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Who we are
Officers and Board of Directors: 2007-2010
(In alphabetical order)
Jane Frances Alpha, Coordinator/Sierra Leone
Bernadette F. Bangura, Director/Programs
Donatus Ebigbo, Committee Chair/Nigeria
Dr. Chris N. Egbulem, Director/Founder/President
Dr. David N. Ifudu, Director/Vice President
Ron Novak, Director/Treasurer
Edmund Okeke, Coordinator/Nigeria
Shannon Page, Director/Youth Ambassador
James Sandy, Committee Chair/Sierra Leone
Dr. Philomena N. Ude, Director
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Dr. Joe Annunziata,
Information
Remigius Demby, Volunteers
Julius Igbozurike, Website
Leslie Keefe, Website
Marcelline Niemann, Sponsorships
George Nwabukwu & Associates, CPAs
Dr. Nnamdi Oziri, Programs - Nigeria
Dr. John D. Tarawali, Programs - Sierra Leone
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What we do:
Our Programs serve children & families in rural
African villages.
Africa is a place of great need and great hope. With about
10% of the world's population, it is home to people weakened by the
prolonged effects of untreated malaria and malnutrition, now having
to fight AIDS (more than 60% of all people living with HIV/AIDS).
Despite poverty and conflicts, people in rural villages are determined
to improve conditions for their children.
Action Africa meets villagers at the intersection of health, education
and micro-enterprise, to promote grassroots development.
Health Free medical clinics with volunteer medical practitioners and
donated supplies assist villages with no local medical facilities.
Malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention education is ongoing.
Provision of clean water helps promote wellness and prevent disease.
Education Surround-A-Child sponsorship programs help children attend
school, obtain school supplies, receive medical and nutritional care
for $12 a month.
Educational Outreach Centers combine distribution of much-needed donated
classroom textbooks and HIV/AIDS programs.
Micro-enterprise Small amounts of cash assistance and expertise can
make a vast difference, moving a family from poverty to being able
to support their children.
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Our philosophy is…
to begin at the point where a village has launched efforts at addressing
a particular need, support these efforts, and weave HIV/AIDS education
throughout. We never lose sight of basic human rights of villagers
to justice, equality, health, clean water, and education often unavailable
to those gripped by poverty. We always work in partnership. As children
and their families receive targeted support from our partnership of
local villagers, African immigrant associations, international sponsors
and NGOs, they increase their capacity for self-sufficiency and, in
turn, contribute to the progress of others.
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Young Volunteers
Some of the most inspiring volunteers in our campaigns are children.
[Insert Isaac's picture here.] This contribution from seven-year-old
Isaac beautifully shows how clearly children understand their bond
with other children.
The following story exemplifies the impact our young volunteers can
have:
Girl Scout Troop 4924: Responding to African Poverty One Book at
a Time
In a world where so much injustice and poverty exists,
it is inspiring to witness compassionate solutions for global inequity.
Such an example of this dedication is Girl Scout Troop 4924 from Virginia
Beach, VA, a group of ambitious young ladies who participated in a
book drive for rural village children in Nigeria. Inspired by Action
Africa, a non-profit organization based in D.C., these girls spent
a month eagerly gathering books, a compilation that soon totaled over
five hundred. This donation is equivalent to one third of Action Africa's
original goal for the book drive, and even more impressively, part
of a shipment of over 30,000 books that has recently arrived safely
in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This is no easy feat for a group of young
ladies in Virginia!
After visiting Ubulu, Nigeria, Action Africa's founder, Nwaka Egbulem,
and Executive Director of Operations, Marie Keefe, were disturbed
by their realization that in a village of almost two thousand elementary
children, there exist no books or reference materials in their school
system. The organization's response to this gross inequity was to
build a coalition of compassion and support by orchestrating a book
drive for these children. Before long, it was clear that the story
of these neglected school rooms affected the hearts of adults and
children alike, who quickly became devoted to Action Africa's cause.
Inspired by Action Africa's vision, troop members Caroline Pryor,
Jessica and Brittani Wells, decided to adopt the book drive as their
Bronze Medal Project. The Girl Scouts organization requires that each
girl complete a Bronze Medal Project that reflects her commitment
to community service and the willingness to serve others as a young
adult. With the help of their parents and troop leader Kathy Kretchel,
these young ladies began asking other troops for donations, visiting
yard sales, and reconsidering their own bookshelves, in an effort
to raise materials for the project. Caroline Pryor, 12, summed up
the urgent need for African children to receive books through her
statement that "without books, [the children] wouldn't be able
to know what is out there in the world or to experience new things."
While this mature understanding may stun some readers, Caroline's
mother was not surprised by their selfless efforts. Bonnie Pryor credits
the Girl Scout Association for instilling values of leadership and
teamwork on both a local and global level. She believes that these
"loving, budding young women know how privileged they are…it
is amazing what they were willing to do for less fortunate children."
By recognizing the need to give back to those less privileged around
the world, these girls are setting a high bar for their peers through
their international awareness and initiative.
By contributing these books to Nigerian schools, these girls have
offered other children the gift of not only literacy, but of hope
for a better future. Their energy and hearts are focused on the achievement
of a greater international good, a quality that demonstrates promise
for the next generation. Caroline echoes this sentiment when she states,
"I felt like I'd done something good, helped other people. I
felt special." Action Africa and its community agree that these
girls are indeed very special as they continue to impress us with
their willingness to serve others. These young ladies should be applauded
for their amazing contributions toward building a better tomorrow
for children around the world. By Rachel Franc
Action Africa has two scheduled U.S.-Africa ACTION trips each year,
one in late Spring, the other in December. Each trip is for three
weeks, although volunteers may stay longer or shorter.
During an ACTION trip, volunteers are ambassadors of
hope - spending much of the time in villages, volunteering time with
teachers and pupils, doctors, local groups. Each volunteer's training
and experiences will be put to the best uses. Besides, there is plenty
of recreation, tours, shopping, and a heavy dose of African hospitality.
Come to the mother-continent, and see!
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