Two good news stories from Africa.

The first is the African Youth Summit on Climate Change 2010 run by African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC).

Its purpose is:

to serve as an appropriate avenue where African youth can come together and discuss issues relating to various topics on climate change including the role of youth in adaptation and mitigation projects, public awareness and participation, biodiversity and active participation in UNFCCC negotiations. The Summit is open to young people from all over Africa interested and involved in initiatives aimed to tackle climate change and ensure sustainability.
Application for Participant – AYICC

Applications close on 30 July.

Assisting developing countries with the challenges of climate change was a major ISSUE at the Copenhagen climate summit. It is surprising that it has not received more attention since then.

The second is the Nigerian project W.E.A.P.O.N. Women (and Girls), Education and Arts, Providing Opportunity Now.

Their aim is to provide women and girls with access to education. It's one of those niche NGOs reported on in my last post. Its founder is actor Megalyn Echikunwoke whose father was Nigerian.

Another actor Olivia Wilde is a strong supporter:

Here’s the skinny: Small, grassroots organizations that focus on specific projects operated by the local community are often more effective and accountable than gargantuan, broad based, NGOs.
wilde things

It is a GlobalGiving cause, where online donations can be made. Sylwia Presley has an excellent Th!nk3 post about online giving at Their Stories: How Social is On-Line Giving in UK?