These topics air Friday April 18, 2014 at noon and 8pm on 90.5 WESA. To leave a question or comment before or after the show dial 412-256-8783. Join the conversation LIVE between noon & 1 pm weekdays at 412-246-2002. More Essential Pittsburgh segments can be heard here.
Global Switchboard and Amizade
Social media and the internet have connected the world in ways once thought impossible. However, computer connections cannot take the place of human contact. Today, we’re looking at Pittsburghers who are helping others around the world. There are a number of organizations in the city with the shared goal of engaging others across the globe. Here to tell us about the global switchboard are project manager Nathan Darity and Brandon Blache-Cohen, Executive Director of Amizade Global Service Learning.
The Nyadire Connection
Tim Wesley is a volunteer and Drew Harvey is chairman of the Nyadire Connection a United Methodist Mission complex. The Nyadire Mission is involved with six medical clinics in remote areas of Zimbabwe that provide very basic health care.Tim Wesley and Drew Harvey join us to discuss the work they're currently doing and future projects.
Doctors Without Borders
Last November, Typhoon Haiyan, a powerful tropical cyclone devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. When cataclysmic events, such as this happen, many organizations are dispatched to these areas to provide medical treatment and aid. Doctors Without Borders is one such group providing help. Joining us in Studio A is Brett Davis, an aid worker for Doctors Without Borders who recently returned from the Philippines.
The Thread
When local photographer Ian Rosenberger saw garbage piled in the street and thrown into canals untouched by a stretched public works system, he was moved to do more than take photos. He jotted in his journal how it would be good to turn Haiti’s trash into money. He created a social enterprise company called Thread which turns plastic bottles into sewing thread, and offers Haitians work in a country where the unemployment rate is 40 percent. The Allegheny Front’s Ashley Murray reports on Thread’s home base in Pittsburgh.
Helping in Honduras
Honduras is one of the world’s deadliest countries overrun by gangs and violence. Women, journalists, lawyers and members of the LGBT community have been singled out as victims. Carnegie Mellon Ph.D candidate Eric Vazquez recently traveled to Honduras and joins us in Studio A to tell us about his experience.
Global Brigades
Many students flock to the warmer climes of Florida for a week of partying on spring break. In contrast, many students use their vacation to help others around the world. Two of those students are Carnegie Mellon sophomore Nicole Huang, and senior Nick Zuniga who volunteer with Global Brigades a global health and development movement.