3. Think about the readings and our lectures about global poverty. Consider one of the following dimensions of poverty and describe the social work interventions that can be used to ameliorate that condition:
a. Most persons in poverty in the world are women, and this trend is likely to continue if women cannot receive education and means to make a living. Describe briefly what Grameen Bank has done about this problem for Bangladesh and how you might apply this solution to another country.
b. Refugees are especially prone to poverty because they have lost their livelihood as well as their homeland. Consider refugees in poverty in your own country and describe a social work intervention that can be used to support their empowerment.
The share of the world’s population living below the global extreme poverty line ($1.90 in consumption per day) has plunged dramatically in recent decades, from 42 percent in 1981 to 11 percent in 2013 (PovcalNet 2018). This remarkable decline has given us hopes of continued reductions and created expectations about where future reductions will take place. In 2015, the international community is aiming to end extreme poverty by 2030 in the Sustainable Development Goals. But I see things differently. Capitalism and money changed people forever. Now white rich men don’t care about what it will cause for them to get more money. I want to talk about refugees and how they leave everything behind and run from war. Today is March 11. Lithuania’s Restoration of Independence Day. And I’m thinking about the refugees from Ukraine – how some people fighting in a war for their independence and democracy and how many people left everything behind and ran far away from very horrible man who is doing unforgivable things to a magnificent nation. And because of what? Money, land and natural resources. No one in the world can’t believe the things happening in Ukraine and how much suffering it caused for people who came here looking for a place to stay. As a social worker I can do few things to support their empowerment: try to understand the situation they are in. Maybe first of all they need therapy or just time to heal to start a new chapter in their live, especially, in different country. Then I would try not to push them too hard. Making a list step by step is a great way to do that. Let’s make a goal and try to do that my the end of the week. While making this list I would check if a person really wants to do the things we talked about it and it is doing it because they want to do that and not because social worker said he needs to. Then I would encourage them to learn about people and culture of that country – maybe it would help to understand people better and to fit it. I would also recommend them to learn local language, maybe a few phrases in the beginning – we really appreciate if foreigners try to speak our language! And the last thing I would encourage them is to try make new friends and try to live a life like they lived in their own country. I know is extremely hard in the beginning but doing it would help them to feel like a person they were and a functioning society member in the community.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
1. Page, L. and Pande, R. (2018). Ending Global Poverty: Why Money Isn't Enough. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 32(4), 173-200.
The topic of refugees today is very important in Lithuania. More and more people are leaving Ukraine every day. There is a war going on in their country, forcing the people of the country to flee and leave their homes, property, relatives, men. It is estimated that about 5 million people will leave Ukraine during this war. Most of them are women and children. What we see today is very scary. Women come to a strange country with small children on their hands. They don’t even have the essentials. Sometimes women travel pregnant, sick, ill. Upon arrival in Lithuania, they receive humanitarian assistance and social benefits, but all their material assets are lost. They have to start life from scratch in a foreign country.
ReplyDeleteMany women come to our country already with skills or profession. They need start-up capital and customers to start their own business. One of the examples is how a Ukrainian woman who came to Lithuania started baking cakes a few days later and earning an income from it.
The news quickly spread, and the woman was no longer able to fulfill all the orders. She uses her talent and earns an income from it for a living and further work.
Refugees need support, counseling, social support, accommodation, work to have a steady income to support their families. Because most refugees are women, they can become victims of sexual violence. They need protection.
The whole world is watching the war in Ukraine. Authorities are looking for solutions. But as long as some promise, people are dying at that time, losing their homes. Decisions are needed immediately.
The duty of a social worker is to help such families to settle in a new country, to enable them, to help them arrange legal documents, to find a job, to help their children get an education.
https://www.delfi.lt/darbas/profesijos/nuo-karo-pasprukusi-nescia-aliona-ranku-sudejusi-nesedi-jos-kepti-tortai-jau-uzkariavo-interneta-prie-ju-nutiso-eiles.d?id=89639165&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR37Sjp83TyiIjGyellJx2cnUbUimJvGAvcmCeUFgsCCy0ZZUm_r99ty1AQ#Echobox=1646768922
I really enjoyed reading your post, because I wrote about war refugees and shared similar insights glad to have like-minded people. Your message about what’s going on has confirmed my knowledge, because I have a similar opinion. Thanks for the insights and shares. I hope that what is happening in Ukraine will soon end and we will be able to live in peace.
Delete-Paulina Šlepavičiūtė
I guess, I can say, that refugee crisis and poverty is a challenge to our civilization. In the 21st century, countries are still at war, for land, for power, and for principles, which is causing innocent people who become refugees of war. By the end of 2016, nearly 5.2 million refugees and migrants reached European shores, undertaking treacherous journeys from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries torn apart by war and persecution. According to the latest figures, 2.6 million people have already become war refugees since the start of the war in Ukraine. According to the report of the Ministry of the Interior, 10,000 war refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Lithuania. Refugees are highly vulnerable, with a vast majority either poor today or expected to be poor in the near future. Poverty is one of the main threats to refugees. The most common causes of refugee poverty are language failure, lack of savings, and slow integration into a foreign culture, economy and labor market.
ReplyDeleteWorld Bank Report (2001) claims that “Poverty is the result of economic, political, and social processes that interact with each other and frequently reinforce each other in ways that exacerbate the deprivation in which poor people live.” In other words, wrong political decisions, weak social integration and a volatile national economy can fail to meet the needs of refugees and push them into poverty. Lithuania is not a wealthy country, but in the face of the crisis, it is uniting and helping those in need. Ukrainian refugees are received by the families of ordinary Lithuanian citizens, Centers are set up, food, clothes and other items are donated. the ministry is amending legislation to allow refugees access to medical and financial assistance.
Social work as a profession – in education and practice – has an important role to play in advancing the human rights of refugees. The social worker play vital role in order to meet physical needs of refugees, for food, clothing, health care and shelter, have to be met. Social work as a profession clearly has much to offer in services for refugees. From a skill base that integrates intra-personal and inter-personal helping with the practicalities of assisting people to negotiate their way around the social welfare system, social workers can respond to the complex needs of refugees within an understanding of the wider context of family relationships and social institutions. Social workers are ideally placed to structure services which respond to the special needs of refugee families, family support services, play groups, support groups, recreational activities all contribute to the healing process. As one of the most important task of social work with immigrants was described social assistance and social counseling. Accompanying the client to doctors, police station, offices, helping him or her to arrange living is seen as essential. (Zakova, M., Levicka, K., Legersky, D 2015, p.86) In Lithuania, the refugee crisis is a new phenomenon, so we, as professionals, have to adapt and take an interest in the practice of other countries. We must meet the needs of asylum seekers, help them integrate into society, into the labor market, integrate children into educational institutions, and this is the only way to reduce the risk of poverty.
1. Sunday Paul Chinazo Onwuegbuchulam (2018) A Capability Approach assessment of poverty in the sociopolitical history of South Africa/KwaZulu-Natal, Journal of Poverty, 22:4, 287-309, DOI: 10.1080/10875549.2017.1419529
2. World Bank. 2001. World Development Report 2000/2001 : Attacking Poverty. World Development Report;. New York: Oxford University Press. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/11856 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
3. Zakova, M., Levicka, K., Legersky, D. (2015). Identity of Social Workers Working with Immigrants with an International Protection in Slovakia. Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 7(1).http://ifsw.org/policies.
PART 1:
ReplyDeleteIn Lithuania, women are at greater risk of poverty than men. According to Lithuania Ministry of Social Security and Labour (2019), women’s salary is about 12,4 % lower than men. Women tend to face gender-based discrimination in the labour market: the division into “masculine” and “feminine” occupations prevail, “feminine” seen positions often pays less, women traditionally have to take maternity leaves to care for children or a family member and even sometimes women recruitment is based on their looks rather than her skills. According to Maas-Weigert (2008), this could even be described as a form of ‘structural violence’ because it causes women’s marginalization, leads to an unequal distribution of power between men and women and is built into the labour market structure. All that results in a lower salary meaning lower old age pension. Paulauskas (2017) mentions, that Lithuanian women’s old-age pensions are 18 % lower than men. That means women in old age face much greater poverty risk.
Traditionally due to patriarchal gender norms, men are seen as providers for the family. Men don’t usually face sexism at the workplace, it’s not expected from them to take paternity leaves and their salary is much higher than women’s even in the same occupation. For instance, Lithuania Ministry of Social Security and Labour (2019) provide data, that in the financial sphere women’s salary was 36,3 % lower than men’s. This inequality creates women's dependence on men financially. It also leads to an unequal distribution of power at home and can lead to economic violence against women. According to Gustainienė (2005), women without their own income may find it difficult to leave the abuser because they alone will not be able to support themselves and their children. This restricts a woman's freedom (financial, physical, and psychological freedom) and independence. Accordingly, Grameen Bank principles would be very beneficial for Lithuanian women: for single mothers with lower pay than men, for women who are financially dependent on their male partners, for elderly women whose pension does not guarantee a dignified old age and for every woman who is experiencing economic inequality and discrimination.
Muhammad Yunus started Grameen Bank as a way to help beggars. He created opportunities for self- employment for the poorest people (mostly women) in Bangladesh. He made micro-lending programs where people in poverty could lend money to make a small business, as beggars already had the skills to sell items door to door. As people began to repay their loans, their income grew, they became able to lend more money and the bank became self-supporting as people repaid loans. As Muhammad Yunus (2006) mentions in his Nobel lecture, the banks said that the poor were not creditworthy, while he decided to give beggars a choice for their financial independence, and he was stunned by the results. Therefore, Grameen Bank created an opportunity for poor people to make a living and be able to be responsible for their own income. By now Grameen Bank reached 80 % of Bangladesh families, the repayment rate is 99 % and people are able to get an education and fight poverty (Grameen Bank, 2022). As I mentioned before this concept would be very beneficial for Lithuanian women who are experiencing poverty. I noticed that in Lithuanian fairs and markets especially elderly women are trying to sell their knitted items. Usually, it is couple socks or gloves. These women are trying to make more money for their survival. Even though they have worked all their lives their pension can be very minimal. Therefore, Grameen Bank could help them to sell their items more comfortably and to be able to earn more for their living.
