Welcome Jessica Loiacono
January 17, 2012
Please join the Board of Directors in welcoming Jessica Loiacono as the new Project Manager of Link Community Development USA (LCD USA). Jessica will be responsible for the day to day running of our Chicago office, working with the Board as well as with our eight international affiliates.Jessica received the Illinois International Undergraduate Achievement Award for her active involvement with post-conflict reconstruction in Uganda through the Illinois chapter of Invisible Conflicts, a student organization dedicated to exposing conflicts neglected by most western media and governments. Jessica spent extensive time in northern Uganda working with a community reconstruction organization called Peace Together Uganda (PTU) and helped acquire a USAID grant for the construction of a pig farm to improve PTU's sustainability.
Jessica is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she received Highest Distinction for her research on the efficacy of microfinance while studying in Senegal.
Welcome Jessica.
We would like to thank Judd Holzman for his leadership and service to LCD USA over the last 5 years. Judd has taken up a new position with another nonprofit organization. We wish Judd all the very best in his new position and we look forward to his continued involvement with Link USA as a volunteer.
World Aids Day 2011
December 1, 2011
Link Community Development greets World Aids Day on December 1 with both celebration for what has been accomplished, as well as hope and commitment to continuing to work to save lives. In the last decade, the global community has made great strides against HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS reports that in 2010, AIDS deaths declined to 1.8 million from 2.1 million in 2004. However, since 2007 the number of new infections worldwide has plateaued at 2.7 million- 70% of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Link recognizes that there is still much to be done in the fight against HIV/AIDS and takes an active role in this struggle. For example:
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n South Africa, Link is implementing the Peer Education Care and Support Program (PECSP) to 141 schools. This innovative program trains 2532 parents of Peer Educators, 492 Life Orientation Educators and 88 District Officials. This program is funded by USAID. - In Ethiopia, Link has held numerous teacher workshops to facilitate better understanding of the disease and learning on how to better educate and support students.
- In Uganda, Link assists schools in administering the new National Policy Guidelines on HIV/AIDS in Your School; thus helping schools to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for HIV-positive teachers and students.
Wishing Nelson Mandela a happy birthday from Link
Link Teachers Meet Nelson Mandela
August 2011
Nine Irish teachers volunteering with the Link Global Teachers Program in South Africa met Nelson Mandela in his family's home this month. The meeting was organized by Mandla Zwelivelile, Nelson Mandela's grandson, as a celebration of the end of the teachers' 5 weeks volunteering in schools in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It was a true honor to meet Mandela, one of the world's most respected global leaders. According to Global Teacher Lisa Barrins, "Meeting Nelson Mandela was like a dream. The Mandelas were unbelievably generous with their time."
Link's Global Teachers Program offers teachers the chance to undertake a volunteer placement in an African school during their summer vacation, where they share skills and experience with their African counterparts. Teacher then use their experiences to teach about Africa and raise awareness of development issues in their own schools and communities. Link has been working with the government of South Africa since 1989 to improve the quality of public education throughout the country. Link currently works with over 500 schools across South Africa: improving education quality, increasing HIV/AIDS prevention, and equipping schools with solar technology and internet.
2nd Annual Link USA Benefit a Great Success!
May 14, 2011
Over 130 people attended our 2nd Annual Benefit on May 14th at Gruen Galleries in Chicago's River North Art District. Mofindu African Drum and Dance Company delivered an incredible dance performance. Anni Subar and Sabrina Zionts, students at Highland Park High School, spoke about their school's experience partnering with Kongo High School in Ghana, saying, "We are living examples of the power of Link. It has strengthened our relationships with students in Ghana and has enriched our educational experience." A video of their speech can be found here.
Special thanks to Ambassador Nomvume Pearl Magaqa, Consul General of South Africa in Chicago, for serving as our Honorary Benefit Chair. Also, special thanks to Shrine Haberdashery for serving as our Corporate Sponsor.
Click here to view pictures from the Benefit!
Solar Connect Expanding to More Rural Schools
April 2010
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After the successful pilot of our Solar Connect program in Mulanje, Malawi and in South Africa's Eastern Cape, we are expanding the project to connect even more schools. This April we begin installations in a second South African province -Limpopo- and in Ashanti, Ghana. Both areas are home to some of the most rural and inaccessible schools that we work with.
Solar Connect provides each school with solar power, computers and connection to the internet. The program also offers training and support to help schools make full use of their new equipment. Access to the internet improves communication, reducing the need for travel and keeping teachers in class, and offers a wealth of resources to improve the quality of teaching children receive. Click here for more information about the program and to see a video of our progress so far.
1st Annual Benefit a Great Success
April 24, 2010
Our 1st Annual Benefit on April 24th was a great success. Over 180 people attended the event at Gruen Galleries in Chicago's River North Art District. The event featured a special display of Gruen's African art collection, live music, hors d'oeuvres, and cocktails. The event raised funds to support our efforts to improve education for children in Ghana. Special thanks to Paul Carman and Irene Pritzker for serving as Honorary Benefit Chairs.
Click here to view pictures of the event
Click here to watch brief remarks from Link USA's leadership
Six Chicago-area schools begin link partnerships with Ghana
September 2009
Anshe Emet Day School, Highland Park High Schol, Lyons Township High School, New Trier High School, Skokie School, and Spry School recently began their link partnerships with schools in Ghana. Students exchanged profiles, letters, art projects and photos. This is the beginning of a long-lasting relationship between participating schools, as well as a greater effort to link schools across the Chicago-area to schools in Ghana. Learn more about the Link Schools Program.
Special event held at the South African Consulate
August 13, 2009
We held an exciting event at the South African Consulate in Chicago on August 13, 2009 to celebrate Link's 20th Anniversary and the recent opening of Link in the U.S. Over 40 people attended the event which featured a keynote address by Judd Holzman, Executive Director of Link USA. Judd spoke about the challenges facing access to quality education in Africa and how Link is working to address these challenges. Ernest Cheruiyot, Chairman of the Board of Link USA, introduced the event by discussing the recent opening of Link in the U.S and how people can get involved.
Event discusses how President Obama will impact Africa
June 4, 2009
On June 4th we hosted an event with the London School of Economics Alumni Group titled, 'Africa in the Obama Era.' Over 50 people attended the speaker-panel event at Northwestern University. David Hale, a global economist and author, was the keynote speaker. He spoke about the important challenges facing Africa and how the Obama administration should approach them. A South Africa wine-tasting followed the event.
Link USA members meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently spoke at an event in Chicago. Members of Link USA had a chance to meet Tutu and tell him about the recent launching of Link in the U.S. He was excited to hear the news and offered his best wishes and support. Tutu is a long-time patron and supporter of Link's work in South Africa.
Visit our Link International News page to read news from all of the Link countries
