{"id":1730,"date":"2026-06-15T08:31:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T08:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/global-pen-friends\/?p=1730"},"modified":"2026-06-15T09:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T09:47:04","slug":"bridging-continents-fighting-poverty-a-dialogue-on-sdg-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/global-pen-friends\/bridging-continents-fighting-poverty-a-dialogue-on-sdg-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging Continents, Fighting Poverty: A Dialogue on SDG 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This letter exchange between Angel RIMIL HORO from India and Nathalie ZIRINGA BYAMUNGU from the Democratic Republic of Congo explores the global challenge of poverty under SDG 1 through personal perspectives. It highlights systemic issues in education, employment, inequality, and resource management, while proposing practical, locally grounded solutions that emphasize collaboration, equity, and sustainable development across diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANGEL RIMIL HORO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Ziringa,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you are doing well. I am enthusiastic to share my thoughts with you on SDG 1 through the exchange of correspondences and also hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, I would give a small introduction of myself. I am a student from St. Xavier\u2019s College, India, pursuing Bachelors of Arts in History. As a student of History, I am studying economic history and its relevance in current times. I guess I will be able to communicate well with my knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main aim of this letter is to highlight the issues regarding widespread poverty across my country, India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the number of elites, here in India, is significantly large, the country, particularly some specific regions and communities dwell in perpetuating poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the launch of new education policies from time to time, many students lack skills and only have degree certificates in their hands. Educational institutions focus more on theoretical learning while students resort to rote learning. As a result, they fail in securing jobs which are skill based. Cost of education is very high in India, especially in private institutions where quality education is provided but is only accessible to those with monetary power. Whereas government schools charge minimum amount of tuition fees but poor infrastructure hinders the students to grow academically. Factors like these have deprived youth from getting employed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government teachers here earn decent salaries yet they are employed temporarily in election duties and data collection in census. The salary so paid to them could be used to maintain those who are unemployed, with basic training and adequate wages. This is one factor which avoids employment generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next I would like to talk about the economic factors contributing to rising poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taxation policies in India is rigorous. A large portion of income is paid as tax to the Government. Commodities such as basic necessities carry heavy taxes. Due to over expenditure of the government, taxes are increased adversely to meet the deficit so created. Prices of food are soaring high and the country often faces inflation. Government has launched schemes to uplift the destitute, however, funds are swept off by the intermediaries involved in transactions. Besides, instead of using the money to pay tuition fees or start business, many people use it recklessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demonetisation of November, 2016 significantly impacted the economy. On one hand, it was used to curb black money, while contraction was witnessed in informal economy where layoffs became common. Consequently, large drop was seen in industrial output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A higher percentage of total workforce is employed in the informal sector. The unorganised labourers are employed as casual workers, contract workers, beedi (a type of cigarette) workers, etc. They are overexploited, underpaid and unpaid, work in unregulated environment and without adequate compensation for accidents during work hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India\u2019s geography has diversely distributed wealth across the country. Himalayan regions are prone to landslides, thunderstorms, hail, etc. Coastal regions such as those lying beside the Bay od Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, are susceptible to floods, tsunamis, cyclones, etc. In these regions, people are mostly engaged in informal jobs suiting the geography. However, climate change has been destructing their settlements and jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a wide regional disparity between North India and South India, and Northeast India and rest of the country. These zones often refuse to synchronize and collaborate among each other due to cultural differences and in order to establish their individual identity and supremacy. Subsequently, many regions and communication in this course of regional conflicts remain marginalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casteism is deeply rooted in India. People belonging to lowers castes are generally deprived of economic opportunities. Wealth is distributed unequally across the top-down hierarchy. Although job reservations have been made by the government, upliftment of the backward classes remains stagnated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many regions in India are rich in mineral resources, thereby, accounting for a large mineral production in India. However, minerals are produced much less than the potentiality. Locals employed in mines generally work in hazardous and unhygienic environment with low wages and long working hours, thereby, posing an obstacle to achieving a descent standard of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Migration of rural population to towns and cities and their settlement around industrial areas have put a pressure on the supply of food and payment of wages in a situation of rising population in urban areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In spite of being an agrarian nation, Indian farmers face economic challenges such and lack of credit facilities, increased debts, rising number of bonded labourers, and inadequate compensation for crop failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India is witnessing a great deal of feminization of poverty. Women are comparatively poorer than men due to unequal wages for equal work. A large number of females are deprived of inheritance rights notwithstanding, the laws have been enforced, entitling them as legal heirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribal ethnicity has a fair share in the getting impacted by the extension of economic privileges. Till date, a