Identity

United African Diaspora Launches Campaign to Support Thomas Sankara Center for African Liberation and Unity in Burkina Faso

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The United African Diaspora Launched their fundraising campaign to support the Thomas Sankara Center for African Liberation and Unity in Burkina Faso-  The United African Diaspora, a Pan-African organisation based in Calgary, Alberta, has announced a fundraising campaign to support the Thomas Sankara Center for African Liberation and Unity in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. To increase literacy rates and provide greater access to literature, the organization aims to raise CAD 1000 by December 31st, 2023.

“Africa currently faces a significant literacy challenge, with only 67.4 per cent of individuals aged 15 and above able to read and write. To address this issue, the United African Diaspora is focusing on supporting grassroots initiatives like the Thomas Sankara Center, which was established in 2021,” says Prudence Iticka, an organizer at the United African Diaspora. 

The Thomas Sankara Center not only serves as a free lending library but also organizes film screenings and runs a weekly after-school program for elementary school children. It stands as a unique resource in Ouagadougou, being the sole location where the local community can access free books on African history for both children and adults. The center is run entirely by young locals who volunteer their time to contribute to the educational development of their community.

"As a Pan-African organization rooted in the diaspora, it is our responsibility to transfer resources to grassroots initiatives in the continent," said a representative of the United African Diaspora. "We believe that supporting education and access to literature is fundamental to fostering growth and empowerment within African communities."

The organization aims to raise $1000 CAD, which would enable the Thomas Sankara Center to add at least 50 books to its library. The fundraising campaign will run until December 31st, 2023.

For Canadian contributors, donations can be made via E-transfer to bpucalgary@gmail.com with the note 'books.' International donors are encouraged

To contribute directly to the centre’s GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/5d0104a7.

United African Diaspora was founded in 2020, is committed to building a strong and autonomous African community capable of meeting the needs of its people and contributing to the development of the African continent.

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