Working Toward a Solution in Bolivia

I had the honor today of getting to share a bit with the two classes at Nimitz Middle School about my recent trip to Bolivia and Peru, where two friends of mine are working with an organization called "Sustainable Bolivia." Through this organization and the 22 grassroots organizations it supports, they are helping Bolivia to work toward achieving the United Nations Millenium Development Goals in this part of the world.

In Bolivia, 65% of people live below the poverty line. Many people have trouble accessing clean water and other fundamental facilities, such as safe roads, schools and hospitals, due to a poor infrastructure in this area.

In Bolivia and Peru, specifically in rural areas, many children don't attend school because it is too far away or too expensive. If one child does get to go school, it is usually the boy because the girl is just going to grow up and have babies, so why does she need an education? At least, this is the opinion of many people there.

Lots of people within countries like Bolivia are working hard, though, through various organizations to make life better for society. In Bolivia, both foreign and local people are involved with a number of organizations doing all sorts of things, from helping disabled adults and children who have special needs, to installing ecological kitchens in rural villages. Some organizations travel to local villages to talk to women and children about human rights, food safety, health, and to help the women look for jobs. Other people, who have experience in economics and business, go to rural villages to help people establish their own small businesses. Why is this important? Because it's sustainable. This means that once these people have started their own businesses, they will be able to keep supporting themselves. Some of the other organizations work with healthcare centers, some of these healthcare centers specialize in helping pregnant women and children under five, and some of them help everyone. Other groups work with orphanages, education in local schools, and even promoting sustainable environmental practices in farming!

I definitely saw a lot on my trip, and it opened my eyes to alot of the issues people face in this part of the world, as well as a lot of the great work being done for people to help each other.

Nimitz students, as y'all continue development of your service learning project, if you realize you're not yet sure what organizations you might want to support and you're interested in supporting a group in this part of the world, check out www.sustainablebolivia.org/programs.html for a few ideas!

Y'all are doing such a great job, I can't wait to hear more about your ideas tomorrow!

Amanda A.
January 26, 2009

Afghan Girls, Scarred by Acid, Defy Terror, Embracing School

Hey Dream Project Heroes...especially those working on goals 2 & 3 (primary education for all and woman's equality). Take a look at this article and blog about your comments: http://www.nowpublic.com/world/afghan-girls-scarred-acid-defy-terror-embracing-school

Here's some of what it says:

These girls are to be admired.

Ir will take time, years, but

eventually women should and

will be allowed to live normal

lives in Afghanistan.

Then the man pulled Shamsia’s burqa from her head and sprayed her face with burning acid. Scars, jagged and discolored, now spread across Shamsia’s eyelids and most of her left cheek. These days, her vision goes blurry, making it hard for her to read.

But if the acid attack against Shamsia and 14 others — students and teachers — was meant to terrorize the girls into staying home, it appears to have completely failed.

Today, nearly all of the wounded girls are back at the Mirwais School for Girls, including even Shamsia, whose face was so badly burned that she had to be sent abroad for treatment.

Source: nytimes.com

An organization thats working in my community is Children's International.We could start a fund raiser and then sponsor a kid.we will show our work by making a video.You need to call the number on the screen. Javier hernandez

help the hungrey

hi my name is Antonio Ruiz my goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger goal 1. you can go on free rice.com to help so every question you get right you give 20 grains of rice to every question you get right that is won way you can get involved. we can tell our story be making a video. you don't need to call anyone you just go on free rice.com. so please go on freerice.com.

hi our goal is to eradicate poverty and hunger we did some research and we found you can go to freerice.com and every quetion you get right you give 20 grains of rice to hungery people. you could justonline and help chilren please.that is the way other people could help.

ways to help

hi! our goal is to achieve Primary Education which is goal #2. We did some research and we found an orginization called developement in literacy. The way we can get involved is by fundraising, and donating the money we get. Our group has decided to make a video to represent our goal. For the orginization we found there phone number which is (714)-895-5345. There addres is 8001 E Roper st Long Beach Ca 90808 Usa. Theire email is office@dil.org.

Helping Out

Hi my name is Ramon and I am trying to help the an orginization. The orginization I found was help was Feed the Children. The first thing I will do is start selling candy and will send all the money I got and send it to that orginization like Feed the Children. I can also start a video about how people are in hunger and poverty and I would want people to help the orginization Feed the Children. I can contact their phone number and inform them that I am trying to help. There phone number is 1800-627-4556


by Ramon Bramasco

Povrtey and Hunger

Hi our group name is Christopher, Daniel, Pedro the new student in the class also our goal is number 1 reduce poverty and hunger. We are helping the LA food bank to donate food for the hungery children in the poor country and also we try to tell every one for their support. We are going to get involved by putting a banner in the whole neighbor so we can tell them to get involved with the un millenium goals. We will contact people by making a video so we can tell the whole world what is happening in the world. We need to contact the founder of L.A. FOOD BANK. Even you could go to www.FreeRice.com to donate rice to the poor countries in Africa.

Helping Others

Hi this is Genesis, Ashley, Hugo,and Nicholas we are goal number 4 reduce child mortality.
We want to inform you about another organisation that helps the people around the world. There is a organisation that is called A Glimmer of Hope foundation. Me and my conpanians would get involved by giving them our ideas through a letter or video. As a creative way that we can help or to get involved is by making a video clip that informs you and others about the problems that many people have.If you are intrested you can contact them www.aglimmerofhope.org. To send them a clip, video, or somthing else you can locate them at 3600 N Capital of Texas HWYBidg. B, Suite 330 Auatin Texas 78746

Thank you ..

Helping Women's Organizations info!!!

1. What organization in your community are already working on solutions for your MDG?
The organization helping our MDG (Goal #3 Promote Gender Quality and Empower Women) is Healing Bridges (website healingbridges.org)

2. How can our group get involed? How can your group help?

We can help this organization by donateing money and toys. We can protest. We can blog about it. We can join an organization or a club about the cause. We can write letters who do something about the cause like healing bridges. We can tell other people to see if they can make a diffrence by donating or funrasing. We can make it a law by talking to someone who can make it possible. We can make a website for all of the people so people can see and spread the news.

3. How can your group tell your story about the cause. (video/ song/ art/work/story.

We are going to tell our story by using art.

4. Who does you group need to contact the organzation?

We can contact the organization healing bridges by mailing letters to the adress

1137 2nd Street Suite 205Santa Monica, CA 90403

Or we can call the organization healing bridges at

310 576 2672

Lastly we can email Healing bridges at

info@healingbridges.org

By Mrs. Zambron group 3 women rights