ActionAid doesn't just tackle the effects of poverty; they also change what keeps people poor. Despite improving people’s lives every day they know that it’s not enough. So they work relentlessly to change whatever is keeping people trapped in poverty. This means they have a better chance of ending poverty for good.
ActionAid is a partnership between people in rich and poor countries dedicated to ending poverty and injustice. They work with local people to fight hunger and disease, seek justice and education for women, hold companies and governments accountable and cope with emergencies in over 40 countries. At ActionAid they take advantage of over 30 years of knowledge and experience in fighting poverty. They don't impose solutions, but work with communities over many years to strengthen their own efforts to throw off poverty. They constantly ask themselves how they can make the greatest impact with their resources.
ActionAid is different from other development agencies because of their long-term grassroots development approach, their innovative ways of working on basic education and HIV & AIDS, their rights-based approach to emergencies, their peace building and reconciliation work in Africa, their close partnerships with local organisations in developing countries, their international leadership from developing countries, their committed, long-term supporter base and their lack of religious or political affiliations. Their project work in Africa, Asia and Latin America is at the heart of what they do. They have developed projects that enable people living in poverty to claim their rights to, for example, education, food, and drugs for treating HIV & AIDS. These issues are often linked, and so they have developed projects that tackle them holistically.
Anita (right), aged 5, lives in Kibera, the biggest slum in Africa, where she looks after her younger siblings and her sick mother. But here’s a thought. What if children like five year old Anita could learn to read and write at school instead of staying home to care for their younger siblings? What if they were given time to play with their friends instead of travelling miles to collect clean water each day? What if their mothers could afford the medicines they needed when they were sick instead of watching them suffer? What if children everywhere were able to just be children? What ifs won’t change Anita’s life but you can.
ActionAid is beating poverty one step at a time - and there are hundreds of ways that you can help. Do something you love, make your voice heard, have an adventure, sponsor a child, make politicians listen, sign up, join in, get your business involved – or just give a donation that will change the lives of generations. When it comes to beating poverty and injustice, it is easy to make your mark. Find out here how you can change the world.
For more information go to http://www.actionaid.org.uk/.
Thank you again for reading my blog and I would like it if you would answer my questions in the comment space below along with your home town and country (if not UK).
Were you aware of ActionAid and its work before reading my blog?
Would you support ActionAid now?
What is your opinion towards ActionAid?
Would you be prepared to donate, sponsor or fundraise for ActionAid now?
Many Thanks!
Nicole