significant population of tribals in hilly and forest areas pursue subsistence level of economy and are tied to the regions they live in. As a result, they are easily exploited by the capitalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poverty has plagued not only India, but also the entire globe. This was just a brief outline of the scene in India. I wish to know the picture of this matter at your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am eager to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you Warm regards, Angel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATHALIE\u00a0ZIRINGA\u00a0BYAMUNGU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Angel,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you are doing great. I really appreciated your insights regarding the systemic issues India faces. It\u2019s one thing to read the news, but hearing your personal take on how poverty is impacting daily life really hit home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a last year undergraduate Chemical Engineering student at the Catholic University of Bukavu. As someone currently studying the intersections of industry and poverty, I found your points about the economic situation particularly striking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My country, the Democratic Republic of Congo is particularly known for its poverty and its different resources: agriculture, energy, maritime and especially mineral. It seems hard to believe how poor people can be while the country is this wealthy. The deep-rooted problem is the obvious disorganization in governmental management. Every aspect of life is negatively impacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, education. The best educational system was provided by faith-based schools. School fees for secondary and primary education were totally paid by parents, which was not ideal because many families have numerous children whose parents are unable to cover all of their expenses. Then 2019, the government implemented \u201cthe free primary and secondary education\u201d for faith-based and state schools in order to allow all children from different backgrounds to have access to education, that also means that the government had to take over the payment of teachers\u2019 salaries and operating costs. Unfortunately, this 2019 mandate was not effectively implemented. During the first and the second year, teachers remained unpaid for several months; consequently, they ceased teaching until they received their back pay from the government. The situation worsened with the COVID-19 period. Current teachers\u2019 salaries are not even enough to support their own families. At school, motivation for work has been seriously reduced. Some schools have unofficially tried to charge parents, but they faced legal action.  Many private schools are considered as business, where children are treated like royalty, yet behaviour of most of them is questionable in many ways. Wealthy families prefer to enrol their children in private schools with high tuition fees to avoid these troubles and complications and make sure that their children receive the best education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, employment. Like in India, the educational system is primarily focused on theoretical knowledge. In order to get hired in today\u2019s job market what is needed is a mix of technical skills and interpersonal skills, that is not at all provided at school. But here in DRC, having a degree or parallel skills is not that much an employment criterion. What is considered while looking for a job is the contact one has, who wrote the recommendation letter, what ethnicity one is, in what family one has born into, what is one origin and what province one is from. Consequently, many young people no longer see the value of going to university or developing any skills other than sales. And testimonies of those who have tried all of it and still are jobless, give the sought-after evidences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those who choose to go to university, some are ones who study really hard so that they can get international scholarships; others, whose families are affluent study for to protection of the family\u2019s reputation in order to be well-recommended just after the end of their studies. Then come most of them, who are still in some illusion where diplomas are enough to be employed, ignorant of the way our system works. They struggle, are choked, get depressed, don\u2019t know to whom they should or could ask for assistance. Due to the lack of jobs, guidance, opportunities or long-term projects, many of them choose the easy way, they go astray, fall into a downward spiral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirdly, economy. My country\u2019s economy is almost entirely import-oriented. The biggest challenge every entrepreneur faces is the payment of high and unrecognized taxes, and the deteriorated road infrastructure. As a result, people prefer to import mostly everything. For instance, clothes from Dubai, fish from China, rice from Pakistan, juices from Rwanda, cosmetic product from Kenya, jewels from Europe, etc. Those who chose to product locally make sure that authorities are not aware of their business. This represents a significant threat to the public health, as consumers are using products that have not been inspected or monitored by regulatory services. International organizations try to invest in youth entrepreneurs\u2019 businesses but their involvement is still in its early stages and their presence limited for the same legal reasons. Despite being naturally endowed with abundant water resources, fertile soil, and available land for industrial expansion, the economy remains paradoxically dependent on imports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, equality. This concept remains really variable in DRC. Even though the country is highly religious, social inequalities have reach unprecedented levels, exacerbated by political instabilities across various regions like the Northern and the Eastern parts of the country. The massive exodus following the 1994 Rwandan Genocide saw more than 2 million Rwandan people cross the border. The majority of these refugees settled in the Eastern part of the country. This leads to the fact that when they visit other part of the country, they are not considered or treated 100% congolose. Those living in the northern part of the country, particularly those residing near the equatorial forest, are often perceived as uncivilized because they are not fully integrated into the modern society. Opportunities such as jobs, scholarships, projects, are not easily shared because people\u2019s envy that would hinder their success. Corruption remains so prevalent that even cemetery plots are being sold to people coming from villages to look for a better life in town. The southeast is the most mining-rich part of the country but mineral are exploited by foreigner companies like Chinese or American, they usually employ their own engineers and give inconsiderable works to Congolese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Briefly, I have described