Don't get too distracted

It is easy in the current environment to become insular. Human nature kicks in and we start protecting ourselves and our families.

However, for many around the globe, life did not get much worse with the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure for us, there are economic ramifications, education ramifications, social ramifications and on and on.

However, if you live in a remote corner of a developing country where you have to walk 20 kilometres a day for water, what changed?

Probably, the focus of the rest of the world in helping to solve the problem, because our own personal problems were magnified.

With this column, a group of local people working in the non-profit/NGO sector wish to bring you insight into some of the world's challenges, whether that is:

• Homelessness in Canada
• Water issues in indigenous communities
• Poverty and starvation overseas.

We will dig for facts, truth, solutions and innovation. While we work in the sector, attempting to assist with those issues, this is not a self-promotional column.

When almost 5,000 children die each and every day because of lack of access to safe water, how can it not be our issue? This is, and should be, a shared issue.

We seek solutions, we encourage feedback and dialogue and we are always looking for situations that we have not covered at any point.

The one caveat is that we will not be covering animal welfare or other charities that are typically outside of poverty challenges.

Our purpose is to reduce global poverty and we hope in some way that we can help inform you of the current focal points as well as developing innovations and solutions that can assist.

We will keep you informed on a two-weekly cycle and we look forward to hearing from you and connecting with you.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.