Africa: Faces in Words

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Unseen, unheard; no one should be the bearer of these two words. Unfortunately, Africa is often in the forefront of this association.

Our common humanity should change this; we should never look away because it is too distant. Our commitment to one another, to human rights, and the ability to learn should always keep us connected no matter the severity and complexity of problems.

CinemArena films change communities - After making giant strides in a series of highly successful projects in Mozambique, Lebanon, Morocco and Ethiopia, CinemArena is finally in Uganda doing its rounds in social transformation, thanks to the Italian cooperation and Amakula Film. CinemArena films change communities Independent UK

Uganda: Political Will Can Solve Malnutrition - "Children don't vote," said Dr Robert Mwadime, of Uganda Action for Nutrition, at a session on the subject before the three-day African Union (AU) meeting opened in Kampala, Uganda. This means that political leaders in Africa often pay scant attention to the millions of children who die every year of malnutrition-related causes. Most of the audience nodded in agreement; many clapped. Political Will Can Solve Malnutrition - allafrica.com

Zimbabwe: Army Leading Smuggling Operations Out of Chiadzwa - Ongoing smuggling of diamonds out of the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields has once again been exposed, with the army still brutally controlling the illegal operation. Army Leading Smuggling Operations Out of Chiadzwa

Senegal: Access to Water is Transforming Life in Rural Areas - Kalla Niang, 12, is highly self assured and energetic. She is busily preparing herself for high school, an opportunity that, until recently, would not have been available to her. She lives in the village of Darou Ngaraf in northern Senegal. Access to Water is Transforming Life in Rural Areas

Congolese journalist under arrest; stations forced off air - Authorities arrested a journalist on Tuesday on criminal defamation charges in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hours earlier, in an unrelated incident, armed men briefly forced the city’s three main opposition broadcasters off the air, according to local journalists and news reports. Congolese journalist under arrest

In Somaliland, a Public-Private partnership provides safe water to thousands - Residents of Boroma town in north-west Somalia don’t take access to safe water for granted. In recent years, depletion of the wells connected to Boroma’s urban water system caused a significant reduction in the town’s water supply. To cope with this shortage, the private company operating and maintaining the system decided to stop providing new household connections. The company also enforced a water rationing policy, limiting water supply to only twice a week for each location within the town. Public-Private Partnership Provides Safe Water to Thousands

The Answer to Hunger is in Her Hands - To her friends, she is know simply as mama Ngwaci, though Mary Anyango Oyunga does not boil and hawk sweet potatoes in the streets. Instead, this Egerton University-trained food technology graduate's potato passion is rooted in her life's work. The Answer to Hunger is in Her Hands

Instability in Southern Sudan Forces Retreat for Doctors Without Borders - A medical aid agency says increasing insecurity has forced it to stop work in a volatile part of southern Sudan. Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) said Friday gunmen robbed its staff and clinic in Gumuruk, in Jonglei state, three separate times in July. Instability in Southern Sudan Forces Retreat for Doctors Without Borders

Zimbabwe: Mugabe Condemns Churches That Allow Gay Marriages - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has lashed out at churches that allow same-sex marriages, and said gay rights would not be included in a new constitution being written for the southern African country. Mugabe Condemns Churches That Allow Gay Marriages - allafrica.com

Alysha Atma spends many hours working on projects that support and benefit the beleaguered people of African nations who spend way too much time off the western media's radar. This writer explains that she is a culmination of all her experiences, most importantly knowledge she says, and all that she still needs to learn; lessons of love, laughter and the extraordinary giving of both young and old. She says she has the enormous fortune of learning from the best; every person around her, and the amazing strength and fortitude of those she has never met but will always strive to listen to. "I continue to work and write because I believe in the power of community and the power of one, both contradictory to each other and yet can move together in a very powerful way. I feel a responsibility to use my place, freedoms and connections here in the US to stand up and yell for those who need my voice and actions. I have seen such strength in my fellow humans that I cannot even begin to comprehend, they have traveled distances, have gone without food, water, shelter and safety for days and weeks at a time. I have a responsibility as a fellow human to put our common humanity before anything else. Everyone deserves to look towards tomorrow, to dream of a safe future and to have a peaceful present." You can write to Alysha Atma at: alyshann78@comcast.net