Message from Marcia Thomas, Executive Director

As United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) moves through its twenty-second year, we want to thank everyone globally for your continued support and contributions. We have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans and are proud of our record of action as we close this chapter of support for Africa.

2008 will be a year for developing new strategies and fresh approaches so we can be more effective in our efforts to support the programs that empower Africans to build a brighter future for the continent. Over the next few months, we will go through a strategic assessment and planning process to review our work, our capacity and a direction forward. We will make a public announcement regarding the next phase of USA for Africa in near future.

Throughout this 20 year period, we have tried to remain true to the public trust you granted us to maximize the resources you generously invested in our mission. Our commitment to empowering indigenous people of Africa at all levels through self-development, institution and capacity building was the cornerstone of our programs. We are proud of our record of listening to, targeting, and supporting development efforts conceived and implemented by Africans, with a particular focus on the needs, ideas and efforts put forward by African women.

We can not reflect on the efforts of USA for Africa without paying a special tribute to We Are The World. From its very beginning, the song was more than music and words. It was an event that became a worldwide movement. The We Are The World performance as well as other like efforts sparked a great outpouring of international support for Africa along with an inspired constituency. We Are The World has become an anthem and the spirit that made USA for Africa's existence possible.

Village communities located all over Africa, support by local and international NGO's, have successfully raised their standard of living, increased agricultural production, and improved health care and education along with other sectors.

The continent of Africa still faces many daunting challenges. The HIV/AIDS crisis, rampant malaria, and the tragedies of Somalia and Sudan are real, but they should not be seen as representative of the entire continent and its future. Instead they must be seen, as reminders to the world of the many challenges that still need to be met not just in Africa but globally.

Messages from:   Harry Belafonte   -   Ken Kragen

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