Archive for the ‘poverty’ category

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An Easy Choice

March 7th, 2012

Guest Blogger Aika Jakisheva

We all need a change, we all need to believe that we can make a change, but I think you will agree with me on this one – it is almost impossible. I like many other people lost hope in the idea that change is possible. However something inside kept on telling me that I am wrong and my gut feeling was 100% right. In November 2011, very unexpectedly I joined a group of people who were going on a trip to Rwanda in order to explore various opportunities to contribute to the development of the country. I had the opportunity to meet with the government representatives, local businessman, international investors, directors of charity funds as well as the local people themselves. I was in disbelief that this is the country that has been to hell and back. In 1994 Rwanda was subject to one of the most horrifying genocides of the twentieth century between the two tribes: the Tutsi and the Hutu. I expected to see a troubled society that lost all hope in humanity; I cannot believe how wrong I was. Rwanda today is a prospering and rapidly developing country with amazingly driven and inspirational people. And everyday I was asking myself one question: how?

Certainly a correct and strong leadership is a crucial factor of Rwanda’s success, but there is another significant factor that helps to drive this country forward – hope and this hope was brought to them by charities.

I have visited many projects of non-profit organisations and every visit was a memorable experience. What struck me the most was to see how little is needed in order to change the course of life for the better for so many people. By bringing them food, water, education, medical supplies, what charities do is bring to those people hope and confidence in their bright future. In Rwanda I experienced what we tend to think is naïve and childish. I have experienced that amazing belief that you can make a change in this world – and you really can! » Read more: An Easy Choice

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Posted in NTD Enlightment, NTDs, poverty, Public Health

Diseases of poverty affect the bottom 50 million Americans

October 27th, 2011

Populations living in poverty within the U.S. are carrying much of the disease burden of neglected tropical diseases, a group of disabling infections that primarily occur among the poor. Sabin Vaccine President Dr. Peter Hotez sheds light on this issue in his latest opinion editorials published in the Austin-Statesman and The Huffington Post. Read the excerpts below:

Hotez: Neglected tropical diseases deserve attention
Austin Statesman
“The U.S. Census Bureau has announced that the number of Americans living in poverty is at an all-time high. The nation’s official poverty rate in 2010 climbed to 15.1 percent, with close to 50 million people living below the poverty line. Poverty among the “bottom 50 million” has emerged as the key factor in promoting the emergence of a group of chronic parasitic and related infections — the neglected tropical diseases — in the U.S. Our information reveals the existence of a hidden underbelly of neglected tropical diseases among the poorest people of color living in the American South.” Click here to continue reading.


A New Tropical Medicine Clinic for ‘Third World America’
The Huffington Post
“Poor economic conditions have long been known to increase the risk of disease. But only recently have diseases of poverty, mostly associated with countries outside the United States, been recognized as a growing problem here at home. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) might sound foreign, but they can actually be found in pockets of poverty across the U.S., most prominently in what Arianna Huffington recently called “Third World America.” Click here to continue reading.

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Posted in NTDs, poverty

Dinner Wrapped Up

October 24th, 2011

In his previous blogpost, Sean Donegan went into detail about the planning for the fundraiser dinner that he and his peers organized for Share Our Strength. Below, Sean describes the night of the event in detail and how he was pleasantly surprised by the support that the student body expressed:

By: Sean Donegan

The night of the Inaugural Share Our Strength Charity Dinner has arrived! At 7 pm the doors opened and a about 300 Cornell students came in to support us. Before the event began, each of the seven Philanthropy Chairs arrived with their chef’s meal so all food could be safely stored and kept at the proper temperature. By having each Chapter’s representative in the same place, we were also able to coordinate transportation easily.

The Charity Dinner itself sold 345 tickets, bringing in roughly 300 attendees to Alpha Gamma Rho on the night of the dinner. Over 50 people bought tickets to support us even though they had an exam, sporting event, or other prior engagement that evening. No President or Philanthropy Chair mandated that any of their members buy a ticket or even attend the event; everyone that came did it on a voluntary basis. We were surprised by the sheer number of students and Greek Chapters who bought tickets simply to support our activities as well as Share Our Strength and its campaign to fight childhood hunger.

To allow people to carpool and park for free, the Brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho cleared our parking lot to make as many spaces available as possible. In addition to this, many students elected to take taxis to and from the event so more parking spaces would be available to the other guests. Everyone immediately sat down to reserve their seat but due to the excitement in the air, many people eventually got up to catch up with friends and socialize. Probably the only delay in the night’s festivities was getting everyone to break away from their shuffling from group to group and taking their seat for dinner. » Read more: Dinner Wrapped Up

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Posted in poverty, Student Advocacy

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An Evening of Charity

October 19th, 2011

In his previous blogpost, Sean Donegan introduced the charity dinner he and his peers are putting on to fundraise for Share Our Strength. In the blogpost below, Sean goes into detail about the logistics of organizing such an event so that other like-minded college students who wish to do the same will have an idea of where to begin:

By: Sean Donegan

It’s the night of the event so I will be discreetly ducking out of class early to set my Fraternity House up for the Share Our Strength Charity Dinner. We expect to have over three hundred students at the event along with our corporate sponsors setting up their booths. Our chefs are all busy cooking a huge buffet of chicken and salmon with various side orders that meet the dietary needs of all the individuals who generously donate their time and money to support Share Our Strength. The House’s sound system is also being adjusted for the event’s DJ, Greg Monte.

Each Greek House has taken over the responsibility of one seventh of the ticket sales. This entails allowing their Brothers and Sisters to sign up for the event and then billing them at the end of the semester when they are paying for their room and board. With a group of experienced and dedicated Philanthropy Chairs working with me, I am proud to announce we were able to sell out in only two weeks. I was surprised to learn that many people had bought tickets to support their Fraternity/Sorority and the cause even though they may not be able to attend. Currently we have sold 345 tickets with an estimated 303 attending the actual event which has seating for only 300. If we go over, extra chairs are on reserve to be set up. » Read more: An Evening of Charity

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Posted in poverty, Student Advocacy

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