Poetry For Change [In Africa]
Changing the world through poetry!
What We Stand For
The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it.” George Kimble. 1912
Mission Statement of Poetry for Change[In Africa]
Poetry for Change[In Africa] is devoted to spreading awareness about the current situation in Africa through poetry.
Poetry for Change works to end the poverty, starvation, and violence that is taking place right now. We want to spread awareness about these issues, springing others forth to help.
In conjuction with charities, Poetry for Change works to bring education, food, and water to the people of Africa by donating money and time.
Africa- Why Help?
- In African countries like Botswana, Zambia, and Ghana 20% or more of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS
- In Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Uganda 1 million or more children are orphaned by the AIDS epidemic
- Every three seconds, a child dies from a water-borne disease
- Less than 50% of Africa's populatin has access to healthcare
- Only about 60% of Africa's population is enrolled in primary education.
- 1 in 3 children do not finish
- Because of war, starvation, and lack of available healthcare, life expectancy in most African countries is extremely low. Life expectany in Zambia is 37. In Sierra Leone, 34
- About 20% of children under 5 die in Africa
- 33% of the African population suffers from malnutrition, that's 184 million people
- In africa, 120,000 children under 18 fight in wars
- Children as young as 8 and 9 carry machines guns and participate in armed combat
Statistics and facts collected from credible websites:
http://www.africanculturalcenter.org/, http://www.food4africa.org/, http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/chilsold.htm
More About the Charity We Give To: Africa Aid
Africa Aid's mission statement:
"Africa Aid builds innovative poverty-alleviation programs that empower African families, communities and countries, while forging partnerships with American universities to support our cutting-edge aid programs." Africa Aid About
Some examples of what Africa Aid does:
*Brings education to underdeveloped areas through university partnerships
*Provides lunch programs for African school children
*Delivers medical devices to hospitals
*Raises awareness through campains and fundraisers
*MDNet: "MDNet creates free mobile phone networks amongst physicians within countries in Africa. The communications initiative—the first of its kind in Africa—advances the transfer of medical knowledge and emergency response, improving healthcare and ultimately saving lives."
*"The Skills Education and Microfinance (SEAM) initiative combines skills training with small-scale loans to empower women and men to grow enterprises and gain more open access to markets in Ghana and around the world." Africa Aid News/Programs
NOTE: Poetry for Change [In Africa] is not a part of the organization, Africa Aid. However, we do support their organization and give them the revenues from book sales.