The UA African Student Association convened at its last meeting of the semester yesterday evening, ending with a hope to increase cultural awareness on campus next semester.
In addition to hosting numerous events, including an African-themed cultural show and an annual ASA banquet, the association raised $1,500 for African orphans in the last year, said Amuche Okeke, ASA president.
"I wanted to help out with orphanages that take care of kids with AIDS," said Okeke, an electrical engineering and engineering management senior.
But Okeke said one of the ASA's goals is to inform the UA and Tucson communities of the brighter side of Africa.
She said the group aimed to eradicate AIDS and poverty, but also to show there are a lot of wonderful aspects of Africa that people do not see.
"There is no social security in Africa," Okeke said.
"But a hungry man lying in the street will be fed and taken into a home by perfect strangers, but you don't hear about those stories."
The cultural show hosted in early April was meant "to show African culture from an African perspective," Okeke said. She said a lot of her classmates imagine Africa in a box, and they associate Africa with AIDS, war and poverty.
She even said some classmates said they imagine African kids holding lion cubs when asked to describe their perspective of Africa.
"It's really funny, but some people really think like that," Okeke said.
Okeke said ASA students, hailing from all over Africa, showcased different African attires, dances and poems at the culture showcase.
"I'm Nigerian, we have Zambians, Tanzanians, Cameroonians, Mauritanians," she said. "At least 15 of the 54 African nations are represented here."
Next year, the ASA will aim to increase their campus visibility, said Christelle Abaa, ASA president-elect.
She said the ASA will be joining in the Spring Fling parade with an all-out, all-African float.
Abaa, a junior majoring in French and biochemistry, said she hopes the increased visibility will help the ASA raise more money to send to Africa.
"Every little thing helps, and every little thing counts," she said.
Abaa's plans for the ASA also involve hosting a free fund-raising banquet and sending college-level literature published by nongovernmental organizations to African libraries.
She also hopes as word gets out about the ASA on campus, more students from all backgrounds, not just African, will be encouraged to join.
"Our club welcomes everyone," Abaa said.