International conference of social change makers in a war zone
[Promoted to front page and links edited in by mole333]
A community based organisation, Life in Africa Foundation, will be hosting an international conference of members of omidyar.net.
Several members have made the trek to Gulu, which has been war raveged for over 20 years, with other members following and attending through the network virtually.
With many ideas on how to tackle Africa's troubled social/economic situation, individuals are rising with the belief that every individual can promote change.
The learning curve is going to be steep!
Ironically world leaders choose to have their conferences from the safety of distance.
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Announcements | Life in Africa Foundation hosts Omidyar Conference
Globalising local social change
Submitted by liadavide on 26 February 2007 - 4:55am.
Emotional confusion “How do you ask the next question when a child has looked you in the eye and told you that his father, mother and siblings were hacked to death in front of them or a mother tells you of how her children were grabbed from her hands and taken never to be seen again†So many of the international visitors were trying to find out more/learn more about the lives/living conditions/experiences of the people in Gulu.
Alas the conference was a success, while many people in the world look at issues that impress the global media people at the conference were building the foundations of social change in Gulu (a war zone for the last 20 years). Children making peacetiles in the dark aided by the flashlights of a car, tackling aids/ART drug issues, community microfinance, clean drinking water etc
And the there was white trucks! Many of the delegates saw how their donations and government donations are spent. The fuel guzzling, expensive to maintain white four wheel expensive to buy trucks. Many swore to themselves, cursed and were disappointed with how their donation money was spent to give extra comfort to those who work in these ‘reputable’ to travel around the country.
A solution they can applaud is not to only give but to buy products from people in these areas so that they do not live in the aid thought pattern and start working to rebuild their lives (lifeinafrica.com)
More reactions to come.
When you have the chance
Submitted by mole333 on 26 February 2007 - 7:54am.
When you have the chance, compile your reactions and write a new forum. We can put it on the front page.
Good stuff!
Interesting
Please keep us updated on the conference. I am very interested in this.