PART 2:
DeleteAs I mentioned before, in Lithuania women earn way less than men. Therefore, single mothers can struggle with supporting themselves and their children. However, Grameen Bank concept could help them too to recruit their hobbies and make a living. As well as break gender stereotypes. As Bianco, Lombe and Bolis (2017) mentioned, empowering women to become entrepreneurs can be very useful for their self-esteem, to increase their self-growth as well as contribute to gender stereotypes breaking. I can see a big social worker’s role in helping to empower women, giving them information about the support they can get and guide women to create their living.
Grameen Bank also gives student loans. This part really made me think about girls from families who are experiencing economic and social challenges. Even though in Lithuania education is free, only those with good grades can join for free. Many girls from struggling families may never be able to go to university or college. Therefore, Grameen Bank concept application in Lithuania could help more girls from different backgrounds get an education. There I can also see social workers working with the family’s role in giving girls knowledge about access to education and guiding them through the process. As well as include Grameen Bank principles into social work with Ukrainian refugees – helping Ukrainian women to get settled in a new country and create their own income.
References:
1. Bianco, M. E., Lombe, M., & Bolis, M. (2017). Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship.
2. Grameen Bank. (2022). Access through internet: https://www.grameen-info.org/
3. Gustainienė, M. (2005). Smurto prieš moteris priežastys ir prevencija. Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas, (01), 110-121.
4. Lietuvos Respublikos socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija. (2019). Išanalizavo moterų ir vyrų darbo užmokesčio atotrūkį Lietuvoje: kada moterys pažeidžiamos labiausiai. Access through internet: https://socmin.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/isanalizavo-moteru-ir-vyru-darbo-uzmokescio-atotruki-lietuvoje-kada-moterys-pazeidziamos-labiausiai
5. Maas-Weigert, K. (2008). Structural violence. Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict, 3, 2004-11.
6. Paulauskas, D. (2017). Lyčių nelygybė darbo rinkoje. Access through internet: https://lygybe.lt/data/public/uploads/2020/07/lyciu_nelygybe_darbo_rinkoje.pdf
“Muhammad Yunus, professor of economics and founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, was visionary in drawing attention to poverty as a violation of human rights. He insisted that human rights violations are not limited to the denial of individual freedoms, but occur when people lack basic needs, such as food, shelter, health and education. Yunus believes that credit for self- employment represents a fundamental human right; without economic resources all other human rights cannot be realized. This conviction was instrumental in the development of the Grameen Bank, which pioneered a peer-lending banking approach geared toward improving the human rights of mainly poor women. The Grameen Bank seeks to empower people to overcome the oppressive conditions of exploitation, poverty, and ignorance. The Bank provides credit without collateral to the poorest of the poor who have no assets, and assists poor women to escape extreme poverty. By owning a little, a poor woman achieves a sense of economic and personal autonomy, which is a significant improvement over owning nothing at all.” (Jansen & Pippard, 2008, p. 104).
ReplyDeleteAccording to Ministry of Social Security and Labour (2019) in Lithuania, women live statistically longer than men, but due to the pay gap between women and men at work and the more difficult combination of family and work, women are more at risk of poverty and social exclusion in old age. According to Official Statistics portal (2020) in 2019, at-risk-of-poverty rate in urban and rural areas stood at 17.1 and 27.9 percent respectively. I think it would be useful to apply Grameen Bank's ideas in Lithuania. As written by Jansen & Pippard (2008) the role of social workers is to participate in innovative and creative community practice approaches that promote self-employment projects as an alternative or supplement to welfare. And in Lithuania, the role of a social worker in local communities is still lacking. Statistics show that poverty is more prevalent in rural areas, so it is important to promote the role of social workers there. Social workers in rural communities could encourage self- employment of retired women. These women could employ their hobbies or favorite activities to and start their own business and for the beginning of this business they could lend money from a bank like Grameen Bank. This would not only increase the self-realization of older women, but also reduce their poverty and encourage women in rural communities to team up and work together. Member of the European Parliament Arena (2016) said that single mothers are also at risk of poverty. And I think that Grameen Bank ideas would work for this group too. Social workers could counsel women and help them start their own business. Promoting women’s entrepreneurship would not only help reduce women’s poverty, but would also help combat gender inequality (Bianco, Lombe & Bolis, 2017).
Gintarė Patašiūtė
References:
Bianco, M. E., Lombe, M., & Bolis, M. (2017). Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 9(4), 338-358.
Jansen, G. G., & Pippard, J. L., (2008). The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh: Helping poor women with credit for self-employment. Journal of Community Practice, 5(1-2), 103-123.
Maria Arena: Female poverty is the result of a lifetime of discrimination. (2016). Retrieved from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20160418STO23760/maria-arena-female-poverty-is-the-result-of-a-lifetime-of-discrimination
Ministry of Social Security and Labour. (2019). Skirtumas tarp moterų ir vyrų atlyginimų lemia skurdesnę moterų senatvę. Retrieved from: https://socmin.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/skirtumas-tarp-moteru-ir-vyru-atlyginimu-lemia-skurdesne-moteru-senatve
Official Statistics portal. (2020). Income and living conditions of the population of Lithuania (edition 2020). Retrieved from: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/lietuvos-gyventoju-pajamos-ir-gyvenimo-salygos-2020/skurdo-rizika/skurdo-rizikos-lygis
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ReplyDelete3. Global poverty is a very complex and highly sensitive problem, as it touches on demographic, social inequality and is linked to other major problems. The pandemic led to 97 million more people being in poverty in 2020. This is a reduction of about 20 million from 2019. Even this reduced estimate represents a historically unprecedented increase in global poverty (World Bank Group, 2022). Vulnerable groups such as refugees are particularly vulnerable to poverty and the resulting problems. First of all, we should talk about what puts refugees in poverty. People who are forced to flee their country face life-threatening, natural or environmental disasters, chemical or nuclear disasters, hunger, forced labour, trafficking in human beings. They are losing everything they had before because of certain problems, such as war in their country, climate change or persecution of religion. This results in fleeing their country and losing all the wealth they have accumulated during their lives. It is therefore worth emphasizing that they are a very vulnerable group as they have painful and traumatic experiences and are also exposed to poverty. It is important that poverty does not increase when they move to another country and that they are given all the help they need. For example, the rights and freedoms of refugees that are not granted to them by their state are protected by the Geneva Convention (1951). The purpose of the Geneva Convention is to ensure that a refugee enjoys rights and freedoms in the host country which he or she cannot enjoy in his or her own country. It is a way of providing protection that is not provided by the country of origin. It must also be emphasized how refugees are received by society in the host country and how they view refugees, as this will determine their integration into the country and, consequently, their impact on their poverty. I believe that social workers could contribute to helping with refugees' training, education, and language learning. As poverty can be reduced through their integration into society, and the integration of refugees into society is hampered by the fact that they do not have the right education, sufficient competencies to find work. It would also be important to pay attention to the attitude of employers, so they should be encouraged not to be afraid and confident in recruiting a refugee. For example, Lithuania has now received people fleeing Ukraine due to the war. The plus in this situation is that, without a doubt, Lithuanian society is willing to accept and take care of them, so the integration of these refugees is easier. As women and children are the main victims of this war, it is important for social workers to take care of their accommodation, help with paperwork and other processes, help them find work and provide emotional support. It is very important for social workers to help children get education in Lithuania and learn the Lithuanian language. The key would be to focus on and provide assistance for the integration of refugees, thus avoiding their increased poverty.
ReplyDeleteOn a global scale, 71.4 million people worldwide have been forced from their homelands in 2019- 85% of them are hosted in developing countries, with the majority of them living in the host country for more than five years, making economic aid long term solutions rather than short term relief. A lack of employment mechanism prevents refugees from formal employment and regular earnings and social protection, low self-reliance and dependence on humanitarian aid, lack of dignity and confidence while unable to provide for their families, build independent and meaningful future. Many refugees and people of concern live in extreme poverty. The most vulnerable among them are so poor that they can’t engage in activities from most regular livelihood programmes. They are also short of basic know-how and lack confidence in their abilities. All this makes escaping extreme poverty even harder. To create means for the refugees to access to work reduces pressure on both refugees and the host community, and eases pressure on the host country as they contribute to overall economic growth (Poverty Alleviation Coalition, 2019). In response to this global poverty situation among refugees and in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) formed a global coalition with the World Bank Partnership for Economic Inclusion and 13 NGO partners. Very similar to the basic concept to the successful Garmeen Bank’s poverty alleviation model (Moreno, 2010), The Graduation Approach (TGA)- graduate from poverty and not just to treat the symptoms- is “a combination of consumption support and asset/cash transfers, followed by up to two years of training, mentoring and encouragement” (Poverty Alleviation Coalition, 2019).
ReplyDeleteThinking about applying a similar approach to Taiwan is a thought provoking one. As Taiwan is not a United Nations member and therefore does not have an official United Nations High Commission for Refugees office. Yet, in 2009, an amendment to the National Immigration Act was passed to allow anyone who is persecuted in their country to apply for residency, and the Refugee Law is currently in the process to be passed since 2016- aiming to ease the asylum process into Taiwan and allow it to take in more refugees. Although Taiwan currently does not officially accept refugees, since 1963, approximately 150,000 illegal Chinese immigrants have entered the country seeking refuge from the communist government (The Borgen Project, 2017). The hypothetical intervention in supporting future refugees to be economically and socially independent may borrow from some of the keys features such as: Time Bound (with clear cut-off date in which the participant are self-reliant, enabling a sense of urgency and timely purpose), Consumption Support (ensure in the meantime, food security and meeting basic needs to allow a fair avenue for the families to consider their livelihood strategies), “Big Push” Asset Transfer (seed capital to start small businesses o employment opportunities), Financial Including (providing financial services such as informal savings mechanism), Social Services (legal and psyco social counselling, language, prevention, protection and response to Gender Based Violence, education, and health), Coaching & Mentoring (individual self-reliance plans, financial education & soft skills development and following implementations of livelihoods plans).
