Conference brings attention to Africa

ATTEND THE EVENT

Time: 8:30 a.m., sign-in; 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., conferences

Location: Murphey Hall

Info: funmi@email.unc.edu

Students with close ties to Africa will be hosting a conference this weekend aimed at increasing African students’ involvement in combatting the continent’s most pressing health crises.

The conference, titled “Africa Unite: Anchoring Our Civil Engagement,” will bring college students from across the state together to formulate plans to create projects at their respective schools to confront the continent’s climbing infant mortality rates and the growth of HIV/AIDS.

Senior Alexandra Zagbayou, who lived in the Ivory Coast and is now the co-president of the Organization for African Students’ Interests and Solidarity, said the conference is designed to motivate first- and second-generation African students to address the problems their native countries are facing.

“That is why it is called the ‘For Africans, by Africans’ project,” she said in reference to the project being discussed at the conference.

Zagbayou added that it is especially crucial for African Americans to do their part to address Africa’s suffering.

“It’s not just good enough to come to America and get a good education,” she said. “It is also important to give back to our communities.”

Student representatives from Duke University, N.C. Central University, East Carolina University and UNC will meet Saturday morning to discuss how to plan events and raise money for the programs in workshops.

The sessions, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., will be open to members of the University community who registered in advance.

In the afternoon, each college will present proposals related to health care, such as HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

Senior Funmi Adefila, who was born in Nigeria and serves as the public relations officer for the organization, said students originally from Africa need to become more proactive.

“I think it is a really unique opportunity to create our own service project,” she said. “We are closest to this situation because we are African.”



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.