Meeting Local needs

Betty* is a survivor of both domestic violence and human trafficking in Atlanta, Georgia. After living in transitional housing for nearly two years she faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding her life, but the process of gaining financial stability had proven to be slow and difficult. However, in January 2022, Betty joined United Way of Greater Atlanta’s financial empowerment program, which quickly became a lifeline, providing her with the economic support she needed to gain long-term stability.

Human trafficking – the act of compelling someone to work, for little or no pay, through force, fraud, or coercion – is a pervasive issue that affects communities around the world and across the United States.

With the support of the entrepreneurship training program at United Way Ghana, Jerry is now running a successful mobile money business, a career that both helps his community manage their finances and provides him the financial stability to thrive.

Compassion looks different to everyone. All of us have our own unique filters that we apply, and that’s okay. Understanding has to begin somewhere inside us. For me, compassion has many aspects. It is one of the reasons I am here at United Way Worldwide. It is an organization comprised of compassionate people working together for meaningful solutions to problems they may never have encountered personally.

During the pandemic, the loneliness and social isolation of seniors doubled, while refugees and youth were the first to lose employment opportunities. Simultaneously, the adoption of technology increased dramatically, and the desire to keep in touch with our loved ones became a matter of primary necessity. The United Way network in Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the UK are using technology to connect refugees, migrants, vulnerable youth or people with COVID-19-related mental health issues with lonely seniors.

The World Bank has said, in Latin America, only 30% of students achieve the foundational standards necessary for success in STEM professions. This data suggests a lack training and experience essential for pivotal innovation initiatives in the region.