the situation in DRC, to give you a clearer picture of the challenges we face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I look forward to hearing from you soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely, ZIRINGA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANGEL RIMIL HORO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Ziringa,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was truly enriching to picturise the situation at your home. I could draw many similarities between the scenario in India and Democratic Republic of Congo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since we have already discussed the state of poverty, I would like to move forward with solutions that could alleviate or perhaps eradicate poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, steps can be taken in education. Reducing admission fees, tuition fees and price of books would help parents enrol their children in schools and colleges. Improving school infrastructure and training educators are instrumental in providing quality education, thereby attracting a larger population to become literate and secure employment. Government subsidies on books and stable syllabus would lessen the burden on parents and motivate them to invest in their children\u2019s education. Seminars, research work and outreach programmes for students foster an interest in learning and enhance skills required for job market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, large number of unorganised labourers constitute the workforce across the globe, and many countries have not formally registered them. Formal registration of these workers would help them enjoy social security benefits, such as, medical allowance, employees\u2019 compensation and free primary education for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing seeds at subsidized rates and efficient irrigation facilities would allow farmers to increase crop production. Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and crop insurance protect farmers from market crashes and climate shocks. Helping them form farmers\u2019 cooperatives would eliminate middlemen who take most of the profits. Proper management of surplus production would enable them to trade in bigger markets while also using the produce for domestic consumption. Extending loans to workers in agriculture and allied sectors would boost the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subsidies on food and medicine increase the purchasing power of the people. As a result, they would be encouraged to buy more commodities, increasing the flow of money in the economy. Credit facilities for start-ups and small businesses help them flourish and establish a strong position in a highly competitive market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regulating the foreign exchange rate through fixed and flexible exchange rate systems appreciates the domestic currency relative to foreign currency. Promoting exports and adjusting tariffs would further help domestic exporters develop their industries. Controlling both inflation and deflation through favourable policies would protect the economy, especially the low-income groups who suffer the most in such cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, I would like to discuss the importance of resource management and local empowerment. In resource-rich countries like India and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mineral industry could be a major driver of economic development if managed properly. Judicious exploitation of mineral resources would boost the domestic mineral market and generate significant revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, prioritizing the employment of local people at mines ensures that the wealth generated directly benefits the communities most affected by poverty. This approach not only creates jobs but also decreases poverty levels by circulating income within local economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to address gender and ethnic poverty. \u201cEqual pay for equal work\u201d should be promoted across genders, ethnicities and regions. All marginalized sections should be provided with decent work environment and robust safety standards. This would encourage the marginalized and the destitute to constitute a significant part of the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of healthcare and nutrition, access to nutritious food, clean water and proper sanitation is essential to prevent diseases. Consequently, people will remain healthy and can avoid the burden of medical fees for preventable illnesses. Food security programmes such as Public Distribution System (PDS) in India are ongoing initiatives that should be fully implemented across both urban and rural areas. The Indian government issues ration cards to families below the poverty line so they can obtain rations at subsidized rates. However, many people above this line misuse the benefits through fake ration cards. If such activities are checked meticulously, then the poor would be fairly benefitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the improvement of infrastructure in villages would encourage overall development. Infrastructural projects, such as, roads and railways connecting villages to towns, enable people in rural areas to access urban facilities. Similarly, hospitals, dispensaries, and clinics that provide treatment at a minimum cost, would uplift economically backward sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geography has unevenly distributed wealth and resources across the country. Regions that are prone to natural calamities, and where people are dependent on climate-specific livelihoods, often see residents lose their homes and jobs. In such cases, sufferers should be compensated with new settlements and alternative jobs until the situation returns to stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A large section of population migrates from village to cities in search of jobs and better standard of living, thereby putting pressure on supply of food and rising population. Creating local employment opportunities can reduce migration as well as poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, an interplay of favourable factors can eliminate poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would like to conclude now and hope to get to know more from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank You.