Globally-conscious youths mobilize for change in Africa

Edmonton-November 23, 2009–The Unveiling Africa Foundation, a youth-led initiative, sees a role for global and diasporic African youths in Africa’s development in its fourth annual educational series, entitled “Africa: discussing the present, molding the future,” being held from November 27-28, 2009 at the TELUS Professional Development Centre, University of Alberta.

African youths in the Diaspora, together with their globally-conscious counterparts, are fed up with pop stars, celebrities, politicians, and technocrats monopolizing discussions on Africa’s development. As a result, the Unveiling Africa series will provide a forum for youths to lead the discussion on creating and implementing holistic developmental strategies. That is, strategies that not only focus on economic growth, but ones that encompass the socio-political, health, gender relations, educational, and environmental aspects, among others. Both global and African youths in the Diaspora, then, will play important roles in the Continent’s development by networking and working collaboratively with youths in Africa to realize sustainable and just development.

This year’s events are as follows:

November 27th will explore the effectiveness of foreign aid as a developmental strategy by debating the question “Has foreign aid done more harm than good in Africa?”
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 28th, will feature panel discussions and a keynote lecture on the role of global youths in Africa’s development.
Time: 10:00-2:00 p.m.

Location: TELUS Bldg. 217-1F, University of Alberta

Both events are open to members of the community.

The Unveiling Africa Foundation (UVA), a registered, local non-profit organization, emanated from a project by the same name at the University of Alberta (U of A) in 2006. UVA works collaboratively with community members, students and faculty groups at the U of A to hold symposiums and to co-produce educational events centered on Africa and the globe-at-large.

For more information about this event and Unveiling Africa, please visit the website:
www.unveilingafrica.org

Contact: Chichi Imoka. T: 780-707-3501

This event is sponsored by: Alberta Public Research Interest Group (APIRG), Caribbean and Africa Diaspora Initiative (CADI), Global Education, University of Alberta, African Students’ Association.