4 news September 21 2011 - Over the Edge UNBC STUDENTS CAN VOLUNTEER ABROAD International Student Volunteers is recruifing possible volunteers on campus HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR travel anywhere form two weeks to up to three months The volunteering projects are based in either social community development or conservation. Projects range from improving the quality of impoverished villages, building houses for refugees, teaching English, working with endangered species, ecosystem rehabilitation, and environmental education. The last two weeks are geared toward adventure and cultural experience within the host country. The adventure tour involves activities such as white water rafting, glacier climbing, waterfall rappelling, scuba diving, jungle kayaking among others. Haley Kaffanke, International Student Volunteers Student Rep, participated in the Program in May 2010 on a trip to New Zealand. “One of the best parts of taking part in one of these programs is that you are one of about 50 people in your group of students who decided that they wanted to make a difference,” says Kaffanke. “You travel with a bunch of strangers, and you make great friends from it. The teamwork pulls you together and it’s just such a satisfying experience, realizing that people from across Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia have come together for this shared purpose. It’s pretty amazing. It was without a doubt the best experience of my life. I learned so much and had a blast learning about New Zealand while also travelling and having crazy adventures around the country.” ISV’s mission is to “combine education, conservation and recreation into the most incredible experience of a lifetime, while giving back to the local communities in the countries which we are travelling.” International Student Volunteersheld an information session on both Monday and Tuesday of this week in the Wintergarden for those students interested in the program. If you were not able to attend you can always access further information can also be found at www.isvonline.org. PHOTO COURTESY OF ISV International Student Volunteers is a non-profit organization which sends around 4000 students every year overseas to do volunteer work, lasting a minimum of two weeks long. Volunteers have the option to return home at the end of the volunteer period or continue with a two week long adventure tour. The organization offers packages in Australia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, South Africa, or Thailand. The standard program lasts for 1 month, but students can FAMINE IN THE AFRICA Thousands of people suffering in Horn of Africa HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR a There is famine in the Horn of Africa. The region of Africa has suffered from droughts so severe that the United Nations has declared famine zones for the first time in over a decade. They have also dubbed the famine “the worst hunger emergency in a generation.” The World Food program estimates that 11.5 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Uganda urgently need food and medical supplies and over 13 million have been affected by drought and food shortages. The famine in Southern Somalia has spread to five of the country’s regions. It has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Somali people. The UN _ began _airlifting supplies to Southern Somalia in an attempt to reach a fraction of the 2.2 million Somalis whom aid workers have not been able to reach. The drought in the regions has been exacerbated by war and spiralling food prices. Around 40% of the 160 million people living in the horn of Africa live in areas where food shortages are common. This is because food production in the areas has not always kept up with the growth of the population and many farmers do not have the appropriate machinery or fertilizers to meet the demand. These factors combined with a stubborn drought means that thousands maybe millions of people will not get the appropriate amount of nutrition to sustain life. The Canadian government had contributed around $22 million in assistance to the region throughout the year. However, during a_ visit to the affected regions Canadian International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda announced Canada would give at least $50 million more to agencies working in East Africa. The Canadian government will match every dollar donated to Canadian charitable organizations until September 16. Famine this extensive cannot be fixed with an airlift, or even a few dozen airlifts. Aid organizations are worried that overtime donations will begin to plateau or decline as aiding the situation will take time. The UN says it needs $300 million in the next two months too prevent the spreading of the famine to all eight regions of southern Somalia. Another $1.6 billion is needed to sustain “essential programs.” 130 00 people have left Somalia for crowded refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. Somali-Canadian — musician K’Naan, most known for his song “Wavin’ Flag” is tirelessly trying to raise awareness about the famine. K’ Naan says he has a duty to draw attention to the famine. “I have always been someone who is an advocate for the Somali people.” However, K’ Naan acknowledges the problems of aid dependency which can hinder a nations ability to develop its own disaster- preventing infrastructures. “I invision a new reality of Somali people taking responsibility for their own people,” says the singer optimistically. “We are looking at what has brought us to our knees and we are vowing to never go there again. We will not be victims anymore. We will change our own destiny.” The Canadian Red Cross and countless other charities will continue to be accepting donations on behalf of humanitarian efforts in the famine stricken regions. ee TY pa 44 ‘ Did You Know?» nb clubs can advertise for free in over