Action Africa is a service club at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. We are trying to increase awareness of African issues and complete service projects at our school.

One of our ongoing projects is a pen pal relationship with a school in Bupoto, Uganda. Last year, as our big spring service project, we did literacy outreach with the Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH), a school in rural Uganda. We collected easy-reader books and recorded them on tapes, and then sent the books and tapes to the students of AAH in Bupoto.

We continue to learn about different issues, such as food security and AIDS awareness, and are working with ONE on many more events.

–Sydney Shrider, Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, VA

On Friday, August 15, ONE members from the Pembroke Pines Charter High School, located in Pembroke Pines, Florida, met with Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL) to talk about the accomplishments of the school’s ONE chapter, which has over 150 members including students and faculty.

The passionate students, along with their teacher Ms. Danielle De Pas, spoke about how they got involved with the ONE Campaign and how they are energizing their peers to become educated about extreme poverty. The school’s charter has been so successful that the ONE movement is now spreading beyond Pembroke Pines High School into the neighboring school districts.

In response, Representative Hastings talked about the importance of engaging young people in the political process early on so that they can help make a difference for generations to come. He hopes that the upcoming election will bring an unprecedented number of young people out to vote who want their voices heard on issues such as extreme poverty.

At the end, he commended the work of the ONE Campaign and slipped on the ONE bracelet to show his support. We thanked him for cosponsoring PEPFAR (The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and urged him to continue to support legislation that will alleviate global poverty.

The students, who are organizing a ONE event to be held at the school in January, invited the Congressman to attend and provide a few remarks. We are hopeful that he will be able to be there to show his support.

-Sara Paterni, FL Field Organizer

(Photo from left to right: Andre Riley, Rafael Batista, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Danielle DePas)

Compassion has flooded the hallways of Libertyville High School in Illinois. I and my fellow students are taking action for the fight against disease and poverty and today, on March 19, our school will become the first official “ONE High School” at the same time Libertyville becomes an official “ONE City.”

Next month, we’re organizing a massive community benefit concert that will take place on April 18, 2008 at the high school’s field house. Just like the roots of the ONE Campaign, this started as just a few students’ idea and has grown into a movement.

What inspires me the most is how quick more students are to join. Our group continues to grow and we’ve already signed up more than 580 new members in just two days of tabling. Between our school and town, the Libertyville community is truly taking on to the idea that we all can come together as ONE community to change the world.

-Ryan Steel, ONE member and LHS senior, Libertyville, IL

Many of the questions posed dealt with the President and Mrs. Bush’s recent trip to Africa, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the work that ONE and other NGOs are doing to help the world’s poor. As if talking to the First Lady was not cool enough, the students wore ONE shirts to emphasize their commitment to ending global poverty and disease.

Check out some of the student comments about the experience after the jump.

-Katie Andrews, Field Organizer (KS, OH, MI, MO, WV)

Being an exchange student from Finland I have never experienced how people of so different backgrounds and with so different beliefs just are able to work together for a greater cause. Just thinking about the mix of cultures and beliefs that our group was made up of, and realizing how differently we all see the world was incredible. Sitting in that classroom with other students, teachers and even our school’s principal, almost everybody wearing a ONE t-shirt, listening to Laura Bush made a huge impact on me. And yet, there we were, talking about HIV/AIDS and trying to understand the importance of fighting this pandemic. Uskomatonta (Unbelievable)!

-Natasha Nurmi

The fight against global poverty is surely a daunting task and will be the definitive issue of our generation. It is complex with no single, simple solution. But with more celebrities, volunteers, politicians, students, and nations joining the cause everyday, we can succeed. Twenty minutes of Mrs. Bush’s time was another small step towards this monumental task. While twenty minutes may seem short, Mrs. Bush’s example prompted a dialogue among us students that will continue far past this week. It will amplify poverty awareness among students and take the cause in new and innovative directions. Conversations are the necessary building blocks for change and have the ability to inspire people and encourage action. Most of all they create solidarity among those attacking poverty from different angles. It’s this social dialogue that will ultimately destroy poverty.

