Africa, more than a theme…
Western Carolina University new interdisciplinary theme “Africa, More than a Continent” is going to last for two year of which four months are almost gone.
So what we know about it?
The theme, was chosen by the department of undergraduate studies who chose faculty members to serve on the steering committee. The committee members select events that will involve and educate students on the culture and economy of the African continent.
The committee plans to focus on educating students on Africa for the first year and engaging them in the second. The co-chair of the steering committee, Laura Wright, listed the other activities like the African food served in the dining hall that was in November during the International Education week, book displays in the library (it is still going on). The One Book committee is working to select a book by an African author, and they are working on bringing speakers and developing study abroad opportunities.
“I think it’s important that we take this first year to primarily focus, on educating students that Africa is the theme and to give them some introductions to the complexities of Africa,” Director of Center for Service learning, Lane Perry said. Perry whom plays a leadership role in the Samaritan’s feet partnership, spoke more on the plans for the trips to Africa. Perry and Samaritan’s feet are raising awareness on campus for the millions of children around the world without shoes. They will be taking a trip to Burundi, where students will be educated on the area as well as washing the feet of those less fortunate to have shoes and placing shoes on their feet.
See what Manny Ohonme, the founder of Samaritan’s feet said about the partnership between his organization and WCU and their final goal .
Perry said that the trip with Samaritan’s feet to Burundi is in a developing stage and the committee as well as himself would like for this opportunity to serve as a great educational experience for students.
In addition to the Samaritan’s partnership and possible future trips to Africa, there is more that the committee has to offer.
The committee started the theme with a month long raising awareness campaign where students were to walk barefoot every Thursday in the month of October. October passed a while ago and not many of the students are aware of the theme and Africa as a continent (see the video bellow).
Kofi Lomotey, Co- Chair of the steering committee spoke on student involvement and trips to Africa including his own trip planned for the summer, 2016. Lomotey has visited Ghana on several occasions and continues to make trips there with his students to educate them on the culture and riches of the country.
“I’ve been to Ghana 25 times since 1973 and will take another group between July 13 to 24, 2015. I do this to expose my students to all that is Ghana, where the people are warm and giving and happy.”
As an undergraduate at Oberlin College ( located in Ghana), Lomotey met longstanding friends that now help him coordinate his trips to Ghana from within the country. By text, Lomotey said, ” Most of the inland arrangements for my trips are made in my absence by Ghanaian colleagues.”
The culture and people of the country are part of the reason Lomotey continues to go back. “Every time I visit, there is a different experience and always something new to learn, Lomotey said.”
Students were asked if they knew of any of the events tied to the theme but most didn’t even know of the theme. Many faculty and staff members know of the theme but haven’t heard about upcoming events saying the theme could use more publicity.
“If I knew ahead of time this [ African food in the dinning hall] was happening I would not have prepared my sandwich. Now I’ll have to miss it,” said communications professor, Katerina Spasovska.
The steering committee has many more events planned for future involvement and hope to make a change on campus and in the community.
Watch the video below to see how many students know of our theme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ0yQDZOZoQ
