Africa’s future in hands of women

[Guest guest]

Africa's future in hands of women

UN envoy to speak about issue in Halifax

By RICK CONRAD Education Reporter

Women are the key to building stronger, thriving communities in

Africa, which is one of the messages plans to bring to

Halifax on Wednesday at a fundraising reception and dinner for the

Coady International Institute.

The $125-a-ticket event is sold out, with more than 500 business,

government and community leaders set to hear Mr. , the UN

special envoy for AIDS in Africa, speak about building leadership

for Africa's future.

" I think we've learned over decades and decades of development work

that really it's the women — development does start with women, "

Krista Hall, spokeswoman for the Coady institute in Antigonish, said

in an interview Monday.

And when women in developing nations are able to get financing

through a micro-credit institution, Ms. Hall says, they usually meet

with success.

" She'll take that money and make a small business out of it and send

her children to school. "

Since his appointment as special envoy, Mr. has been

publicizing the plight of women and children as HIV/AIDS threatens

to grab a greater hold on Africa.

" What have clearly emerged as the most difficult issues in Africa

are the loss of human capacity and the oppression of women, " Mr.

says in an institute news release.

" What the world requires in the next 25 years is strong leadership.

It requires capable and committed men and women working on the

ground in developing countries to address issues of poverty. "

Also speaking at the fourth annual Coady Celebrates! fundraiser at

the Westin Nova Scotian hotel will be Chintu, a community

leader from Zambia who is participating in the development

leadership diploma program at the institute.

Ms. Chintu works for Women for Change, a group that works directly

with traditional community leaders to bust obstacles to the

participation of men and women in society.

She plans to talk about the need for strong community leadership for

Africa's development.

All proceeds from the event will go toward bursaries to help

development professionals from all over the world attend Coady's

community development leadership education programs.

The event also raises much-needed awareness, Ms. Hall says.

" What we mostly hope is that people will walk away knowing more

about the issues and that they will see that it's the necessary

investment that we need to build leadership in Africa if development

is going to work. "

( rconrad@...)

[Guest guest]

Africa's future in hands of women

UN envoy to speak about issue in Halifax

By RICK CONRAD Education Reporter

Women are the key to building stronger, thriving communities in

Africa, which is one of the messages plans to bring to

Halifax on Wednesday at a fundraising reception and dinner for the

Coady International Institute.

The $125-a-ticket event is sold out, with more than 500 business,

government and community leaders set to hear Mr. , the UN

special envoy for AIDS in Africa, speak about building leadership

for Africa's future.

" I think we've learned over decades and decades of development work

that really it's the women — development does start with women, "

Krista Hall, spokeswoman for the Coady institute in Antigonish, said

in an interview Monday.

And when women in developing nations are able to get financing

through a micro-credit institution, Ms. Hall says, they usually meet

with success.

" She'll take that money and make a small business out of it and send

her children to school. "

Since his appointment as special envoy, Mr. has been

publicizing the plight of women and children as HIV/AIDS threatens

to grab a greater hold on Africa.

" What have clearly emerged as the most difficult issues in Africa

are the loss of human capacity and the oppression of women, " Mr.

says in an institute news release.

" What the world requires in the next 25 years is strong leadership.

It requires capable and committed men and women working on the

ground in developing countries to address issues of poverty. "

Also speaking at the fourth annual Coady Celebrates! fundraiser at

the Westin Nova Scotian hotel will be Chintu, a community

leader from Zambia who is participating in the development

leadership diploma program at the institute.

Ms. Chintu works for Women for Change, a group that works directly

with traditional community leaders to bust obstacles to the

participation of men and women in society.

She plans to talk about the need for strong community leadership for

Africa's development.

All proceeds from the event will go toward bursaries to help

development professionals from all over the world attend Coady's

community development leadership education programs.

The event also raises much-needed awareness, Ms. Hall says.

" What we mostly hope is that people will walk away knowing more

about the issues and that they will see that it's the necessary

investment that we need to build leadership in Africa if development

is going to work. "

( rconrad@...)