Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Millennium Development Goals
• These goals were ratified by 189 heads at the United Nations Millenium Summit Sept. 2000.
• 1. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in Africa
• 2. To achieve universal primary education
• 3. To promote gender equality
• 4. To Reduce child mortality
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
“A Small Group of Thoughtful People Can Change the World”
It is the only thing that ever has
Margaret Mead (1901-1978)Worked in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Somalia
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Millenium Goals cont.
• 5. To combat HIV/AIDS
• 6. To ensure environmental sustainability
• 7. To develop global partnerships
(The year 2015 was chosen as the goal line)
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
African Women Toting Water
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Africa Needs a New Plan
• This conference today will focus on global “partnerships”
• This means country-to-country relationships
• Most of all, people-to-people actions
• Each person here today should come away with “a partner” or “partners” or contacts that can lead to “partners.”
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Our Goals Today
• Establish linkages between U.S. companies and companies in Africa in order to achieve the 2015 goals.
• Explore investment opportunities in Africa
• Search for new ways to teach prevention for HIV/AIDS with particular emphasis on youth and prevention.
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Bad water is the Second Leading Cause of Death in Africa
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Other Areas of Focus Today
• Agriculture and mining partnerships
• Alternative energy and better water management systems
• Information and communication technology links
• Educational partnerships and joint grants
• Small and medium sized joint ventures and micro-financing.
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
WPI’s Africa Focus(Why WPI?)
• WPI has project centers around the world, from Namibia to Bangkok to Costa Rica.
• The Namibia Project Center was started in 2002
• Each year about 25 students and 2 faculty go to Africa and work on various projects concerned with sustainable development.
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Why WPI? continued
• We have received grants from USAID and U.S. Department of Education for ten years of various Africa projects.
• We have published books and papers relating to research in Africa.
• We teach courses in Africa History and Culture.
• We are small enough to be agile and combine practical with theoretical.
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
Conclusion
• This conference is a call to arms and is designed for action and not just information exchange
• As the day progresses let us each keep thinking about what we can do to bring the continents closer together.
• Let’s view this conference as a beginning so that we each leave tonight with new ideas and plans for action.
Africa-U.S. Conference May 23, 2006
“A Small Group of Thoughtful People Can Change the World”
Margaret Mead