Jane Harkness

English, Film, and Media Studies student at St. Mary's College of Maryland

United States of America

Writer, traveler, and aspiring journalist. Passionate about politics, international development, and media analysis. Contact and collaborate: [email protected]

Portfolio
The Borgen Project
08/19/2015
How Online Marketplace is Reducing Food Waste

Millions of tons of food are wasted every year in developed countries, and the United States is one of the worst offenders, with more than 40 percent of the food supply ending up in dumpsters and landfills rather than on people's plates. Sadly, the problem has only been getting worse.

The Borgen Project
08/02/2015
Water Crisis Continues in Eastern Ukraine

Unrest in Ukraine began in the fall of 2013, when Ukraine did not sign an agreement with the European Union. Students and other young people began engaging in demonstrations and protests in the capital city, Kiev, with the objective of fighting corruption in their country.

The Borgen Project
07/30/2015
Human Trafficking in the Thai Fishing Industry

Human trafficking is a horrific trade, often described as a form of modern day slavery. It is defined as any illegal movement of people for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation. Many governments are in denial of how widespread the issue is and neglect reporting or prosecuting those involved.

The Borgen Project
07/16/2015
Baltimore City Schools Provide Free Meals to All Students

Worldwide, approximately 805 million people are classified as hungry. They do not have access to enough food to provide adequate nutrition and calories, putting them at risk for malnutrition or starvation. Although most of those affected by world hunger live in developing countries, about 15 million people in developed countries also struggle to put enough food on the table.

The Borgen Project
07/12/2015
How Clean-Burning Gas Stoves Can Help Sudan - TBP

The country of Sudan has been struggling with violent conflicts since an ongoing genocide began in the Darfur region in 2003. Over the past twelve years, nearly 400,000 citizens were killed and another 2.5 million were displaced by the Janjaweed militia. The country has been investigated for many human rights violations, but the suffering continues today.

The Borgen Project
07/09/2015
Malawi's Male Champion Model Program Fighting HIV

Worldwide, 34 million people are living with HIV, including 3.3 million children. In the African nation of Malawi, 910,000 citizens out of a population of 15.9 million have HIV. Around 170,000 are children, and children account for 16,000 new infections annually.

The Borgen Project
07/06/2015
How Yuwa Empowers Girls in India Through Football

India currently has the highest number of child brides on the planet, with 47 percent of girls married before they turn 18. The practice is more common in rural areas. In some states, the number reaches 69 percent. The rate of marriages is increasing for girls between the ages of 15 and 18.

The Borgen Project
07/06/2015
Tackling Energy Poverty in Rural Pakistan

Each day, more of the world's population gains access to electricity. Economic development, urbanization and aid programs have all helped increase global energy access. But 1.3 billion people still have no access to electricity, meaning that 18 percent of the world's population is living in "energy poverty."

The Borgen Project
07/02/2015
How the SHEVA Company is Helping Girls Stay in School

In developing countries, girls often miss school or drop out entirely when they begin menstruating. Many are reluctant to tackle this issue because of the taboo that still surrounds menstruation, but it is a widespread problem that affects the education of millions of girls worldwide.

The Borgen Project
06/30/2015
Kranti Organization Educates Girls in Mumbai's Red Light District

The Indian education system is steadily improving, thanks in part to the Right to Education Act passed in 2009. This granted free education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14. Now, 98 percent of children in India are enrolled in primary school. But this number does not tell the full story.

BORGEN
07/09/2015
This Could Be the End of Polio in Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria - Polio is a contagious viral illness that has been stamped out in all developed nations, but lingers in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The disease exists in two forms: nonparalytic and paralytic polio. The nonparalytic strains usually cause mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, vomiting and fatigue.

BORGEN
07/01/2015
South Sudan's Hunger Crisis - BORGEN

South Sudan - The world's newest country, South Sudan, is currently facing what the UN Security Council has deemed the worst food crisis in the world. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a long civil war, however, since this victory, there has been little to celebrate.

The Borgen Project
06/07/2015
Solar Suitcase Saves Lives in Developing Countries - TBP

Childbirth can present risks anywhere in the world. However, in developing countries, giving birth can often be lethal for both mother and child. The most common causes of infant mortality include infections, premature birth, or birth asphyxia, while maternal deaths are usually the result of severe bleeding or high blood pressure during pregnancy.

BORGEN
06/14/2015
Improving Access to Sanitation in Zambia - BORGEN

CHIENGE, Zambia - Most people living in developed nations have access to a bathroom whenever necessary, but for much of the world's population, sanitation is a luxury. About 2.5 billion people have no access to improved sanitation facilities, and because of this, about 15 percent of the population must resort to open defecation.

BORGEN
06/14/2015
#DrawDisability: World Education Forum - BORGEN

INCHEON, South Korea - From May 19 to 22, Incheon, South Korea, hosted the World Education Forum, a platform for global leaders in education. The objectives of the forum included evaluating the successes and shortfalls of the Education for All goals and education-related Millennium Development Goals.

BORGEN
06/14/2015
Medicine Hat: Working to End Chronic Homelessness- TBP

BEACH HAVEN, New Jersey - Although Canada is a developed country where citizens are generally able to enjoy a high quality of life, the nation still struggles with homelessness, a problem that is currently receiving increased government attention.