Omni Impact Stories is a series that chronicles the actions taken to uplift farming villages in rural India as well as document the real-life accounts of the farmers and their families who are positively affected by the Improving Lives Foundation.
An urgent call for people and the planet
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 to “…provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future… [and recognize] that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth—all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.” They comprise of 17 goals, which are an urgent call for action by all countries— developed and developing. Click here to learn more about Sustainable development goals
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world’s best plan to build a better world for people and the planet by 2030. OmniActive’s Improving Lives Foundation (ILF) aims to impact 10 of the 17 goals:
1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Decent work and economic growth
8. Reduced inequalities
9. Climate action
10. Partnership for goals
Good health and nutrition uplifts in so many ways
In addition to its obvious benefits, proper nutrition and health impacts many areas of the SDGs, like reducing poverty and gender inequality, and has been one of our primary focus areas. Our approach to meet those goals depends on the needs of the communities we work in. For example, the nutrition program focuses on improving general health by checking for high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and low hemoglobin levels as well as providing necessary medication to correct those conditions. OmniActive is also focused on healthy nutrition for young mothers and reducing mortality rates for babies and young children under the age of five. This program is especially important for women who are often the last to eat in the family and don’t necessarily have access to nutritious food. By working with the Anganwadi, a type of childcare center in India, in Gundlupet, we screen for malnutrition (using the World Health Organization standards) and take measures to reduce/prevent undernourishment through meal programs, conducting healthy eating workshops and providing seeds for kitchen garden vegetables. The nutrition program also includes essential health services to help community members understand what health services are available through the government and other sources. This also makes sure that children are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being.
A multi-faceted approach to improving lives
In addition to our nutrition program, ILF is also engaged in three other programs: eye health, sanitation and farmer education, which we will highlight in this blog series. All of our programs are aimed at aligning with the ambitions of the SDGs and to foster sustainability, environmental responsibility and help people and communities live better lives.
About the OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation
OmniActive is dedicated to improving the lives of farmers as well as their families and villages in rural India. Through the Improving Lives Foundation, OmniActive dispatches various ground-level initiatives, providing critical services that promote vision health, nutrition, education and sanitation to uplift entire farming communities. For more information, contact us at info@omniactives.com or follow us on Linkedin. #OmniImpactStories #ImprovingLives
About the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG)
The DSDG, under the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN system-wide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs.