Perhaps modern volunteers are the equivalent of the missionaries of the days gone by. They are not any less controversial. Advocates claim that it is the duty of all citizens of the world to take responsibility for one another. Critics claim that these volunteers are misguided in their patronizing and uninformed approach to different cultures.

Anyone who has spent any time as a volunteer will attest to the fact that the reality is complicated, and the answers are not clear.

The oil rich peninsula of Bakassi was handed to Cameroon by Nigeria on the 14th of August. The event was unmarked and forgotten by the international press, the Cameroonian military is shy of neutral monitoring and the Cameroonian press is heavily muzzled. Yet, through the use of blogs the true nature of events has been noted.

Last week at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, the discussion came up around how to use digital tools to reach out to youth on protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS. According to a recent study conducted by UNAIDS, 45 percent of new HIV infections last year were among young people aged 15 - 24. HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations such as Taking It Global and Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS showcased how online social networking has created an unprecedented opportunity to mobilize youth on prevention and treatment options. However, a young woman from South Africa showed that sometimes it only takes one person to make a difference in the lives of others.

A surprising number of people in the developing world still hide their money under a mattress at home. Accessible and developed banking systems are still in short supply and borrowing money at double digit monthly interests is prohibitive and discourages business. Microfinance is the bridge that empowers the underprivileged.

The major factor that will shape the future evolution of Africa is in the education and sensitisation of the people. A commonly cited example is the AIDs epidemic. Over 20 years after its outbreak, ignorance and stigma still surround the epidemic to the point where AIDs victims are unable to openly talk about their struggles for fear of discrimination or violence. AIDs

The abrupt withdrawal of Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai from this Friday’s runoff presidential election essentially handed President Robert Mugabe a victory and left Zimbabwe’s future up in the air. However, given the

DigiActive.org is seeking volunteer correspondents to write about digital activism in Africa. Please direct inqueries to Mary Joyce (Mary@digiactive.org).

What is DigiActive? DigiActive is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping grassroots activists around the world use mobile phones and the Internet to increase their impact. Our goal is a world of activists made more powerful and more effective through the use of digital technology.