The Tripod

This summer, members of Trinity's African Development Coalition (ADC) will journey to Guinea as part of their project to improve the quality of life there. Formed in spring 2008, "the ADC seeks to raise awareness about contemporary African culture, politics and economic issues on the Trinity campus and beyond," says the ADC's web site, www.adcoalition.net, which describes the Trinity group.

The ADC planning board is comprised of Chair of Finance Ibrahim Diallo '11, Chair of Internal Affairs Andrew Williamson '10, Chair of Public Relations Rosalia Abreu '11, Chair of Chair of Outreach and Communications Cecil Tengatenga '11, and Chair of Technology Zeeshan Mian '10.

"Every year we pick a focus country and we study the country, and design a project to reflect our research," said Diallo.

This year, Guinea is the "focus country," and the proposal for their plan states that it wants "to receive funding to build three classrooms and a water pump in a small village in Guinea." The proposal cites inadequate water and cramped classrooms in Guinea as problems that this project would help aid.

"Renovating the school alone will not change the community," says the proposal, shown on the Web site. "Our work will be communal. We plan to include the young people in the process of making their school a better place."

The proposal states that travelers will go to Guinea from July to August 2009 while helping the people of the locale carry out these projects.

"In a country where over 65 percent of the population is illiterate, we feel that our proposal and work […] will help provide the means for a good education and ultimately a brighter future," said Williamson.

"[The project] gives students an opportunity to pick a country, learn about it, and actually do something during the summer," said Diallo. "We learn a lot having traveled to this country […] what we bring back to Trinity is just too great."

On the Web site, Diallo described the ADC's goals. "We intended ADC to be a platform for us to learn more about the continent of Africa and share with others," his statement reads. "I know we can't solve Africa's problems and I am certain we can become better global citizens for it. It is my sincere hope that ADC will be a platform for many to learn from and contribute what they know."

For more information about ADC, go to www.adcoalition.net.

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