Blog of the Week — The Advocacy Project
Since bad news is news, and Africa has its fair share of that, we often end up skimming the headlines and never really get to know much about the individuals affected by war, famine, poverty and disease. Most poor or marginalized people have stories that are seldom heard, they have no voice. Advocacy.net is an organization that is trying to give a voice to these marginalized communities. They have blogs written by students (mostly from the US and Europe), who spend 3 months in remote communities, listening to personal histories and helping people claim their basic rights. If you've ever wanted to work or volunteer in Africa, read some of these blogs. They're eye-opening, educational, moving and important.
Current fellows of this program include Ned Meerdink a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He's based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His latest post includes a current update on the security situation in South Kivu; an explanation of an local alternate fuel program he's helping to raise money for; and a report on the successful distribution of new school uniforms and supplies that benefit children of single mothers, widows, and victims of sexual violence. He says "A small gap in fighting opened up the roads for movement South from Uvira, and now lots of kids are back in class, albeit a bit late."
Click here to read more Advocacy Project blogs. And if you're interested in this program or just want to find out more about volunteering in Africa, here are some resources to get you started:
- Short-term Volunteering and Voluntourism in Africa
- Conservation Jobs in Africa
- Volunteer Resources in Africa
- Family Volunteer Vacations in Africa
Blog of the Week -- The Advocacy Project originally appeared on About.com Africa Travel on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 15:13:30.