-Chase Hrdina

The time and advice Mrs. Bush gave us was definitely appreciated. I think it is so cool that she realizes the potential of high school students. Our age group is usually overlooked because we are seen as moody and unreliable, but Mrs. Bush looks at us differently. I am glad that such a high-ranking woman understands the potential teenagers hold and the importance of getting us involved in helping with the world’s problems.
-Kelsey Eckenrode

Generally, every time we talk to someone and ask them the same question, we get the same response: “Oh, well, I think that it’s just great that you guys are interested in AIDS/Darfur/(insert issue here).” Well, Mrs. Bush said that she’s been to Africa five times, and each time she goes there, she sees improvement. She then said that she is proud that American kids what to help–She’s proud of us! I think that’s really cool! The entire idea behind speaking with Mrs. Bush was intoxicating. During the video conference, I kept thinking to myself, “I can not believe that Laura Bush is having a conversation with us!” She said that we look at huge problems and we think that we can’t address them. But we can. All problems are difficult; it’s hard to get anti-retroviral drugs to people who need them, but their standard of living is drastically increased with the drugs. I think that with continued perseverance, people will win the battle with AIDS. It’s so encouraging and inspiring to be reminded that there are very powerful people out there who care about the same issues that I do; people who others will listen to, people who are influential. I never cease to be amazed how these leaders are willing to talk to a group of kids in the middle of Missouri. But I guess when people like the First Lady tell you that they’re proud that you’re involved and that you care about an issue, it’s easier to believe that we can change the world.
-Samantha Eiffert

Getting to hear from Laura Bush was to me, a once in a life time opportunity. Hearing her views on her experiences in Africa were interesting, because I’ve never been out of the United States. Many of the things she said, for example, about how poverty and poor water supplies were the main sources of the spread of disease in Africa were very similar to a few things we’ve read about in Mountains Beyond Mountains. In a way Laura Bush reminds me of Paul Farmer because they both have the same passion to continue to help people who are less fortunate than us. It was a real eye opening experience to get more information on something we are learning about and be able to connect what Laura Bush was saying to things that I had learned in class.
-April Myers

Bram Sable-Smith (who spent the last two years in the United World Colleges program in Swaziland) Mitch Besser of mothers2mothers dedicates all of his working time towards the mothers program, however a president or a first lady cannot do that. They cannot champion one cause only because they must be the champions of all causes. We should be stoked that one of these champions of all causes has designated a significant amount of time to our cause, and even a small portion of that to us.

Having Mrs. Bush talk to us was, well, awesome. Who can actually say, “Oh yeah, so, today in school, we talked to the First Lady on the phone?” She was really down to earth. But personally, I think the best part about the whole conversation was that not ONCE did ANYTHING come to politics or different views. I didn’t feel tension in the room from the different parties, we were all there for ONE reason (please excuse the pun). It was really refreshing. I am so lucky to be surrounded by young minds that all want better for our world, and I am grateful for getting the opportunity to talk to people who have really gone out there and made a difference, like Mitch Besser, Paul Farmer and Mrs. Bush.
-Alex Harrison

Yesterday, at my high school, we had our first ever video conference. It was in a classroom of about 100 kids. The astounding thing about that is that the conference was with Laura Bush. It was quite amazing to be a part of that. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about everything she said. And when we asked her how to help, she encouraged us by saying that just by keeping up on the times and caring that that was a start. Then, by acting on the care, we would be able to help immensely in Africa.
-Lauren Orscheln

We talked about the Millennium Development Goals and the upcoming congressional and presidential races and how the class could make an impact. I left the school excited about helping them make their first advocacy project a reality, but when Chip sent me a link to the blogs the students had been writing I was speechless. I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite of the ten, but I found this line to be particularly powerful and in line with ONE’s mission:

I considered the possibility of presenting some perfect way to tell the world about AIDS, poverty, injustice, hunger, and water issues, but I don’t think there is one. The only way to spread this in a lasting way is one person or community at a time. I really believe it’s important (though not necessary) to have a relationship with someone in order for them to be influenced by your ideas and passions. As I’ve been writing this, I’ve realized that I’m contributing to the problem of ignorance that bugs me so much, and after being saturated with information over the past two weeks, that needs to change. –Josh Ellis

I encourage you all, especially if you are a person of faith, to read all ten student blogs – and while you’re doing so, think about the lives that will likely be saved because these inspiring students chose to take a “Winterim” on poverty and social justice and not bowling.