African Elephants.

Elephants

The African Elephant is the largest walking animal on Earth. Their herds travel through 37 different countries in Africa. Peoply maily recognize them by their tusks which are used to handling objects. Their ears allow them to radiate excess heat! The African Elephants are related to the Savanna elephant and the Forest elephant. African elephants help maintain suitable habitats for other species, they play a huge role in shaping their habitat because they impact on factors from fresh water to forest cover. Their populations were reduced extreamly due to being killed and herds were lost. The demand for ivory has led to paching. Southern and eastern Africa were showing signs of recovery, but now will be at risk once again due to the sudden surge in poaching. WWF is protecting and managing habitats to reduce the illegal killing. WWF also helps governments produce and adopt elephant conservation strategies. They helped train park gaurds and villagers in elephant conservation and management. 

To learn more here is a the website I used to get all my info:

Elephants

I chose elephants becuase they are my all time favorite animal and I have already participated in the helps of saving elephants. Ivoryella makes shirts that are 1. really cute and 2. save the elephants. they are teamed up with savetheelephants.org and each purchace donates 10 % of the profits to that organiztion. There are so many other animals in world to save and I'm sure they all have organizations like this one, but since elephants have my heart I have no other choice than to help them! Below are the links to both websites!!

ORDERASHIRT

SAVE THE ELEPHANTS

Music

African Music:

African music has a very long history and it is transmitted from one generation to another. African music is category based. Dance and music, and story-telling are only a few of the ancient art forms that have been in Africa for centeries. "Honest observers are hard pressed to find single indigenous group in Africa that has a term congruent to the usual western notion of “music.” There are terms for more specific acts like singing, playing instruments, and more broadly performing (dance, games, music); but the isolation of musical sound from other arts proves a western abstraction, of which we should be aware when we approach the study of performance in Africa" (p.7). Music and dance are activites that characterize their expression and plays huge role in their lives. Mnay different forms of music and dance can be found in traditional oral literature such as: folk tales, myths, and praise poems. African people have a rich oral tradtion, The Passage Of Cultural Practices from one generation to the next. Africans tie in their religious beliefs. It is mainly influenced by Christan and Islamic practices, but "aladura" is a newer religious group movement. Side note: Africa has some influences from other countries as well. People can look at back through music as far as human existence. Music practices flow within socio-cultural context. African music has influenced a number of practices in the new world. 

If you are interested take a look at these videos to get an idea of what their music and dance are like!

Tradtional African Music

Dance troupe

I chose to research about African music because music is a bug part of my life. I listen to almost every kind of music and I enjoy it all. My grandma was really into music as well, I remember going to her house on a Saturday night and she would be listening to the music that was on tv, she loved dancing as well. Learning about how Africans dance is really interesting becuase no one around here dances like that, or really ties traditions to their dance. They take it pretty serious which I find really cool. Life without music is boring.   

Children in Africa.

Save the Children. 

Save the Children is a place where you have to chance to help in a few different ways. One is by making a donation, second is becoming a sponsor for a child in need, third is getting involved with program. There are many different things that this organization does such as: providing quality education, and providing children with books, and other supplies. They also provide health and nutriton, last year alone they helped 38 million kids through HIV care programs.HIV These are only a couple things that this organization does. LINK if you want to get involved or learn about any of the amazing things these people do, click on that link and it will take you right to their site. Side note:
this organization isnt only in Africa, but you could help children all over the world as well.

I chose something to do with children because it is something that I am passionate about. I would love to be involved in as many things dealing with children as I could. Kids is something I have always been passionate about, I have been around them my whole life and I wouldn't trade a single day for anything else. In my future, I know that I want to be involved in something like this, not for me, but for the kids that are in such need for help. If anyone has time go look through the website and im sure you would love to help as well.