 |
Friday,
April 2, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
AHO
to serve in Africa
The
African Heritage Organization will take their community
service overseas next month.
By
Erica Parker
The
African Heritage Organization is planning two weeks of
service work in some of the poverty-stricken areas of
Kenya in May.
AHO members say they are doing this to try to help fulfill
the mission statements of both their organization and
TCU.
“AHO members are passionate about doing something,”
said Kenyan native Peninah Murage, a senior sociology
and biology major.
“We definitely cannot heal the poverty issue but
we will touch a life, and in return ours will be touched
and hopefully forms chain that will spread in the entire
TCU commmunity and elsewhere,” Murage said.
The organization plans to take 15 students to Kibera,
the second largest slum in Africa, located in Nairobi.
They will also visit villages in Baringo.
In Kibera, AHO members will teach math, grammar and reading.
They will also facilitate workshops on sanitation and
health and mentor graduating seniors, Murage said.
The organization will also donate first aid kits, provide
funding to complete classroom construction, and build
water tanks for the Baringo villages, said Murage.
Kenyan native Mary Anne Waithaka, a junior accounting
and finance major, said AHO has been involved in the Fort
Worth community, but that the organization needs to think
globally.
“Taking a group of dedicated members and other TCU
students along, is something TCU should applaud and embrace
because it will open their eyes to real global issues
and they will hopefully rub the project’s impact
to everyone in the TCU community,” Murage said.
Ghana native Susan Quaye said the organization will learn
about African culture in a way that no book, movie or
documentary can.
“This trip will allow us to have a realistic and
personal understanding of African problems and discover
how they affect us on a daily basis,” said Quaye,
AHO President and sophomore psychology major.
Prior to the trip, members will attend mentoring, education
and health science training courses. Participants are
required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of community
service and attend conversational Swahili lessons, said
Murage.
“There are many problems in Kenya that needs to be
addressed: poverty, water, electricity, drainage and most
of all education,” Waithaka said. “Education
is the main area AHO is going to address, and we believe
education is the answer to poverty.”
Veronica Shields, a junior advertising/public relations
major, said nearly $10,000 is needed to fully cover the
cost of both projects and is holding fundraising events
this month.
Those interested in donating to the service trip in Africa
should send emails to aho_tcu@yahoo.com or send checks
to TCU Box 296810, Fort Worth, Texas, 76129. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
