Students are dedicating an entire week to promote awareness and cultural and social ties on campus.
The African Student Association is hosting African Awareness Week to show students how African culture has changed over the past 10 years. Booths will be set up Monday through Wednesday for students to explore in the Campus Center.
On Monday, ASA focused on how missions and foreign aid has helped the evolving of Africa. This includes missions from churches and volunteers that dedicate their time to create a change for the people and continent as a whole.
The focus Tuesday was the increase of economic growth in Africa. Over the past decade, Africa has seen its economic growth double, as well as increased life expectancy and higher school enrollment.
On Wednesday the focus is turned to the education of Africa. With African countries changing from dictatorships to democracies, Africa is now able to compete with other nations in matching education levels.
African Awareness Week is also a learning experience for students in ASA.
One of the ASA officers, Kip Kiplagat, Bible and ministry major from Kenya, said this week not only brings awareness to non-African students, but to students such as himself.
“Growing up in Africa, I did not see the change that was actually happening,” Kiplagat said. “It’s important for people to be aware of what is going on around them to see the positives that are actually happening.”
There were also two forums led by ASA on Monday and Tuesday in the Onstead Packer Biblical Studies Building.