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| Hey guys, just wanted to make sure i posted before i leave for vacation :) for those of you who don't know, i'm going to England in 2 weeks!! I'll be there from the 27th of July till the 7th of August :) but i leave home the 22nd of July ;) i'm soooo excited! hehe neways, i hope you guys have a great summer! all of you are in my thoughts and prayers :) God bless you
Bri
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| Hey guys! well, i'm officially graduated from school!!!! This is a report i did for English, as my final piece of work. I chose Africa, for obvious reasons. Sorry it's so long!!! I have learned alot from writting this..i hope after reading it , your heart will be changed also.. God bless, and enjoy, Bri
Africa-A country in need of Love
A man once said of Africa, " If there is anyplace Love is dead, it is Here." Sadly, that is true in so many ways. These people need our love. And by the end of this speech, I will hope to have touched your hearts, so that you will hear the call of this Nation. The cry of the people who just want Love and Safety at last.
Let me start by giving you a few facts about Africa. Africa has a Population of 924 million people as of 2006. Of that Population, 66 % are living on less than $2.00 a day. The life Expectancy for a Male is only 51 years. For a Female, it is 53 years of Age. 4.9 % Of the Population has HIV/AIDS, and this Number only increases each year. In Africa, only 62% of the Urban Population has proper sanitation. The Percentage for Rural Population is way less at 32%. We take for granted what these people long for. The lack of proper Food and Sanitation Kills thousands of them each year. Something we never even deal with.
Starvation.. A very big problem that only keeps getting worse. In the Horn of Africa, an estimated 11 Million people are on the Brink of starvation because of severe drought and wars that have left the land desolate, and the people broken and scattered. In Sub-Sahara, 204 Million people are chronically malnourished. That is over 1/4 of the total population of this Region. Can you imagine if the US had 1/4 of it's population starving? We would be screaming for help. We would be doing everything in our power to help our fellow Americans. They would not go un-noticed. To die alone, and worse, to die maybe even without Christ. But Africa is part of our Earth, it should not be that far away in our hearts, or our prayers and thoughts. Toney Blair once said " The state of Africa is a scar on the conscience of the world. But if the world as a community focused on it, we could heal it. And if we dont', it will become deeper and angrier." He is so right. This isn't just Africa's problem, this is our problem. An estimated 331 million People consume less than 2,100 calrories perday. The amount needed for a healthy male is between 2,500, and 3,000. No wonder people are malnourished. One very sad fact I found as i was researching was, Most families can only afford meat, rice, fish, and wheat cakes at christmas and new years. These staples of our needed intake of food, is only able to be eaten twice a year, When we throw out, and take for granted, so much food. More than 1/2 of South African children suffer from stunted Growth , due to inadequate nutrition. A problem that could easily be taken care of with the proper food.
Water is also another big issue of concern for these people. The simply live giving substance that we get at the pull of a handle, these people have to fight to find.One man in the slums of Ghana said "Soon we will have to drink air." Living without water is just too hard to understand. In the democratic republic of the Congo, more than half the Population doesn't have access to safe water. That is over 31 million people. One Website said that 2, 500 children are dying each day from lack of water in Africa. Everyday this earth loses more precious lives. We lose more kids who may have grown up to make a difference in this world. In many villages, women must walk 10 miles each day just to gather enough clean water for their families to live on. There own villages dont have any wells, no way to collect clean water. So they must trek out, in the sun, each day, just to be able to care for their family's most basic need.
Medical treatment.. Or should I say the lack thereof. In all of Africa , they only have 3% healthcare personnal. That is barely enough to cover a few sections of Africa, much less all of it! Each year, 20,000 healthcare professionals emigrate from Africa to Europe and North America. Now, you may ask why they are leaving their country, their loved ones, and they people. The answer is simple. They can't make a living, they can't have a promise of food and money to support their families, there is no future in Africa as it stands right now. The lack of medicine or drugs, and Medical Equipment make for a low chance of a career advancement. Each year, Measles kilss 450,000 children, all of these deaths could be prevented with a simple vaccine that costs around $1.00 per shot. The amount of money you have in change in your pocket right now, could save a life. Isn't that a major thing! Malaria is also the leading cause of death in Children in Africa. They have no protection against mosquitos, and therefore the virus is just spread like wildfire. This could also be prevented through simple tasks, but the families have no money, and no way to know where to begin. In Africa, Death is simply a part of daily life. They have learned to accept, and to even get used to it. No country should have to go through that. Surgery is also a thing that is lacking. Many people die from lack of surgery a year. They are either too far away from a local clinic, or there are no surgeons in their area. We have several good surgeons right here in town, but yet they barely have any.
