New Year, New Goals, Same Mission and Vision!
"Like the vibrant colors of Ankara prints, our mission and vision couldn't be more beautiful." - Tammy Darmel Moore, Founder and President, Footprints in Africa
Happy New Year!
2020 was an eventful year filled with moments of surprise, adjustment, and realignment, but we made it through! We are entering 2021 with a keen focus and vision along with a plan to expand the Footprints in Africa brand for the greater good, and we are counting on you, our readers, and supporters to help us achieve these set goals!
As we look to the future, we plan to have a clearly defined foundational layout for the work that we do, and at the top of our list is the work that we do in Ethiopia. For many of you who know a bit about Ethiopia, you also know that it has had a long history of perseverance and tenacity. Through cold wars and bouts of severe poverty, most Ethiopians have overcome and continue to overcome. It is because of this reality that Footprints in Africa exist. From the beginning, we aimed to reach the less fortunate, and although we achieved a lot last year, we are prepared to do more this year.
Our travel plans will play a significant role in our work this year and the impact that we will make in the lives of many Africans. Ideally, we want to travel to three African countries this year, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Ghana. Although we are yet to decide what rescheduled date we will be traveling to Ethiopia officially; we have decided to travel to Senegal in April and Ghana in July. The purpose of our trip to the countries mentioned above is to explore the needs of the communities as well as to uncover the numerous opportunities available to us to empower those communities.
Travel Sponsors Needed
The nature of our work requires us to travel a lot, and because of that, we are always actively seeking travel sponsors and grants. If you would be interested in partnering with us to achieve our travel plans to the above-mentioned countries, we would gladly appreciate it and would love to hear from you!
Sponsor a Mingi Child
We understand that times are hard; however, our commitment to humanity is stronger than ever, and therefore, we want to encourage you to join us on this vital journey, "Sponsor a Mingi Child," starting this month.
For $37 a month, equivalent to a cup of coffee a day, you can support a Mingi child from Omo Child Home in Ethiopia. Right now, 50 children need sponsorship, and we are encouraging all of our supporters to commit to sponsoring at least one child for a minimum of 12-months. Your financial support will ensure that these children get ample access to healthcare, clothing, and education. We hope that you can be a part of this great cause.
Current Events in Africa
Photo by Trevor Cole on Unsplash
Uganda
With the recent chaos surrounding the Ugandan electoral process, Ugandan authorities ordered several telecom companies to immediately shut down social media and internet messaging services, just two days before a tense presidential election took place. In a letter, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Irene Sewankambo directed telecommunications companies to 'immediately suspend any access and use' of social media and online messaging platforms to Uganda residents. An industry insider who spoke out to news outlets on the condition that he would remain anonymous said that the orders were first sent 'nasty and aggressive' phone calls to the telecommunications companies. The insider also disclosed that the calls made it clear that the order was retaliation for Facebook deleting pro-government accounts for seeking to manipulate public debate before the election's key polls. To bypass the blockade, users were turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to gain access to social media networks.