May 8th, 2009 | by Bob Ferguson
Not long ago I managed to record a quick–and badly lit–video interview with Chad Stokes (from the band State Radio) and Sybil Gallagher (from State Radio’s organization Calling All Crows) backstage before their sold-out show at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom.
In this three-minute clip, Chad and Sybil talk about how State Radio is supporting Oxfam America’s work distributing stoves to poor families, especially women, in Darfur, Sudan, and how you can get involved:
Why is Oxfam distributing stoves in Darfur? Designed with the input of local women, the different models of fuel-efficient stoves can increase security for women and girls in this conflict-affected region; dramatically reduce the cost of purchasing fuel for poor families; or cut the time that women spend preparing meals, giving them more opportunities to earn a decent income outside the home.
Read the rest of this entry »
March 5th, 2009 | by Anna Kramer
Photo: Eva-Lotta Jansson / Oxfam America
Like many of you, we’re all closely following the news about the situation in Sudan today. You may already know that the Sudanese government has revoked the operating license of Oxfam Great Britain. Together, aid groups have been providing life-saving assistance to some of the 2.7 million people displaced in the region.
Among those 2.7 million are the girls in the photo above, which was taken in April 2007 in Kebkabiya, North Sudan. Though the land is dry, the tens of thousands of people in and around Kebkabiya–many of whom have fled here for safety since the crisis erupted in Darfur–have access to clean water. Thanks to humanitarian efforts, Oxfam helped the town to build a water system–its first ever.
Read the rest of this entry »
February 13th, 2009 | by Coco McCabe
Dabo Huka sits with her daughter, Tume. Photo by Sarah Livingston/Oxfam America
A news story earlier this month reported that women in the US may be about to reach a turning point, thanks to the recession. For the first time in history, more of them will be employed than men. But it’s not because women are suddenly flocking to the job market and landing fabulous opportunities. It’s that men are getting laid off in great numbers—while women hold onto the lower-paying jobs they’ve always had.
When I read that story I thought ah, how like the rest of the world the mighty US is becoming. Here, as in many developing countries I’ve visited with Oxfam, women are shouldering the burden of keeping their families together—both financially and domestically. More than a handful of women I know, myself included, have become the chief bread winners in our households. Read the rest of this entry »
Recent Comments