Save The Children: The Next Generation
24 December 2009
Band Aid Founder and campaigner Midge Ure, and daughter Kitty who’s in Year 11 at Prior Park Catholic College, made an emotional tour to Ethiopia last week.
The trip marked 25 years since Midge’s first journey to bring to light the starvation which held the country in total turmoil. The return with Kitty this time has shown that although there have been significant improvements to infrastructure, people are still starving due to the devastating effects of climate change on the land. The Ure’s, and Save The Children aid workers who accompanied them on the trip are desperate to urge people to act now, warning that the country is at tipping point, and that the aid is needed now before it’s not too late. Midge believes the key is to appeal to a new younger generation of campaigners who will take the fight onwards and felt it was important for Kitty to see the desolation for herself. He said: “It was important for Kitty for understand the level of poverty which you can’t comprehend unless you have been there. The Ethiopians are depending on strangers to come to their rescue - but there is a difference between depending on it, and relying on it. They don’t rely on it, all they want is to be independent.”
As the first Child Ambassador for Save The Children, Kitty is committed to raising awareness of the plight in Ethiopia. Kitty said that obviously Band Aid has always been a huge part of their lives, but seeing the starvation first hand was shocking. Kitty said: “I didn’t realise that the effects of climate change are directly impacting on peoples’ lives now, not just affecting the environment.”
Climate change is the main reason the country is in the grip of drought, causing repeated crop failures. Whilst away, the Ure’s visited feeding camps and a clinic for malnourished babies, who were all presenting the worst levels of malnutrition. Just 50 pence would feed a child for three days.
The Ethiopian government have asked for food aid for 6.5 million people and Save The Children need to generate £20 million to fix the existing water pumps within the villages. Kitty will be working closely with peers and staff at Prior Park on fundraising campaigns.
Band Aid Founder and campaigner Midge Ure, and daughter Kitty who’s in Year 11 at Prior Park Catholic College, made an emotional tour to Ethiopia last week.
The trip marked 25 years since Midge’s first journey to bring to light the starvation which held the country in total turmoil. The return with Kitty this time has shown that although there have been significant improvements to infrastructure, people are still starving due to the devastating effects of climate change on the land. The Ure’s, and Save The Children aid workers who accompanied them on the trip are desperate to urge people to act now, warning that the country is at tipping point, and that the aid is needed now before it’s not too late. Midge believes the key is to appeal to a new younger generation of campaigners who will take the fight onwards and felt it was important for Kitty to see the desolation for herself. He said: “It was important for Kitty for understand the level of poverty which you can’t comprehend unless you have been there. The Ethiopians are depending on strangers to come to their rescue - but there is a difference between depending on it, and relying on it. They don’t rely on it, all they want is to be independent.”
As the first Child Ambassador for Save The Children, Kitty is committed to raising awareness of the plight in Ethiopia. Kitty said that obviously Band Aid has always been a huge part of their lives, but seeing the starvation first hand was shocking. Kitty said: “I didn’t realise that the effects of climate change are directly impacting on peoples’ lives now, not just affecting the environment.”
Climate change is the main reason the country is in the grip of drought, causing repeated crop failures. Whilst away, the Ure’s visited feeding camps and a clinic for malnourished babies, who were all presenting the worst levels of malnutrition. Just 50 pence would feed a child for three days.
The Ethiopian government have asked for food aid for 6.5 million people and Save The Children need to generate £20 million to fix the existing water pumps within the villages. Kitty will be working closely with peers and staff at Prior Park on fundraising campaigns.
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