1st draft (5th topic)

The statistics show that America among other developed countries is ranked number one in dollar contribution to Africa. America is separated into two different entities when contributing to Africa, the governmental and the individual people. The government has decreased their aid to Africa over the last few years but a new movement led by willing celebrities has increased awareness to the general public. The African public has many fears to face through HIV/AIDS, poverty, and simple things such as drinkable water but many people have helped continuously with this situation through charitable organizations.
Education in Africa is not accessible for most families. The literacy rate in some places can be as low as 12.8 percent as the statistics show for Burkina, Faso. With this lack of literacy and education this contributes to many factors of poverty. Including high unemployment and lack of resources to provide the essentials for their family. In urban areas fewer than 1 in 5 have electricity while in more rural areas it could be fewer than 1 in 50 without electricity.
Especially women and children have far greater worries than the average American. In Africa the percentage rate of street children is 15-20%. This is a high number due to many parents that died from HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS can be reduced in symptoms by the help of a potentially life saving antiretroviral (ARV) medication. Malaria and yellow fever also have a large impact on the people. To be able to protect one from malaria a mosquito net is a necessity. It protects the body from any infested insects. Though, this all factors in to the average African family not having enough money to pay for their needs.
Despite many hardships the people of Africa have to encounter many celebrities and the people of the United States have helped. Examples include Oprah Winfrey, Doctors Without Borders, The Carter Center, and the UN World Food Program. Oprah Winfrey has just opened a school to educate the young girls of South Africa; she opened it January of 2007. Doctors Without Borders is when health professionals volunteer to provide essential medications to people. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn help refugees go back to their home country through The Carter Center, which was founded in 1982. The UN World Food Program feeds an average of 90 million people in more than 80 countries including works in Africa.
Even though the American government has not contributed recently as much as it has in previous years, there still is a difference being made. This not only includes celebrities but private organizations as well. Hopefully, within the next years awareness among the people will grow to help more people in Africa that are in need.