South Africans Stand Up to End Poverty
South Africans Stand Up to End Poverty
From 16-18 October, South Africans will join millions of people across the globe in the “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!” Campaign as they call on world leaders to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Last year almost 117 million people participated in this annual campaign, the majority from poor countries, breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilisation of human beings in recorded history.
On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17 October - citizens from all over South Africa will stand together and call for an urgent action and a more just world. “We believe that standing together is the best way of ensuring our leaders hear us. We expect people here to Stand Up for whatever issue is closest to their reality - that could be maternal mortality, climate change, a more prudent global financial system management, additional resources or access to education and social services for all in South Africa. This is the most grassroots mobilisation anyone can be part of so it is vital we show we are serious,” says Rajesh Latchman, Convenor of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty alliance in South Africa and National Welfare Forum.
Where and How will South Africa Stand Up and Take Action?
An estimated two million people will get involved in Stand Up through a range of events in school classrooms, at sporting activities, in places of worship and at cultural events. All these actions will go towards a new global Guinness World Record. People can participate by sending an email to standupsa@gmail.com, registering a planned action (such as a prayer against poverty, singing a song, drawing pictures, attending a Stand Up event, or even standing up in at home ) or visiting www.standagainstpoverty.org.
This year, for the first time, people can participate by sending an SMS to the Stand Up SMS number (TBA) which will be available on the website www.mzansi.org.za or become a fan of Stand Up on Facebook.
You can join a Stand Up event by checking out the website www.standagainstpoverty.org/map or setting up your event with friends, colleagues, classmates or community members.
Stand Up Events
- Housemates in Big Brother Africa will Stand Up on 17 October at 10:00 am.
- Children from schools across KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape will Stand Up with the support of ChildCare SA, Help2read, the Department of Education and Art of Living.
- Bishop Paul Verryn of the Central Methodist Church will be hosting a prayer service for Stand Up on Sunday 18 October.
- The Economic Justice Network (EJN) and partner organizations are marching on parliament for the right to food security on Sunday 18 October.
- The Currie Cup semi final in Durban is hosting Stand Up.
- The National Welfare Forum (NWF) will host two Anti Poverty Strategy workshops in Limpopo and Gauteng.
- During the three days of the campaign, Virgin Active Midrand will invite everyone to Stand Up.
- On World Food Day,16 October 2009, a campaign to call for an end to hunger and poverty will take place in the Northern Cape.
- In Durban, churches and NGOs will get together and prepare food and hampers for poor communities.
- As part of the SANGONet 2009 Social Media for NGOs Conference taking place in Newtown, participants will Stand Up on 16 October.
For more information on Stand Up 2009:
Tel: 011 403 1915 Fax: 011 403 1879
Cell: Karen 083 392 2388 Watson 072 620 0801 Thato 082 776 6064
Email: standupsa@gmail.com
URL: www.mzansi.org.za and globally www.standagainstpoverty.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bettermzansi
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/42017608@N05/
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Comments
An Excellent Undertaking
This is truly an wonderful and historic event and I think similar such events should be organized in all developing and devdloped nations poverty is definitely in each and every country and where there is poverty there is bound to be discrimincation and exploitation. And young girls bear the brunt the most with most of them being sold of into prostitution willingly by parents. I am aware of a lot of children who are trafficked into the UK from overseas. Poverty is a meance and one which must be eradicated being the root of many evils.
Normal 0 I like the
Normal
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I like the advocacy toward alleviation of poverty. Collaborate effort from the NGO and high government official must be shared. The South African people had been suffering for a longest period of time, I think it’s about time for them to experience some decent way of living and that could only be made possible with the help of some government leaders. It may be worth it to support some advocacy programs that will lift up the way of living of the South Africans.
It is good to hear that the
It is good to hear that the African government is taking the move to end up poverty. This will give hope among the Africans to expect for a better future. The key ingredient in ending up poverty is providing the people with livelihood program or developing their entrepreneurial skills to put a small business, which could be a great source of income. Everyone has heard that the unemployment rate is crucial to ascertaining when the recession is over – and it's true. As long as the jobless rate remains high, and more people are in the condition of underemployment (part time vs. full time) then we won't get too far. Well, the good news is that the unemployment rate fell 2 tenths of a percent over October 2009, and the underemployment rate fell 3 tenths of a percent in the same month. It's a start – it doesn't mean fewer people need payday loans – but if this improvement becomes constant, then real recovery is not so distant.
Childline KZN joins the STAND UP and TAKE ACTION Campaign
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Childline KZN is participating in the Stand Up Take Action Campaign on Friday 16th of October 2009 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. The event is to highlight the plight of children.
The event will be held at Menzi High School in Umlazi N Section, 253 Maponya Road. Learners from Menzi High School and Qhilika High School have been invited to participate in the event and Childline Staff will be commemorating the campaign.
Learners will be assembled in the formation of the Childline KZN toll free number and release white balloons into the air symbolizing a new dawning, a new release to life for the most vulnerable, our children, who need a listening ear. The campaign is to create a request ...”Lets Stand together! We cannot be indifferent. Protection of children should be a priority. It should be the 1st priority in our Province
Childline KZN 08000 55555