3.5.07

Getting on..

Went to my World Affairs Council regular meeting.. topic was NGO work in Kenya. Interesting to hear from the horses mouth. Really shows that people do vacation in Africa take photos of slums and create a whole "let us raise funds" charity around Africa.. brilliant idea..the org they are affiliated with gave then 2500 plus they have to raise their travel ticket themselves they said. Ok let us do the math... save few moneys, couch class ticket to East Africa can be obtained between 700 to 1500 depending when u planned. so the money raised by the institutions will go for maybe car rentals meals or photo hire and other administrative moneys, even 10k could not make a big impact let alone 2500.

Will try and see the positive side, these people at least told their story, but admit it would never be sustainable for those communities they visited or even other. Africa needs a massive effort to change and local US NGO will never make a difference i that what is required. Funny how one fellow from the audience came later and approached me with a proposal for testing his aids medicine in Africa over say a 400 people community, after hearing me make comment and ask questions to the speakers and introducing myself as an Ethiopian. Of course I have to turn him down gracefully after explaining to him to watch the movies related to these stories., which he does not seem to have a clue about.GC and i went for drinks some o'dervs after to Bings, Prima & then Scala for cafe latte. Cheers..I am back! s