6.19.2005

Overseas

Tomorrow I hit the road. It is unlikely that there will be any updates during the weeks that I am gone. The links to the right cover everything from news to weather and time. Use them to get a feel for what's happening in Malawi. The Mission to Malawi link is specifically about my group's trip. See you soon.

6.17.2005

Vision

You may have noticed the recommended reading links in the right hand column. The End of Poverty, is what I am devouring right now and will still be reading as I fly to Malawi. It is an inspiring book; which is unexpected since it's on economics. In it, Jeffrey Sachs lays out a path to ending absolute poverty. This is not a book of prediction, but prescription. Sachs paints a detailed picture of present state of our world (Malawi is covered in the first chapter). He also shows what needs to be done to change stagnant economies into growing ones.
These are hopeful times. Debt relief is beginning. The musicians are on the march again. It is possible to join with a growing movement of informed, and capable people who are willing to take on the challenge of creating a better world. I like it.

6.11.2005

G8 Debt Relief

Malawi is one of the 18 nations that qualify for G8 debt-relief. The G8 has decided to erase the debt accrued by many of the poorest nations in the world. Of course, as mentioned in this BBC article, the funds freed up by this move only helps the poorest if used in constructive ways. Thankfully, Malawi's president seems to be making inroads against internal corruption. Programs like Flood's Leadership Summit will help empower Malawians to grab hold of their future.

It's the Economy, Stupid.

The Guardian did a good piece on Malawi's dependence on the tobacco industry. Particularly interesting is a quote given by a tobacco farmer. He mentions that tobacco is the only crop cheap enough to plant. It seems that seeds for more desirable crops are priced outside of the reach of small farmers. It is problems like these that hold the poorer nations back.

6.08.2005

Illusions of Aid

An interesting article on AllAfrica.com presents the difficulties of present attempts to aid the African people. Many western nations tie their aid efforts into products made in their own country, effectively sending cash directly back to their own pockets. The amount of aid money that stays in Africa is a small percentage of promised amounts. At the same time, brain drain continues unabated. The article states that there are likely more Malawian doctors practicing medicine in the U.K. than in Malawi. This at a time when disease is destroying generations.
The difficulty of keeping funds in the area of need effects small organizations as well as nations. It will be interesting to learn how the groups I will be associating with deal with the issue. I do know that the materials we will be using in the villages are going to be purchased in Malawi, which is reassuring.

6.03.2005

Why Malawi?

The short answer: Malawi's there. I attend Flood, a church in San Diego. Flood has been intimately involved with the people of Malawi for years. We've done some wild projects. In 2004, Flood took our worship band and a soccer team overseas and played exibition games against the best teams in Malawi. This year we are hosting Leadership Summit, a time for strengthening the future and present leaders of Malawi. Those leaders are young. Life expectancy, due to the HIV epidemic, is about 37 years. I'm 29. If I were the average Malawian male, I'd have eight years left in me. So I've decided to live as if that were true.

Malawi's there. I am in a place in life where working for the people of Malawi makes sense. My surroundings are Malawi saturated. At the same time, Malawi is one of the poorest nations in this world. Follow this link and see the GDP per capita: you'll have to scroll to the bottom. I relish the chance to siphon some money out of the richest nation and pour it into Malawi. Beyond this, Malawi is stable. Malawi has had a history of relative peace. No civil war, warlords, or other difficulties. That makes any present project that much more likely to last.
And any useful project needs to last. Malawi will soon have 1 million orphans. That's in a nation of 11 million total people. AIDS related deaths have left a generation without parents. It is difficult to expect Malawi to continue as a stable place when nearly ten percent of its population will be struggling to survive. These children need to be supported.
So soon I will set foot in Malawi for the first time. I will be keeping my eyes wide open, looking for new ways to meet old needs. I don't know what I will see, but I am excited.

6.02.2005

New Profile Pic Posted by Hello

Mission

In a few weeks I will be traveling to Malawi. I have never been to Africa. In the past, I spent some time in Asia as a tourist and a Marine. I once watched as a beggar, prostrate on the streets of Hong Kong, was stepped over by the passing crowd. It was hard to watch and I was just an observer.
In Malawi I will be a participant. I will live with a people I do not know and I will try to get some idea of how I can help. As I have prepared for this trip, I have found it hard to learn much about Malawi. The information that exists on the Internet is spread out. So my first task is to create an easy to use list of links to help others learn about Malawi. When I return to the States in July, I will add more to this site. So there's a beginning.

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