Hi All.

I just returned from the final closing ceremony of the 2007 World Social Forum. It was an incredible day.

This morning, friends from the “Negi 1 Development Youth Group” brought us to the Huruma slums so that we could see how an inspirational alliance of young people have come together to transform their community. Since the group was formed in 1997, they have brought running water, microfinance, sanitation and community policy to their community – all based almost entirely on their own ingenuity and resources. They are a true example of what will and partnership can do.

From there, we marched through the surrounding Nairobi slums to the city center. Although we were all exhausted by the time we arrived, we were exhilarated. As an impressive line up of speakers spoke to the importance of issues such as debt cancellation, trade justice and improved resources for development – marchers danced and sang around Uhuru (Freedom) Park.

At one point, I was caught up in a sea of some 500 hundred women with AIDS singing a song I had often sung when working with Uganda’s AIDS Support Organization’s traveling music and drama group years ago. (I even ran into an old friend from the troupe.)

Needless to say, it was an incredibly special moment and a perfect way to end this forum. That said, I am now, perhaps more than ever, looking forward to returning home to continue pushing our movement forward with all of you!