It appears that Educate!, which I’ve talked so much about, is getting some much deserved national recognition.
Educate!’s founder, Eric Glustrom (who founded the organization when he was only 17-years old), will be on the CBS Early Show, tomorrow morning.
Congrats to Eric and everyone at Educate!.
Also, be sure to check out what Educate! is all about, and if you like what you see, remember to vote for Eric to win a $100,000 prize from DoSomething.org to go towards the new initiative being implemented by Educate!.
Go here. Click the vote tab. Find Eric’s video. Click the thumbs up.
I know I’ve mentioned Educate! a few times, and there’s good reason. Educate! is an awesome organization using culturally relevant social enterprise projects to empower students in Uganda to be leaders for their community. You can check out what I’ve said about them before, here.
Well, I’m mentioning them again because, now, Eric, the founder, is up for a $100,000 reward from DoSomething.org to go towards Educate!’s goal empowering a new generation of social leaders.
All I’m asking is that you check out more of what Educate! is all about. If you feel like they’re doing good work, vote for them. If not, don’t.
I mean, it should count for something that I’m so behind them as an organization. I think I’ve made it pretty clear how vocally critical I can be of many members of civil society. I’m looking at you, IC.
Go here. Click the vote tab. Find Eric’s video. Click the thumbs up.
Wow.
What has advocacy come to?
All I can muster is “NO!”
(via uncivilsociety.org)
H/T: @bloodandmilk
Big thanks to Oprah for getting so many people off the streets of Chicago
You know, since that’s what matters and all.
Just a quick rant — I promise.
I really must be at least some part masochist because I continue looking at the Twitter trends for #therescue, and it makes me sick.
Just a few recent Tweets showing the ignorance involved with Invisible Children:
- @nbrooks8: Thank you @Oprah for coming to Chi-town’s rescue! We knew you wouldn’t let us down! #therescue
- Me: Hmm. So, is it about Chicago or is it about those actually abducted? And by “actually,” I mean not hanging out in a concert festival like setting. You know, abducted.
- @coalescex: #therescue thanks @oprah for her support! What a great way to save the last city.
- Me: Is Chicago the last city? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I would say the last “city” would be somewhere in Garamba. Or maybe Gulu where people are still in IDP camps, trying to cope with over twenty-years of war in ways that don’t involve a sensationalized film or t-shirts with insensitive imagery.
- @Anna_Iana: TOGETHER WE ARE FREEEEE!!!!! THANK YOU OPRAH!!! IC IS AMAZING!!!!!!! #therescue
- Me: Who is “WE”? Is it the American teenagers who have been having such a hard time as they hang out with their friends, are well-fed, and endure all other horrible types of suffering? Is IC amazing? Do they educate their followers? Where’s this war you care so much about? Most IC supporters I’ve spoken too still seem to believe that the LRA are wreaking havoc on northern Uganda, failing to realize that Garamba National Park is in the DRC and the DRC is not the same as Uganda. So, I ask again, who is “WE”? Are we all good to go now that these American kids in trendy t-shirts can go home?
I can’t get over the blind following Invisible Children has been able to amass. What’s immensely sad and even more frighetning is that they have a wonderful opportunity to bring real attention to a war that has gone largely unnoticed by the world until the last few years, and instead, they choose to worry about making slick films and hipster clothing. These kids follow blindly with Invisible Children as their cause and little idea of the real situation in the Great Lakes Region.
IC does great development work in northern Uganda. Schools for Schools has arguably done more for education in northern Uganda than any previous program. They facilitate wonderful micro-finance programs. Sadly though, they choose to focus on sensationalism and the sensibilities of a West-Coast culture, forgetting entirely about Acholi culture… You know, the people they claim to support.
IC is a peace building nightmare — Completely unaware of the culturally grounded efforts being undertaken to heal in northern Uganda. Militarized language and insensitivity will help no one. IC is not a savior, nor should they be. It’s time they step back and realize the harm that they’re doing. It’s time that they realize what’s being done in Uganda by Ugandans. It’s time that they become a little more invisible as an organization and begin worrying about truly helping people — not because they’re helpless, but because they’re human beings.
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I just had to get that off of my chest. I’ve been rather incognito due to a hard drive crash, coupled with finals, but I think I’m back on a regular schedule now.
Well, Hugh Jackman made his decision. While I’m disappointed the money is going to such already well-heeled organizations, I have no doubts that it will be put to good use. Kudos to Jackman, as well. This whole thing has brought a lot of attention to many great organizations.
I’m also somewhat concerned with the idea of charging people to lobby their representatives.
I will donate 100K to one individual’s favorite non profit organization.Of course,you must convince me why by using 140 characters or less.
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Awesome idea. Everyone vote for Educate! I’ve mentioned them here and here.
What I said: “dswinder @realhughjackman Educate! http://is.gd/sBlIcreates socially responsible leaders. Fixes problems from the source by equipping youth to lead.”
Despite the savior-esque name of this organization, I really like the idea behind their work. They’re Congolese founded and run and only have a four-person staff in the States.
From their About Section:
“Recognizing that health problems are the visible symptoms of greater societal ills, HEAL Africa made a commitment to not just improve healthcare, but to tackle these issues at the individual community level. HEAL Africa works with committees of local village and religious leaders (Nehemiah Committees) to develop plans to care for the area’s vulnerable populations through:
- Training rural healthcare professionals
- HIV AIDS prevention and treatment programs
- Public education about the law and human rights
- Micro-grants and collective insurance
- Widows and orphans support structures
- Community reconciliation efforts
Our mission is to provide holistic care for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo: training health professionals, strengthening social activists and providing physical, spiritual and social healing.”
This excites me and, along with previously mentioned Educate! and (link), really restores my faith in NGO’s.
We knew there was a reason for the lack of reality tv shows about NGO meetings in developing countries. Thanks, IC! http://vimeo.com/3696682