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regards,  Angel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATHALIE\u00a0ZIRINGA\u00a0BYAMUNGU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Angel,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for sharing such a profound, clear-eyed and deeply moving analysis and considerable solutions for the realities in India. I really hope that Indian communities and competent authorities will truly consider implementing those long-term proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the paradox of plenty in DRC, many brilliant Congolese minds and international economists have also grappled with how to effectively translate immense mineral wealth into sustainable human development, offering various frameworks for change. Before diving into strategic paths forward, it is important to acknowledge and build upon all the valuable solutions (from local reformers, civil society, diaspora thinkers, community perspectives\u2026) that have been proposed over the years. Many local initiatives like decentralized agricultural cooperatives and local mutual-aid funds have emphasized while waiting for top-down governance to fix itself. For all these initiatives to be implemented effectively, it is crucial for the State to provide the population with moral, financial and psychological support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any country, basic education will always remain one of the keys to fundamental change. In DRC, for primary and secondary schools, rather than relying solely on centralized state management, the government should formalize co-management agreements with faith-based institutions. In this model, the state guarantees direct digital salary payments to teachers and provides tax exemptions, while religious networks oversee daily operations to ensure transparency. Regulatory bodies must enforce rigorous standards for private educational institutions because schools operating merely as commercial enterprises without delivering quality education and maintaining behavioural standards should face license revocation. With State\u2019s funding and assistance, academic institutions can complement theoretical knowledge with practical skill by providing young people with facilities to put theories they learn into practice, redefining the value of a university education, and granting real opportunities to succeed, and establishing regional incubation hubs focused on career development, personal growth, and community success. Civil society organizations should establish mentorship networks to support disillusioned graduates. These programs can provide career re-orientation, psychological support, and entrepreneurial training to help youth transition into the formal economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the country\u2019s economy to recover, it is essential to fund micro-enterprises led by young entrepreneurs, and to restructure healthcare, judicial, and educational infrastructures. Furthermore, investment must be directed toward key sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and engineering at all levels, alongside building national and secondary roads to allow goods produced in the provinces to circulate throughout the country. This will drastically reduce reliance on imports and shift the focus toward external consumption. To address public health concerns surrounding unmonitored products, the State must implement better policies for local production and marketing, and health authorities must upgrade their import and export frameworks for consumables in order to eliminate risks linked to uncertified goods. To counter nepotism and the over-reliance on personal connections, the labour market must transition toward skill-based and transparent hiring practices, meaning that both private enterprises and public institutions should adopt blind recruitment methods so that any competent individual would have the chance to apply equally, regardless of the gender or ethnicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing regional disparities and the exploitation of natural resources requires strict legal enforcement and inclusive social policies. The government must strictly enforce legislation requiring foreign mining companies to employ a specific quota of Congolese engineers and managers. A higher percentage of revenues generated from mineral extraction should legally remain within the producing provinces. This wealth redistribution will stimulate local economies and curb the rapid, unmanageable rural-to-urban migration. These regulations must include mandatory knowledge-transfer and training programs. Additionally, the government must encourage the establishment of domestic industries led by competent Congolese citizens by reviewing their tax collection and payment strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educational curricula and national media should actively promote social cohesion to counter the marginalization of border populations and forest communities. Cultural integration must be paired with equitable regional development to regain the community identity long mitigated. To achieve this, the state must overhaul educational textbooks to integrate the histories, positive practices, and languages of communities into the national syllabus. This ensures that youth in urban centers view populations, especially frontier ones as foundational pillars of the nation rather than geographic externalities. Concurrently, national media must keep on decentralizing its broadcasting infrastructure, establishing localized, multilingual community radio stations. By amplifying the voices of forest and border dwellers in their own dialects, public media transforms into a genuine mirror of a pluralistic national identity. When civic inclusion is backed by localized infrastructure, historic alienation dissolves, replacing vulnerability with a resilient, unified sense of national belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work required to lift the DRC out of its state of extreme poverty is immense. Everyone, at their own level, can contribute a brick to this great edifice that needs to be built. While it is true that solutions will not come solely from the State, their real, effective, and operational support is the first and greatest step that everyone can hope for. For these initiatives to take root progressively, it is crucial to implement each one in a gradual and controlled manner, because as things stand, everything is disarray, children’s, women’s, workers’ rights\u2026, and basic human rights altogether. As encouraging and well-intentioned as international interventions may be, they ultimately reinforce the DRC’s reliance on external forces rather than leveraging the immense potential already in its possession. This vast cycle, spanning from education to economic development, is undeniably complex, but it remains fully achievable through united, genuine effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable development in the DRC requires a shift from centralized dependency toward localized accountability. By empowering regional communities, formalizing local businesses, and enforcing transparent standards, the country can align its vast natural wealth with the wellbeing of its citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is time for our States to step into their foundational roles, building unified, self-reliant nations where progress is not imported from the outside, but cultivated proudly from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With profound hope and unwavering commitment to the future of our nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ZIRINGA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This letter exchange between Angel RIMIL HORO from India and Nathalie ZIRINGA BYAMUNGU from the Democratic Republic … <\/p>\n

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