(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 14, 2009 ) Athens, OH -- When Steve Howard joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer teacher in West Africa, he had no idea what his experiences with children would later inspire. Howard now serves as director of Ohio University's Institute for the African Child (IAC) - the only one of its kind in the world. The center will celebrate its 10th anniversary this month.
The IAC, an integral part of international studies on campus, is supported by faculty members from six different colleges, and encourages a holistic approach to the understanding of children in Africa by promoting research and advocacy.
Through teaching, workshops, research and conferences, the IAC allows those who go on to work in education or government and non-governmental organizations, to have a better understanding of the contribution that children can make to African and global society - and of the obstacles they face in making those contributions.
As a result of this and other programs like it, Ohio University is rated one of only 10 National Resource Centers (NRC) for Africa in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
HowardÂ’s plans for the institute include a stronger focus on the joys of childhood in Africa, including sports and arts. His hope is that focusing on the positive aspects of childrenÂ’s lives in Africa will help to counterbalance the often tragic image attributed to African children.
“People get tired of being bombarded with negative images, so if we can show people what good is going on and how their interest has helped to change things, I think we’ll end up with a more successful and cooperative world,” Howard said.
Contact Howard to find out:
• How seeing Africa through the eyes of children inspired him to create this institute
• How an institute of this nature directly impacts African children
• New initiatives that are underway for Ohio University's Institute for the African Child
• How financial strains, especially during the current economic crisis in the U.S., have impacted the institute
• Much more!
Contact: Steve Howard, director, Institute for the African Child, at 740-593-1834 or howard@ohio.edu.
Media Contact: Jennifer Krisch, media specialist, at (740) 597-1939 or krisch@ohio.edu.
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Institute for the African Child
Steve Howard
740-593-1834 howard@ohio.edu
(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 14, 2009 ) Athens, OH -- When Steve Howard joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer teacher in West Africa, he had no idea what his experiences with children would later inspire. Howard now serves as director of Ohio University's Institute for the African Child (IAC) - the only one of its kind in the world. The center will celebrate its 10th anniversary this month.
