AAI's UBC AFRICAN DREAM: "Involving Africa in Creation of Global Citizens"

"The African Dream slogan and goals in essence restate long time goals of Africa Awareness. The importance of having an African Dream for UBC, however, is that it gives the executive of the organization goals that can be measured with numerical results. The Dream should allow Africa Awareness to maintain its focus in the following years until those goals are met. The Dream is also integral to the vision of Africa Awareness because it continues to highlight the importance that the university has put on global citizenship, as per its Trek 2010 statement, and questions the possibility of achieving global citizenship while ignoring an entire continent."

1. Education

To establish three more courses for the African Studies Minor Program. WHY? Because Africa Awareness has always stood for greater dialogue surrounding Africa in western higher education. It is important that Africa Awareness actively support the Minors Program and any initiative to improve it. Although the Minors Program is new it is in great demand among Arts undergraduate students, and the numbers of those interested would increase with more variety in courses.

2. General awareness

To continue to improve and promote intelligent discussion surrounding the continent of Africa. WHY? Because Perhaps as a product of ignoring Africa in western higher education, specifically at UBC, there is very little general knowledge about Africa on campus. Due to the lack of information on Africa, many people have very stereotyped views of the continent. For the most part, either people hold ignorant assumptions or they have a one sided view of the continent as an entirely negative and diseased continent. It is therefore important for AAI to highlight the diversity of ideas, opinions and cultures that are present in Africa.

3. Unity

To unite both African students on campus and organizations affiliated with Africa in order to facilitate an effective African support base. WHY? Because It is important that Africa Awareness gains student voice and support behind our initiative and mobilizes the support that we already have. Africa Awareness should also be able to get more input when any other groups on campus host African related events.