References:
1. Poverty Alleviation Coalition (2019) The Graduation Approach. https://alleviate-poverty.org/methodology
2. Moreno, Ana Maria, "Grameen Microfinance: An Evaluation of the Successes and Limitations of the Grameen Bank" (2010). Honors Theses (PPE). Paper 17. https://repository.upenn.edu/ppe_honors/17/
3. Wynn, A. (10 Jun, 2017) 10 Facts about Refugees in Taiwan. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/10-facts-about-taiwan-refugees/
I really enjoyed reading your post. It was interesting to hear your ideas about implementing something similar to Grameen Bank in Taiwan, especially when it comes to refugees. Like you said, refugees are specifically disadvantaged in this area because they receive even less support than those who are citizens. I wrote about Grameen bank as well and also reflected on the difficulty of escaping poverty due to the ways in which people living in poverty are continuously set up for failure by governments and those with wealth and power. I think your point about reducing pressure for both communities by creating access to income for refugees is exactly why the rest of the world can learn so much from Grameen Bank. Muhammad Yunus (2006) said in his Nobel Peace Prize Lecture that addressing social and economic problems, such as poverty and the refugee crises, are actually really exciting opportunities because these problems are perfectly fit to be addressed by social businesses. I thought this was a really radical way of looking at poverty and other social issues but I can’t say I disagree with him. Considering the fact that we live in a capitalist world, it actually makes a lot of sense that this type of creativity would do well to address social issues in cost-effective and efficient ways.
Delete-Phoebe Siegel-Horne
Yunus, Muhammad. (2006). The Nobel Peace Prize Lecture. Grameen Bank.
Compared to their male counterparts, “due to widespread discrimination, women are more likely to live in poverty” (Mapp, 2007). Furthermore, as a result of their status of poverty, they feel even more disadvantaged due to the “economic, political, and social processes that interact with each other and frequently reinforce each other in ways that exacerbate the deprivation in which poor people live” (Onwuegbuchulam, 2017). One way in which Grameen Bank has mitigated this problem in Bangladesh is by creating a Struggling Members Program to loan money to beggars. These loans are interest-free and most of the borrowers were women which allowed mothers to send their children to school. This bank is highly successful as the repayment rate is about 99%. These principles can be applied to my own country in multiple ways. For one, breaking the stigma that those living in poverty are not necessarily untrustworthy and irresponsible people as evidence by the high repayment rate at Grameen Bank. Furthermore, by providing these opportunities to women, who are typically primary caretakers of the families, the cycle of poverty is being broken for their children and the next generation as they will be able to utilize this education to make a living as adults (Bianco).
ReplyDeleteReferences:
• Bianco, M. E., M. Lombe and M. Bolis (2017). Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship 9(4): 338-358.
• Mapp, Susan C. (2008). Human Rights and Social Justice in a Global Perspective : An Introduction to International Social Work. Oxford University Press: New York.
• Onwuegbuchulam, S. P. C. (2018). "A Capability approach assessment of poverty in the sociopolitical history of South Africa KwaZulu Natal." Journal of Poverty 22(4): 287-309.
- Natalie Archdeacon
Hi Natalie,
DeleteI wrote a response about Grameen bank, as well. I love the idea behind this system, and the results are just further proving how amazing it is for those experiencing poverty, especially women. Your point about breaking the stigma against those experiencing poverty with this program, and the evidence to prove against the stigma, is great insight. As Bianco et al. (2017) participants note, women having autonomy, self-confidence, and self-confidence are all positive consequences of undoing gender norms through entrepreneurship. Grameen Bank is something that directly addresses this and helps to break the cycle of poverty that affects so many families around the world. In the United States, I can see this being as successful as in Bangladesh, and I hope there is a movement to expand the bank to more cities around the country.
Bianco, M. E., Lombe, M., & Bolis, M. (2017). Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 9(4), 338-358. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijge-10-2017-0060
Hi Natalie,
DeleteAfter responding to the question on Grameen Bank, I think you made very valid points about the benefits that can result from implementing this plan of action. When learning about this type of social business in class, I was shocked to see that this type of business existed. I find the points that you made about the high success rate and pay back percentages as high as 99% to be outstanding. The long term effects can be essential for women and their children who are in poverty. Having the resources to provide schooling for their children can not only help these women struggling, but eliminate the ongoing effects of poverty on these children, discontinuing this ongoing cycle. I find that this program can be applicable to most countries with a collectism culture. I find that it may be difficult to implement within countries that have a stricter individualistic view, as providing aid for those in need can be challenging to apply. Educating the public and advertising the benefits of this program may help open the minds of the public in order to work towards globalizing this program.
Grameen Bank is a microfinance organization and community development bank that was founded in Bangladesh. It makes small loans (known as microcredit or “grameencredit”) to people experience poverty without requiring any collateral. A majority of these individuals utilizing Grameen Bank are women, 97% according to the Grameen Bank website. As of 2021, there are over 2,500 branches that covers more than 93% of the total villages in Bangladesh. It was also noted that over 97% of the loans are paid back, which is a recovery rate higher than any other banking system. There are Grameen Banks located in 58 countries, including the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and Norway. Grameen Bank has won a Nobel Peace Prize for this amazing work.
ReplyDeleteI can absolutely see this being successful in the United States. There are not nearly as many locations in the country as Bangladesh, and I believe this system would be beneficial for those who are living in poverty, particularly women. Bianco et al. (2017) further identified the need and impact of women’s entrepreneurship, and Grameen can be the missing piece in the United States. There are 19 cities with a Grameen Bank, which has created about 150,000 jobs and served about 140,000 women. There is even a 99% repay rate in the United States. Imagine who could be impacted if Grameen Bank were to further expand across the country. Not only are more job opportunities created, but more women can also be positively impacted by a nationwide rollout of Grameen Bank.
Bianco, M. E., Lombe, M., & Bolis, M. (2017). Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 9(4), 338-358. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijge-10-2017-0060
https://cdn.sida.se/publications/files/sida62275en-dimensions-of-poverty.pdf
https://grameenbank.org/
Poverty is a major problem worldwide. Every country in the world faces poverty. Of course, they are different: in more developed countries, poverty is felt by a small proportion of people, while in other, economically weaker countries: the problem is growing. Poverty means not only not having money, but much more. A person may be impoverished because they have not received a proper education, may have health problems and may no longer be able to work. It needs to be addressed, the causes need to be found and eliminated. In her speech, Amartya Sen talks about the theory of possibilities and when to keep power. According to Amartya, a person has the right to choose, to have the opportunity to decide. The biggest choice is the opportunity to choose for yourself, freely. This is what Wangari Maathai did, which allowed the community to take up shops for women's ability to work and for their recognition, for girls to go to school and for access to education. Wangari Maathai is very clear and enlightened, her environment, education and community are important to her. Wangari Maathai, who understood most of the most important things - poverty. Most of the caring for women and girls was to inspire people to make their dreams come true. Wangari Maathai, along with other women, founded the Green Belt Movement, which aims to organize Kenyan rural women to plant trees, combat deforestation, restore the main sources of fuel for cooking, and generate income.
ReplyDeleteSen A. Poor, Relatively Speaking. Oxford Economic Papers, New Series, Vol. 35, no. 2. (Jul., 1983).
Maathai W. (2004). Nobel Lecture.
According to a 2018 study on poverty, “nearly 10 million women live in deep poverty” with this population making up 12.9% of the overall population. Comparing these statistics to the numbers of men in poverty (10.6%) it is easy to draw conclusions about the unequal findings that gender has on this form of injustice. With limited access to resources and negative stereotypes of women with children in poverty, this cycle of inequality will continue to advance if an immediate plan is not enacted. It is vital that we look at other resources being provided around the world in order to formulate the most advantageous plan for the population at risk. When discussing the topic of poverty, it is beneficial to look at the structure of Grameen Bank and its impact within Bangladesh. Founded by Muhammed Yunus in 1983, Grameen Bank started as an unconventional bank on a mission to aid the public. Unlike typical banks who feed off of those struggling financially, Grameen Bank works towards helping those in poverty. By granting his customers a steady rate of interest when paying off loans. This gives the customers the ability to take out the money they need, but not have to worry about the burden of increasing interest rates when paying them off. According to Yunus, he believes that “poverty is the absence of all human rights,” therefore he encourages the concept of a social business as “a solution to contemporary economic problems.”
ReplyDeleteWhen analyzing Grameen Bank’s concept of The Struggle Members Program, it is helpful to attempt to envision what it might look like if it is implemented globally. I personally find that in most struggling countries, this program can be implemented fairly easily within an economy. Yet, countries that adopt a more individualistic mindset such as the U.S. may find opposition to this concept. With the concept of survival of the fittest being so prevalent in America, and the idea of getting ahead being so stressed in daily life, Grameen Bank may not be as easily applicable in Western countries that adopt this culture. Many people in the U.S believe that people in poverty deserve to be in the situation that they are in, as the concept of success being something you can control is very prevalent. Knowing this, I believe that a country with ideals on collectivism and less drive towards greed may adopt this program easier than the U.S. Although not impossible, it would take setting aside the power of greed and the all-consuming concept of capitalism to widespread the social business of Grameen Bank.
Reference:
President, J. C. I. V., Cusick, J., President, I. V., Montecinos Director, C., Montecinos, C., et. al (2021, December 3). The basic facts about women in poverty. Center for American Progress. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/basic-facts-women-poverty/#:~:text=Quick%20facts%20about%20women%20living,of%20the%20federal%20poverty%20line.
Based on 2019 data, 71,4 million people worldwide have been forced to leave their homes and countries. UNHCR has declared that it is estimated that over 3 million people have fled Ukraine due to recent events. As expected, people who need to flee suddenly usually are not prepared, don’t have a plan B, and due to trauma and hope hold on to money in hopes of returning home soon. According to the World Bank Group, in 2018, four out of five people were living below the international poverty line and women represent a majority of the poor in most regions and some age groups. Extreme global poverty rose in 2020 due to COVID – 19. At the moment Lithuania became a shelter for 15 708 refugees (May 15th statistics). At the moment Lithuania is providing free housing to refugees and a visa-free regime that lasts 90 days. Also providing emergency and health care services (that also includes COVID – 19 vaccination). Refugees can start work in Lithuania immediately if they have a biometric passport (no need for work permit). Students can continue or start studying in Lithuania. Studies will be partially supported by the government and also some education institutions plan to exempt student from tuition. There is also a lot of other free help that Lithuania is providing refugees, which includes psychological help, bank services, insurance and so on. There has been job spots created exclusively for refugees, and that includes work at schools, kindergartens and factories. In 2019 the absolute poverty line in Lithuania was 251 Eur per month for a single person and 527 Eur for a family. In 2019 7,7 % of people reached the absolute poverty line, it decreased 3,4 % since 2018. In order to ensure the minimum needs and livelihood of refugees, municipalities are providing social support such as a one – time targeted, periodical, conditional benefit. After receiving temporary protection status, Ukrainians will be entitled to monetary social support.
