Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than half of its 17 million people living on less than $1.25 USD a day. For the past five years, Mali has experienced a multi-dimensional political and humanitarian crisis, driven in part by internal conflict and terrorism. Mali’s food security has been rocked in recent years by recurring disasters, including erratic rainfall, drought, and a military coup that triggered a political and security crisis. Although peace negotiations were...
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By Anne Smiley and Nurudeen Lawal, FHI 360
In Northern Nigeria, the vast majority of third-grade pupils cannot read a single word in any language. Teaching materials are few and far between, and most teachers receive little training or support. But in Katsina and Zamfara states, communities are excited to see kids starting to learn how to read in Hausa, a language that almost everyone can speak and understand. Learning to read is the first step to learning across all...
By Meg Brindle, Light Years IP
I was at a conference in Kenya when I first met a member of the Maasai, a group of people who live in East Africa. He had a question for me – and the answers could have the potential to dramatically impact poverty for millions of low-income farmers, producers and others.
You’d recognize the Maasai from photos. Many are tall, elegant and very distinctively dressed. Often, when a generic image is used of Africans in...
Story and photos by Ray Mwareya Nancy Chandala, 13, sits in a classroom at Joel Community School in rural Zambia, fixated on a small computer screen. “I wish all my textbooks were loaded on the tablet,” she says. “I would read even when out in the maize fields at home. No carrying of heavy books.” Students at Joel Community School in rural Zambia. Nancy is one of more than 2,000 children from rural areas who are benefiting...
More than 152 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance globally — and at least 64 million have been forced to flee their homes.
While humanitarian organizations race to provide lifesaving efforts, the funding levels are faltering. In fact, humanitarian appeals are on average barely 30% funded. Because of that, it’s more important than ever to be able to make the most effective and impactful use of resources. …But the data on humanitarian aid isn’t really fit for that...
With Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Capitol Hill this week for hearings on President Trump’s budget proposal, 16 top retired generals and flag officers submitted joint testimony today in defense of America’s foreign aid budget.
“It is clear to us that strategic development assistance is not charity,” the military leaders write. “It is an essential, modern tool of U.S. national security.”
“American security is undermined by frail and failing nations where hope is non-existent,...
By Imogen Calderwood, Street Child
For many families in Sierra Leone, education is out of reach for one reason: poverty.
Thousands of children are kept out of school simply because their parents don’t earn enough money so, instead of going to school, these young children have to generate income – often in dangerous work environments out on the streets.
This tragic pattern, unless broken, has the potential to repeat itself endlessly and trap families in poverty for generations.
But with a small helping...
Story and photos by Ray Mwareya
Rudo Mazhande, 32, stands smiling in a warehouse among several hundred huge bars of green soap. A crisp, clean scent wafts through the air. This is Rudo’s factory, where she now employs seven people. And once you hear her story, it’s easy to see why she might be happy.
Despite being a trained chemical engineer, Rudo struggled for years to use her skills. “I have never got a job in my field,” she says. “Because...
As the founder of Slavery Footprint and Made in a Free World, Justin Dillon went from touring musician to major activist — but why? In his new book, A Selfish Plan to Save the World, Justin describes how working on the problems of the world using the talents and skills you already have is a recipe for a purposeful life. We interviewed Justin prior to the launch of the book to talk about his inspirations, and how meeting the needs...
Recently I was in Chad, documenting the work of an NGO that provides food and education for impoverished areas during difficult times. While there, I had the opportunity to talk with and photograph a number of women working to provide for their families. Many of the younger girls were charged with the responsibility of finding fresh water each day — sometimes walking for miles just to find a well or stream. The below photos provide a small glimpse of...