Global Studies Major Attends Clinton Global Initiative University Conference
Each year, CGI U (Clinton Global Initiative University) hosts a meeting for students, national youth organizations, and university officials to discuss solutions to pressing global issues. The third annual CGI U Meeting was held this year at the University of Miami from April 16-18, 2010. At this meeting, nearly 1,500 attendees came together to make a difference in CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.
I was accepted to CGI U after I applied to continue my micro-finance project that I started last summer through Project for Peace Award. I applied and explained my commitment and I was very excited when I got accepted. My brother, Milton attended the event last year and after that he told me, “CGI U is more than just an event.” I was looking forward to meeting others dedicated to change, who do not just talk about challenges but take real, concrete steps toward solving them.
Throughout the year, and as a prerequisite of attending the CGI U meeting, students, youth directors, and university officials develop their own Commitments to Action: a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on their campus, in their community, or in a different part of the world.
My action aims to curb the high rates of menstruation-related absenteeism among primary and secondary schoolgirls in rural Kenya while economically empowering women through the enhancement of business skills and creation of an income source. It is easy, once you are back at school to forget about others who are unfortunate and this conference gave me a chance to reflect on my project and get hopes/encouragements from others. I hope that next time, more St. Lawrence students can join me to this event.
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