Angelina Jolie Visits Libya, Plus a Look at Celeb Humanitarians Making an Impact

Angelina Jolie in 2005. Photo by Remy Steinegger. Wikimedia CommonsYahoo! Contributor Network

Angelina Jolie has taken her latest international jaunt, this time spending two days the war-torn country of Libya.

Jolie, who frequently makes headlines for popping up around the world as United Nations goodwill ambassador, said she visited the country for "a variety of reasons." Citing a desire to "see a country in transition at every level and to witness efforts to fully realize the promise of the Arab Spring," the actress released a revealing statement about her trip itinerary. In addition to "seeing" and "witnessing" the tremendous struggles of the Libyan people, Jolie says that "above all" she will be "listening to the local people in the street," and that she is there "to express solidarity with them."

Dressed in a back business suit, Jolie smiled and paused for a photo op with some flag-carrying children before continuing her observations. While largely regarded as a devoted humanitarian, her brief and highly-publicized visits to various countries raise questions about what, exactly, she does while she's there. While taking her famous face around the world in the name of various causes certainly draws attention to people in need, how exactly will the Libyan people directly benefit from her two-day visit?

While Jolie continues her high-profile trips around the globe, a number of other celebrities h! ave rece ntly found meaningful, specific ways to directly benefit others both at home and abroad.

While many celebs have expressed their support for Darfur, actress Mia Farrow's advocacy for the people of Sudan is virtually unparalleled. This week, Farrow donated her collection of videotapes and artifacts from the Darfur region to the University of Connecticut in hopes of preserving them and raising awareness of Darfur's plight. During one of her month-long stays in a refugee camp, the actress videotaped traditional ceremonies and customs from farming techniques to songs and wedding celebrations.

Victims of genocide, many inhabitants of Sudan's Darfur region have been displaced from their homelands and have suffered for years in refugee camps. According to Farrow, she sought to document important aspects of their culture and traditions which long years of deprivation and illness have threatened to erase. Every day for a month the actress documented facets of the people's lives, leading one camp leader to tell her, "Thank you for reminding us to remember." Says Farrow, "In my whole live, nothing struck my heart deeper than that one unadorned sentence." UConn has posted a YouTube video showing snippets of Farrow's camp videos, none of which included a business suit or a photo op.

Other celebs have found a way to make a difference closer to home.

Also this week, music mogul Sean Combs, more popularly known as Diddy, donated thousands to save The Boys & Girls Club of Harlem. According to a spokesperson, the organization was preparing to eliminate existing programs and club sites due to a decrease in federal, state, and private funding. He said, "100% of Mr. Combs' contribution will go directly to the young people, and provide educational, recreational, and social enrichment programs allowing us to move forward as a club, uninterrupted."

Earlier this month, Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington gave $2.25 million to his alma mater, Fordham University. $250,000 of that sum will go to "establish a scholarship for a minority undergraduate student studying theater at Fordham." The remaining $2 million will endow the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre, and former "Cosby Show" star Phylicia Rashad will be the first faculty member to occupy the position. Washington credits a Fordham theater professor, who is now deceased, with inspiring his acting career.

More from this Contributor:

Angelina Jolie in Hot Water Over Her Film Project?

Is Scarlett Johansson Ruining Her Reputation?

Babies on the Brain: Kim Kardashian, Snooki, and Justin Bieber All Talk Kids

Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network here to start publishing your own articles.

See More Yahoo! Contributor Network Stories