On Wednesday, I attended a presentation given by Judd Holzman, who was giving an overview of the organization Link Community Development. Link Community Development is a unique organization that focuses on long-term and sustainable change and growth in order to improve education in rural sub-Saharan Africa. The organization works in Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, and Uganda, but also has partner programs in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. What makes Link so exceptional is their method. Instead of just attacking the problems of education from either the treetops method or through grassroots, the organization finds a healthy balance of the two. Link builds relationships in communities and administers school performance. Then Link focuses on district capacity building and strives to have the districts themselves prosper and work on getting better school services. Link also works with community and family members to get them invested in their own as well as their children’s education. Link also trains principles to have stronger leadership and developmental skills.
What I found fascinating were some other projects that Link is now nurturing and trying to expand slowly. In South Africa especially, HIV/AIDS education has been worked into planning and school curriculum. A program designed to target orphans and vulnerable children had also been put into place. Another recent project is called Solar Connect. Because these schools are in rural areas, they lack access to power sources. One solution is installing safe solar panels to produce energy for the schools and also provide the school with a netbook and Internet access so that the principal can effectively communicate with the district without having to travel, so that classes can have more resources, and so that the school can be a center for the towns and villages.
Link Community Development is an organization that is doing many good things for international education and health. Such presentations give me hope that sustainable improvement is possible in education as well as health. Link also highlights the fact that education and health go hand-in-hand with their stress on HIV/AIDS education.
More information can be found at: http://www.lcdinternational.org/
More information can be found at: http://www.lcdinternational.org/
I love to hear stories like this because it reminds me of all the good our world offers. People get too caught up in the negative aspects and forget about the great things we offer. This organization seems awesome because it is benefiting people with education and health. I agree with you that organizations like this give me hope. I'm glad to see an organization doing so well.
ReplyDeleteStories like these are inspirational. Little by little things are starting to get done. The only question concerning this is whether or not it is sustainable. Is it just starting or been going on for very long. Also, will the people be excepting of this forever. Need less to say, this is still a great thing.
ReplyDeleteIt's so great to see what Link has to offer. I love to hear about the great things people do to help. It's awesome to see the aid they are offering dealing with education and health. So many people will benefit from this organization. i am glad to see change in the world.
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