Poverty and Development in Africa

Africa, a continent endowed with immense natural and human resources as well as great cultural, ecological and economic diversity, remains underdeveloped. Most African nations suffer from military dictatorships, corruption, civil unrest and war, underdevelopment and deep poverty. The majority of the countries classified by the UN as least developed are in Africa. Numerous development strategies have failed to yield the expected results. Although some believe that the continent is doomed to perpetual poverty and economic slavery, Africa has immense potential.

Time Line!

THE CHALLENGE

Every year, more than half a million mothers die from complications during child birth and 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday. The vast majority of maternal and child deaths occur in the world's poorest countries. Diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and measles, which are no longer burdens in rich countries, are still the leading cause of child death worldwide. Women in sub-Saharan Africa have a one in 26 chance of dying in childbirth, compared to only one in 4,800 for women in the United States. Weak health systems are one of the biggest reasons behind this enormous gap. A lack of health care workers, clinics and equipment means many women and children don't have access to basic health services including immunizations and care for expectant mothers.

Send Donations 2:

So many individuals have been questioning where to send there donations well here it is:
PO BOX 310655 Atlanta, GA 31131-0655

Again thank you for all your support!
~Walking The Roads

We Need More shoes People...

What We're All About!

It has been brought to my attention that so many individuals LOVE the concept of my project, but are not clear on what it is I'm doing! Below you will find a briefing on what Walking The Roads is all about:

Walking The Roads For Africa is structured towards supplying individuals of poverty within the continent of Africa with a long-term sustainability of shoes. The project starts April 2009 and will continue until we as an organization have met all goals.

C. Hamilton
Executive Director

Ending Africa’s Poverty Trap

Africa’s development crisis is unique. Not only is Africa the poorest region in the world, but it was also the only major developing region with negative growth in income per capita during 1980–2000 (table 1). Some African countries grew during the 1990s, but for the most part this growth recovered ground lost during the 1980s. Moreover, Africa’s health conditions are by far the worst on the planet. The AIDS pandemic is wreaking havoc, as is the resurgence of malaria due to rising drug resistance and the lack of effective public health systems. Africa’s population continues to soar, adding ecological stresses to the economic strains. Policy-based development lending to Africa over the past twenty years, known as structural adjustment lending, did not solve the problem. A heavy debt burden is evidenced by the 155 Paris Club restructurings of African countries’ debt between 1980 and 2001, much more than for any other region. In general, Africa remains mired in poverty and debt...

By: JEFFREY D. SACHS
Columbia University and UN Millennium Project