Did you know that:
• Africa is the world’s second continent in terms of size and population
• 18 of the 20 poorest nations in the world are in Africa
• The EU is the biggest provider of development aid to Africa
• The EU is Africa’s most important trading partner
• EU Aid to Africa will increase by two-thirds from approx. 17 billion € in 2003 to a total of approx. 25 billion €/year in 2010.
This pedagogical guide aims to highlight some of the main issues the EU and other development partners address in Africa. It proposes some lessons and methodologies and highlights the Development Youth Prize’s themes of education, health and environment.
Organising the lessons
Before starting the art work pupils need to get as much information on the chosen theme(s) to really understand the challenges, and what is being done about them. The issues can be quite complex, but a thorough understanding is necessary to be able to create a suitable message.
• Collect information on the theme and discuss them in class. What are the most important issues for your pupils?
• Think of the various factors that cause the problems. Where do the vicious circles begin?
• Think of the work to improve the situation in Africa. What can organisations and individuals in Europe do to help?
• If you make your own suggestions, think of the possible side-effects.
Planning your entry
Aim to create an artwork that is simple, smart and synchronised with its message. Here are some key questions and issues.
• What exactly do you want to highlight? Try to keep a strong focus and avoid being too overambitious.
• How do you arrange the graphical elements?
• Do you opt for symbolic images or a more literal meaning?
• Raise awareness. What does someone gain from seeing your entry?
• The message must be very short. Make sure it’s clear and fits well with the graphical part of your entry.
• Be positive. Aim to highlight not only the challenges but how they are addressed, and the progress that is being made.
• Try to be original. How does your entry stand out?
Health
Africa is afflicted by HIV/AIDS. A high number of people are also dying of preventable and curable diseases. Europe support work addressing the following health issues:
• Disease: notably HIV/AIDS, but also malaria, tuberculosis, Ebola and others. Three out of every four persons who die from AIDS are Africans. Every 30 seconds, an African child dies of malaria.
• Infant and maternal mortality.
• Malnutrition.
• Hunger/starvation.
Environment
Natural resources are the crucial factor in the African economy and provide life-support for most of its people. Many people directly depend on them and are therefore extremely vulnerable to the effect of environmental change. Development work faces big challenges in this area:
• Improving the availability and quality of fresh water. Only 22% of the Ethiopian population has access to safe water.
• Conserving biodiversity. Six of the world’s 25 international biodiversity hotspots are in Africa.
• Halting desertification, which affects 46% of Africa and 485 million of its people.
• Reducing deforestation. Forests cover about 22 % Africa’s surface area, but they are disappearing faster than anywhere else in the developing world.
• Urbanisation. More than three out of every five Africans still live in rural areas, but the rate of migration to towns and cities – 3.8 % a year – is one of the highest in the world.
Links
DG Development
Europe cares
EU Press Pack: Strategy for Africa (EN, FR, DE)
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Project Report 2005
Education
Global Campaign for Education
Action Aid press release on girls in education
Association for the Development of Education in Africa
eLearning Africa
Schoolnet Africa (EN, FR, PT)
Health
UNICEF website about AIDS
Médecins Sans Frontières.: My life with HIV
Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
Environment
United Nations – DEWA Africa
Africa Environment Outlook
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