ReplyDelete1. Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybė. Information for Ukrainian citizens. https://lrv.lt/lt/aktuali-informacija/informacija-apie-situacija-ukrainoje/aktuali-informacija-1/information-for-ukrainian-citizens
2. Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybė. Lietuva Ukrainai. https://socmin.lrv.lt/lt/veiklos-sritys/socialine-integracija/lietuva-ukrainai#Parama%20ir%20pagalba%20ukrainie%C4%8Diams
3. Official Statistics Portal. Income and living conditions of the population of Lithuania (edition 2020). https://osp.stat.gov.lt/lietuvos-gyventoju-pajamos-ir-gyvenimo-salygos-2020/absoliutus-skurdas/absoliutaus-skurdo-lygis
4. Poverty Alleviation Coalition. Global Poverty Situation Among Refugees and Hosts. https://alleviate-poverty.org/about
5. Study in Lithuania. Support for Ukrainian Students. https://studyin.lt/support-for-ukrainian-students/
6. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ukraine emergency. https://www.unhcr.org/ukraine-emergency.html
7. The World Bank. Poverty overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview#1
Dominika Viduolytė
DeleteAccording (Nacionalinis skurdo mažinimo organizacijų tinklas, 2020), those living in poverty are considered to be those persons, income and other resources material, social and cultural so limited that it pushes them out of the acceptable lifestyle in the country where they live. Poverty is not only linked to income shortages but also barriers to accessing services and the various options that hinders full participation in society in life. Global extreme poverty rose in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the forces of conflict and climate change, which were already slowing poverty reduction progress. About 100 million additional people are living in poverty as a result of the pandemic (The World bank, 2021).
ReplyDeleteAt present, poverty is also contributing to poverty the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought a new war into existence, a grim turn of events that promises brutal consequences. I believe that poverty will increase further due to the war in Ukraine. Because war fuels poverty: 1. War disrupts food systems by undermining food production, causing rapid inflation of food prices, and preventing people from earning money to buy food. 2. War destroys key infrastructure that supports daily life, from water systems to energy centers to hospitals. 3. War displaces people from their homes, forces children from the classroom, worsens gender inequality, and exposes people to extreme levels of violence (McCarthy, 2022). Currently, most refugees in Lithuania are from Ukraine, over 11,000 have already been registered. Mostly women arrives, women with children, children. The purpose of assistance in Lithuania is to help Ukrainians to settle and create a life in Lithuania: to provide food, clothing, hygiene products, medicines, take care of their psychological health and other needs. Social workers should first get acquainted with the arrived persons, find out their needs, help to register with the Migration Department, health institutions, contact for social support, children's education, study supplies, one-time allowance, food or household items, help to understand how to behave in various life situations in Lithuania. In my opinion, the most important thing is still when they having such information would further consolidate existing institutional approaches to support. Social workers are also helped to settle down, get a job and get the services they need.
1. McCarthy, J. (2022). How War Fuels Poverty. Global Citizen. Access through internet: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/how-war-fuels-poverty/
2. Nacionalinis skurdo mažinimo organizacijų tinklas (2020). Skurdas ir socialinė atskirtis Lietuvoje 2020. Access through internet: https://www.smtinklas.lt/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Skurdas-ir-socialine-atskirtis_2020.pdf
3. The World Bank (2021). Understanding Poverty. Access through internet: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview#1
3) Poverty is significant in society because it causes direct harm to the people who experience it, increases the manifestations of inequality between people in society. In the economic concept of poverty, according to Onwuegbuchulam (2018), a family does not become poor if its total income is sufficient for minimum needs (food, clothing, housing, and heating). The report of the National Network of Poverty Alleviation Organizations (2021) emphasizes the importance of understanding that poverty harms society as a whole: it shatters social solidarity and trust, worries and insecurities, and wastes the potential of the poor, which inevitably shakes the foundations of democracy. If we are talking about poverty, I am thinking first of all of the third world countries. However, poverty is no less prevalent in the societies of developed countries. In recent years, the global Covid 19 pandemic has contributed to an increase in global poverty. According to the Lithuanian Department of Statistics, the most vulnerable in Lithuania are the unemployed, single people, single parents raising children, old-age pensioners and people with disabilities, large families and children. In order to reduce poverty, it is necessary to focus on the availability of education, social services and the reduction of unemployment. Education opens up wider opportunities for people, and education for the poor is one of the most important ways to reduce poverty, according to Seipel (2003). I believe that in order for an adult to be able to take care of himself, education needs to be available from an early age. Not in Lithuania, but there are definitely countries in the world where the education of girls and young women is still a big challenge. In Lithuania, the lack of access to education is most often experienced by people with disabilities living in institutions. If the situation in the general education system is not very bad, then the pursuit of further vocational education is often accompanied by barriers created by society. And without a vocational education, they cannot find a job and remain in the state for life. However, the world is changing and I am glad that access to education is not restricted in Lithuania. There are more and more countries where the stereotype that women do not need an education no longer exists. The growing number of women in management positions - in Lithuania, even the rectors of three universities are women (Mykolas Riomeris University, Vilnius Academy of Arts and Lithuanian Sports University), we had a female president, now our Prime Minister and Speaker of the Seimas are women. And this is a good example for young girls. Women must have the opportunity to get an education, to work, to earn money, to be independent of men.
ReplyDeleteGrameen Bank established Muhammad Junus in Bangladesh in 1983 as an opportunity to provide loans to those who need them and those who do not lend to ordinary banks. So the bank is for the poor and especially for women. With Grameen Bank loans, people have the opportunity to get an education, a craft, which allows them to work, earn and help their families. Thinking about today's issues, I would use the idea of Grameen bank in my country to help and empower migrants, especially from Afghanistan and Ukraine. After all, they need finance to start a life and establish themselves in a foreign country. The simplest thing is to get to work, to take the children to school. No credit institution operating in Lithuania will give them a loan, as there are many requirements to prove their solvency. And first have a job or other steady income. It is this idea that I see as enabling migrants to establish themselves in a foreign country.
Violeta,
DeleteYour response was very comprehensive, and I appreciate the statistics you used to highlight the effects of COVID-19 on global poverty rates. One of my American colleagues, Maddie, said in her response, "while income generation is an important outcome sought by women entrepreneurs, women also seek autonomy and renegotiation of gender roles," and I think that quotation ties directly into the connections you made in your post between women and attaining positions of power that have traditionally been held by men.
-Mason Garcera
DeleteThank you Mason so much for your reaction and prompting about Maddie's approach. I was just looking at whose post to comment on ;)
DeleteOne of the most harmful views that has come from the stigmatization of poverty is that poor people can’t be trusted with money. There is an automatic assumption that people living in poverty, if given money, will spend it on drugs or alcohol. This is very harmful in many ways, but it’s also just silly to act like people who DO have money aren’t spending it on drugs or alcohol too. What Muhammad Yunus (2006) has done with Grameen Bank is a truly incredible response to this stigma and harmful mindset. Grameen Bank gives micro-enterprise loans to poor people (mostly women) in Bangladesh in order to combat the idea that poor people are not “creditworthy”. The bank has changed millions of lives and it has changed the world. Yunus even recalls being stunned when the loans were paid back “on time, every time” (2006). The micro-enterprise loans address the more immediate issues (funds for housing, education, etc.), which then allows us to then get to the root of poverty. Yunus says, “we create the world in accordance with our mindset” (2006). Social workers know that poverty is violent and peace cannot exist while poverty does. Grameen Bank and its success teaches us that peace requires redistribution of power and wealth, and a radical change in our mindset. Not only should similar banks to Grameen be established all over, but if everyone paid attention - really listened to poor people and saw the violence of poverty - we could change the world.
ReplyDeleteMuhammad Yunus, The Nobel Peace Prize Lecture, 2006. Grameen Bank.
(Phoebe Siegel-Horne)
Phoebe,
DeleteThank you for sharing this Nobel Peace Prize Lecture information about Grameen Bank. I did not know that something like this existed and it was working so well! In my work practice I seen both of the point you made - people who get money spend it on some stupid stuff that they don't need and the other people save them for emergencies and are very strict on their budget. I think the way people choose to spend their money comes from childhood and how a person was raised. If parents taught them how so save money and not to spend them in one go, a person know how to control them. If not - well, we see them next day asking for more. Overall I think you pointed out great things - I also think that we need to pay more attention and really listen to poor people because they do have great ideas how to help their community.
Grameen Bank is an organization that was founded in Bangladesh. The organization provides banking services to the rural poor, especially women. On their website, they state that their mission is… “to empower the poor, especially women, to create a world without poverty and hunger” (Grameen Foundation). Essentially, the foundation gives out loans to people who in poverty, and 97% of the people who are receiving these loans are women. The foundation has had great success, and 97% of the loans are paid back to the bank (Grameen Foundation). The Grameen Foundation has spread to many other countries, and continues to try and fight poverty, especially for women, all over the globe.
ReplyDeleteBanking systems like these will really help to advance the opportunities of women all over the globe. Many women are in poverty and lack education, which makes it extremely hard for them to be able to make money and have a livelihood of their own. The book International Social Work: Professional Action in an Independent World by Lynne M. Healy says that, “the increasing feminization of poverty is recognized world-wide. Women-headed households are poorer in all countries; women’s poverty affects the lives of their children and is a major contributor to special problems of disadvantaged children” (Healy, p. 85, 2001). When women live in poverty it not only impacts them, but it will also have an impact on their children. This is why things like the Grameen Bank are so important to help women escape poverty, and it allows for women to be entrepreneurs with the loans that are provided. The article “Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship” by Emilia M Bianco, Margaret Lombe and Mara Bolis says that, “while income generation is an important outcome sought by women entrepreneurs, women also seek autonomy and renegotiation of gender roles” (Bianco, Lombe, Bolis, p.5, 2017). Allowing women to have the chance to be entrepreneurs and acquire their own income will help not only to get more women out of poverty, but it will also help to redefine gender norms.
I think that something like Grameen bank would be really successful in the United States, as well as most places around the globe. Many women in the US live in poverty, and struggle to have the opportunity to change the financial situation they are in. Allowing women who may not normally be able to get a loan to be able to get one could help to encourage more women to be entrepreneurs and no longer live in poverty. I think that this is a great way to help disadvantaged people reinvent their lives and the opportunities that they have.
