The children of Africa are the interdisciplinary focus of the Institute for the African Child at Ohio University. We seek to promote research, teaching, and service that consider children in the process of the African continent’s socio-economic development. Children are Africa’s most marginalized population group and a resource in need of the world’s attention.
The Institute for the African Child expands the conversation among African Studies scholars to include Ohio University’s Colleges of Communicaton, Education, Health and Human Services, and Osteopathic Medicine. The study of Africa has had a home at Ohio University for almost four decades, and now we are applying our knowledge- in cooperation with African institutions and scholars- to Africa’s most compelling challenge, the future of her children.
There are clearly no one-dimensional problems in child survival and youth issues in Africa. The intent of the Institute for the African Child is to provide new interdisciplinary leadership for conferences, fellowships, collaborative research and teaching, that will lead to better living standards for the children of Africa. The African child is at once a niche of concern that has an emotional impact, and entrée to the wider issues of the survival of African women, families, communities and states. Our concern reaches the children of Africa’s Diaspora as well in the context of the health-education-information nexus.
Events
The Institute for the African Child sponsored its inaugural conference on the Ohio University campus in June, 1999. The theme, "The Children of Africa: Resources for Learning, Health and Society," attracted more than 50 presentations on topics including: children's radio programming for development in West Africa, re-integrating child soldiers into community life, and evaluating nutrition and immunization campaigns in different African countries.
Throughout the year the Institute sponsors and supports various events related to the African Studies department, among them is the Decolonization conference held October 25, 2007 to commemorate Ghana's 50 years of Independence and the upcoming, annual Sports In Africa conference in February.
Courses
Our commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research will continue in Summer 2008 with another five-week workshop for teachers, development practitioners, journalists and graduate students in related fields to be announced. Courses last two to five weeks and they are led by Ohio University faculty and visiting professors. Each course will have a special emphasis on some aspect of African Child Issues. Participants are encouraged to enroll in up to three courses. The classes are open to OU graduate students as well as students from other universities, k-12 teachers, jouranlists, media professionals and representatives of NGOs or governmental organizations. Both credit and non-credit options are availiable.
Please click here to see the courses offered for Summer 2008
Yamada International House, 56 E. Union Street, Athens OH 45701 (740) 593-1840