OBSERVER Staff Report
A local program dedicated to introducing Black students to the rich cultural experience of Africa seeks financial support to take its next group of young people to Accra, Ghana.
The Afripeace 2025 Youth Peace and Cultural Education Program needs an additional $15,000 to ensure all qualified Sacramento-area high school students can participate in its transformative cultural exchange this July.
This intensive program offers a 10-day cultural immersion in Accra, designed to equip young people with crucial peacebuilding and leadership skills. Participants will engage in educational excursions, community service projects, and cultural activities alongside Ghanaian peers, fostering global understanding and conflict resolution techniques. Afripeace places a special emphasis on including Black youth from low-income families, recognizing that financial barriers often prevent them from participating in such enriching international experiences. These opportunities are vital for personal development and empowering youth to engage in systemic change.
A significant $25,000 matching award from the Rising Foundation already has provided scholarships, but the demand from qualified students still outweighs available funds. Every donation, no matter the size, helps more amazing youth experience this “once-in-a-lifetime” program.
The Afripeace Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is dedicated to promoting U.S.-Africa relations through grassroots peace and cross-cultural exchanges. Founded by Dr. Ernest Uwazie, director of the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution at Sacramento State, Afripeace has a proven track record, having sent more than 105 U.S. students, educators, and professionals on exchanges and benefited more than 5,000 African youth.To learn more about the Afripeace 2025 Youth Peace and Cultural Education Program in Ghana and to contribute, please visit the Afripeace Development Foundation website at afripeace.org/donate. For additional information, you can also contact Julius Austin, an Afripeace Board Member, via phone at 248-425-9407 or email at austinjd_2000@yahoo.com. You can also hear more about the program from Dr. Ernest Uwazie and Julius Austin on the “in our tribe” podcast (season 8, episode 80) at inourtribe.libsyn.com/season-8-episode-80-dr-ernest-uwazie-julius-austin.