I really enjoyed your approach to empowering women in the US through projects like Grameen Bank. Because, as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women says, "discrimination against women violates the principles of equality and respect for human dignity, prevents women from participating on an equal footing with men in political, social, economic and cultural life; it makes it difficult for women to unleash their full potential for the good of the country and for humanity. Until this semester's lecture with you, I had no idea that the United States was "limping" on women's empowerment and that the convention had still not been ratified. For us Lithuanians, the USA has always seemed like a place where there are many opportunities to study, work and realize yourself, where dreams come true. As well as women. But you have shown me that the reality may be different. I wish you did not lose sight of the feminist approach and I believe that one day the United States will have a woman president :)
DeleteThe Grameen Bank is an organization in Bangladesh that allows people to take out loans without other fees such as an interest rate and it provides people in poverty with the ability to start up a small business or make a financial start to their life that would have otherwise been extremely difficult. The Grameen Bank organization is notable because of how it provides access to loans to many who would normally not be able to pay off their loan, but it is especially notable because of how this organization humanizes those in poverty in Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank gives the resources necessary, which would otherwise not be provided, to those in poverty, providing the financial stability necessary to create a more permanent financial stability in their lives. The Grameen Bank gives autonomy back to those experiencing poverty and this is beneficial not only for those participating in the Grameen Bank, but also for the whole economy and social wellbeing of Bangladesh.
ReplyDeleteThe Grameen Bank model could be applied to the United States and our issue of student loan debt. Currently, “44.7 million Americans have outstanding student loan debt,” (theguardian.com) and higher education is becoming less accessible to all those outside of the upper class. An organization for student loan debts similar to Grameen Bank would give Americans the ability to completete their education, find a career, and pay back that loan once one is financially able to. Our current situation causes Americans to take out loans that constantly increase, so by the time one finds a career, the amount of student loans to pay back has increased to the point of inconceivable debts for one person to pay off in their lifetime, while also trying to save their new money so they are able to retire or send their children to college without the debt that they faced. Many students have part-time and full-time jobs to reduce the amount of loans they need to take out and potentially take years off the time it could take to pay off their loans. An organization like the Grameen Bank in America would greatly expand the accessibility of higher education and careers with salaries, greatly lowering our rates of poverty and unemployment.
-Claire Lewing
Sainato, Michael. “'Killing the Middle Class': Millions in US Brace for Student Loan Payments after Covid Pause.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 Dec. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/09/us-student-loan-crisis-payments#:~:text=About%2044.7%20million%20Americans%20have,holding%20federal%20student%20loan%20debt.
Part b: In thinking about a beneficial and supportive intervention for refugees in the United States one must look at the whole picture. As Healy states, “competent refugee work is impossible without the knowledge of the refugee’s culture of origin, international transit experiences, and the receiving country’s policy regarding refugees, including reunification and family sponsorship issues” (2021). First, for my intervention I think it is important to have a facility/organization that feels safe for refugees. My interventions must include various interpreters or access to interpreters (like in United States hospitals). Next, I would ensure the individuals are regulated and have their basic needs met. If individuals are not regulated, it will be much more difficult for them to navigate the very complicated systems in the United States. My intervention would include intensive therapy for those dysregulated from the experience of leaving their country or any other trauma they were facing. The other component of the intervention would be basic English courses, these could be taught by different American students they themselves learning another language. This intervention would give refugees a bit more confidence in moving through their new country and navigating next steps. I argue this as a crucial intervention because despite the United States not having a national language, everything is catered to English and there are limited translations available if available at all. Basic language skills will help refugees navigate public transportation, grocery shopping, etc. It would help them have a voice and understand the services and benefits they are entitled to in the United States.
ReplyDeleteDear Naomi,
DeleteI really enjoyed your views on a beneficial and supportive intervention for refugees in the United States. In my opinion, your ideas about supportive intervention for refugees are very relevant and good. It was very interesting to read your answer.
Aurika Šataitė
3. The concept of poverty is defined as the totality of people, a social group or stratum of society that has very limited access to resources. Also the products of society when they are lacking to meet basic needs. Women and children live in poverty. Growing gap between rich and poor countries is widening. 1.3 billion people are living below the international poverty line. Lack of material resources in developing countries. The lack of social poverty is accompanied by shame and discrimination. Knowledge about poverty is largelystatistics ,,poverty with the tears washed off“ compiled by experts who are not poor themselves.
ReplyDeleteThere are refugees in most countries of the world. Each country views this situation differently. Thinking of war refugees from Ukraine, women and children are fleeing the country. Our state and most people of good will are trying to help them by various means. Whoever donates food, clothes, helps to find a place to live or a job. The social workers in our country will try to empower these people. Children will be integrated into our society. Because there is no set time limit for all people to return to their homeland. However, in this situation, we should not forget the children of our country, who need all our help. In my opinion, we need to take care of the children of my country first, and only then try to help the families and children of the refugees.
Midterm Question 3
ReplyDeleteGrameen Bank in Bangladesh gives loans to people who need money to get on their feet and get a job or have an education. They also give out scholarships for high-scoring students who don’t have the means to go onto higher education themselves. This program is especially helpful for women because it intervenes into the continuing cycle of women in poverty being unable to receive education or work. By giving women a way to finally invest in themselves as well as trusting them with the money, they become empowered and able to finally do it and believe in themselves. Laureate Muhammad Yunus mentions in his speech that over 60% of people who were given loans from the Grameen Bank have gone out to get jobs and paid back their loans in full already.
This solution would be incredibly useful in other countries where women are experiencing the most poverty. Due to prejudice, women in many countries have opportunities withheld from them which does not allow them to make money for themselves. Therefore, when they are given a little help, they are able to get on their feet and pay off the loans once they do so. I would do it the exact same way Grameen Bank has done in Bangladesh with a focus on making sure that everyone who needs or wants it gets it. A part of me is worried that in some scenarios, men like women’s husbands or fathers may try and prevent women from receiving the loan, and while I’m not exactly sure how to combat that, it is definitely something I think that people should be aware of and prevent as much as they can.
- Jilly Kornak
Boston University. (2006.) A Lecture by 2006 Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLXUD_0-XSY&t=1838s
The cycle of poverty is multifaceted and multidimensional. In the context of the United States, “despite robust growth in real GDP per capita in the last three deceased, U.S. poverty rates have changed very little [...] a number of studies have suggested that the lack of improvement in the poverty rate reflects a weakened relationship between poverty and the macroeconomy” (Hoynes, Page, Stevens, p.66). Healy points out the different dimensions of poverty, including health, education, and standard of living, all of which are related to the engagement of civil society with government agencies. Many structural inequalities exist as barriers to social and economic protection and well-being. In the United States, I believe that social protection programs can be implemented to intercept the different stages of poverty. For example, the promotion of decent, productive employment for adults, and addressing the needs of child/adolescent development by decreasing their exposure to turbulent environments. Investing into education, nutrition, and preventing environmental degradation are all things that can be done to address childhood poverty at its roots. Social workers can play a role in this by advocating on behalf of those who cannot advocate for themselves, and by leading those who do not have the skills or resources to be able to find programs for themselves.
ReplyDeleteResources:
Healy, Lynn M. and Rebecca Thomas. (2008). International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World. 2nd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hoynes, Hilary W., et al. “Poverty in America: Trends and Explanations.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 20, no. 1, 2006, pp. 47–68. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1257/089533006776526102.
- Mason Garcera
DeleteRefugees in this country are put through a fairly rigorous process to gain entry in the States including interviews, screenings, and finally transportation to the U.S. Even though they face poverty, having lost everything, they are still required to pay back the cost of their own transportation within 42 months of arriving (Nilsson &Jorgensen, 2021). While there is assistance to those seeking refugee status in the U.S. it is incredibly limited and many never achieve citizenship because of various political and personal reasons. It is hard to mention refugees in the U.S. (Nilsson &Jorgensen, 2021). without mentioning the crisis at the Mexican border where asylum seekers are being kept out of the country under a Trump era policy put in place to “mitigate” the spread of COVID where parents and children as young as three months old were separated from their parents. This policy was born largely out of racist origins, as just last week a Ukrainian mother and child were let through as asylees at the Tijuana border crossing while asylum seekers from Central America have been there since the beginning of Covid and before. The disparate treatment of asylees based on race only adds to the trauma that all refugees and asylees experience.
ReplyDeleteSince trauma is something all refugees experience to some degree, therapy can help them adjust to a new setting and deal with any post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety they may be experiencing (Nilsson &Jorgensen, 2021). By working through the trauma in therapy and learning to cope with the loss of their old home and adjust to their new surroundings, refugees will be able to begin building a new life for themselves. In addition to that, social workers can help refugees find other people from their home country and begin to build community. This can be especially healing for people who miss their home and families. Another extremely important aspect of adjusting to life in a new society is receiving an education or pursuing a trade. Social workers can ready their refugee clients by heling empower them to be able to provide for themselves and family independently. On a macro level, social workers can pursue loosening the restrictions of refugee application process and especially reforming policy to mitigate the crisis at the Mexican border and prevent atrocities like parent-child separation.
Nilsson, J. E., & Jorgenson, K. C. (2021). Refugees in resettlement: processes, policies, and mental health in the United States. The Counseling Psychologist, 49(2), 178-195.
Reading this commentary gave rise to thoughts of illegal migrants entering the desired country. It is worth noting that when strict procedures are in place for migrants to enter their desired country, this sometimes leads to illegal, dangerous travel to the desired country. Also, in the event of an illegal arrival and an accident, migrants are reluctant to turn to law enforcement to prevent anyone from exposing their illegal entry. For example, smuggling of people when criminals smuggle people across a state border. Other crimes are also committed during such a crime: border control is evaded, documents are falsified, and the laws of one or more countries are violated. Also, those involved in human smuggling also carry out drug trafficking and bribe officials. The lives of smugglers are also often at stake. In 2019, the bodies of 39 people were found in a truck in the UK. These were migrants who wanted to enter England illegally and paid a huge amount of money to the criminal group for this repatriation. However, all the migrants died while traveling because they no longer had the air to breathe in the truck.
DeleteCameroon is no stranger to diversity. It is known for its diverse landscapes, with vast desert plains, lush rainforests and stunning waterfalls within its borders. It is also known for an impressive cultural diversity, with its 25 million inhabitants speaking approximately 250 different languages between them.
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately, Cameroon is also the scene of three different humanitarian crises within its borders. In the Far North region, Cameroon has become embroiled in the Lake Chad Basin Crisis along with Nigeria that is with the Boko Haram, Chad and Niger. In the North-West and South-West regions, armed groups seeking to form an independent state are engaged in a brutal battle with Cameroon’s military that has left civilians caught in the middle.
