It doesn’t get any more straightforward than this: Poverty in Africa is still extremely high. The Bread for the World Institute has published a remarkable map of the world disclosing what percentage of people living in every country around the world is surviving on less than $1.25 per day.

The site can be visited here.

To get some perspective on this, I reflected on my morning. The first thing I did today (other than shower with ample clean water, brush my teeth with high quality toothpaste, and throw on some clothes that costs more than I’d like to admit), was walk to the store and by a cup of coffee for $1.60. There goes that alotment for the day. That cup of coffee. Out of reach for much of Africa as visible on this site. There remains much work to be done.

April 23rd, 2009 by beafields

I had such a dose of inspiration today during this special Y-Talk interview with Saul Garlick, Founder of Student Movement for Real Change (SMRC).  The organization aims to answer poverty through the power of young leaders. During this special Y-Talk interview, I talked with Saul about how SMRC offers university students the opportunity to identify and implement development projects and social enterprises that offer sustainable solutions to health and education in developing communities.

Listen to the podcast here: http://www.millennialleaders.com/blog/interview-with-saul-garlick-student-movement-for-real-change

Website: http://www.studentmovementusa.org/

If you are student who is interested in an internship with SMRC OR if you are interested in getting involved as a donor or volunteer, please contact Saul by e-mailing him at saul@studentmovementusa.org or by telephone at 1-202-657-6616

This summer is poised to be an incredible one. We will have over 30 people working in Kenya and South Africa on a number of projects and activities that will provide the communities we work in ample opportunities to develop new enterprises and organize for the common good. We are delighted to get out to the villages and get to work. But there is even MORE going on in DC!

Led by Andrea, Director of Community Relations and a team of interns with diverse backgrounds and genuine commitment to our cause, SMRC is planning to host events this summer in the Washington DC area. A huge summer bash is on the list of possiblities, several happy hours, perhaps a movie night or two? But we aren’t going to plan anything without our members’ feedback. What would YOU like to see this summer for interns, students, young professionals and the general public? We’d love your ideas. Let us know if you like what we are thinking…

I just took Vanessa Carter, director of programs at SMRC to Dulles International Aiport! She is off to Kenya to meet our project director, Lily Muldoon for a number of meetings, planning sessions and visits to sites where this year’s Global Development Interns (GDI) will be working. Vanessa is spearheading our newest GDI offering in Kenya. Some exciting developments are underway with respect to the project, and the community is already anticipating our arrival this summer. They cannot wait to host the interns and work with us in partnership on development. We are honored to join them there, and expect the challenges to be intense. Among the major areas we are hoping to explore are how to ensure a meaningful community assessment that provides useful information and acquaints students to the challenges and beauty of community life in Kayafungo, Kenya, how to monitor and evaluate our health and sanitation work in the area to ensure its past impact and its sustainability, and finally, how to work with the community on new initiatives that they are excited to get under way.

Check back here often: we just got Vanessa a new Flip camera and you will be able to learn about her experiences in Kenya through videos and her own blogging. Have a great weekend!