Posts Categorized: Poverty

U.N. report finds extreme poverty in U.S.

By Eileen Schuhmann | Presbyterian Hunger Program The U.S. is not immune to hunger and poverty problems. In fact, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, found high levels of inequality and extreme poverty in the U.S. After completing a two week visit to the U.S. in December 2017, Alston found… Read more »

Mining Fails Communities in DR Congo

cobalt mine DR Congo Civil society works to revise the mining code so that communities benefit from increased mining investment By Jean Marie Kabanga | Joining Hands DR Congo Since the enactment of the new mining code of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002 and the implementation of its mining regulations in 2003, promises for the development of local communities… Read more »

Plight of Haitian farmers inspires efforts of U.S. churches

By Cindy Corell | Mission Co-worker Haiti My job description defies easy explanation. I work with farmers’ organizations from all across Haiti. Together, the hundreds of groups – consisting from several hundred to many thousand members – form a Joining Hands network that advocates for a better life for Haitians. The network, Hand to Hand… Read more »

Haiti’s New President Worries Land-Rights Advocates

By Cindy Corell | Mission Co-worker, Joining Hands Haiti With more than 2 million of its almost 11 million citizens still suffering seven years after a catastrophic earthquake struck in 2010, Haitians living on the island took another harsh blow in October 2016 when Hurricane Matthew hit. The massive storm took lives, destroyed crops, livestock… Read more »

Serious Blow to Anti-Corruption Efforts in Africa

By Jaff Bamenjo | RELUFA, Joining Hands Network Cameroon In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. The bill included an anti-corruption rule that required the disclosure of payments to governments by oil, gas and mining companies. The anti-corruption rule, “Section 1504,” was celebrated by civil… Read more »

Addressing Food Insecurity through Community Grain Banks

By Jaff Bamenjo | RELUFA, Joining Hands Cameroon For several decades, food insecurity and hunger have been a major concern in the extreme north region of Cameroon. The food insecurity situation has been attributed primarily to erratic rainfall, the semi-arid Sahel desert climate, rocky topography in some areas and inadequate food storage facilities. Hunger is… Read more »

Amid disaster, Haitians seek change

Hurricane Matthew Raises the Importance of Working Towards Long-term Social Change in Haiti By Cindy Corell | Mission Co-Worker, Joining Hands Haiti Our brothers and sisters here in Haiti are suffering – again, and as they too often do. The effects of Hurricane Matthew of Oct. 4 were horrendous. Most people in the far southwestern… Read more »

Story of an Unbroken Breeze

“Story of an Unbroken Breeze” is a short documentary filmed by NAFSO, the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, a member organization of the Joining Hands network in Sri Lanka Praja Abhilasha. The documentary details the violent land grabbing that Panama communities (Panama is located in Ampara district , in the eastern province in Sri Lanka)  endured and their struggle… Read more »

When Two Worlds Collide

When Two Worlds Collide By Jed Koball |  Mission Co-worker Peru The recently released award-winning documentary ¨When Two Worlds Collide¨ tells the dramatic story of the 2009 massacre in Bagua, Peru that shaped the context of modern day politics and development in Peru and also helped set the course of advocacy for our Joining Hands partners there. 2009 was… Read more »

Grain Banks Pioneer Remembered

Elias Gondji visiting with villagers in Cameroon. “He devoted his entire life helping communities to become self-reliant, and worked tirelessly to draw attention to issues faced by communities in the northern part of the country and bring development in the area. With RELUFA, Elias contributed to the construction of 45 granaries in far north Cameroon, which have been well managed and operational… Read more »