Research for Week of March 3

Friends - Long time no write. I know you all have been keeping busy with your various research projects. Here's what I need next when you are done...

Church & Orphan Care Focus: Find research papers that argue that local churches are effective care providers in AIDS orphan care specifically in Africa. I've found some really good research on the web, but I'm looking for more. Michigan State has a good website for Africa, as well as Johns Hopkins & Harvard. Google, Wiki, and grounds like UNAIDS are great places to also explore. Specifically, I'm looking for arguments that support the assertion that churches deliver the most effective care because of their existing network and local knowledge of communities.

In contrast, I'm also looking for research that points out why local churches are NOT effective care providers in AIDS orphan care specifically in Africa. The most common arguments are ineffective business managers; they care more about spiritual and neglect spiritual; and church structure breeds power struggles in Africa.

Vague task, but I'm looking for a collection of resources on the topic because I'm being asked to talk on college campuses more. I'd like to find scholarly papers that address these issues. World Vision & Geneva Global may also be helpful places to check out.

Thanks! Let me know what you can find.

Thanks! THANKS! THANKS!

Also - I won't be posting March 10 unless something pressing comes up. I'll be traveling back from Nashville, TN that morning so I won't have much access to the web. THANKS! Take the week off. :) Nice of me eh?

Week of Feb 11

Friends - this is just a repeat of last week. Kathy is doing #1, but I still need #2 if someone is willing. Thanks for all your help!

-Ryan
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I need someone to take on the following tasks:

1) Research verses in the Bible that discuss caring for widows & orphans and organize them as a resource I can upload for people to download. I envision this looking like a reference that has 2 parts: 1) Verse references that are separated by caring for widows & orphans; widows; orphans; 2) Rather than just list verse reference: list the actual verse and reference. Then try to organize this information into a new document: Landscape, 2 columns.

2) I'd like someone to take on the same task, but look at 3 major religions and their references to widows and orphans. Islam, Judaism, Buddhism. Don't look for catchy sayings, but references from their holy books (Qur'an for example from Islam). Wiki has a reference to Major US religions that may be a helpful starting point.

Thanks all! Your help with all of this is saving me SOO much time, allowing me to focus on other things! THANK YOU! Sincerely. You are really helping us make a larger, more informed difference.

-Ryan

Week of Feb 4

I need someone to take on the following tasks:

1) Research verses in the Bible that discuss caring for widows & orphans and organize them as a resource I can upload for people to download. I envision this looking like a reference that has 2 parts: 1) Verse references that are separated by caring for widows & orphans; widows; orphans; 2) Rather than just list verse reference: list the actual verse and reference. Then try to organize this information into a new document: Landscape, 2 columns.

2) I'd like someone to take on the same task, but look at 3 major religions and their references to widows and orphans. Islam, Judaism, Buddhism. Don't look for catchy sayings, but references from their holy books (Qur'an for example from Islam). Wiki has a reference to Major US religions that may be a helpful starting point.

Thanks all! Your help with all of this is saving me SOO much time, allowing me to focus on other things! THANK YOU! Sincerely. You are really helping us make a larger, more informed difference.

-Ryan

Week of January 27th

Friends - Long time no talk. I hope you all are well.

I have 2 time sensitive issues and 1 more generic.

1) Research ACTEA: Accrediting Council for Theological Education in
Africa (ACTEA. Forgotten Voices is exploring ways to partner with this group for expansion across southern Africa. Therefore, try to find the following information:
a) General info on ACTEA, including overview of mission, key contacts, contact information, locations of ACTEA members (focus on southern Africa and Uganda, if a member)
b) Any mention of HIV/AIDS programming within their website
c) Do a quick search to find opinions of ACTEA - pro or con on the web. You most likely won't find anything like this, but you never know. :)

As an FYI - I know the President of ACTEA, Joe Simfuekwe, Principal at TCCA in Ndola, Zambia. So don't feel too much pressure to find things. Anything is helpful.

2) Research the Uganda Christian University in more depth. Briana did this initial research - info below. But I'm looking for additional information.
a) Who are their partners in the USA? They are part of the CCCU network, but which American schools have programs with this Ugandan university?
b) More importantly, any information about AIDS programming?

