Author: Sarah Sheppard

TACOMA, Washington — As the days become shorter and the summer breeze gets crisper, children around the world prepare to begin a new school year. Number 2 pencils, bright white paper and brand new notebooks symbolize another year of learning and growing. For many children in Liberia, however, this is not a reality. Their inability to purchase a school uniform prevents them from attending school. Education is fundamental to the eradication of global poverty. Education provides children with the knowledge and skills to build a sustainable life and can prevent life-threatening situations. It is unjust to limit children from receiving…

FIRCREST, Washington — In 2013, President Barack Obama began Power Africa as a strategy to reduce extreme poverty. The plan that sought to increase access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Last year, the first solar field was completed in Rwanda. There was a first anniversary celebration this month, which Bono attended. Bono’s ONE Campaign strongly supports the Electrify Africa Act. This Act will provide 50 million people with access to electricity by 2020 and is co-sponsored by Senator Chris Coons. ONE is an international organization that is dedicated to ending extreme poverty and preventable diseases through advocating and campaigning. ONE…

TACOMA, Washington — Ordinary citizens taking action against global poverty is the greatest way to eradicate it. Ordinary citizens have more power than they think, capable of influencing U.S. leaders and encouraging them to use their national power to end extreme poverty. On Aug. 17, hundreds of Global Citizen supporters gathered at The TODAY Show to take part in a day of action centered on ending world hunger. Participants arrived early in the morning to write letters to U.S. leaders encouraging them to support the Food for Peace Reform Act. The Food for Peace Reform Act was introduced to Congress…

TACOMA, Washington — Welsh actress Erin Richards stars in Fox’s Gotham, a television show that focuses on Gotham City before Batman. Perhaps more notably, Richards also is a major activist in the fight against extreme poverty and an ambassador for Global Citizen. Now, she will star as the guest editor for Global Citizen’s month of education. Better than Batman? Absolutely. Global Citizen, an online platform that writes about and takes action against the biggest problems in the world, is dedicating the entire month of August to education. The month-long endeavor will post content in its education section, informing people about…

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania — Modern supermodel Isabeli Fontana has appeared in several national advertising campaigns, from L’Oreal to Chanel, but she is most well known for her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. The most important campaign of her career, however, is the international one dedicated to ending polio. Polio is a threatening and potentially fatal disease caused by a virus. It is most common in children, and often results in paralysis. Polio can, however, be prevented by the polio vaccine. Thanks to this vaccine, the virus has been nearly eradicated worldwide, but unfortunately remains prevalent in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two…

KIGALI, Rwanda – Beyoncé knows that girls run the world, but does everyone else? Empowering women in developing countries is a significant global win that can actually reduce global poverty. Investing in the human rights, economic opportunities and healthcare of women around the world plays a big role in the downfall of poverty. Gender equality effectively supports impoverished nations. Not only does this make sense economically, but it also just plain old makes sense. Put simply, men and women deserve equal opportunities. Unfortunately, however, there are still 31 million girls around the world who are deprived of an education, 300,000…