A new year is always a good opportunity to review the past and apply the lessons learned in looking toward the future, and what better way to employ this philosophy than by confronting the problems in Africa? While as an individual, this may seem like a task of mammoth proportions, many African charities realise the need for 2008 to be the year for change.
A vibrant, diverse and alluring continent in some regards, Africa also faces enormous challenges, many of which are continually overlooked by ineffectual and corrupt governments lacking the capacity to bring about meaningful change. The burden is thus, shouldered by outsiders; charities, non-governmental organisations, grass-root movements and of course, the African people. And the burden is not a light one.
While much of the Western world suffers from excessive affluence, in Africa, women and children are starving. Without the skills to grow their own food, or the money to buy produce, nutrition is poor and families are left malnourished and susceptible to opportunistic disease. Millions of illiterate adults and their offspring are deprived of their right to education and lack any of the skills necessary to generate an income. Unemployment is an accepted way of life, in part because of underdeveloped economies and in part because without education and skills, many people lack the initiative and entrepreneurial insight to earn sufficient income.
HIV/AIDS tears communities apart and destroys social structures. Leaving a population of orphans and their grandparents, the economically active adult population in many African countries is being increasingly devastated by the disease. Throughout the continent, this is resulting in a host of social and economic issues, adding further to the strain.
Struggles and wars in many countries result in a flood of refugees, fleeing their homes to other countries already weighed down by their own burgeoning populations. Not only does this put a strain on the host countries' economies, but large refugee populations are also the root of numerous social problems, and encourage the spread of disease across political boundaries and borders.
Despite the dramatic nature of many of the aforementioned problems, they are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the difficulties that African countries face on a daily basis. It is as a result of this pressing need that African charities have such a crucial role to play in meeting the immediate needs of the people, while seeking long-term, sustainable solutions to these issues.
While change is not possible overnight, substantive progress can be made in a yearlong period. Thus, 2008 is the year for change in Africa. It is time for governments to embrace their people and act in the best interests of the countries for which they have assumed responsibility. It is time for leaders to collect their resources and distribute them to the areas where they are most needed. It is time for charities to increase their capacity and provide increased support for community initiatives with the capacity to make a meaningful difference. It is time for communities to begin these initiatives; taking responsibility for their collective destiny.
In this way, change will come about in Africa; slowly, but noticeably, and 2008 will be a year where past mistakes are learned from, outcomes are defined and the continent moves forward.
Breadline Africa is an umbrella charity organisation that, with the generosity and assistance of its donors, selects and supports small organisations that uplift communities and encourage self-sustainability within them. Ultimately aiming to break the cycle of poverty, Breadline Africa has firm foundation and is continually seeking new projects and organisations to which they can provide assistance.
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