Here is Briana's research:
Uganda Christian University
http://www.ucu.ac.ug/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
-- UCU is one of the oldest and most respected schools of Theology in South Africa. They may be a good resource for funding and collaboration on major projects. Their ties with universities in the United States as well as the main body of the Church of Uganda likely will contribute to a fruitful relationship, and may be a source for capacity building in the first stages of FVI development in Uganda. --
Uganda Christian University is located 23 kilometres from Kampala, in Mukono town, on the the main road to Jinja. It is a private university, chartered and fully accredited by the President of the Republic of Uganda, through the Ministry of Higher Education and Sports, and the National Council for Higher Education.
UCU is owned by the Province of the Church of Uganda, and has campuses in Eastern, Western and Northern Uganda.

The University was born out of Bishop Tucker Theological College. The college was founded in 1913 in response to a growing need for pastors in the Church.

Uganda Christian University has all the necessities for an excellent education. It is recognised internationally and nationally. The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda is Chancellor, and the Rt. Rev. Dr George Carey is our Patron.

Uganda Christian University is the first African affiliate member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities in the United States, and a member of the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion.
Motto
Alpha and Omega: God the Beginning and the End
Vision
A Centre of Excellence in the Heart of Africa
Mission
Uganda Christian University is dedicated, through teaching, scholarship, service, spiritual formation, student development and social involvement, to preparing students for thoughtful, productive lives of Christian faith and service in their respective professions and places.

Finally - More generic: Research websites that highlight the good things about Africa. I'm sure there are websites dedicated to painting a happier portrait of Africa. I'm looking for web resources and stats/stories that highlight the good things about Africa in a fun way. Perhaps some trivia game? Or picture gallery or somethign else. Basically - I want to link later this month to online resources to help people see hope in Africa - they could be of animals, natural resources, great stories from Africa, etc. I'm not sure what I'm looking for, other than an online resource for Americans to learn more about what makes Africa great and not a black hole of problems. I'd like to blog about this in mid/late February and include your collection of links. Please categorize them based on the kind of info about Africa: Animals, Business, General Info, Fun Facts, Art, etc. so I can easily cut and paste.

Thanks! As always, feel free to contact me. I'm around all week and not going anywhere.

Topics for Week of Jan 14

Sorry for the delay. Was in NYC and DC these past 5 days.

I don't have research needs this week, as I need to read all your work over the past 3 weeks. Thank you all for the good work you've done!

I'll post more on Monday.

Have a good week off!

-Ryan

Topics for Week of Jan 7

The only additional topic I am looking for research on this week is the following:

1) Explore the ministry SIM and identify HIV/AIDS programming occurring in southern Africa. Particularly, I'm looking for information on projects (if any) in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawai, Swaziland and South Africa.

Those in bold are the most important to focus on, if you need to for time reasons.

For context, I am going to South Africa in February to meet with HIV/AIDS officers at SIM to discuss partnerships. They are one of many meetings while I'm there and I need to know what they are doing and where.

Thanks, all!

-Ryan

Topics for Week of Dec 17

General Development Issues:
- Study Title 1, 2, 3 Food Assistance programs within USAID; Provide information on what defines each type
- ARV Supply organizations in southern Africa; Describe programs and disbursement by country - making special note of Zambia or Zimbabwe oriented programs or assistance. Most likely should start with Clinton Foundation, Gates Foundation, UN.

ZAMBIA:
- Research famous people, with special attention to women, from Zambia's history; in 2008, i'd like to have a section of famous personalities within each country that we serve
- IMF Debt - understand & describe Zambia's current debt and current relationship with IMF

ZIMBABWE:
- Research famous people, with special attention to women, from Zimbabwe's history; in 2008, i'd like to have a section of famous personalities within each country that we serve
- Find photo galleries or movies on the internet about the situation in Zimbabwe; make sure to document where you found them so we can link

Thanks! As always, please let me know if you have any questions: RKeith@ForgottenVoices.org.