Dikembe Mutombo was born in the capital city of Kinshasa, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). Dikembe arrived in the US on a USAID scholarship to attend Georgetown University. As a pre-med major, his dream was to become a medical doctor and return to the Congo to practice medicine. In his second year at Georgetown, Coach John Thompson convinced the 7'2" Mutombo to join the university's basketball team. After joining, Dikembe abandoned his medical ambitions and graduated from Georgetown with dual degrees in Linguistics and Diplomacy.
Dikembe is fluent in nine languages including four African languages. In the summer of 2002, Dikembe joined the New Jersey Nets, becoming their new center. He is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and ranks first in NBA rebounds per game. During the off-season, Dikembe travels throughout Africa on behalf of the NBA performing at free basketball clinics for as many as 2,000 children per day. He has made four goodwill ambassador trips in five years to Africa. In 1996, Dikembe provided uniforms and expenses for the women's basketball team from the Congo to help them participate in the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. Dikembe has served as an international spokesman for CARE and is the first Youth Emissary for the United Nations Development Program. Learn in Orbite about the journey of an African who has become one of the NBA’s All Star Best.

When actress Angelina Jolie isn't off “raiding tombs”, working on other flicks or spending time with her little boy, Maddox - she's helping out the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR.)

The UNHCR is an organization that protects over 22 million people around the world including refugees and former refugees returning to their homes. The UNHCR is the largest international humanitarian organization which provides necessities like food, water, shelter and medical assistance to refugees (with the help of more than 400 partners) in 122 countries. When the government won't help, the UNHCR steps in to get the people to safety and on their way to a somewhat normal life.

This girl interrupted her busy schedule to travel to Africa in order to learn about and help refugees under the care of UNHCR. Angelina paid her own way and from February 22 to March 9, 2001 (18 days) she spent time in Sierra Leone and Tanzania as a good will ambassador. During her stay, she visited amputee camps, war-injured camps and camps for women that had experienced various traumas such as abuse, rape, physical assault and living with the HIV-AIDS pandemic. "I've started to really become aware of the world we live in, what's really going on," Angelina says. "I think we should try to be responsible and educate ourselves. I'm simply doing that and traveling, learning first hand, and seeing first hand what's going on." After reading the diary entries Angelina kept while in Africa - it's clear that the work she's done has deeply affected her. Angelina feels like she didn't accomplish much while she was there but personally it made an impact. "It's not like I did things that made much of a difference but something had changed, "Angelina says."I'd gone outside my own little world."

The UNHCR thanked Angelina - saying, "USA for UNHCR is indebted to Ms. Jolie, not only for making these writings available, but also for the spirit of humanity that underlies her genuine and continuing interest in our cause." Angelina Jolie is a caring individual who's willing to take the time to promote public awareness of a good cause - even if it means putting herself in undesirable and sometimes risky conditions. Find out more about Angelina Jolie in Orbite.

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"Oprah in Africa: “A personal journey, a global challenge" – Hugues-Denver Akassy will talk with Oprah Winfrey about her mission to help thousands of impoverished desperately poor South African children, many orphaned as a result of the HIV-AIDS pandemic, on a SPECIAL TWO PART SERIES of  “Orbite".

After Winfrey traveled to Africa and saw first-hand the devastating effect the disease is having on all generations, she became determined to use her fame and resources to affect change. In Christmas 2003, she delivered thousands of holiday gift packages to children who had nothing. The experience changed her forever and inspired her to launch an ambitious initiative that will provide orphaned South African kids -- especially girls -- with much-needed access to a good education.

Winfrey explains that her own experience growing up poor made her realize she needed to do something to make a difference for the approximately 11 million children orphaned by AIDS and who are forced to raise themselves in poverty in Africa. Her friendship with Nelson Mandela led Winfrey to focus on the children of South Africa. In December of 2002, she and her staff visited South Africa and presented gift packages of clothing, toys and school supplies to some 50,000 orphans at different locations throughout the country. "I keep asking the question of what does this mean," Winfrey said. "I have the show, and what does this mean? It all came together for me in that day. Because I realized in that moment, in that moment joy has a texture...if there's enough of it, you can feel it in the room...I had a joy headache...and I'm telling you, I said in that moment, "okay God, I get it. I get it."

Winfrey says using her voice to make the world aware of the magnitude of this crisis is just as important as contributing her resources to the cause. Winfrey will discuss the lack of AIDS medications in Africa, as well as the social stigma that deters many from seeking treatment. And Winfrey describes especially poignant one-on-one encounters with some of the orphans that are chronicled in a video diary she kept during her journey.

Winfrey explains why her most important initiative is her effort to build schools for girls and to support educational programs throughout South Africa. Her first step is creating The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, slated to open in 2006.
"I have not had a bad day since my first day with those children in Africa," Winfrey said. "Because it puts everything in perspective."

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