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| Former President Bill Clinton worked a crowd of rural villagers as he visited Neno, Malawi, last month. It was his second
stop on a whirlwind, week-long trip to Africa. Win Macnamee/Getty Images for the Clinton Foundation |
Star power brings attention to Africa
Money soon follows, but do the A-listers understand the issues?
from the August 22, 2007 edition
Page 4 of 4
The only thing not moving quickly at the moment, Farmer would agree, is Clinton himself. He’s stuck at the Johannesburg airport, where one of the swanky private jets has come down with engine trouble. The heat rises and the day drags on. A group of women in sarongs emblazoned with pictures of the Malawian president have been chanting “Welcome to our Village” for seven hours now.
And then, finally, just as one of the singers swoons and the ABC news crew finishes shooting more footage of rural Malawi than the network will need in a century, the 42nd president of the United States arrives. Sand flies everywhere as his helicopter touches down.
Clinton emerges as a whirling dervish of enthusiasm. He talks harvest details with the farmers, his mouth permanently puckered into an intrigued and encouraging “Ooo,” as the intricacies of transporting wheat to the capital are translated from Chichewa. He zooms along waving in his Land Rover motorcade, his eyes crinkling in delight. He hugs his friends Farmer and Hunter. He stops by a construction site and high-fives the workers, gives a quick press conference to the local press, and is off again, sand flying everywhere as the helicopter rises.
Magombo still does not know what Clinton looks like. “He was a bit far away, unfortunately,” explains the farmer as he prepares to walk six kilometers home. But, it has been a “very interesting day,” he confirms. “This visit is precious. We are so appreciative of Mr. President’s attention and for his financial assistance,” he says. “We are just poor farmers, and so we are so grateful.”
An A-list of Africa relief groups (and their stars)
The American Institute of Philanthrophy (AIP) grades charities based on such benchmarks as how much money is spent on programs versus administration and fundraising activities. AIP's Charitywatch.org evaluation criteria and where in Africa each group has relief efforts, can be found at www.charity watch.org/hottopics/africa_crises.html. The Monitor researched which aid groups had celebrity supporters.
AMERICAN RED CROSS A+
A 50-member Celebrity Cabinet includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Jackie Chan, Zach Braff, and Peyton Manning.
AMERICAN REFUGEE COMMITTEE A+
Actor John Cusack.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES A+
Actress Christine Baranski.
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER - USA A
Doesn't currently have celebrity promoters.
AFRICARE A
Doesn't currently have celebrity promoters.
CARE A
Ambassadors include model Christy Turlington Burns and actors Sarah Michelle Gellar and Meg Ryan.
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE A
Took George Clooney and his father to refugee camps in Chad and Sudan. The cast of the movie "Oceans 13" has done fundraising efforts.
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF A
Doesn't currently have celebrity promoters.
MERCY CORPS A
Musicians Michael Stipe, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, will.i.am and Joseph Arthur teamed up to create a CD benefiting Mercy Corps. Money helped hurricane Katrina victims. Currently seeking celebrities for Africa programs.
SAVE THE CHILDREN A
Works with more than a dozen celebrities, including Jamie Lee Curtis, singer David Bowie, model Iman Majid, Melanie Griffith, and Antonio Banderas.
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE A–
Tim Janis (wrote "Children of the World"), performs concerts to benefit CWS School Safe Zone project.
OXFAM-AMERICA B+
It has 13 "ambassadors," including Desmond Tutu, the rock band Coldplay, and actors Kristin Davis, Colin Firth, and Scarlett Johannsson.
AMERICARES B
Doesn't currently have celebrity promoters.
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