Matt Damon
Matt Damon is an American actor, voice actor, screenwriter, producer and philanthropist. He was born on October 8th 1970 and educated firstly at Cambridge Alternative School, then Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Damon has enjoyed great success in the film industry as he is one of the top-40 highest grossing actors of all time and has won a number of awards including an Academy, Golden Globe. He first rose to fame in 1997 for the screenplay Good Will Hunting (1997) which he wrote with Ben Affleck. Since then he has starred in a number of films including the Bourne series, the Oceans Trilogy, Saving Private Ryan (1998) and The Departed (2006).
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Engagement in Cultural Diplomacy
Humanitarian Causes
In 2006, Damon founded the [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2O_Africa_Foundation H20 Africa Foundation] which is responsible for raising awareness about clean water initiatives in Africa. H20 Africa is responsible for running a number of projects. One of the projects they are running is the ‘Global Youth Initiative for Clean Water’ with the aim of improving the health, wellbeing and sanitation at 15 to 20 schools in the Lira and Oyam districts of Uganda. The Initiative will also lead to the construction of 10 improved ventilated pit latrines. It has also been involved in a number of other initiatives including the ‘Central African Republic Well Project’ and ‘The Millennium Village’. In 2009 it merged with water.org. Another campaign that Damon supports is the One Campaign which is dedicated to fighting AIDS and poverty in Third World Countries, along with the ONEXONE, a non-profit foundation which is responsible for improving the lives of children around the world, but especially in the United States and Canada. The One Campaign also looks at matters concerning international development and relief issues by supporting debt relief, clean water and less corruption in government.
Philanthropic Donations
Matt Damon is also an avid anti-war campaigner, especially concerning the wars in Darfur. Along with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, David Pressman and Jerry Weintraub he founded the ‘Not On Our Watch Project’ which is an organisation with the intention of stopping mass atrocities. In Darfur, Damon along with Clooney, has been able to raise more than £4.5 million for Darfur. Damon has also participated in the poker tournament [anteupforafrica.org ‘Ante up for Africa’] which donates funds to aid Darfur.
Notable Actions
Further Information
Video - The power of water Video - The world must stand together
