“I have always believed that Africa's destiny is to be a continent rich with innovation and possibility,” says Anne Muthoni Githuku-Shongwe ’87. “So, my desire has always been to contribute in some significant way to transforming the hearts and minds of Africans to believe that it is possible to have a future without poverty.”
“Significant way” is an understatement. Githuku-Shongwe is the founder and CEO of Afroes Transformational Multi-Media & Consulting, “a social enterprise that creates and deploys innovative interactive digital and media technology dialogue solutions rooted in Africa’s rich heritage,” according to her Web site. The site continues, “The core mission of Afroes is to inspire the conversations and actions of Africans with digital or face-to-face dialogue on hope and possibility. Afroes provides face-to-face strategic consulting services to high-value development agencies working in Africa with a strong social transformation agenda.
Before establishing Afroes, which has headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa, Githuku-Shongwe was an international development professional with the UN and management consulting firms on three continents. Following St. Lawrence, where she was a multi-field major and president of the Black Student Union, Githuku-Shongwe earned a master’s degree in international development from The American University and a post-graduate Certificate in Management Development from Jones International University.
“Afroes was born of my vision to seek innovative digital solutions to age-old youth and social development challenges,” she explains. “We have built a mobile and online game, ChampsChase, that takes the messages of the campaign and translates them for easy and fun consumption by young people. Check it out at www.championsforchildren.co.za!
“The St. Lawrence faculty (particularly in government) taught me the reality of global politics and helped me understand the political economy of Africa and why Africa has remained where it is, and I am forever grateful,” Githuku-Shongwe recalls. “I also built a strong work ethic under the influence of SLU students.”
