Viktoria Barna has written a beautiful series of articles (This is Part 1) chronicling her experiences as a volunteer in a Nepalese orphanage and trekking through the Himalayas. it was a life changing experience and gave her a new start in life.Viktoria Barna has written a beautiful series of articles (This is Part 1)... more
Texas is not Obama country. In fact Barack Obama lost the Lone Star State to Republican John McCain by a not-even-close 55-43 margin.
But today the president makes his first trip to Texas since winning the White House, accepting the invitation of former President George H.W. Bush -- otherwise known as Bush 41 -- to join him at Texas A&M University to celebrate volunteerism.
And conservatives on the Aggie campus are planning to protest, a wide-ranging complaint about everything from Obama's healthcare plan to his recently announced Nobel Peace Prize. As one put it on meetup, "The opportunity to make sure Obama gets a very clear TEXAS-SIZED MESSAGE to stop the liberal assault on our country cannot be passed up."
Worried the protests might get out of hand, Bush 41 wrote an open letter to "the A&M Family," on Wednesday that began with “Howdy” and concluded, “I cannot wait for Obama to experience the open, decent and welcoming Aggie spirit for himself. This will be an important national moment, and a moment for Texas A&M to shine in the national spotlight as it always does. I hope and believe it will serve as a point of Aggie pride for many years to come.”
Does the first Bush have cause for worry? Well, you be the judge. Last fall the school's Young Conservatives held an anti-Obama event on campus, encouraging students to throw eggs at a picture of the presidential candidate and participate in a "socialist on a stick" Obama ring-toss.
More @ linkTexas is not Obama country. In fact Barack Obama lost the Lone Star State to... more
Seven Reasons to Get off Your Ass and Help featuring....
Habitat For Humanity
Kinga visits the Habitat for Humanity job site in San Pedro, California where she meets several volunteers who are building homes for families in need, and changing their lives in the process. http://current.com/items/88829191_habitat-for-humanity.htm
Its not just about Politics, though Politics is also important here.
Its not just about numbers, though Numbers are important too..
It’s about Faces, So many of them…..
Faces who have seen too much in too little a time. …
Here you see many slums , but no millionaires.
You will find travellers but no destination….
These are internally displaced People of SWAT.
Many of them settled in IDP camps established..
at Mardan, Nowshehra and other areas,
while the majority chose to stay independent.
A large portion of these displaced people arrived at Karachi
where they are living with their relatives, or rented houses
with high rents. This is there story.
Bonier is situated around 60 miles from Islamabad.
An idyllic place with a history full of traditions, simplicity and peace.
All this changed one fine morning….
The terror had finally arrived Taliban’s.
They came with colourful Promises.
The promise of quick justice,
Divine Law, Sharia.
Soon the terror removed its masks and unveiled its true face.
The recent Operation by Pakistan against Taliban forces
For them this was a ray of light, a glimmer of hope.
But everything comes with a price.
The army needed space,
the collateral damage too much a political baggage;
they had to be removed from the war zone.
With in few days more than 1.5 million people left their houses…
and settled for different parts of Pakistan.
Even here, their miseries are far from over.
The new place offers them nothing but a reminiscence
of what they have left behind.
What could have been theirs?
These children are a product of fear;
these faces the faces under terror.
These faces need to be seen,
these voices be heard,
for they tell a story not covered in any of the debate rooms.
They tell why a combination of poverty, ignorance, deception and ultimate terror alters the course of human lives in such a short span of time.
These faces need to be helped.
Because in the end, they are all human faces.
Kazim Raza, Karachi. PakistanIts not just about Politics, though Politics is also important here.
Its not just... more
Every morning while on the way to office or coming back in evening it’s not possible for the karachiets to ignore baggers, children with car screen wipers and drug addicts. But unfortunately hardly seen some one talking to them to share there grievan...ces, to know what turns them into a LIFE without SOUL.....
