In the South African townships of Gqeberha, communities confront challenges on their way to success. They encounter high unemployment rates, lack of access to quality education, and a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. And these challenges are exacerbated due to COVID-19.
The Eastern Cape, the province home to Gqeberha, has the highest unemployment rate in South Africa, a staggering 47.1%. Unlike its Western Cape neighbor, the Eastern Cape is a rural region. It’s far behind in the country’s fight for equal...
COVID-19
In Cape Town, South Africa, NewDay United has stepped up during the pandemic to make sure everyone has access to a bright future. As an after-school program, NewDay United is addressing some of the inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19 and helping children and young adults build a better future. They’re providing both hands-on learning and training, and tackling food security with homegrown solutions.
Here’s a look at how.
Giving students a second chance to learn
Abongile Bono, a 21-year-old from the township of...
Do you remember what you were doing on March 11, 2020? Whether you were watching Tiger King or celebrating Parasite’s Academy Award, that date will probably live in history books for a very long time.
That’s because March 11, 2020 was the day that COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic. A lot has happened in those two years — from putting blocks of feta into pasta and kicking off the Tokyo Olympics, to schools closing because of lockdowns and...
Women around the world are working hard every day to fight the pandemic. From fighting food insecurity in their communities and inventing crucial tools to fight the pandemic, to using their positions of power to demand change, they’re working to make 2022 the year we end the pandemic.
That’s why on this International Women’s Day, we want to introduce you to a few of them. Keep reading to find out!
Nomonde Kweza, or “Mama Nomonde”
In South Africa, Nomonde Kweza, also known...
February 14, 2022 marks the two-year anniversary of the first case of COVID-19 in Africa. Despite the several pandemic-related lockdowns and economically disruptive restrictions that have been imposed across Africa to stop the spread of the virus, we are still nowhere close to ending the pandemic.
What’s even more alarming is the number of healthcare workers who have been immigrating. Around 1,000 workers move to the United States each month from African countries, the Philippines, and the Caribbean. In Africa,...
If your social media feed or city streets were flooded with calls to #EndThePandemic once and for all, then you’re familiar with our Global Week of Action.
From 15-22 January, ONE, our dedicated Global Activists, and our partners called on leaders of rich countries to finally make 2022 the year they end the pandemic and vaccinate the world.
Here’s what happened.
Taking over billboards and social media
All week long ONE and it’s partners took over billboards in France, London and Berlin, plastered...
Did you know that #Omicron and Transformers (yes, those Transformers) have a lot in common?
Omicron is the pandemic’s latest threat against us. And by hoarding the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, world leaders are allowing variants like Omicron to continue to grow and spread. That means Omicron may be the latest variant to spread around the world — but it certainly won’t be the last.
Learn more and demand that leaders of rich countries share vaccine doses to end the pandemic...
COVID-19 vaccine inequity is set to worsen unless urgent measures are taken to accelerate vaccine production and distribution globally. Most low- and middle-income countries failed to achieve the WHO target of vaccinating at least 10% of their populations by the end of September. Only 15 African countries met the WHO target, with huge variations among this group. For example, 72% of the population in the Seychelles has been vaccinated, compared to just 13% in Rwanda.
Rich countries, on the other hand,...
In July, Kenyans were dismayed to learn that a cash transfer programme intended to help low-income people deal with COVID-19’s economic impact did not actually benefit those recepients, due to corruption and other irregularities. A study by Human Rights Watch found that officials in charge of disbursing the funds frequently ignored eligibility criteria for beneficiaries, and in some cases, directed the funds to relatives or friends.
Moreover, not all those who were enrolled in the programme received the cash. Many...
Top news
Nuclear threat: As leaders and diplomats gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, French fury over a cancelled order for submarines risked undermining global cooperation on a real crisis: COVID-19, which has killed 60,000 people in the past week. Thankfully, sense (mostly) prevailed as President Joe Biden garnered support for a first-of-its kind goal to end the pandemic everywhere: vaccinate 70% of the world’s population in every country by September 2022, alongside important targets on...