Work. The very thing we all complain about having to get up and do each day, is the very thing that many families in Africa are longing for. Work would provide some money for their starving families. But either the jobs they do find barely pay anything, or they are layed off, or they can't find jobs to begin with. In Mozambique, the average income is $ 25.00 a month. In South Africa, they are a bit more blessed as the average income per month is just about $144.00 a month. But then there are the 314 million people living on less than $1.00 a day in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the same region, Agriculture accounts for 2/3 of the total employment. Many farm workers have low and unstable incomes, which makes it very hard to even begin to support a family. In alot of familes, the older children, and the women and grandparents are having to support their familes. That is why nearly 50 million children, ages 5-14 years of age, are thought to be active in the workforce. They have lost their childhood. Africa's Jobless rate is nearly twice that of the rest of the world. We thought the Great Depression was bad, how about living like that all your life...
Orphans..The children who are without parents to love them. Have seen death from an early age.. There are just too many of them. In 2003, 12 million children where newly oprhaned in Southern Africa. That number is expected to rise t o18 million by 2010. In Sub-Sahara, the number is staggering. There are 34 million orphans in just that region. 12 % of all children living there, are oprhans. In total, All of Africa has 41.5 million orphans..15% of orphans are 0-4 years old, 35% are 5-9, and 50 % are 10-14. These are just babies, young children who are so fragile. They have seen things no children should ever have to see. Many extended family members are overwhelmed with orphans. A greater number of families are headed up by women and Grandparents . As a result, they are not adequately able to provide for the kids. They are just too overwhelmed. This generation who has lost one or both parents are emotionally damaged and scarred. Therefore, we have a generation who is hurt and not able to be as strong as they need to survive. We must help them. We have so much, and most importantly, we have God's love to give freely.
Education is very important in any society, but when you live in one where there is no food and water, education falls by the wayside. In Sub- Sahara, only 61% of children are enrolled, or are attending school. In many families, as i have said above, the children must work, so therefore there is no time for attending school. In other villages, there is no easy access to schools for the children who are able to go. Many people in Africa don't know how to read or even write their own name. They deserve better than that.
HIV/AIDS.. the biggest killer, and family wrecker in Africa. In 2002 ,10 million young people(15-24) were living with HIV/AIDS.. 3 Million kids under 15 also had the virus. In 2006 Alone, over 500,000 kids became infected with HIV/AIDS. Every hour, 40 kids die as a result of AIDS. In 2005, out of 30 country's , 15 African regions were ranked the highest for percentage of HIV/AIDS Infected Population:
Swazilan 33.4%
Botswana 24.1%
Le Sotho 23.2%
Zimbabwe 20.1%
Over 11 million children, nearly 80% of the world total, under the age of 15 living in Sub-Saharan Africa have lost 1 or both parents to HIV/AIDS. by 2010 that number is expected to reach 20 million. These children are having to watch their parents die from a disease that is more than likely going to take their lives in time. To live with that reality is something no one should have to endure. The sad part is, women are accountable for most of the spread of HIV/AIDS simply because, to keep themselves from starving, they sell themselves. Then , the disease get spread like crazy. This has to be stopped. There are ways to help protect the families, and espcially the children. We must not be silent anymore. As Psalms 82:3-4 says "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked."
As Christians, it is our duty, and it should also be our wish, to help those in need. The people of Africa are surely in need. I John 3:18 says "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." Let us do what Jesus told us to do. Let us love in deed and in truth. There are several ways that we can help them. One is sponsoring a child. There are orginizations who allow you to be a blessing to a child, or even a family, in Africa. You give money each month, and in return you get a picture of the child you are helping, you are able to write to that child. and you have the knowledge that you made a difference. Margaret Mead said " Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfult committed citizens can change the world; Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." She is right, nothing is too small to make a difference. Everything counts, no matter how small or how big. You can make a difference in a child's life.