But perhaps the least well-known of Cameroon’s humanitarian crises can be found in the east of the country, near the border with the Central African Republic (CAR).
Political and sectarian violence exploded in CAR in 2013. By 2014 many citizens had fled their homes and sought safety in other parts of the country. But others decided that they would only be safe if they left their country altogether, and fled across the border into Cameroon. As a result, as of March 2021 there are around 290,000 Central African refugees living in Cameroon.
Being a refugee is not something any human being wishes for or wants to experience as civilians will run away from their homes and countries to seek for refuge in totally an unknown area which may be uncomfortable for them considering the kind of living condition there are facing. refugee comes as a result of political instability in the country, civil war, crisis, terrorism and also international war.
Cameroon is an under developed country which can merely sustain all these refugees be it giving them good living standard. refugees in Cameroon do not only suffer from intense poverty but also they face poor health care service, proper drinking water, dependency, no education and sometimes no food to eat. breast feeding mothers sometimes face more difficult situation than any other.
From a social work point of view, it is very clear that most refugees face a lot of psychological trauma. they live their homes, abundant their families, their jobs and sometimes lose family members in the process. firstly, what refugees need is a therapy. most of them have psychological trauma and needs to be helped by making them not to be afraid of the situation and that is not going to last forever. in addition, they also need physical help, access to health care services, comfortable living condition and daily basic needs and as a social worker we need to look into their day to day wants and make sure it is being provided be it from the government of NGO. in another sense, the better way to empower refugees is to introduce them to a trade which can help them sustain and keep them busy, which also helps to reduce dependency and to make them feel there are not alone.
in country like Cameroon, things provided for refugees are sometimes confiscated by either government officials for their selfish reasons or individuals in charge of controlling the distribution of this products. so as a social worker, my aim will be to make sure that what is for the refugees it should be provided in full. As a social worker, empowering refugees will be my most priority.
Global poverty is one of the very worst problems that the world faces today. The poorest in the world are often hungry, have much less access to education, regularly have no light at night, and suffer from much poorer health. To make progress against poverty is therefore one of the most urgent global goals. - quote from global extreme poverty by by Max Roser and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina article.
ReplyDeletePersonally, when I think about poverty in the world right now, all my thoughts are moving with Ukraine and its people. At present, many families are left homeless, close to meeting their basic needs as food and drink. Women and children travel to other countries and are in search of asylum, and European countries between them and Lithuania organize many campaigns and gather support for Ukraine and its people. I’m glad to see how a person can help a person. Here in Lithuania, many people take Ukrainians to their personal homes, give them food, clothes and other basic things, help them to find a job. The state provides humanitarian aid, and there are many volunteers who help at the points where the aid is collected and later the aid is delivered to Ukraine. All of Ukraine is now struggling to survive this period of war, but if the world does not turn his back to Ukraine, we will reach peace more quickly.
I think most of all about volunteering, during which I would like to help children to achieve easier integration at school in Lithuania. There is no special program in Lithuania on how to integrate children into Lithuanian schools, so I would like to use my personal example of how I had to study Norwegian and go to a public school in Norway in grades 7-8.
Interestingly, when I was studying in another country, they provided me with basic resources that I didn’t have to worry about, all the stationery (pencils, notebooks, books, etc.) I also think the learning style that applied to me is really helpful. I was always in an international class until noon. What does this mean? We gathered children from all over the school until noon at a Norwegian teacher, where we taught Norwegian and our mother tongue (we were provided with dictionaries). So we wanted to learn Norwegian and teach others our language. We as children who were from different parts of the world were about 10. We went to school, but actually we had like languages courses until noon.
Later, our day part continued according with classmates. We had at least one assistant in the class who, if something went wrong, always approached and explained, helped it to me and the other kids in the class.
So, I’m talking about my personal integration in another country and school, which I think could really be useful in our country to help Ukrainian children.
- Paulina Šlepavičiūtė
References:
Roser, M. and Ortiz-Ospina, E., 2022. Global Extreme Poverty. [online] Our World in Data. Available at: [Accessed 19 March 2022].
To understand global poverty and social work interventions methods that can be employed to ease the problem one needs to firstly understand the dimensions of global poverty. The definition of poverty goes beyond the lack of income and productive resources basing on the economic model which sees poverty from the perspective of “an ‘absolute’ standard which does not change much over time or across countries” (George, 1980:2), and talks about meeting minimum necessities. It should also be seen using social and political lens to include freedom as presented in the capability approach by Amatyr Sen which presents two core claims: first, that people’s freedom to achieve various forms of well-being should constitute a priority and is of primary moral importance; second, that freedom to achieve well-being translates to people’s capabilities—freedom to achieve valuable functioning (beings and doings) (Robeyns, 2011.
ReplyDeletePoverty therefore brings on board limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making and freedom of expression as evidenced by life during the soviet times in transitional societies like Lithuania. I therefore strongly agree with the World Bank Report (2001:1), which asserts that “Poverty is the result of economic, political, and social processes that interact with each other and frequently reinforce each other in ways that exacerbate the deprivation in which poor people live.”
Globally, women are the most affected. Projections of global poverty by UN Women, UNDP and the Pardee Center for International Futures estimate that, globally, 388 million women and girls will be living in extreme poverty in 2022 (compared to 372 million men and boys). Gender inequalities are one of the brutal forms of inequalities world over and denies women their voices, devalues their work by making them indulge in updaid labour, making their position unequal to men. fur UN Women, UNDP and the Pardee Center for International Futures further asserts that 62.8% of extreme poor women live in sub Saharan Africa, justifying the intention of the paper to look at women and poverty in Zimbabwe and the validity of introducing the Grameen model in ensuiring women make a living and have acess to education.
Giving a special attention to Zimbabwe, a brief analysis of the poverty situation and the position of women is essential at this point. The poverty rate at national poverty line for Zimbabwe increased from 32,2% in 2001 to 38.3 % in 2020. The trends show that its economy is shrinking fast due to adverse climatic conditions and the persistence of HIV/AIDS. The situation has been exacerbated by the covid 19 pandemic. Poor governance with its ill- informed policies have also posed detrimental effects to livelihoods of the ultra- poor, whose majority as discussed above are women. The Zimbabwean situation therefore reflects a fragile state discourse, fragile in the sense that the state cannot or will not offer basic services and functions to the majority of the ultra-poor population who are women. The idea behind the Grameen bank model is indeed a noble idea that Social Workers can borrow to ameliorate the vulnerability of women in Zimbabwe.
The Grameen Bank was an idea pioneered by Muhammed Yunis (1983) and a microfinance facility which offers loans to poor communities and villages in Bangladesh. The Bank's system is a collateral-free system meaning individuals and communities can apply for a loan even without any sort of collateral or mortgage that will secure the loan. Its main objective is to provide comprehensive financial services, empowering the poor, who are mostly women, to realize their potential and break out of the vicious cycle of poverty. The Grameen model is popular in the microfinance sector and has been adopted in many countries because of its target population and its responsiveness, provides door step service, has good repayment rate, is managed by banking professional and has good impact on marginalized group
ReplyDeleteIn Zimbabwe, poverty, in all its forms is most rampant in rural areas and a bigger population in these rural areas are women. Traditions and socially constructed norms confine women at home whilst men can go and look for employment in urban areas and other countries. A women belongs at home and depends on the men thus promoting local gender ideologies which negatively influences economic participation of women in development. This local form of patriarchy assigns men the roles of protecting and providing for the family (Pardo et al., 2013) and “emphasizes male power over women, masculine strength and sexuality, and male violence” (Diekman, et al., 2005, p. 212). In such a society, women do not independently own property and subsequently cannot go to take a loan at the bank as they have no collateral. If the Grameen model is therefore roped in, it will not only ensure women financial empowerment but will also bring social consciousness. It will be a peace building initiatives as women will be capacitated to compete with men in national development. Bank goes to clients instead of clients to bank in this system. All the financial services are delivered through regular meetings in the community thus encouraging community cohesion.
The Door step service as a Grameen banking service means bringing the service to the people, a concept lacking in Zimbabwe. Those whose have more interaction with the environment and who have more exposure usually are the quick to know of services on offer and these are men. Women are usually skipped with development initiatives as they are not as mobile as men and lacks exposure. The door step service therefore would remove barriers of access. This has opened the door to all the poor for financial services
It is also interesting to note that women find themselves in absolute poverty and are left disempowered by the circumstances, most of which, unfortunately, are not of their own making. This social control mechanism ensures that women fail to receive any or adequate education and either are forced into early marriages and involuntary prostitution. Disempowerment denies women in Zimbabwe of true freedom and opportunity to achieve various valuable functioning in society. It also provides uneven and unfair ground for women to exercise and show their real capabilities leaving them to being labelled as inferior to men. This is often evidenced by statements as “think like men” emphasising the masculinity of men and “don’t act like a women” to depict women as weaker. Article 16 of the International Declarations of human rights gives women a universal right to marry who and when they want. The Grameen model will therefore empower women, make them interact better with the outside world, capacitate them to send children, especially girl children to school and be able to occupy managerial positions equal to men.
Social workers as agents of change can therefore employ the Grameen model in Zimbabwe and world over as a way to rework, contest and even transforming gender inequalities as they are a social construct. The model can challenge these gender ideologies which come in the forms of interrelated structural barriers that restricted women to be entrepreneurs and have access to resources leaving them susceptible to gender based violence, their human rights violations and sometimes human trafficking. Economic independence will be a tool for the minimisation of gender inequalities and also to redefine themselves, gain independence, promote education, participate in politics and contest their subordination from the society. Research shows that women’s entrepreneurship has the potential to produce change in women and communities, leading to greater gender equality, emancipation and empowerment (Ahl, 2006; Hanson, 2009; Hughes et al., 2012; De Vita et al., 2014; Marlow, 2014; Lock and Lawton Smith, 2016).
ReplyDeleteThe Grameen model is a better instrument and a coping and sustainable strategy especially now after the Covid -19 pandemic, which did not spare Zimbabwe. Out of the employed women, many lost their jobs and livelihoods amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Most women were employed in the informal sector, buying and selling, as highly esteemed jobs have been occupied by men. Some women also left jobs to care for children and other family members at higher rates than men. Although there is no enough literature on the different impact of the pandemic per sex as of now, I feel that the COVID-19 impacts on jobs, livelihood and poverty needs to be looked with a gender lens. Lack of assets, both private and collective, drove women into deeper poverty amid the pandemic.
