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AIA Society at AUD Brings Aid and Sets Plans for Sustainable Projects |
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| Dated: November 09, 2009 |
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The International Aid Society (AIA) at the American University in Dubai (AUD), spent two weeks in Ndop- Bamunka, Cameroon as part of their humanitarian initiative launched during the second Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) meeting in the US last February 2009.
Commenting on the AIA Society’s efforts, External Relations Manager at AUD Peggy Awad and the Club Advisor says:
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“The AUD Community is proud to see the AIA Society members do more than simply discuss world issues but also take real /concrete measurable steps towards solving them, just as they have learnt from the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) held every year in the States and hosted by President Clinton”.
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While on their trip, the members of AIA met with business people, farming cooperatives, artisans and others who presented the Club with proposals for small grants; accordingly the volunteers prepared grants and donated them to the needy as best they could.
AIA volunteers Sareh Ameri-Mills, Robin Mills, Jim Henry, Peter Mills, Mona Akbari, Ghazaleh Nekui-Ellis, Warkha Lalchand and Kenneth Curtis discussed the proposals and through a time consuming and difficult process, decided on whom and how to help, based on the available resources and sense of urgency.
This Cameroon initiative was launched during the second (CGIU), an event hosted by President Bill Clinton. AUD was the only educational institution from the Middle East to participate and the Club was honored by receiving a certificate of recognition from President Clinton for their Cameroon Initiative. |
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 On the trip to Cameroon and the entire experience, Professor James Henry, member of the AIA Society and Assistant Professor of English at AUD comments:
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“Travelling with AUD International Aid to Cameroon for three weeks was, as clichéd as it almost certainly sounds, a life-altering experience. We spent about 40-50 hours a week meeting with local people, listening to them describe the hardships of their lives. But we also saw their spirit and how they maintain a positive attitude even in the face of poverty of the kind few of us in developed countries can even begin to imagine. In our final week there, we spent our time making grants purchased with money raised by AIA here at AUD. It was immensely gratifying to see how buying something as simple as a shovel, a wheel barrow or an irrigation pump can completely change the lives of so many people.”
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AIA’s mission serves as an opportunity for students, staff and faculty at the American University in Dubai to be challenged in tackling global problems while providing practical and creative solutions. They aspire to make a difference in the world by assisting communities around the world in areas such as health, education and poverty alleviation; partnering with established NGO’s to maximize effectiveness on the ground and using their own cultural diversity and experience.
In that regard, by focusing on the current educational level and promoting ways to enhance learning standards among youth and women, the AIA committed to provide educational and cultural assistance for 7 villages in North West Province of Cameroon. The Club established partnerships with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for this project, including LUKMEF and PCDI. |
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On her experience in Cameroon and the life lessons learnt, Ms. Sareh Ameri-Mills, President of the AIA Society at AUD describes:
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“We arrived in Cameroon late at night, heard languages we didn’t understand, and immediately had half of our volunteers deported due to visa problems. The whole AUD team had spent six months preparing and raising funds for this trip, but at once we realized some of the challenges in working in a developing country. After travelling the nine hours up to the village of Ndop, we were soon crossing a lake in a flimsy boat, and were told to watch out for dangerous hippos. From then on, every day from early morning to late afternoon, for over three weeks, we met different groups and individuals. It was heart breaking to hear that for a small sum of money like $20, they could buy fishing nets or a sack of rice, and make their lives so much better. It was heart-warming to see the happy faces when we made the donations. To think that here we easily spend $20 on lunch or a taxi ride. The experience has changed my perspective. Now I have some idea of how hard international development work is, but also how important and satisfying it can be.”
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Despite not being able to accommodate all needs and requests, they assisted people in four communities in several ways.
 In Bambalang, they donated a wheelbarrow, pump and wrench to women’s farming and business cooperatives, and funds for student chairs and a teacher’s desk and chair at a local school, and divided a wheelbarrow, supplies of wheat and egussi seeds, 20 liters of palm oil, packets of twine, hoes, and a new fishing net among several small businesses owners.
In Mbissa Island, they donated 50 sheets of zinc for a nearly completely destroyed school and a wheelbarrow to a farming cooperative, while in Bamessing, they purchased an irrigation pump and associated tubes and offered it to the Developmental Female Farming Group.
In Ndop- Bamunka, the volunteers bought school supplies and donated over 60 000 CFA to two schools, and raised funds for a small rabbit raising business.
This might not seem as much to some, but for the people of Bamunka, Cameroon, those donations have had a tremendous impact on their lives. This trip was planned after the AIA worked with Partners for Community Development Initiative (PCDI) Cameroon in Ndop-Bamunka, in autumn 2008, and raised $4700 to fund the Teacher Training Seminars PCDI had been conducting at the Ndop office. |
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Since returning to Dubai, the AIA members have been discussing several sustainable plans that they are hoping to implement as soon as possible. In order to raise funds for these projects, they are organizing many events at the American University in Dubai campus, including their Dirham War (in November).
The AIA also acts fast whenever a natural disaster strikes; they have recently collected and sent food, clothing, blankets and other supplies to victims in the Philippines.
The AIA members were also behind the “Stand Up and Take Action” on campus movement, organized in their advocacy to help end poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Peggy Awad concludes,
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“It is amazing to work so closely with the AIA and guide them to where they are today. They have reached great heights and truly converted a real educational gap in Cameroon into a meaningful action by dedicating their time, skills and full support towards achieving tangible results”.
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 AIA, today, is already fundraising towards sustaining this educational initiative and will be sending members to travel again by next summer to build a boat and a school in Cameroon. In addition to its many local activities, it has also committed to an initiative to educate students in India and is currently working closely with 8-Day Academy (NGO) towards successfully planning and sustaining this commitment.
AUD supports its students’ initiative and highly encourages civic work engagement. Since the inception of AIA, it has presented a great window of opportunity for AUD students, faculty and staff to join hands with the rest of the world and make a difference locally, regionally and internationally. |
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