Sadly a lack of motivation has kept me from blogging for a while – and unfortunately this is the first time I’ve slipped from my one post a week endeavour since I started this blog in May! I’m determined to get back on the blogging bandwagon though – so hello to all my readers and please accept my sincere apology for my absence! To get back into the swing of things I thought I’d write something about Anti-Poverty Week which officially kicked off today! I intend to write a blog about a different topic every day to celebrate this week (if all goes to plan and I’m not consumed by my uni work first!)
Topics I hope to write about include:
Monday – Volunteering Overseas –Why solving poverty is 
the new holiday
Tuesday – Child Health Now – The importance of focusing on child and maternal health in the developing world
Wednesday – Human Rights – The role of Amnesty International and other orgs in our 21st Century
Thursday – Call + Response – Modern-day slavery and trafficking: what is it, and what should we do?
Friday – Top 5 Youth Organisations to get involved with – why Gen Y is the answer to poverty eradication.
Tonight however, serves as a brief introduction to the week and highlights some worthwhile events in Sydney to attend over the next five days
Anti-Poverty Week began in 2002, as an expansion of the UN’s International Anti-Poverty Day (October 17). The week seeks to:
- strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia;
- encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
Since its formation, the week has grown from 4 events in 2002 to just over 400 registered events in 2009! Events have ranged from seminars, panels, fair trade afternoon teas, art exhibitions, film screenings and fashion shows. 2010 is set to be even bigger, with hundreds of events registered across the country.
The list of events in Sydney, or any other Australian state and city is available here.
I will be attending a few events across the week that I would encourage you to get along to if you’re in the area and free!
Tuesday 19th October
Anti-Poverty Q&A Panel at UNSW
1.30-3pm in Central Lecture Building 1 – UNSW Kensington Campus
Representatives from a variety of organisations will be present to answer questions about the aid and development field as well as volunteering abroad. Groups such as The Global Poverty Project and Australian Youth for Development (AYAD) will be there, and I will be on the panel representing The Oaktree Foundation! I’d love you to come and grill me or just come for a chat if you’re free 🙂
One Just World Forum
6.45 pm at Seymour Theatre, University of Sydney
Join Tim Costello, Marie Bashir, Rebecca Gibney and other professionals as they discuss Child Health Now – the importance of focusing on child and maternal health in the developing world. These forums run by World Vision and the International Women’s Development Agency are fantastic and always leave much food for thought! I can’t wait for this event and would love to see you there!
Thursday 21st October
Screening of Call + Response
7pm at Theatre Lounge, University of Technology Sydney (Building 1, Broadway)
Join the Vision Generation society at UTS as we present ‘Call+Response’, a rockumentary featuring Moby,
Natasha Beddingfield and Switchfoot as they talk about modern day slavery and trafficking and encourage a movement of call and response to this world wide issue.
This is sure to be a fantastic event and will give you opportunities to respond to the film through a photograph petition after the screening.
For more details about any of the above events or the week in general, feel free to email me.
caitlinramrakha.com 