Zimbabwe is also pushing harder to achieve Sustainable Development goals and women empowerment by 2030. Goal number 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Social workers can actually sell the Grameen model to influence policies that seeks to empower women as it is in line with the government obligation and target.
Subsidiarity and solidarity are key principles of the poverty reduction strategy. The development of the country's economy, increasing employment and ensuring distributive social justice are very important preconditions for reducing poverty. Social work improves the social well-being of individuals, their groups and communities, promotes social unity during periods of change, supports and protects vulnerable members of society, and promotes interaction with service users. Inactive people who have been excluded from society need special measures. One of the prerequisites for successful poverty reduction is the improvement of the social support system. The aim is to improve the accuracy of benefits and ensure the rationality of the benefit system, as well as the development of social services. There is a need to ensure access to social services for all and to create conditions for people living in poverty to take care of themselves and integrate into society. In the fight against poverty, social work is one of the main tools for overcoming poverty, and working with marginalized groups is arguably the only effective tool.
ReplyDeleteGrameen Bank, Bangladeshi bank founded by economist Muhammad Yunus as a means of providing small loans to poor individuals. In 2006 Grameen and Yunus were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. The Grameen model has come to symbolize an efficient means of helping the poor by providing them with opportunities to help themselves. More than 97 percent of Grameen’s loan recipients have been women. This means that the poorest, in this case women, are given loans to escape poverty. In my opinion this is a very benevolent solution, because I believe that this decision solved the problems of many women. Of course, women who get a loan should reflect on their lives ahead and consider repaying the debt. I think it could be done in any other country. In this way, the poverty would be significantly reduced. The number of starving children and women would decrease.
As in every country, there are also refugees in Lithuania. People who flee their countries to other countries seek help and a better life. These days, many people fleeing the war in Ukraine are coming to our country. For many social workers, working with refugees becomes a big challenge, because they need to know their language, take an interest in their traditions and customs.
1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Grameen-Bank
2. https://socmin.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/kovos-su-smurtu-pries-moteris-diena-demesys-lyciu-nelygybes-problemai
3. https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/STEPP/article/view/8506/6377
Poverty is a global problem. In some countries the poverty rate is higher, felt strongly, in others it is lower, which is not very felt. The causes of poverty can be various: unemployment, low income, gender inequality, lack of education, alcohol and other drug use. Poverty is often felt especially among refugees. Refugee establishment can be difficult due to cultural values or power relations. They become refugees for a variety of reasons: some fleeing war, others fleeing poverty in their own country in search of a better life. At present, most refugees in Lithuania are war refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Most of them are women and children. It is obvious that the main problem that Ukrainian women may face when looking for a job is not knowing the Lithuanian language. Money is easier to establish in the country, but it is impossible to get it without a job, so the solution would be a bank like Grammen Bank, which operates in Bangladesh and provides small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral. It is in the interest of host countries for refugees to be economically active, provided that their economic and social rights are guaranteed, such as the right to work, business, decent, safe and healthy working conditions, the right to fair pay for work, social security in the event of unemployment; the right of the worker to rest, refugees will be able to recover and live a full life. In order to achieve all this, the country needs to develop a clear and coherent policy that sets out the conditions under which refugees can work and that this policy must be properly implemented.
ReplyDelete1. Elliott, D. & Segal, U. (red.). (2012). Refugees Worldwide: A Global Perspective. Oxford: Praeger.
Aurika Šataitė
If we look a decade ago Lithuania then received relatively few asylum-seekers compared to other countries in Europe and the number of recognized refugees and persons granted subsidiary protection has been decreasing for a few years.
ReplyDeleteAccording to UNHCR annual statistics, which are based on information from the Migration
Department, the total number of individuals granted international protection in Lithuania between 1997 and 2013 was 916 persons, originating from 28 countries. About 80% of all persons granted international protection in Lithuania were of Russian (mainly Chechnyan) origin or Afghan nationals: Russian nationals comprised 64% and Afghan nationals 17%.
However the last few years have not been easy around the world. The global COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented health crisis and caused significant economic and social challenges. And Lithuania is no exception. While we are catching up fast on economic indicators, we are still one of the poorest societies in the European Union, and that is why we also feel the socio-economic consequences. As in other crises, it is the poorest and most vulnerable who suffer the most.
The pandemic has only highlighted the problems that have been going on for years. Poverty, social exclusion and inequality, and especially unequal opportunities are long-standing problems increasingly being highlighted by international organizations. Poverty causes difficulties and deprivation, has a negative impact on health and long-term psychological consequences, and limits opportunities for both adults and children. In addition, people living in deprivation are often stigmatized, blamed, shamed, and excluded from society. It is essential to realize that poverty damages society as a whole. It breaks down social solidarity and trust, creates anxiety and insecurity, wastes the potential of the poor, and inevitably shakes the foundations of democracy.
Despite the pandemic, the recent years have been also challenging for Lithuania and all Western countries in terms of influx of refugees. Thousands of people fled Afghanistan after the Taliban seized back control of the country, almost two decades after they were ousted by a US-led coalition. Ukrainian refugees also stormed Poland, Lithuania and other European countries after Russia invaded Ukraine and targeted not only military zones but also civil areas. An Afghanistan crisis made Lithuania prepare for something that was not planned before. Refugee camps were built in certain cities, the refugees were provided with social support, including living space, food, hygienic supplies and even a social benefit which is a lump sum equal to 500-1000 euros (depending on the number of family members) and monthly ~150-250 euros.
Social workers are at the forefront of aiding refugees (International Federation of Social Workers, 2015). An integrated program can simultaneously address economic support that will help the refugee achieve self-sufficiency and strengthen families as a part of the holistic approach. There is a need for social workers in Lithuania to learn integration techniques to lead the refugees toward self-sufficiency in their new environments. Refugees are led towards independence by being given adequate tools to navigate the community, which is the objective of integrative services. Integration, as an art, allows the social worker to implement proper programs that will encourage the refugees to seek opportunities that will enhance their growth (education, employment, and financial stability). These integrated services for refugees become an issue when there is a lack of training and a lack of understanding of the needs of individuals or refugee families. Social workers who are privileged to work with this population of people should also be trained in cultural orientation, cultural diversity, and cultural compassion. Cultural competency skills and abilities will assist the social workers to better serve the clients, with the intent to ensure independence and the acclimation to their new environments (Hardy, 2016).
References:
DeleteInternational Federation of Social Workers. (2015). The refugee crisis: Social workers at the forefront of finding solutions.
Hardy, R. (2016). Social Care Network: The role of social work in the refugee crisis. The Guardian.
Integration of refugees in Lithuania. Participation and Empowerment. Understanding Integration in Lithuania through an age, gender and diversity based participatory approach. October – November 2013. Retrieved from: https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/58a486e34.pdf
Poverty and Social Exclusion in Lithuania 2020. Lithuanian National Anti-Poverty Network. Retrieved from: https://www.eapn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/EAPN-EAPN-Lithuania-Poverty-Watch-2020_ENG-4685.pdf
These days Lithuania life goes around the war in Ukraine and the provision of humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. Every day we follow the news about how women with children, older people run away from their native homes with just one bag of stuff. These people experience not only psychologically and emotionally traumatic experiences but also poverty. Their money banks do not want to change due to depreciation, all their real estate remained in the homeland. They come to a foreign country without even knowing what to do in that country, how to make a living. It’s scary for me to realize that things like this could happen in the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteMany refugees have already reached Lithuania. I am impressed by the support of the Lithuanian people. People in Lithuania provide help with things, food and money. There are more and more initiatives when people take Ukrainian language courses. Lithuanians give up their vacant housing and rooms to Ukrainian families, cafes offer food for free, employers offer work. There were also most people who would temporarily caring children who do not have parents or lonely pets.
I am proud that my University - Vytautas Magnus University - is taking active steps to help the people of Ukraine. Vytautas Magnus University is extending a helping hand to the Ukrainians. teachers from Ukraine and, like other higher education institutions in Lithuania, are breaking ties with Russian and Belarusian higher education institutions, and a platform for psychological support for Ukrainians is being set up to provide guidance to the public and mental health professionals on how to deal with the psychological consequences of war. There was also a campaign to collect various toys for the arriving refugee children.
The support of my University and the whole of Lithuania is miraculous, we all work as one team. All this assistance would also help to combat refugee poverty in Lithuania. As most people in Lithuania speak Russian, the people of Ukraine have greater opportunities to adapt and start working, which is what many newcomers are already doing. I believe that one of the most important social work interventions would be the empowerment of refugees. I would choose refugee support groups and individual counseling for this intervention. It can be difficult to work with individuals who have suffered the effects of war. The support and respect of such individuals is paramount.
References:
https://www.vdu.lt/lt/vdu-tiesia-pagalbos-ranka-ukrainieciams-ir-kviecia-visus-prisideti/
https://www.vdu.lt/lt/ukrainieciams-psichologines-pagalbos-platforma/
https://www.vdu.lt/lt/vdu-parama-ukrainos-akademinei-bendruomenei/
Part1:
ReplyDeletePoverty is a phenomenon inherent to the human element throughout history, and it has evolved in terms of concept and form with the development of humanity, but it has now become a complex and multidimensional actions and situations. The social, in which interest has clearly and renewed with the beginning of the third millennium, whether in terms of its design or management, especially in developing countries, and this is due to the good results it has achieved in the field of poverty reduction.The ration card is a safety valve in maintaining the food security of the Iraqi family, and it is one of the longest-lived public distribution systems for foodstuffs. It was started in September 1990 during the period of the economic blockade imposed on Iraq. In view of the need for broader practices than this system to achieve effective social protection, and for the ineffective implementation of the card system in its current state, which necessitated finding effective solutions for it, the government has tended to activate the ration card system and link it to the social protection system to make it more effective by adopting the smart ration card system to achieve targeting Flour for the poor and vulnerable groups by providing electronic databases to beneficiaries, as well as improving the quality of its vocabulary and facilitating access to it from several outlets by providing the food supplies by the private sector. This project ensures that the benefits of the ration card are not leaked to those in need and prevents the waste of state resources under the umbrella of a modern and integrated reform program In this regard, a higher committee was formed that set the general framework of the program and the mechanisms for working with it, and its activities were sequenced according to the priorities and priorities of targeting.
