I just returned from a 7 day trip to South Africa and Zambia. What I saw changed my life. I want to tell you about my trip and let you know about billions of dollars in development assistance that is at risk this week.
Each day, I saw the devastating impact of AIDS and extreme poverty, but I also saw the incredible work being done to save lives and give people the tools to provide for themselves. I visited a facility that reduced, by half, the chances of a mother transmitting HIV to their child. I met a 24 year old woman who told me that there was a good chance the anti-retrovirals she was taking would save the her baby's life. The next day, I met a widow who had become self-sufficient thanks to a micro-finance loan. With her new financial freedom, she was not only able to take care of her children, but also began caring for local orphans.
The biggest lesson I took home from the trip was that folks in these countries can turn things around if given the basic resources that we take for granted here every day. That's why I was shocked to learn from the ONE campaign that within the next 2 weeks the U.S. Senate is poised to slash billions of dollars from President Bush's plan to fight AIDS and poverty.
This is an outrage - and it can be stopped. Please join me in speaking out right now!
The second day of the trip, I met children at an orphan care center in Zambia who had HIV\AIDS. Most of them couldn't remember their parents because they died of AIDS when they were only babies. Frederick, an HIV positive father showed me something called a "Memory Book." A scrapbook with pictures and stories about him he was putting together for his son so he would have something to remember him with after they he was gone. About 650,000 children in Zambia are AIDS orphans. They play "Duck, Duck, Goose" and "London Bridge" just like kids around the world, but without help; the problems they face are only going to get much worse. We can't let Congress cut funding that provides critical assistance to kids like these all across Africa.
Senators Mike DeWine (R) and Dianne Feinstein (D) have written a letter to their colleagues in the Senate asking them to stop these devastating cuts in funding for the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. With just 30 seconds of your time, you can send a quick note to your Senators asking them to support this funding and add their signature to this important letter.
The work we are doing on the ONE Campaign will change the world. It already has. Let's keep up the pressure and make sure they know we won't let billions of dollars in cuts to the President's request for the world's poor go unnoticed.
Ask your Senator to support critical development assistance
Matt Damon
P.S. Click here to join communities around the world for the AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 21.
Posted by mike at May 10, 2006 08:02 AMMay I know Matt Damon's email?. Since he is a brilliant person also has a good education background, I want to know about his opinion about education.
Posted by: Yvonne at May 14, 2006 11:52 PMmatt,
My name is Alexander i am from anapolis maryland and i have always longed to go to africa when i finish high school i have planned a trip to kenya. what do you think i could do to help the people of africa? I have bought many ONE rist bands but i want to do more.
Posted by: alexander pannig at June 5, 2006 05:05 PMAcho vc uma pessoa muito especial...
Posted by: Cecília Queiroz at February 27, 2007 07:29 PMhey,
i took a quiz to find out who was my cleb match and it pointed to you every time i guess we have a lot in common i would love to get e-mail from you and be friends thanks a lot
,kami
Thank you for this message. There are also many women and children in need of help in the US. Due to current ambiguity in laws accross the country, perpetrators of rape, severe violence, incest, economic abuse and others are OFTEN awarded custody of their children, to continue the multigenerational epedemic of domestic violence and hate crimes upon women in our "civilized" nation. If at some time you wish to become involved with this national crisis as well, feel free to email one of the many organizations or myself about how you can best help. Dios estar con usted ~ cathprincess
Posted by: Dana at August 9, 2007 01:55 PMthinking of others is a very noble thing,especialy if they are in real need. That what a good person is about.
Thanks matt.
thinking of others is a noble thing especialy if they are in need.That's what a good person is about.
Racha.
Hi
iam very interested in gotting the e-mail to Matt Damon because i am very interested in his character and he is my star and i like to see all his movies because they are brilliant and id like to have his e-mail to contact him and to speak with him to make a friendship and learn from him what ever i can because he is my star.
Matt Damon is one my favourite movie stars. I am a Kenya working in the area of HIV and AIDS. I am very much intersted in communicating with Matt. I would live him to vistit my village and talk to the youth on prevention of HIV AIDS especially by having one faithful partner and waiting. He would be a gret role model.
MAtt who is also my age mate positively challenges me to aspire and do better each day a new!. Kind Thx, Rhoda
hi matt, im jhona from makati city, philippines...i've watched your movie bourne ultimatum....super duper great! im so happy that i watched ur movie....if u wish to go here in the philippines pls do inform me...u got my email add....jhona_florendo@yahoo.com...thank u and more power....
Posted by: jonalyn c. florendo at August 23, 2007 12:02 PMHi Matt,
I admire so much what you did and I want to help as much as possible. I would really like to get an email from you. you have been my idol for so long and I hope one day I'll meet you. I'm also an actress so hopefully one day we'll meet and become friends.
Rebecca
i dont get why you people write on here so much Matt damon is a very busy person and does not have time to go on this and look it up. i think it is brilliant that he cares about other people he is most peoples dream man. but he is taken HA HA and trust me i wamt to meet matt but i want to see how nice he is and what would he of been if he finished havard.
Posted by: faris at August 30, 2007 06:40 AMJust a note to say I am a new fan and my husand and I say "hey, give us a call if you come to this part of the country". We have 3 dgtrs., 2 in college and one still here, age 13 and we really like the work you've done. We would love to have you and your family come visit and sit, have dinner on the back deck and enjoy the cool night, clean air and lots of stars. We think our town in AZ is a well kept secret, but lots of LA people visit in the summer. Ask Sean C... I won't mention the town name.
By the way, did I mention my husband is a huge RED SOX fan??
We do take vacations so call or email first.
Happy Birthday Matt!!! since its 8th October already..:)
My name is Faiza and im from pakistan! im one of your biggest fans..i love the fact how you care about people..u r my inspiration matt!!! and u have really motivated me towards my goal of making an NGO and bringing it to an international level...i hope i could speak to u about my ideas...is there any way i can contact u..
Posted by: Faiza at October 7, 2007 05:42 PMMy husband and I have three children 4,3 & 2. Your efforts in raising AIDS awareness and the extreme's the people of Africa endure is commended. However, I need to add - your bit with Sarah Silverman nearly made us pee our pants! It was the funniest thing we've seen in a LONG time.
Posted by: Deb at February 2, 2008 05:48 PM