http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); ]]> Copyright 2010, Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100309-171822
Saturday June 20th 2009 saw six communities across Canada run the A Day for Africa program. It was the first time the program model had been distributed to multiple communities. We learned a lot and I look forward to incorporating those lessons into our efforts for 2010.

In July 2009 I visited projects in Uganda and Rwanda and met with beneficiaries including grandmothers, women, orphans and other persons affected by HIV and AIDS. That was the first time I had been to Sub-Saharan Africa, and I am infinitely thankful to Cournay Verbrugge and Lisa Jorgensen-Carnie of Remax Ocean Pacific Realty for making that possible.

Now it's March 2010 and things are looking good for our 2010 operations.

The Rotaract Club of Ottawa will be hosting an Art Gallery Fundraiser on March 27th at Mercury Lounge in Ottawa's Byward Market.

Program Coordinator Mohit Sethi will be working with the Rotary Interact Club of Lisgar Collegiate Institute to run A Day for Africa in Ottawa, Ontario on April 17th and May 22nd.

Program Coordinators Claire Donovan and Michael Brown are busy planning for operations in the Comox Valley, British Columbia. It is very exciting and I am sure the community will be pleased to see the program running for its 3rd consecutive year in that location :)

Other intitiatives are in the works as well, including some fantastic possibilities in other parts of Canada. I look forward to sharing those with you as they develop and to showing you what's new with the program as it develops as well.

Yours truly,

Billy Strachan
Founder
A Day for Africa ]]> http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100309-171822 Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:18:22 GMT http://adayforafrica.com/blog/comments.php?y=10&m=03&entry=entry100309-171822 http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090611-120037
The following is the story of a recent conversation I had with a new Canadian. It serves to illuminate the issue in a powerful way:

As I was tending to errans the other day, I struck up a conversation with a receptionist. I quickly learned that she was from El Salvador. We exchanged small-talk before she began to tell me the story of how she came to Canada.

She explained how when she was a teenager she experienced a civil war and bore witness to killings, bombings, and other atrocities on a daily basis. In light of this she remarked how she never takes anything for granted because she, "... knows what it is to survive."

After the war, she found work in the Canadian embassy in El Salvador. From what I gather this provided her with an opportunity to come to Canada. She didn't hesitate to take the offer.

Now she works two jobs while raising her three children as a single mother. She is proud that her eldest daughter may now have the privilege to attend university. She did make clear, though, that her daughter has to work to pay for it.

After hearing this story, she said, "There are people here who helped me, and I don't forget them. All I needed was a chance." This, my dear friends, sums it up perfectly. Facing difficulties the average Canadian can never truly imagine, all some people need is a chance. And in the case of those infected with HIV/AIDS it happens to be a chance to live.

When talking with my new friend it became clear that providing this chance is the duty of those who are able to. In doing so we will create fruitful and lasting relationships otherwise known as friendships. If there is anything Canada needs right now it is just that - friendships.

This is not the time to retract our commitments (don't forget it was our Prime Minister Lestor B. Pearson who called on the wealthy nations of the world to deliver 0.7% of the GDP as foreign aid to developing countries - a target that we still have not met) and it is certainly not the time to turn our back on our friends. Strong relationships and lasting bonds serve as the markers of health, wealth, and longevity. I am saddened and startled that our current government does not feel this way, but when the support does not come from the government it is the responsibility of the people to stand up and deliver on our commitments. And when we do, I promise our friends will never forget.

In solidarity,

Billy Strachan]]> http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090611-120037 Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:37 GMT http://adayforafrica.com/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=06&entry=entry090611-120037 http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090528-110728
After contacting the Stephen Lewis Foundation with regard to attaining the appropriate contact information for the Grandmother's Groups in the Ottawa area, I was told that there are 24 individual and all very active Grandmother's Groups in the region. Compare this to my earlier search for youth Rotary Interact Clubs: After scowering the Ottawa-Carleton School District I found that in the entire Ottawa area there is only one youth Rotary Interact Club!

With this in mind, my message to young people is simple:

We've got to get it together! Our grandmother's are embarrassing us ;)

With light-hearted humility,

Billy Strachan

ps - For more information on the INCREDIBLY UPLIFTING Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, visit www.grandmotherscampaign.org ]]> http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090528-110728 Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa Thu, 28 May 2009 18:07:28 GMT http://adayforafrica.com/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=05&entry=entry090528-110728 http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090519-061914
That's right, on June 20th 2009 eight communities across Canada will be operating the program with the goal of raising $100,000.00 CAD. Lofty? Perhaps, but being the dreamers that we are we certainly don't hesitate to dream big. We don't just dream either, for this program is all about action. With this in mind, I want to tell the story of how I became inspired to take action and help support people affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In late November 2006 I travelled with my parents to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, British Columbia to see Stephen Lewis speak. I did not know who he was or what he had to say, but after some preliminary research I was quick to understand that this man was someone worth listening to.

When I arrived at the auditorium I began to observe the crowd. As I sat there something struck me. Amongst the crowd of over 700 people, very few were as young or younger than myself (I was 21 at the time). This bothered me, but I soon put that annoyance behind me as Mr. Lewis took the stage.

An aside: For those of you who haven't had the absolute privilege of seeing Mr. Lewis speak in person, I highly suggest that you make arrangements to do so. There is no doubt in my mind that Stephen Lewis is one of the best speakers in the world. Back to the story...

Mr. Lewis mesmerized the audience that night with his on-stage prowess and captivating stories. I was touched deeply by what he had to say, and more importantly - I was enraged! I decided right then and there that I could do something. Moreover, I decided that I had the responsibility to do something. With this in mind, I designed a program to support people affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and worked to manage it in a way that would engage young people. This program later became known as A Day for Africa and that's how it all started~

]]> http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090519-061914 Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa Tue, 19 May 2009 13:19:14 GMT http://adayforafrica.com/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=05&entry=entry090519-061914 http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090512-211322
With the help of Kylie Mangles at Freshly Squeezd Web Design, the long-awaited A Day for Africa website is now up and running! This is a very exciting development and I urge you to check back often as we continue to provide an inspiring platform for people interested in supporting people affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

More to come... ]]> http://adayforafrica.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090512-211322 Billy Strachan, Founder, A Day for Africa Wed, 13 May 2009 04:13:22 GMT http://adayforafrica.com/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=05&entry=entry090512-211322