Portia Stafford has a high school diploma in hospitality and three certificates from job training programs. She is among a generation of ambitious Africans who spend their days chasing an elusive opening.
Tag: Poverty
Pope Francis Implores the World to Save a Planet Near ‘the Breaking Point’
Eight years after his landmark letter on humanity’s obligation to protect the environment, Francis warns that there is still a lot to be done, and quickly.
Portraits of Fire Victims: Two Toddlers Named ‘Memory,’ and a Teacher About to Wed
A picture is emerging of some of the 77 people who died when the derelict building in Johannesburg where they were living went up in flames on Aug. 31.
India’s Preparations for G20 Summit Must Also Account for Monkeys
For New Delhi, monkeys are a minor problem compared with poverty and pollution, but the government doesn’t want them stealing the spotlight when world leaders arrive.
In Spain, Illegal Pot Farms Are Being Blamed for Blackouts
Spain’s largest electricity company says daily power outages are caused by illegal indoor marijuana farms that overload the grid. “Easy excuse,” residents reply.
Officials Knew of Problems at Building That Caught Fire in South Africa
An extensive paper trail reveals that the authorities in Johannesburg were warned repeatedly about the dangers in the derelict building where 76 people died in a fire this week.
Officials in South Africa Knew About the Problems at a ‘Bad Building,’ but Did Nothing
An extensive paper trail reveals that the authorities in Johannesburg knew about the litany of dangers in the derelict building where 76 people died in a fire this week.
Filthy Toilets, No Showers and Criminal Landlords: Life in a South African Firetrap
After harrowing escapes from the apartment fire in Johannesburg that killed at least 74 people, residents described how they managed to build lives with no legal water or electricity, and very little privacy.
Pope Says a Strong U.S. Faction Offers a Backward, Narrow View of the Church
In unusually sharp remarks published this week, Pope Francis said some conservative American Catholics wrongly ignore much of the Church’s mission and reject the possibility of change.
In France, Some Public Pools Are Victims of Budget Woes
As temperatures rise, a vast but aging system is feeling the strains of rising energy costs, increasing water scarcity and mounting pressure on public budgets.