Dr. Mark Karnes was drawn back to Africa— the continent where he spent five years fresh out of medical school—after retiring from a 25-year OB/GYN career in Michigan. He now lives and works in Ethiopia. He will talk about life as a doctor in rural Ethiopia, the chasm of health issues faced by women in Africa compared to America, and the struggles and joys he and his wife face living cross-culturally. Discussion and questions will follow.

This one credit mini-course is part of a series organized by regions around the world based on their role on the world stage, their importance within the Muslim world, and the critical influence they play in the global community. The series and course seeks to illuminate the various perspectives of the Muslim community around the world.

Dr. French will discuss the relationship between China and Africa in a way that will help us understand the encounter between these two parts of the world. Having worked as an international diplomat and travelled extensively in Africa and China, he will tap into his wealth of experience as he shares the conversations Africans are having about China’s role in their communities and also the conversations the Chinese are having about their involvement in Africa. The question in many people’s minds is “Are the Chinese helping to bring about development that will change lives in Africa?”

You are invited to a free sneak peek film screening of the documentary film “Under the Umbrella Tree” describing the work of Bright Kids Uganda and its founder Victoria Namusisi.
Q&A with Ms. Namusisi, of Entebbe Uganda, following each screening.
Thurs., Oct. 9 at 2pm in 4130 Wesley Posvar Hall
More info: Ford Institute GSPIA – fihs@pitt.edu --or-- African Studies Program - www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa

The colloquium aims to draw out the multiple meanings of "Afropean" at the intersection of aesthetic and political forms of expression of the African diaspora. Responses will be given by John Walsh, Department of French and Italian.

With the current epidemic level of HIV infection in Africa, Emily will be discussing the care needed by HIV positive individuals beyond the medical. Following her first year of law school, Emily spent two months in Eldoret, Kenya, interning for the Legal Aid Centre of Eldoret (LACE). LACE is a non-profit legal aid office that provides comprehensive legal services to all persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Additionally, LACE represents victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

In 2000, Bright Kids Uganda, Entebbe Home was founded by Victoria Nalongo Namusisi to care for the vulnerable children of Uganda. Hear Victoria’s story, what’s in store for Bright Kids Uganda, and explore possible internships with her orphanage and NGO!

Megan Carson spent the 2013-14 academic year in Nairobi studying the state of higher-education in Kenya. Her research attempts to tackle issues of accessibility to public higher education in the context of Kenya’s dual track tuition policy. What are the issues surrounding Kenya’s “public by day, private by night” universities? Join us for “Let’s Talk Africa” to discuss this and more

Please join us for a reception to welcome our new and returning students, faculty and staff. It will be a great opportunity to get to know each other and network on everything African Studies.

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. We look forward to seeing everyone!

During her studies in the GSPIA PhD program, Vera Achvarina was a researcher at the Ford Institute for Human Security from 2005 through 2007. She will present on:

-A Ford institute project under her leadership which closely examined security situations in African refugee and IDP camps.
-Her research on child soldiering seeking to answer why some armed rebel groups recruit minors for armed conflict while others do not.
-Her recent co-authored work on transitional justice in Northern Uganda and people's attitudes towards retribution.