By: Moussa Soumaoro
This week has been long and very interesting, from the leadership courses at the Fanning Institute of Leadership development to the capitol building visit in Atlanta, community service at senior hunger coalition, panels with American grassroots organizations, sites visit (Coca-cola, Georgia Aquarium, Museum of civil rights movement), all these activities are fascinating, but some are more because of the emotions they procure and the history and the cause they represent.
Let start by the community service with Victoria from Nigeria, Mariama from Burkina Faso, Abu from Sierra Leone, and Thando from South Africa. The challenge started by finding the bus stop, even tough having four google map, we spent 10 minutes asking people. We get in the bus with the fear to not get lost. I was just kidding. Lol!
I have performed community service at the senior hunger coalition. I was impressed by the conviction and the love these young people serve and take care of the elders.
Nothing is wrong to make money, I was told at Russell Center of Innovation and Leadership. But if you get to the top, do not let your struggle, your painful past and your success impeach you to be kind and feel that the others are lazy. Your best investment is and will always be what you do to solve the problems in your community, the young people you help to get a good education and prospects for their life and the folks pull out of poverty. Russel embodies this universal and basic truth, even in his grave, he continues to give back to his community and his country.
To discover up close the story of the famous and anonymous women and men who fought for the dignity of the black minority in the USA until the ultimate sacrifice was a moment of emotion and a reason to stand for the oppressed and the vulnerable, and to be on the side of justice every second of our lives.
Thanks to this amazing staff, Brandy the mother of all, Lauren, OJO who crashed two vehicles between Athens and Atlanta, McCline who keeps the class connected to his gestures when he talks about leadership. You are the best.
I am Moussa Soumaoro, from Guinea, Mandela Washington fellow in Civic Engagement at the University of Georgia, Atlanta, with 24 young Africans having in common, the rage to face with their talent and commitment the evils of their common good Africa.
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