ASA Brings Hope to Starving Children in Africa

Millions of children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa are starving and malnourished due to widespread famine.  There are 13.3 million people in the countries of Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya who need assistance, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

To aid in the relief efforts, the African Students Association (ASA) collected canned goods and hygiene products on Oct. 15 to donate to East Africa during their first community service event, the "Door-to-Door Can-paign". ASA collected products such as toothpaste, tissue and deodorant from students on both North and South campus dorms at the university.

 "We, as ASA, feel it's only right to give back and help our people. We have the resources and ability to; it would be irresponsible not to help out in one way or another," said ASA President Eke Chidi Anthony.

ASA originally collected the goods at their general body meetings, but decided to join the Muslim Students Association in gathering donations on campus.

ASA public relations representative Zuliat Alabi said she was delightfully surprised by people's generosity. "Even if you don't identify with people from Somalia, you still identity as a human being with basic needs," Alabi said.

The drought in the Horn in Africa is the worst it's been in 60 years, and if it continues, the inhabitants could potentially be wiped out, according to Anthony.

In an area torn by violence, drought and high food costs, more than 30,000 children have already died from starvation. Although an international response has provided 2.2 million people with access to safe water, as well as children with nourishment through feeding centers in the area, the crisis continues.

 "The famine in the Horn of Africa is a pressing issue because little children are really suffering and it's quite sad that [most of] America doesn't really know what's going on there," said ASA programming director Jumoke Akinola.

Akinola added that the ASA plans to organize more collections to continue to fight the famine, saying, "Even though people here as well as need help, we should still try to reach out to other people who need it even more…people in Africa don't have all the things we take for granted."