Africa

In 2006, the British Government launched a project called the Commission for Africa. The aim of the Commission is to raise awareness of issues in Africa and tell us what we can do to help.

The British Government aims to promote good governance and the development of economies throughout Africa, and work to prevent conflict, with the goals of peace, stability and a better quality of life for people who live in Africa.

Africa is the second largest continent in the world, with 53 countries, and covers 20% of the earth's land surface. It measures 8,000km from north to south and 7,500 from east to west. The population of Africa is about 14% of the total world population.

Only 6% of the land in Africa can be farmed, any nearly 25% is forest. The countries of Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe produce 50% of the world's gold!

The major languages in Africa are Arabic in the north, Berber in Morocco and Algeria, Bantu in central and southern Africa, Swahili in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Akan in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, Sahran and Mada in the Chad basin, Koma in the Blue Nile basin and Songhai in the upper-middle Niger River region. That's a lot of languages!

Sadly, Africa has the highest proportion of its people in extreme poverty. Some of the goals that Africa is trying to meet are:

• Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieving primary school education for all children
• Reducing the child death rate
• Improving the health of mothers
• Combating diseases like HIV, AIDS and Malaria
• Making sure that the environment is looked after

Although Africa does face challenges, there are signs that progress is being made. It is also good that these changes are coming from people who live in Africa.

Map from CIA

What can I do to help?

Everyone can work for a better world by letting politicians know that people care about developing countries. The more people who know and care, the more will be done to fight poverty.

There are lots of great ways to make a sustained contribution to global development by lending a hand to one of the many agencies and programmes that work in the international arena.

Some volunteers deliver frontline services in developing countries (such as teaching, environmental conservation and health care) while many others work in a vital support capacity in developing countries (awareness raising, campaigning, administering) – fundraising in Christchurch is just as vital as feeding street children in South Africa.

For more information of Africa and the issues that surround the continent, check out these websites:

G8 Britain will be president of G8 and is making Africa one of it's top priorities.

The Rough Guide to a Better World is produced by the Rough Guide series in conjunction with the British Department for International Development.

Foreign Office. The British Foreign Office gives information on what it is aims are in Africa and links to other Government websites

The Commission for Africa Will soon contain resources for children to use for school for projects.

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