Every year, more than 7 million children die from preventable diseases before their fifth birthday. With so many statistics like this, it becomes hard to wrap our minds around what that means. It means that every day, not one, but thousands, of mothers lose a child to a disease that existing, simple solutions could prevent. A bed net could protect a child from malaria, a vaccine could protect him or her from pneumonia or measles.
Much like how comic book fans have Comic-Con, people like me who live and breathe social media in the international development field have Social Good Summit and now Rio+Social. Nothing gets me more excited than using the power of social media, especially Twitter, to connect people and create social good that will have the power to shape concepts and ideas that will change the world.
When you are on board a plane, carry-on safely tucked away, the world sure seems like a small place at 35,000 feet. But as you soar above the earth, consider the BIG role we all play in making it a better place. There are many problems facing the world today — but also many solutions. The key is raising awareness and taking action.
Over the past year, 13.3 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia were thrown into crisis as a result of drought in the Horn of Africa, the worst in 60 years. In response, the United States — together with the international community — spent more than $1.5 billion, saving millions of lives by providing access to food, water and basic health services.
The spot where we had stopped in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya wasn’t supposed to be anyone’s home. The open courtyard with shelters was intended for new arrivals to gather and aid workers to distribute water containers, blankets, and other supplies.
MAY 25th is AFRICA DAY: A holiday in most African nations that began as a call for freedom from colonialism, has become a celebration of African unity, potential and promise. MamaHope as an organization summed that up for us. With only two staff in the U.S. fundraising and local teams on the ground in communities throughout Africa working on projects initiated by those same communities, this small and passionate non-profit team are redefining how we see Africa.
Access to contraception and family planning–tools to help women and families plan for the families they want and care for the families they have –is considered controversial in too many countries around the world. But it’s not.
Liberia is a country where low literacy rates and poverty are among the many challenges in the transition from war to stability. About 85 percent of adults are unable to read and/or write and unaware of the important roles girls can play in the development of communities and societies
Today we toured Kakuma Refugee Camp in the northern Kenya desert, home to nearly 95,000 refugees, about one-third of whom are from South Sudan. People there have walked days or weeks, or ridden buses, or flown in airplanes, to escape dangerous conditions in their home countries. They arrive exhausted, most with little or no belongings.