Directed and Produced by Kazim RazaEvery morning while on the way to office or coming back in evening it’s not possible... more
The youth of our age, surrounded by a swarm of difficulties and problems is in search of a solution, but what he eventually finds is more and more of difficulties and disappointments. When unemployed and poverty numbs all his senses, paralyzes all his muscles, he feels life is nothing but a futile effort, a bottomless pit of poverty and indigence. According to one estimate, in past 10 years, around 10 thousand Pakistanis have been killed by security forces, crossing Greece-Turkey border illegally. In pursuit of an ever evading happiness, who are these ill-informed people and who are the traffickers involved in this heinous trade of human trafficking. The real issue is how come the educated ones of our country fall prey to these human traffickers. Poverty and related problems are the main reasons behind human trafficking and illegal immigration. Your pursuit of happiness can bring this much misery and suffering, one can only know by meeting the people under Custody of FIA, who have recently been deported from the Turkey Border. It seems an obvious enough advice to have a safe albeit simple life at home, than to a have risky prosperous life abroad. But mired deeply in the troubled waters, it’s only dreams of a happy living that make these people go through all sorts of troubles.
I just pray that my country Pakistan finds a leader, a person who can improve the situation in our country, so that no one thinks about leaving this country and going through this humiliation This heinous crime of Illegal immigration, despite efforts by the State, is flourishing. One obvious contributors of this crime are the people who become a victim of agents’ treacherous promises, lost their lives’ savings and became a victim of dark alleys.
The question that haunts us all is till what time these traffickers would dupe the gullible of their livelihoods and till what time the carcasses of the youth of our country would be feasted by the beasts in unknown wildernesses.
Directed and Produced By
Kazim Raza
Masmedia Productions
Pakistan
923333705114Sans Papiers
The youth of our age, surrounded by a swarm of difficulties and... more
Amongst the most beautiful regions of the world, the picturesque valleys of Swat and Buneir used to be huge tourist attraction. The people of this land were remembered for their ethereal beauty and generous hospitality.
But all this changed in a short span of time. These valleys soon became a symbol of terror and insecurity for the tourists. Even the locals started feeling insecure in their homeland.
With a population of around 5 millions, these valleys became a burning inferno right in front of the eyes of the world, fuelled by religious bigotry and fanaticism.
To eliminate the menace of terrorism, Pakistan Army started its operation in the troubled region, the subsequent resistance by Taliban forces turned this halcyon patches into a war zone.
Lush green fields turned into deadly bunkers, happy faces suddenly plagued by death stricken silence. The ensuing uncertainty culminated into the biggest exodus of human history. Around 3 million people left their homes to taste the bitter tastes of homelessness, settling in the Tent Villages at Mardan, Naushehra and Swabi.
Leaving the war zone was an unavoidable decision, the migration inescapable, but in these testing times, the true essence of people came out. Armed with the sense of compassion, sacrifice and devotion came out the helping hands. And pretty soon many a new shelters started appearing. The sense of homelessness started giving way to a glimmer of hope, peace and security.
A huge contingent of IDPs in Swabi was welcomed b y Mr Liaquat Taraki, the chairman of Tarakai group and Head of Liaquat Khan welfare trust. The aim and mission of Trakai trust is to make Swabi a prosperous district, and to help elevate the living standard of Swabi people by eradicating poverty and backwardness.
Directed and Produced By " Kazim Raza"Amongst the most beautiful regions of the world, the picturesque valleys of Swat and... more
Take a moment to post your personal plan to perform a good deed, volunteer or engage in a charitable activity in observance of the newly established September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Help create a wonderful legacy that honors the victims and those who rose to service in response to the attacks on our home.
Check out the site. So many people are doing alot of amazing things. From very simple to the incredibly complex. What will you do on 9/11?Take a moment to post your personal plan to perform a good deed, volunteer or engage... more
Here’s how a growing movement is tackling the problem – with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in hand.Here’s how a growing movement is tackling the problem – with peanut butter and... more
Launched in 1996, www.servenet.org is a website that mobilizes and empowers the volunteer service community to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing local communities. Since its inception, servenet.org has enabled millions of youth volunteers to connect with local nonprofits to make a difference in communities throughout America.
By WorldChanging TeamLaunched in 1996, www.servenet.org is a website that mobilizes and empowers the... more
Yolanda Narain, a scientist at healthcare company Roche in Welwyn Garden City and a part time volunteer at the Welwyn Garden City Oxfam shop, has just returned from a two-week trip-of-a-lifetime to Vietnam, travelling as part of the Oxfam Communication and Exposure Tour.
