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Subject: AFRICA DIARY 13: WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A LITTLE $$
Time: 11:42:00 AM EST
Author: ajuddinafrica
For two days I have been hosted by De Beers. They rightfully wanted to show us their extensive programs that offer incredible health services to both their miners and the communities in which they mine. They fund not only detailed HIV/AIDS prevention work (via the tried and true peer education method), they provide ARV’s for HIV positive employees and their partners during their careers and after they retire. The mine health clinic teaches wonderful, empowering life lessons about everything from medically accurate sex education to clean water basics to preventable disease protocols, as well as offering psycho social support.
It was a totally happy two days that got even better when I visited the mentally and physically challenged children, ranging from mild to profound, who live full time at a major complex De Beers funds (that also includes a hospice). In developing countries that already have so many problems, handicapped kids are all too often isolated and neglected. When the needs of otherwise healthy kids are barely met, you can imagine what happens to those with special needs: not much. I salute De Beers for their quiet campaign of intensive social responsibility and hope they can inspire other companies to set up similar HIV/AIDS prevention programs. As we all know, most companies have a mixed past (at best), and De Beers is a fine example of walking humbly into the 21st century with a positive agenda. Plus, the minors are totally fine!!!!
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Actress Ashley Judd will be featured on tonight's season finale of Iconoclasts along with diplomat Madeleine Albright. Airs @10PM on The Sundance Channel! For More info, visit: http://www.sundancechannel.co
m/iconoclasts/ -
I think the work you do is awesome. I myself have been interested in working in Africa on public health programs and providing medical assistance to refugees and orphans for a long time. I'm a university student and plan to go to medical school in 2 years. This summer I am traveling to Tanzania to help open a school or orphaned children in the area. If you're ever looking for volunteers to come help with the projects you're working on I'd be honored to get to work with you. God bless you in your endeavors.
Rachel Seymour
seemore@ku.edu -
I'm predicting that the war, Hurricane Katrina /FEMA relief issues, the Immigrant issue and Gay marriage will get more people to the polls in 2008. I feel, remembering 911 and our security issues will get people out to vote too.
Yes, there are a lot of issues, but children and education is one close at heart to me.
just think,
A little $$ our government spends now- can save us a lot spent later... EXAMPLE: extend day/ after school hours- so kids don't go home alone. summers program in the school systems to keep kids off the streets, more child care vouchers- so parents can work, better food programs and free school breakfasts & parent education workshops VS: drug rehabilitation & prison costs for those lost teens that we had not helped when then needed it, when they were young and reachable...
We need 100% better sex education. It needs to be started in younger grades. It should address teen pregnancy prevention and abortion issues.
I'm not for abortion - I am for the education of teens to prevent pregnancy and to know what choices they have available to them.
Why is child development not a high school course?
The children we don't help now - we may
pay for later in prison cost down the line.
Just my take, what is yours?
Cheryl -
Dear Ashley Judd,
Wow, I think it is so great that you don't just donate money to Africa and the war against AIDS, you actually go to Africa and teach about AIDS. It's amazing all the work that you do! I think the best way to touch lives is do just that, literally go out, meet these people, and really help them. I cannot wait until I am older and can maybe go to Africa myself. You are a great role model and a great person!
-Ashley A.
12/2/07 3:35 PM
Dear Ashley Judd,
Since my accidental but very fortunate discovery of the Sundance Channel, each of my Thursdays of the last several weeks have been devoted to Iconoclast program, and recently, your segment with Madeleine Albright. You had once described an innate and compulsive desire affect and change the world around you, and at that moment I could empathize completely with you.
The part of the program that particularly intrigued me was that unsafe drinking water could be cleansed with a substance that only costs pennies to purchase. Additionally, that durable nets can shelter entire huts against malaria. I would really like to get my school and community involved in aiding those in Africa; this year collecting money, and next year hopefully hosting an annual Poetry Slam to benefit such causes, or HIV/AIDS, or all three, perhaps.
I would really appreciate it if you could give me a name or website to contact to pursue this endeavor. My email is backporchpoet1@aim.com.
Thank you so much,
Kaitlin