Discussion Forum

Making Poverty History: What does a "pampered" prince of Swaziland,
far removed form the poor of his tiny country of 150,000 people, know of poverty in Africa?

Correspondences with Ms. Nancy Hannemann, Director, Global Education, International Center, University of Alberta.

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From: Africa We Care
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 5:38 PM
To: Hannemann, Nancy
Subject: Africa We Care

Dear Ms. Hannemann:

I did correspond with you for a while some time ago. You will remember me, I hope, and our organization, Africa We Care. Please do familiarize yourself again by visiting our website: www.africawecare.org.

We are having our inaugural diner and dance on January 22/05. The highlight of the evening is the guest-speech by Dr. George B.N. Ayittey, a preeminent pan-Africanist; a distinguished economist at the American University, Washington, DC, who has written extensively on Africa. I have attached Dr. Ayittey's Biography; and Curriculum Vitae (short).

I am hoping that the International Center could be of some assistance to us towards this event, or somehow participate, because Dr. Ayittey is the foremost authority on Africa. What he has to say on, and about Africa is bound to be very informative and enlightening to all who would listen to him.

The details of the event which will be held at the Ramada Hotel are posted on our website under "Events". The webmaster will be updating the page shortly with regards to the Hostess – CBC Radio personality; life entertainment - music band, drummers and dance troupe.

Please let me hear from you.

Sincerely,

Chukwuemeka Obiajunwa.

Africa We Care is a non-profit charitable organization incorporated in Alberta, and recognized by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA). Our registration number is 86065 3930 RR0001.

The Vision
Africa We Care is dedicated to the alleviation of suffering in Africa by providing the basic necessities like clean water, and medicines; facilitate access to education; offer assistance to HIV/AIDS victims and their care-givers.

Africa We Care believes that the alleviation of suffering is not, and ought not to be, an end in itself. It is rather a means to a permanent solution. It is not enough to simply address the symptoms of suffering, poverty, privation, powerlessness, helplessness, and helplessness. It is imperative and binding on all well-meaning bodies and organizations to earnestly seek, find, and implement solutions to the systemic factors that have lent themselves to the perpetuation of the vicious cycle in Africa.

The Mission
Africa We Care believes in solutions based on empowerment. By empowering the African people one community, one village at a time, Africa We Care enables people and communities unleash the innate resources and capabilities that make possible the change that transforms their lives for the better.

Africa We Care promotes, encourages, supports, and works with community-based organizations and groups in Africa to create gainful and productive economic activities. By making gainful productive economic activities possible, Africa We Care enables the people to regain their basic human dignity; restore their self-esteem; take charge of their lives; and take care of their families and children.

(After more than three weeks, Ms. Hannemann replied to my letter, thus below:)

From: Hannemann, Nancy
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 1:26 PM
To: Africa We Care
Subject: RE: Africa We Care

Dear Chukwuemeka,

Sorry for being so tardy in getting back to you. It's too bad that your guest is coming on the 22nd of January, as I would have liked to include him in International Week! International Week 2005 is being held Jan. 31 - Feb. 4, our theme is, "Making Poverty History: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals."

Prince Cedza Dlamini, a Swazi prince and Nelson Mandela's grandson, UN Youth Ambassador on the Millennium Development Goals, is our keynote speaker on Jan. 31st. We will be using the afternoon and evening following for several panels to discuss poverty issues in Africa. Your guest would have been absolutely perfect for this event. I am assuming he is not sticking around that long.

I'm not sure what assistance you are seeking from me with respect to your event, but I would be happy to publicize it, if in turn you would publicize International Week, specifically the Africa related discussion.

I understand that you are also in touch with Dr. Andy Knight about this visit. I am sure that we would want to have your guest on campus in some capacity.

Nancy

Nancy Hannemann
Director, Global Education
International Centre
172 HUB International
University of Alberta
Edmonton , AB T6G 2E1
ph. (780) 492-5962
fax (780) 492-1134

(And I replied like this:)

From: Africa We Care
Sent: Tue 23/11/2004 12:31 PM
To: Hannemann, Nancy
Subject: RE: Africa We Care

Dear Nancy:

What does a pampered "prince" of Swaziland , far removed from the poor of his tiny country of 150,000 people, know of poverty in Africa ? What can you learn of poverty in Africa from a grandson of Nelson Mandela who perhaps has never experienced deprivation, powerlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness?

Nelson Mandela may be the greatest statesman alive today, but his cause was more for political justice rather than for social and humanitarian considerations for Africans. Political justice (one man one vote) has been attained in South Africa, but the poor are worse off today than under Apartheid.

Your current approach to poverty and the attending agenda is what contributes to things remaining the same in Africa, today. "Poverty issues in Africa " have been discussed ad nausea. What is needed is action now. Millions of Africans are dying daily because of the political and academic naïveté, and sometimes, intransigence of well-meaning, but often misguided people. I can contribute more to your International Week, and ask you to consider inviting me to be on one of your "several panels ".

Sincerely,

Chukwuemeka Obiajunwa.

(And Ms. Hannemann responded this way:)

From: Hannemann, Nancy
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 7:11 AM
To: Africa We Care
Cc: Chang, Solene
Subject: RE: Africa We Care

I appreciate you sharing your perspective. I think our objective is to draw attention to our theme through having a high profile speaker and felt that Cedza Dlamini would be a draw. Also he is a young person, a University student himself and we felt he could relate to young people. He is the UN's Youth Ambassador on the MDGs.

I am away at the moment and am only dealing with my e-mail is a very

(And I wrote back as follows:)

Dear Nancy:

Thank you for your appreciation of my perspective. I earnestly look forward to getting together with you, and to working to help the people of Africa as to make real and appreciable difference in their lives.

Sincerely,

Chukwuemeka Obiajunwa.

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