The Make A Difference Campaign

Africa is the second largest continent in the world and richly blessed with myriad natural resources, beautiful, exotic land and seascapes and a very rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Unfortunately, however, the African continent is also known as the poorest in the world and is home to millions of dying children living, without the hope of ever seeing the glory of a bright new dawn. These children are exposed to numerous ills of poverty and deprivation as malnutrition, diseases, war and child trafficking to mention but a few. Reports derived from carefully conducted research reveal that:

• One in eight African babies (about 3.1 million infants) is born underweight each year.
  
  
• About 120 000 African children participate in armed conflicts, some as young as seven years old.
  
  
• Nearly two million children under 14 years of age are HIV positive.
  
  
• There are an estimated 80 million African child workers forced into slavery, prostitution, the drug trade and other criminal activities
  

The above figures are staggering, as is the tragic truth that African children currently have the worst chances of survival in the world!

Well … this is where you and I come in ….

An Ethopian proverb says, “When spider webs unite [become intertwined], they can tie up a lion”. So together, we can exorcise the adverse conditions our children are forced to live and grow up in and their negative effects on their lives and future. We have the ability to turn the situation around. We can make a difference in the lives of these young ones.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AFRICA campaign is the first key initiative of the Inspire Africa foundation and it is focused on inspiring the African child. It aims to support and make the world a better place for our children. The driving force or vision behind the campaign is the strong conviction that we can achieve the ‘impossible’ by working together. It is fuelled by the fact that Africa has so much to offer. The key activities and events that make up the “make a difference campaign” include:

1. Benefit concerts
2. Sponsored walks for Africa
3. Publication of a collection of 100 inspirational stories from Africa
4. Publication of a collection of children's books
5. The ‘Donate a dollar and support an African child’ fund

Imagine a world filled with happy, well nurtured and educated children. Think how far a little contribution from every one of us, big and small, would go. Imagine the smiles every little effort can bring to the faces of our children (the African child); the joy and glow of contentment we can put in their eyes and the unbridled heartfelt laughter we could put on their mouths. The little each person does can have a major impact on their lives and make a complete difference in their future. After all, the children are the future of Africa’s tomorrow.

As part of the ‘Make a Difference’ campaign launched by the Inspire Africa Foundation, several benefit concerts will be organized and held throughout the years 2008 and 2009 in four proposed locations within Africa and around the world. These benefit concerts will provide the necessary and conducive avenue to:

• Raise funds for underprivileged children in Africa.
• Create an atmosphere for every music lover to participate in our “Make a Difference Africa” campaign.
• Provide first class entertainment for our guests.
  

Africa is a continent that appreciates music and these concerts are designed to form a major source of attraction intended to both inspire and entertain. These benefit concerts will go a long towards fulfilling our campaign objectives of supporting the African children in tangible and practical ways through the sales of gate tickets to our guests.

Our defined strategy in our achieving this vision involves inviting famous musical artistes/entertainers of African and non African descents to partner with us by performing at our benefit concerts. These gala occasions will be mind blowing events filled with lots of fun and excitement, where our guests will get the opportunity to watch well known international and local artistes perform live.

As Africans, we each have a responsibility towards other Africans, in other words, to be our brother’s keeper. As one of Africa's greatest humanitarians, Kofi Annan rightly said, “WE ALL HAVE AN UNPRECENDENTED AMOUNT OF POWER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, SAVE LIVES AND HELP OUR PEOPLE”.

These children are our children, and indeed, our collective future. It is our duty to join forces and make Africa a better place for our children.

Another major event that is an integral part of the Make a Difference Africa campaign, and which will be regularly organised by the Inspire Africa Foundation, is the sponsored walks for Africa that will be held in select locations like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and London.

The aim of these walks is to help inspire/support an African child through the funds raised during these walks. The funds will be used to help millions of helpless and hopeless African children live a better life. We will appeal to people in the society, from low income earners to high-networth individuals, to join in these walks and support our goal. These walks will also be a lovely time to spend just hanging out with friends, family and colleagues and all for a worthy cause.

Why you have to be a part of this laudable cause:

• You will be assisting the Foundation behind this project to put a smile on the face of an African child by your contribution either through sponsorship, or through the funds raised from the sale of merchandise that will be sold during the walks
• Walking is an enjoyable form of exercise
• You will also get the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends!
• Remember that your contribution will go a long way in helping underprivileged African children. Your support is very important to us.
• Specified dates and venue will be announced whenever an event is coming up.