Project Description

Every year, 10 million children under the age of 5 die needlessly around the world. Many of these deaths are from preventable or treatable illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles and complications related to childbirth.

One critical element to reduce child death is the availability of a local health worker. Community health workers can deliver lifesaving advice and care to women and children in remote areas. They support proven simple solutions such as: 1)Skilled care during childbirth; 2) Breastfeeding and nutrition support; 3) Complete immunization; 4) Oral rehydration therapy for dehydrating diarrhea; and 5) Pneumonia and malaria prevention and treatment.

Project Description

Positive Foundations is an student group that is dedicated to ending extreme poverty through the Millennium Development Goals. Although we were only founded in 2005, we have gained respect as one of the most active and successful social change groups on our campus, with our largest event to date having drawn over ten percent of the undergraduate body. We are spearheading the organization of the Millennium Campus Network, a Boston-wide collaboration of college groups that support the Goals. Our activities have included fundraisers to buy bednets and school lunches for impoverished communities through the NGO Millennium Promise, rallies on “Stand Up, Speak Out”, an international day of action, and educational events including an "MDG Week" which featured a video-conference with economist Jeffery Sachs. Our long-range goal is to sponsor a village in sub-Saharan Africa through the Millennium Village Project.