Westminster College Hunger Banquet Benefits Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance Sustainability Projects in Utah’s Sister Community

 

 

On Tuesday, April 21, 2009 student leaders at Westminster College hosted a Hunger Banquet in the HWAC Special Events Room.  Proceeds of the event benefited the Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance, a Salt Lake City-based non-profit organization that works collaboratively with villagers in Mali, West Africa. 

 

The Hunger Banquet’s design dramatizes the inequality that perpetuates poverty throughout the world.  As guests enter the banquet, they will be randomly assigned a role paralleling global poverty statistics. The event is intended to broaden attendees’ global perspective, remind them of the privileged life we live in the United States, and to motivate them to make a difference.

 

Michael Yei, Executive Director of the Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance delivered the keynote address and entertainment will be provided by Westminster’s African Drumming and Dancing Group. Throughout and following the formal program, participants will be encouraged to engage in thoughtful discussion at their tables.

 

In 1985, Utah community leaders identified Ouelessebougou as Utah’s Sister Community.  Net proceeds of the Hunger Banquet will be used to support health, education, and economic development efforts in Ouelessebougou.  Current projects include providing vaccinations and mosquito netting, training village health workers and matrons, operating 11 elementary schools, training teachers, and offering training and lending opportunities to village micro entrepreneurs.

Thank you Utah Valley State College
for the memorable Hunger Banquet

On Thursday, November 15, 2007, in conjunction with Hunger and Homelessness Month, student leaders of Utah Valley State College’s Service Learning Center hosted their Annual Hunger Banquet. Proceeds of the event benefited the Ouelessebougou- Utah Alliance.

Moussa Sissoko, a Mali-native and a student of finance at Brigham Young University, shared a perspective on his country. Dr. Michael Minch, professor of philosophy at Utah Valley State College delivered the keynote address, emphasizing how even small contributions from a nation as affluent as the United States can make such a difference to the people of development countries.

Following Dr. Minch’s remarks, a representative of the Alliance presented a short video and a slideshow presentation about poverty statistics in Mali and the Alliance’s development efforts in the 72-village region of Ouelessebougou. Throughout and following the formal program, participants were encouraged to engage in thoughtful discussion at each table.