Americans Finding Purpose in Africa
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am | posted by Virginia SimmonsUSA Today is featuring a story on Americans who find purpose fighting poverty in Africa. (Can’t think of anyone who fits that profile around these parts..;)
The continent’s infamous problems…provide an opportunity for Americans to do good when U.S. popularity is sagging just about everywhere else. “People feel there are obvious solutions” to what ails Africa, says Eric Hartman, who runs a program to introduce students to Africa. “It holds that attraction.”
…many American programs are paying off with declines in AIDS deaths and poverty rates. African governments also are doing more to encourage peace and economic development.
The piece goes onto highlight Rwanda’s transformation in particular. (ONE has a crew traveling through Rwanda right now to highlight effective American aid.)
Nowhere has the transformation been as dramatic as Rwanda, where in 1994 as many as 1 million people were killed in a horrific 100-day spree of ethnic violence.
The economy is still recovering — the average wage is less than $1 a day — but visitors to the capital, Kigali, are often shocked by the strides Rwanda has made. The airport is orderly and clean; the streets are safe to walk; and a tourism boom has led to several restaurants opening.
Also, a stat I’ve never heard before:
“On balance, though, Americans’ affection for Africa seems to be reciprocated. According to a Pew Global Attitudes Project survey of world opinion, nine of the 10 nations most favorable toward America are in Africa (the other is Israel). Residents of Kenya, Ghana and the Ivory Coast regard Americans more favorably than Americans do.”
The full piece is worth reading.
-Virginia Simmons
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
I appreciated the part in this article where William Easterly’s statement is politely rebuffed by the part in which the article states that Pres. Kigame asked Mr. Warren to come to Rwanda.
Kinda shot a hole in Easterly’s contention that people are going over to Africa without being asked to and are being appreciated for their efforts to help in Africa.
Thanks Virginia for pointing this article out. It would have been great if the article also concentrated on those of us here in this country who are also making contributions to Africa.
Maybe a follow up story, USA Today? (smile)
LIVING POSITIVELY, debbie
www.mpwn-uganda.org
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Thanks Virginia for posting this article. It is nice to know that the African countries do view the United States in a positive way. I am sure that a major reason for that is the work of organizations like One. Senator Frist often says that he believes medicine can be used as a currency for peace. I think that can be extended to include all of the great work that One does. again quoting Senator Frist “people don’t go to war with someone who has saved the life of their child.”
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Millennium Promise is working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, in the fight to end extreme poverty, hunger and preventable disease. To learn more about the organization and its on the ground initiative in Africa, the Millennium Villages project, visit www.millenniumpromise.org.