Introducing myself and my journal: Zimkids: Building the Future of Orphan Girls
by elinorburkett | October 25, 2012 at 12:25 PM
About Me:
I'm an American journalist, Oscar-winning filmmaker and rabble rouser determined to leave the world a better place than I found it. At the age of 66, I look back on a life filled with work in the civil rights movement, union movement and feminism. Now living half the year in Africa, I'm working to make a difference for young woman who have too few options.
My Passions:
Changing the world
My Challenges:
The people who don't want to change the world
My Vision for the Future:
Equality and justice
My Areas of Expertise:
Journalism
Comments
Elinor!
Welcome! What a lovely powerful name for such a lovely powerful woman. I would love to read more about your work in Zimbabwe and definitely plan to check out your links.
My best friend is in Zimbabwe and has been having struggles because of the patriarchy and misogyny that is there (and throughout the world, but she happens to be there).
What made you choose Zimbabwe? What work specifically do you do?
Welcome, and love,
Sharese
I went to Zimbabwe first in
I went to Zimbabwe first in 2005 as a Fulbright Professor, to teach journalism at the National University of Science and Technology and stayed on there was Professor in the Department of Journalism. When things became impossible at the university during the worst of inflationary times, I resigned. But by then, my husband and I had deep roots in the country. I made two films, a short and long version on the same topic, for which I won an Oscar. And we run a fantastic orphan center which you should check out - www.zimkidsorphantrust. org.
Where's your friend and what does she do?
Oh, by the way: We're finalists in a competition sponsored by Nike for a big grant for a training program for orphan girls. We need 1000 people to each donate as little as $10 over the next month. Can you spread the word, especially among people who care about Zimbabwe and the future of its girls? I put a post as a need on World Pulse, but the link for the project is http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/building-girls-futures/
Any help would be really appreciated since we're intent on giving these girls independent futures!