From a base in Hanoi, Yolanda travelled to the Bao Yen, Bat Xat and Bac Ha districts in Lao Cai province in the north of the country and Ninh Thuan in the south, visiting Oxfam projects along the way. “Visiting the real Vietnam outside the busy tourist route was such a treat, and seeing first-hand the impact that Oxfam projects are having on people’s lives was fantastic,“ she said.
In particular, Yolanda was struck by how welcoming people were to her group, as well as their great enthusiasm for change. She said, “As I was thinking about how challenging their lives must be, I was pleasantly surprised to see fun, laughter and commitment, an immense commitment to make things better for their families and those around them.”
Yolanda and her group visited community projects including water management, livelihood and education projects, as well as a humanitarian programme in Bao Yen, an area badly hit by typhoon Kammuri in August 2008.
After two weeks in Vietnam, Yolanda is now back in Welwyn Garden City, but agrees that this is not a trip that she will forget in a hurry. She said, ”When Oxfam first told me that they were sending me to Vietnam, I was not aware of how lucky I was. I am now!”Yolanda Narain, a scientist at healthcare company Roche in Welwyn Garden City and a... more
Invasive plant-life and volunteerism are seemingly two completely separate concepts, however, an ecologist from Acadia National Park explains why and how they are fully integrated with each other. In addition, she presents her expert analysis on the growing threat of invasive plant-life and its impact on native ecosystems.
This is produced by Being And Doing, Inc.Invasive plant-life and volunteerism are seemingly two completely separate concepts,... more
The Green Team is an environmental organization based in the Lothians. We work with young people to restore and conserve wild places as an important part of learning about the natural heritage of Scotland.The Green Team is an environmental organization based in the Lothians. We work with... more
Volunteer Abroad in Cusco Peru: Cusco is considered the archaeological capital of the Americas, and has been declared by UNESCO as a cultural Heritage of Humanity. Cusco maintains its Old World charm with beautiful plazas, cobbled streets and colonial style buildings lining the city. With its close proximity to Machu Picchu and other archaeological wonders, Cusco has a wealth of treasures to offer a globally-minded traveler.http://www.abroaderview.org
Volunteer Abroad in Cusco Peru: Cusco is considered... more
A Broader View Volunteers 2008-2009 - We are proud of our Volunteers that traveled with us, they have helped over 30.000 children with their time and love for the Orphans, Street children, Indigenous communities, at the Clinics, Hospitals and many other programs in all of our 21 Countries and 165 Programs.http://www.abroaderview.org - http://blog.abroaderview.org
A Broader View... more
Visit: http://www.abroaderview.org
We created A Broader View on the belief that one person can make a difference in the lives of others. We believe that our programs make a positive impact on the volunteers who travel with us, as well as the local community. We have found that cultural immersion leads to a personal satisfaction that one does not get as a tourist.Visit: http://www.abroaderview.org
We created A Broader View on the belief that one... more
We offer programs supporting orphanage assistance, teaching English and IT/Computer programs, and construction projects in Kampala. With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of East Africa, while doing meaningful and rewarding community work. This is a great opportunity to explore life in rural Africa, live and work amongst the locals and realize one person can make a difference.http://www.abroaderview.org
We offer programs supporting orphanage assistance,... more
Volunteer Abroad Chile Concepcion South America http://www.abroaderview.org http://blog.abroaderview.org
Twitter: @abroaderview.org
Facebook: abroaderviewVolunteer Abroad Chile Concepcion South America
http://www.abroaderview.org... more
Volunteer Abroad in Cusco Peru: Cusco is considered the archaeological capital of the Americas, and has been declared by UNESCO as a cultural Heritage of Humanity. Cusco maintains its Old World charm with beautiful plazas, cobbled streets and colonial style buildings lining the city. With its close proximity to Machu Picchu and other archaeological wonders, Cusco has a wealth of treasures to offer a globally-minded traveler.http://www.abroaderview.org
Volunteer Abroad in Cusco Peru: Cusco is considered the... more
Volunteer Abroad Kenya Mombasa Nairobi Makuyu Orphanages Schools Street Children http://www.abroaderview.org http://blog.abroaderview.org
Twitter: @abroaderview
Facebook: abroaderview
Share this video with your friends and familyVolunteer Abroad Kenya Mombasa Nairobi Makuyu Orphanages Schools Street Children... more