Although our focus is going to be on the country of South Africa, let's start by getting an idea of what you think about Africa in general, and what you would like to find out. You can also share any connections you have about Africa or any perceptions you might have that we can later prove or disprove. As you can see from the words of actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie, many people have misconceptions about Africa: "Africa is a stong, beautiful country and has potential to be so much." What might be some other misconceptions that people have about Africa? For this posting, add your first name to your comment as this is an assigned posting.
24 comments:
I think some people believe that all of Africa is very poor, because there are so many famines and so much poverty in many areas of Africa. I have two friends who live in Africa, a girl who lives in Kenya and a boy who lives in Ghana and what frustrates me is when I tell people they come from Africa, people ask me if they are poor. Although there IS a lot of poverty in Africa, not everyone who resides in Africa is part of the poverty.
I am excited to start learning about Africa. I really want to learn about the problems in Africa; like AIDS/HIV, poverty, etc and how we're trying to help/stop it.
I think that when people think of Africa, they think of people living on the side of the road, with little money. But if you really visit it,you will see that not all of Africa is like that, some parts of it are really nice and enjoyable.
People in Africa are not all poor, we always think everyone in Africa lives besides roads, but that's not true. Africa has the highest bunjee-jumping place in the world, a lot of tourists go there and look for this thrilling activity.
Africa: 12 years ago, I travelled by myself in Subsahara Africa for 6 months. I spent time teaching school children in Lesotho, and I also worked with local women educating them about HIV and AIDS--the interesting part about teaching in Africa was I learned WAY more then I taught.
The local people were 'poor' in regards to their own material possessions or any surplus of money, but they were 'WEALTHY' with kindness, spirit and humanity.
i think that the religion of africa is very interesting. i saw in a tv that they believe in spirit. they believe, they can cure their diaseases by cultural ceremonic. i wonder how people earn money and what language they speak
I totally agree with Tara. I went to a website to look up some information on Africa.(http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/2003/life_for_african_kids/newsid_2686000/2686903.stm)
You wouldn't belive what i found.
Education
A lot of children in Africa really want to learn to read and write but most children cant because schools in Africa charge fee's and most of the parents of the kids dont have enough money to pay for it. Kids who can afford to go to school have to walk hour to get there. they leave their houses way early in the morning and then by the time they get to school they are really early for their lessons.
Aids
We all know that aids is a big problem in Africa. Until today i didnt realize just how big of a problem that was.
-23 million african kids have aids
-in ethiopia 250,000 kids under five have aids
-12 million african kids are orphaned because their parents are dying from aids.
-sometimes when the parents die the oldest chid of the family has to look after the other kids. these kids dont go to school, they struggle to find food, and they struggle to find clothes to wear.
Its so sad. But i know that there is organizations out there that our helping!
Btw(by the way) if the link thing doesnt work above go to google and type in daily lives of africans and click on the first link.
i have lived in africa for 3 and 1/2 years. i have visited many countries in africe( zimbabwa, botswana,kenya,tanzania,ext.) and i just love africa. i hate it when people say that africa is a country, because its not!! i hae been to victoria falls about 8 times, and i almost have done tha jump. i did chose to do it, but i was too short, which sucked!
i do want to learn about how nelson mandela got his motavation to try to fight for equal rights in souh africa, and how he grew up.
thats all i can think of now. ok
akshat
i think that what tara said is true...(... means to pause)for the most part. I think that its true that not all africa is poor.but a large part of it is.most people just assume stuff. you sould know the facts before you assume them.
Peoples term of "wealth" is different from each other. Maybe some people think having a meal of the table is "wealth" but some people may define "wealth" as going to a very expensive restraunt.
Over and Out,
HZ
I am very eager to begin our humanities grade 8 study of Africa. I have never visited Africa, but would love to know some tourist attractions to have a fun vacation. I would like to learn more about Nelson Mandela and his struggle to earn equal rights in South Africa. Many people respect him for his struggle and perseverance. I am willing to know if Africa is really a poor country, and I would like to learn about the different types of governments. I am excited to explore Africa!
Great to see Collin psyched to learn more about Africa. It's also good to see that Collin is familiar with Nelson Mandela, who historians consider one of the most outstanding leaders of the 20th century. But Collin, check the misconception that Angelina Jolie made about Africa!
I also agree with Tara and agree with Akshat. It is true that not because there is poverty ALL Africa is poor, and it also frustrates me that people begin saying things about Africa that are not neccessarily true because it is sooo annoying!!!
I feel happy to learn about Africa because I seriously don't know practically ANYTHING about Africa. . . :(
Well, now we will learn about Africa and check our ideas. . .
Umm. I have some stereotypes about Africa; poor, aids, Nelson Mandela...But actually I don't know the ANY TRUTH about Africa. So I'm so glad to learn about Africa that I want to learn as much as possible.
Most African don't have much money, then we have stereotype that Africa is a very poor continent.
But maybe most of them don't worry about it. Because they have their own pleasure in the life.
I don't really understand the problems going on in Africa. Alot of fundraising and programs are there to help the AIDS/HIV and poverty in Africa, but I want to know what happened in Africa to make this terrible situation? Surely it didn't happen overnight!
Lisa V.
Why does everyone talk about Africa being a poor continent? It isn't poor, it's amazingly rich in culture. Would you rather Africa be more "Civilised" like America. In America, we have seemed to completely wiped out our ancestors and now people stereotype America as an obese country. So who is more poor? Africa or America? I think America. Africa has such a sophisticated culture that unlike most of the world, seems unhindered by the rest of society. The tribes people that live in Africa can't miss what they never had.
I believe Africa was one of the most wealthiest and prosperous continent long time ago when our ancestors were alive. They traded gold (but actually lacked salt) and...lots of things.
Africa stores many incredible beliefs and systems that i would want to learn more about the history more than the present Africa.
I don't know much about Africa, so I would like to learn about it especially their religions because they look so different from ours.
I assume about Africa that most people in Africa are poor, but not all the people are. What I want to say that I think Africa is a continent with a wide gulf between the rich and the poor.
I think that if it weren't because of the control other countries had on Africa before, and of all the mugging that has taken place on Africa, Some countries in Africa would have the potential to be very developed, modern, and economically stable countries.
Unluckily, I'm not really sure of this, I just say it because I have read and heard that some places in The African continent have or had a lot of gold, etc.
If there are riches, there are always greedy people (^_^). As for the colonizers, they had a good and a mainly bad affect for the native people (MY OPINION). Many countries are already economically stable but due to the corruption and the money laundering, the economy goes down the drain again.
OVER AND OUT
HZ
It is strange that many people say Africa is poor even he/she is not seeing Africa. I am one of people who has not visited or seen Africa, but I am thinking that people's value is always different than others, so I don't think Africa is poor.
Gesëende Kersfees - "Merry Christmas" in Afrikaans, Happy Holidays!
Thanks to Anonymous for that greeting and while on a vacation trek of some sort ('trek' is also from Afrikaans), here's 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' to all of you - in Zulu (the language P.K. was speaking at the prison concert):
Sinifesela Ukhisimusi
Omuhle
Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo!
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