engagement. Poverty alleviation fosters economic independence which translates into consumers with enhanced purchasing power for American exports. America’s history is decorated with staggering examples of its economy benefiting from acts of altruism. Out of the top 15…
SEATTLE — About 70 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is deprived of basic energy, which, among other things, significantly hinders communication. Lifeline Energy, founded by Kristine Pearson in 1999, has distributed more than 600 solar and wind-up Prime radios and media players called Lifeplayers. Inspired and motivated to empower vulnerable people with knowledge, this project is enabling an isolated population of more than 20 million to stay connected and informed. Lifeline Energy also supports relief efforts during conflicts or natural catastrophes around the world by distributing its Emergency Bridge and Polaris radios with integrated lights and cellphone chargers to…
SEATTLE — Hong Kong’s hero and one of the world’s most celebrated actors, Jackie Chan was recently honored at the 2016 Oscars with the Honorary Governor’s Award, for 50 years of heroic achievements in films. Chan, known as the hardest-working film star for his relentlessness and courage, was also named philanthropy’s hardest-working man by Forbes magazine in recognition of his stunts for philanthropy. Chan is a talented martial artist and a legendary stuntman who has fallen countless times, but always rises to do what he loves. Some examples of his stunts are sliding down a skyscraper without a harness or…
SEATTLE — The current global health system is burdened with displacement, mass migration, inequality, climate change, urbanization, deforestation, wars and humanitarian crises. A global health crisis is looming with emerging health risks ranging from drug-resistant bugs and the H7N9 flu outbreak in China to famine in Africa. While all attention is focused on many diversions, global health is becoming increasingly unstable. The Trump administration has announced a $54 billion increase in defense spending while reducing funding to the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by 37 percent. This decision reflects the administration’s lack of appreciation for their…
SEATTLE — Despite an interdependent global environment, many remain incognizant of the struggles of millions around the world. Fortunately, strong men and women have stepped up to empower the vulnerable with their voices and support. Here are three such intrepid and empathetic female examples of humanitarian heroes: 1. Angelina Jolie Jolie is an award-winning actor, director and a humanitarian hero who has been supporting the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) since 2001. She was appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2010 and a UNHCR Special Envoy in 2012 and has traveled to more than 30 countries in these capacities. Jolie…
SEATTLE — Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are two noteworthy humanitarians. The recently announced end to their decade-long partnership, in addition to the expected heartache and sorrow, has also carried with it a deluge of criticisms and speculations. The negative publicity surrounding the Jolie-Pitt divorce has obfuscated the efforts of these extraordinary philanthropists. They have both, individually and as a couple, made incredible contributions towards supporting vulnerable populations. Their mutual passion for effecting positive change has been a dominant aspect of their public relationship. In 2006, they donated $8 million to charity together. They also founded the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation,…
BRUSSELS — In 2015, more than a million men, women and children migrated to Europe. In 2015 and 2016, children constituted 31 and 35 percent of the refugees entering Europe. Many lost their lives on the way, but another dreadful aspect of the refugee crisis remains somewhat hidden. An extensive number of unaccompanied minors (children under 18) are seeking refuge in Europe. While some are escaping forced military recruitment by radical groups, others are fleeing persecution and exploitation. Many travel thousands of miles to reunite with family, while others are tragically separated from family during the journey. In each case,…
SEATTLE — Global Health Corps (GHC), a U.S. nonprofit operating in southern and eastern Africa, is working towards eliminating global health inequity by fostering leadership among millennials committed to social justice. Barbara Bush, co-founder and CEO of Global Health Corps, visited East Africa with President George W. Bush to launch the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003. Her experiences during the trip exposed her to the staggering inadequacies in the region’s healthcare system. Witnessing expansive destitution and disease gave Bush the impetus to change the course of her professional life towards global health with the goal of…