Generation Change

Project runway in Buenos Aires

mueserk — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:30:38 +0000

Many young women in the shantytowns of Buenos Aires struggle with drug abuse or unwanted pregnancy. Learning to walk with self-confidence can change that, says Guido Fuentes. So he opened a modeling school.

Listen to the report by Eilis O’Neill in Buenos Aires:

Project Runway in Buenos Aires

Learning to walk with confidence (Photo: Fotolia/Peter Atkins)

Morocco’s street circus for the people

mueserk — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:56:00 +0000

A four-meter tall camel made of old flour and potato bags – that’s not something you see every day. It’s part of a street festival in rural Morocco with drums, acrobats and larger-than-life puppets, like the camel. The festival plays on local traditions and pays tribute to the region’s cultural heritage. But it also integrates young people from the area without many opportunities: school dropouts, unemployed, orphans. The guy behind it all is 22-year-old Azeddine Aabar.

Listen to the report by Elizabeth Grenier in Tahanahoute, Morocco:

Morocco’s street circus for the people

Azeddine, 22, has been involved in several grassroots social projects to promote political participation and democratization (Photo: E. Grenier)

The puppets used by the Eclats de lune circus collective are larger than life (Photo: E. Grenier)

The camel is a highlight at the Awaln’art street festival (Photo: E. Grenier)

The puppets at the Awaln’art street festival bear the traditional features of the people living in the mountainous region around Marrakesh (Photo: E. Grenier)

Both performers and spectators are proud of their local roots (Photo: E. Grenier)

The street festival integrates school drop out, unemployed youths and orphans (Photo: E. Grenier)

Opening hearts for epileptics in Ireland

mueserk — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:47:26 +0000

In Dublin, Rachel Ashe was shocked when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. First by the fact that she would have to take medication for the rest of her life, but also by all the prejudice and ignorance about the disease that she encountered. So, she decided to set up her own support network – Epilepsy Ireland – and now she spends much of her time helping others with epilepsy and raising awareness about the illness that affects some 30 to 40 thousand people in Ireland. One of them is reporter Eoin Kernen, who brings us this week’s Generation Change report from Dublin.

Listen to Eoin Kernen’s report from Dublin:

Opening hearts for epileptics in Ireland

Rachel Ashe has exceded her own expectations (Copyright: R. Ashe)

More about Epilepsy Ireland on their website and their Facebook page.

Rwandan refugee fights for education equality

mueserk — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:21:03 +0000

From official documents to funding and red tape, refugees in South Africa face numerous hurdles when it comes to attending a university. But Alice Wamundiya, originally from Rwanda, is committed to helping her fellow refugees get an education. She is a founding member and chairwoman of an organization called UTRS – Unity for Tertiary Refugee Students.

Listen to the report by Kim Chakanetsa in Cape Town:

Rwandan refugee fights for education equality

Alice’s father helped give her an appreciation for education (Photo: K. Chakanetsa)

Alice chairing a meeting of the UTRS committee (Photo: K. Chakanetsa)

Fritz Ako Agbor is nearly done with his studies – in part thanks to Alice (Photo: K. Chakanetsa)

Reggae tunes against bribes

mueserk — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:18:50 +0000

Cameroon’s up-and-coming reggae star, Silver, is dedicated to fighting corruption in his country. The 29-year-old uses his music to publicly criticize corrupt politicians and raise awareness for the problem.

Silver started his musical career in 2001 and his debut album, entitled “Reggae Business,” became an instant hit because he addressed issues that affected people: not just corruption, but also HIV/AIDS, war, and Cameroon’s brain drain.

Listen to the report by Ngala Killian Chimtom in Yaoundé, Cameroon:

Reggae tunes against bribes

The empowerment plan

mueserk — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:36:35 +0000

With her multi-functional coat, design student Veronika Scott is helping the city’s homeless in ways she never dreamed possible. She devised the “The Empowerment Plan,” a project providing employment, financial independence and hope for the community’s vulnerable.

Listen to the report by Nadine Wojcik in Detroit:

GCDetroit

Veronika has had to rethink her approach to design

Working with Veronika has helped Anis turn her life around

With her new job, Alisha can now pay her rent and care for her sons

: Veronika employs six women in her workshop

Find out more the Empowerment Plan website

Skiing with heroes

mueserk — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:46:38 +0000

Some are missing a limb, while others suffer from depression. Learning to ski gives wounded war vets a chance to feel alive, reach new goals, and have fun. Ski enthusiast Ella, 22, is there to help them down the slope.

Listen to the report by Michael Hartlep in Klosters, Switzerland:

Skiing with heroes

Ella combines her hobby with her passion for helping others (Copyright: Gilly Norton)

Some of the veterans use special equipment on the piste (Copyright: Gilly Norton)

Some of the veterans suffer from visible injuries, some from phsychological (Copyright: Gilly Norton)

The buddies assist the ski coaches (Copyright: Gilly Norton)

UK mentor brightens dying child’s world

mueserk — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:14:25 +0000

What’s it like to know you’re going to die soon? If you’re 10 years old and terminally ill, what you probably need the most is a good friend. Shlomie, a youth orthodox Jew from northern England, is like a big brother to a terminally ill boy. Sharing the gift of quality time, says Shlomie, is a small sacrifice that makes him feel on top of the world.

Listen to the report by Andrew Edwards in Manchester:

UK mentor brightens dying child’s world

Shlomie Abenson wouldn’t miss his volunteer work for the world

Somali refugee combats extremism with hiphop

mueserk — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:57:08 +0000

Islamist militants fighting in Somalia are trying hard to recruit young Somalis. But a young refugee, Shiine Ali, is determined to turn his peers away from Islamic extremism – with his hiphop music.

Listen to the report by Zoe Flood in Eastleigh, Kenya:

Somali refugee combats extremism with hiphop

Sometimes a song can do more than entertain

Cape Town artist beautifies local quarter

mueserk — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:32:01 +0000

The Woodstock neighborhood in Cape Town was once a thriving industrial area, but as the factories closed down it became more known for crime, gangs and drugs. Now the area is changing once again – this time for the better. Responsible for some of the more colorful changes is a young artist known as FreddySam who is working to uplift the area one mural at a time.

Listen to the report by Kim Chakanetsa in Cape Town:

Cape Town artist beautifies local quarter

RickyLee Gordon aka FreddySam in his studio at A Word of Art (Photo: Kim Chakanetsa)

Gamiet Karriem assists with the art tour and has lived in Woodstock for 34 years (Photo: Kim Chakanetsa)

FreddySam painted this mural for a woman who has lived in this house for nearly nine decades – and may be forced out soon (Photo: Kim Chakanetsa)

FreddySam’s large-scale murals leave behind a strong impression (Photo: Ricky Lee)

FreddySam wants to change his neighborhood’s image (Photo: Ricky Lee)

FreddySam has a knack for details (Photo: Ricky Lee)