Global Weekly Update November 9, 2009
Strategize on Mobilizing Action for the Global Fund for Education
Last Thursday, 25 grassroots volunteers joined an education strategy brainstorming call to think about ways they mobilize our members of Congress, media, community to let President Obama know we want him to take leadership in creating a Global Fund for Education. November is also a great time to engage your community to take action during the December 10 Day of Action on the Global Fund for Education. Read more to find out how you can take action today and on December 10!
Mary Njoroge’s Grassroots Tour on Education a Success!
Mary Njoroge, Kenyan education activist and former director of basic education when Kenya abolished school fees, visited Atlanta and Athens, Georgia; Chicago; Cleveland; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C., to meet up grassroots volunteers and help them educate their communities, the media, and members of Congress about the need for a Global Fund for Education. Read more about her trip through the eyes of the volunteers who hosted her!
ACTION’s Annual Partners Meeting Sets Bold Agenda for TB
ACTION recently held its largest partners meeting ever in Geneva, Switzerland on October 17–21, with over 25 participants from eight countries, including ACTION’s newest partner, RESULTS Australia! Partners came together from around the world to plan the biggest “game-changing” strategies that each of our ACTION countries can engage in over the next year to change the course of the TB epidemic in a monumental way. Read Executive Director Joanne Carter’s update from the meetings.
The Reluctant Fundraiser
Cynthia Changyit Levin describes how her small but mighty group raised $540 for RESULTS/REF in one casual evening and the significance of our grassroots fundraising efforts. Read More.
For the cost of a single additional soldier stationed in Afghanistan for one year, we could build roughly 20 schools there. For roughly the same cost as stationing 40,000 troops in Afghanistan for one year, we could educate the great majority of the 75 million children worldwide who, according to UNICEF, are not getting even a primary education. Such a vast global education campaign would reduce poverty, cut birth rates, improve America’s image in the world, promote stability and chip away at extremism.
Education isn’t a panacea, and no policy in Afghanistan is a sure bet. But all in all, the evidence suggests that education can help foster a virtuous cycle that promotes stability and moderation. So instead of sending 40,000 troops more to Afghanistan, how about opening 40,000 schools?
— Nicholas Kristoff, “More Schools, Not Troops,” New York Times, 28 October 2009.
November–December: Fall Fundraising Campaign. Goal: to raise $50,000
November 9 and 16: New Activist Orientation sessions. To join, contact Lisa Marchal.
November 14: Global National Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. Call in at (888) 409-6709. Focus: Global Fund for Education.
November 17: Yunus Bill strategizing call with the grassroots partners and staff. 9:00–10:00 pm ET. (712) 432-3100, passcode 887871.
December 1: World AIDS Day
December 10: Global Campaign for Education Day of Action.
December 12: Joint Domestic-Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. Call in at (888) 409-6709.
For details, visit our events calendar.