The High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq, which is linked to the Iraqi Council of Representatives, in its annual report for 2018.
Part2:
ReplyDeleteIssued in 2019, depriving Iraqi citizens of the most basic services, including food and safe drinking water health insurance, housing, low level of income and high level of unemployment among all segments of Iraqi society, especially Low-income groups, as well as the persistence of poverty and unemployment in Iraq, and the resulting crisis of displacement and the displacement of 5 million. An Iraqi from the areas controlled by the “Islamic State” organization in 2014, 3 million of whom were displaced until 2018;
Describe the economic and social conditions of the displaced and the areas from which they were displaced. The phenomenon of addiction has also become which caused drugs and their spread and abuse in Iraq pose a danger parallel to the danger of displacement and terrorism, especially after their spread among young people in the age group (29 to 39 years), where the total number of detainees and those convicted of drug abuse and trafficking reached with drugs, about 7,385 citizens - except for the Kurdistan region - for the years 2017 and 2018. And this, in turn, has a direct negative impact on the economic situation for women. Women in Iraq always need someone to support them financially and are unable to make decisions or bring about a radical change in important decisions. We see the oppression of women in Iraq starting with the family in which they grew up. And through marriage and then the large social and political roles. For example, women throughout Iraq. For example, female parliamentarians cannot bear the burdens of their position nor fully perform their roles. They represent figures that were required to be achieved and electoral lists promoted. The direct and indirect effects on women cannot be separated from the prevailing general situation, especially the sectarian division. The conflict has had a direct impact on women, both materially and morally. The displacement, killings, kidnappings and cases of rape created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. Even worse, there is the fear of losing family members because of all these dangers that threaten them.Issued in 2019, depriving Iraqi citizens of the most basic services, including food and safe drinking water health insurance, housing, low level of income and high level of unemployment among all segments of Iraqi society, especially Low-income groups, as well as the persistence of poverty and unemployment in Iraq, and the resulting crisis of displacement and the displacement of 5 million.
An Iraqi from the areas controlled by the “Islamic State” organization in 2014, 3 million of whom were displaced until 2018;
ReplyDeleteDescribe the economic and social conditions of the displaced and the areas from which they were displaced. The phenomenon of addiction has also become which caused drugs and their spread and abuse in Iraq pose a danger parallel to the danger of displacement and terrorism, especially after their spread among young people in the age group (29 to 39 years), where the total number of detainees and those convicted of drug abuse and trafficking reached with drugs, about 7,385 citizens - except for the Kurdistan region - for the years 2017 and 2018. And this, in turn, has a direct negative impact on the economic situation for women. Women in Iraq always need someone to support them financially and are unable to make decisions or bring about a radical change in important decisions. We see the oppression of women in Iraq starting with the family in which they grew up. And through marriage and then the large social and political roles. For example, women throughout Iraq. For example, female parliamentarians cannot bear the burdens of their position nor fully perform their roles. They represent figures that were required to be achieved and electoral lists promoted. The direct and indirect effects on women cannot be separated from the prevailing general situation, especially the sectarian division. The conflict has had a direct impact on women, both materially and morally. The displacement, killings, kidnappings and cases of rape created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. Even worse, there is the fear of losing family members because of all these dangers that threaten them.
Part3:
Part3:
ReplyDeleteSectarian violence has also severely affected the social status of Iraqi women. Divorce rates have increased, causing physical and psychological harm to women. The Iraqi woman feels as if she is in a large prison. Moreover, men's financial and economic situation has worsened (especially due to unemployment), which increases the burden of burdens on women. From my side, as a social worker, I see that the problem of poverty comes from several reasons, the first of which is the limited movement and limited decisions for women that cause poverty. Forexample, if a woman does not have a law that allows her to be financially independent and free to choose work, then she will certainly be accompanied by poverty. Muhammad Yunus was inspired during the 1974 Bangladesh famine to provide a small loan of $27 to a group of 42 families as start-up financing so that they could make items for sale, without the high interest burdens under predatory lending. [9] Yunus believes that making such loans available to a larger number of the population can stimulate business and reduce rural poverty in Bangladesh. I believe that this initiative from Grameen Bank will help raise the Iraqi society from poverty, especially the largest group, which is women. It will allow women their independence, especially in light of the difficulty of finding jobs and the difficulty of withdrawing a financial loan from other banks or from the state. I see it will eliminate not only poverty, but also the entire social life. It will reduce divorce cases and other family problems such as domestic violence. It will create a kind of balance in the family so that it will allow the man to spend time with his children, and this in turn increases the improvement of raising children. I also see that despite the existence of Grameen Bank, there are other dimensions that must change in Iraq, including:
1_Establishing a law that allows women their freedom to work, their financial independence, and their participation in making radical decisions in society and the state.
2_Drafting a law allowing her freedom in marriage.
3_The general masculine concept of women has changed as if they only exist to satisfy the needs of men.
Refeiences:
1_http://www.cabinet.iq/
2_أ. د. قصي الجابري. (2017). عرض استراتيجية التخفيف من الفقر في العراق 2018–2022. المجلة العراقية للعلوم الاقتصادية, 15(55).
3_https://www.icrc.org/ar/doc/resources/documents/feature/iraq-stories-260207.htm
In today’s ever-evolving, changing world, there are so many opportunities, choices, opportunities to satisfy desires, there seem to be enough opportunities to live the rest of your life, but reality shows otherwise. We live in the 21st century, so no one could even suspect that such terrible and brutal wars could still arise over the land, for wealth or for any other reason. When I woke up one morning to see the information that the war had started, and so terrible, when not only the military but also civilians, children and the disabled were killed. On the subject of war, it is important to mention war refugees who are trying to find a safe place. People run away without anything, without clothes, food, money so that they can only safely reach some place where they can finally fall asleep. At present, we already have more than 10,000 registered refugees or families in our country. The most painful thing is that refugees come to another country to seek asylum without income, have no jobs here, and need to live on something, so refugee poverty is a very important and sensitive issue. Poverty is exacerbated by many factors, first of all the language barrier, as most people do not speak the language of the country, but looking at Lithuania and its prospects, we can be glad that Lithuanians are indeed a very united nation in the event of a disaster. We have people in our country who even provide housing and, until they feel more financially stable, agree to help pay their utility bills, provide food, which can provide jobs, and there are quite a few such people, but that is not enough.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, when it comes to poverty, it is important to talk about the roles of gender in society. Gender attitudes towards gender roles have a significant impact on social exclusion. In the western countries, the scientific literature emphasizes that there is still a prevailing view in society that a woman's activities are related to private life - home and family, and that a man is associated with a public and professional environment. This approach has two consequences for women:
1. experiences discrimination in the labor market, which reduces their ability to meet their professional needs and earn a living, which pushes women towards poverty and social exclusion;
2. there is a greater responsibility to take care of children and everyday life, the choice of the role of housewife by giving up professional activities, society and especially family men accept this naturally and even welcome.
Also, a major problem in the labor market is the fact that a woman may take parental leave and, as a result, employers often believe she will be a worse worker than a man. Due to discrimination in the labor market, the average wage paid to women is only 81%. men's wages. These figures show that women are more likely than men to have to pay a minimum wage, which can lead to poverty (Melnikienė, 2005).
Poverty is therefore a major problem in the world, both for war refugees who are fleeing to safety in a safe place and have great difficulty in getting out of poverty, because there are factors that prevent refugees from working in that country because they do not have the right conditions. barriers. Of course, also in terms of female poverty. There is still a perception in society that women cannot be as competent, they cannot be as good workers as men, so women have to settle for lower-level jobs and, of course, lower wages, which can lead to poverty.
While Lithuania exhibits a relatively small poverty-origin gap at an aggregate level, immigrants from non-EU remain more exposed to the risk of poverty than the natives (Koutsogeorgopoulou 2019). According to economist Koutsogeorgopoulou (2019: 15) „a better integration of immigrants from non-EU countries could also help reducing poverty and social disparities“. If immigrants are unable to obtain full-time work in the labor market or are unable to integrate into society despite legal requirements, their lack of income causes socioeconomic distinction in the host country and creates the conditions for poverty rates to rise. Speaking about recent events relevant to refugees in Lithuania, it is refugees crises at border with Belarus and war refugees escaping from unprovoked war in Ukraine – their homeland. In both cases it is one of the most important things to do is to help immigrants to integrate into Lithuanian society. Even though some refugees are staying in a refugees‘ camps in Lithuania and waiting for the decision that it will be decided for them if they can stay in the country or they have to go back to their homeland, the social workers‘ job by helping to integrate into a society starts here. People in refugees camps should get a help for preparation to stay in a country. Even though the decision is unknown, but there is a chance to stay in the country, so I believe people who have to stay in refugees camps and those who are willing to stay in a country should have an opportunity to learn the most important basic things about the country – about labour market, about health system, about taxation, about excisting help/support systems for foreig people in Lithuania, basic language knowledge. It would be a first step for preparation to integrate in Lithuanian society. In those cases when refugees get a permision to stay in a country social workers should lead them in this process – from refugee camp to a society. The integration in this way would be easier and that would decrease poverty risk. Speaking about Ukrainian refugees the main idea would be the same – social workers who leads refugees in a process to integrate in Lithuanian society, however it is a huge number of people who need help so we see huge number of volunteers who are taking some part of a social work – helping ukrainians to find living place, to find job, giving information about Lithuanian main systems that can provide various services. These days I feel like huge number of Lithuanians suddenly became social workers who are willing to help people.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
1. Koutsogeorgopoulou, V. (2020). Reducing poverty and social disparities in Lithuania.
I chose option b because the topic of refugees, who are more prone to poverty, is currently relevant. When refugees began fleeing their homeland, they did not think about the fact that the source of livelihood will not immediately have the opportunity to live well. Therefore, they need everything to be fast and safe. But the reality is different, and without thinking about it, fleeing to another country gets lost and doesn’t know where to start. I believe that in this case, the social worker must start with the importance of choosing the right methods and applying them to the target group, in this case refugees, as well as the needs and diversity of interests of the refugee clients. In this case, it would be possible to provide not only individual consultations, but also group consultations. It is also important to emphasize that a lot depends on the person himself, whether he really wants to accept and receive help, or whether he is ready for change. If a person does not want to accept help and is not ready for change, they cannot offer what they do not want. Therefore, it is also worth considering how a person should be included in groups to consider possible options that will make you feel better and more stable.
ReplyDelete