Another way to give, is to support, and/or donate to a missionary that is working in Africa. If you are involved in a church, many have programs that send money each month to a missionary. Also, there are websites that allow you to donate money that they then send to missionaries to help support their work.
Also, the best thing you could do is to travel to Africa, meet the people, offer your help, and your love. Give your time to them, show them that there are people out there that love them. Bring Medical supplies with you, as well as the much needed food. Go with a group that is building clinics, and wells for fresh water. And most important of all, bring them the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. For He is the most important thing you could ever give someone.
Prayer is also a wonderful thing to do for them. Interceed on their behalf. Pray for them daily, asking for protection over them and their families. Prayer can work wonders!
So even tho Africa is a country in desperate need of love, we, as Christians, have an abundant supply of Love! The best kind, our Father's love. So lets get out there and make a difference in Africa. Lets make a difference in our fellow man. Lets Love, as our Father has loved us.
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| - Beautiful StrangerWow...that's all i could think of when i read this online... i can't sit by and live like i do, knowing that almost every minute one child dies because no one bothered giving a dollar to get them a vaccine against measles..Read on, and i'm sure you will feel it tug at your heart as i have...
Child poverty in Africa: the facts
- 200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. (sources: BBC 5 October, 2001 & Anti-Slavery Society)
- About 120,000 African children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. (source: Africa Children’s Charter)
- Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
- One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. (source: Africa 2015)
- Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. (source: UNICEF)
- In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. (source: UNICEF)
- Between 12 and 14 million African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)
- Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV positive. (source: UNICEF)
- 43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water. (source: UNICEF)
- 64% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. (source: UNICEF)
- Only 57% of African children are enrolled in primary education, and one in three of those does not complete school. (source: Africa 2015)
- For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school. (source: World Bank)
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| Wow.. talk about a long time since i posted anything! Sorry i've been so bad  Well To be honest, this will be mainly my last blog for a while... I want to turn my xanga into a sight all about helping others.. mainly about how to help children that are starving in Africa  It's something God laid on my heart last night, and i feel it is the right thing to do.. I'm not sure how to even begin, or what i am to do on here.. but God knows, and will guide me. I will plan to update ya'll on my life probably once a month , so don't worry, i ain't leaving forever!  Last night my dad told me about our local Sate Farm Agent (head of this office here in town) is very big on giving and spending time in Africa! He is currently building a free clinic for a very poor village in Africa. He has mostly paid for this all himself, as well as bringing food over to them when he goes. He is going back for 3 months this summer to hopefully open the clinic, having found doctors to work there for free!! Can you imagine the warmth and joy of helping all those precious people... I so long to go there one day.. My dream is to adopt at least one child, if not more , from Africa. Give them a good , safe, Christian home, but also bring them up knowing their roots, and where they came from. I pray though that God will have His will. I am also considering supporting a child from there. I have most of my money being saved for my trip to England this year.. oh yeah, i'm going to England this summer for about 10 days! going to the wynet UK camp  so anyways, trying to save up for my ticket and expenses...but this is something i really wanna do.. supporting a child that is.. so if ya'll would pray i can pull this off! and that God will lead me to the right child at the right time. well hopefully i will soon know what i should do on here hehe but until then, i pray God's blessings in your guys' lives, may His face shine upon you and give you strength. Till later
bri
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|  | You scored as You have the Gift of Empathy. You have been blessed with the gift of Empathy. Even though it is a heavy burden to carry the pain of others, know this that you can help them. Though I must advise you to learn how to not take their pain upon yourself and drag you down
You have the Gift of Empathy | | 75% | You have the Gift of Discernment | | 75% | You sadly do not recognize your gift yet | | 69% | You have the Gift of Wisdom | | 44% | You have the Gift of Perception/Aura Vision | | 44% | You have the Gift of a Seer | | 19% |
What is your gift?(PICS)
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