Summary
The 8 Millennial Development Goals (MDGs) were quantifiable measures set by the United Nations in the 90s and at the turn of the century, aimed at addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. The MDG timeline sought to halve the number of peoples afflicted by poverty by 2015.
The above paper was written towards this end regarding MDG 7: ensuring environmental sustainability. My report focuses on the role of sanitation in the poverty trap and the status of sanitation efforts. It is formatted as a unpublished plain white paper similar to that a non-governmental organization (NGO) would produce, yet it's breadth and simplicity allows for readability for laypeople so that they can gain an understanding of issues facing the majority of the world.
This report was awarded a double-win under two categories during the 2015 University of Cincinnati Writing Contest.
The above paper was written towards this end regarding MDG 7: ensuring environmental sustainability. My report focuses on the role of sanitation in the poverty trap and the status of sanitation efforts. It is formatted as a unpublished plain white paper similar to that a non-governmental organization (NGO) would produce, yet it's breadth and simplicity allows for readability for laypeople so that they can gain an understanding of issues facing the majority of the world.
This report was awarded a double-win under two categories during the 2015 University of Cincinnati Writing Contest.
Reflection
This report taught me about the sanitation as a trap in the poverty cycle. I learned the dysfunction of trying to work at the grassroots level from a top organization. The MDGs fall far from the intended goal, but it has gained momentum nonetheless. The article pulls readers into a world where the most trivial needs are debilitating and even fatal. It has garnished my sympathy and understanding of the spectrum of human experience.