2008 Woodie Awards
Kenyan native speaks out about Africa's economy
By: Rachelle Kent
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Kenya native June Arunga said there is a solution to helping Africa.
Arunga detailed several of Africa's economic challenges during a presentation Wednesday night in the Charles V. Park Library.
"Solutions are done best from the bottom up rather than top down," Arunga said. "Businesses are the solutions to problems. Poorer countries offer the opportunity to solve those problems."
Arunga was born and raised in Kenya as a middle-class citizen and became fascinated with how economies function when she attended the University of Buckingham.
"The people who live there (Africa) themselves are the ones who know how to solve the problems best," Arunga said. "Because they know which problems they are facing in day-to-day life, which is ultimately the most important."
Addressing the problems at the root and finding a lasting solution for Africa's problem would help, said former CMU student Shane Saunders.
"She made a good point about foreign aid," Saunders said. "Many times organizations and charities only throw money at the issue."
Arunga now writes and films documentaries exploring alternative solutions that are beginning to gain awareness on a global scale. She has been featured on ABC's 20/20 as well as many BBC documentaries.
"I believe in the 'searcher' idea," Arunga said. "That is, we define only one problem at a time. And then we search for a measurable and agreeable solution. If the solution works, we amplify from it. If it doesn't, it dies, and we go back to the drawing board."
She credited this method of 'searching' for solutions to one of her favorite economists, Friedrich Hayek, known for his idea of 'spontaneous order.'
After speaking for about 30 minutes, Arunga opened up the presentation for a question and answer session.
"I support her ideas of alternative solutions compared to the mainstream opinions, especially about providing aid to under-developed economies," said Joseph Corey, a Rochester junior. "By using the market for themselves, they work from the bottom up and can see better outcomes."
Students for a Free Economy, Campus Conservatives and the Collegiate Forum co-hosted the event.
"She (Arunga) feels the answer is economical not political. And frankly, I agree with her." Saunders said.
news@cm-life.com
Arunga detailed several of Africa's economic challenges during a presentation Wednesday night in the Charles V. Park Library.
"Solutions are done best from the bottom up rather than top down," Arunga said. "Businesses are the solutions to problems. Poorer countries offer the opportunity to solve those problems."
Arunga was born and raised in Kenya as a middle-class citizen and became fascinated with how economies function when she attended the University of Buckingham.
"The people who live there (Africa) themselves are the ones who know how to solve the problems best," Arunga said. "Because they know which problems they are facing in day-to-day life, which is ultimately the most important."
Addressing the problems at the root and finding a lasting solution for Africa's problem would help, said former CMU student Shane Saunders.
"She made a good point about foreign aid," Saunders said. "Many times organizations and charities only throw money at the issue."
Arunga now writes and films documentaries exploring alternative solutions that are beginning to gain awareness on a global scale. She has been featured on ABC's 20/20 as well as many BBC documentaries.
"I believe in the 'searcher' idea," Arunga said. "That is, we define only one problem at a time. And then we search for a measurable and agreeable solution. If the solution works, we amplify from it. If it doesn't, it dies, and we go back to the drawing board."
She credited this method of 'searching' for solutions to one of her favorite economists, Friedrich Hayek, known for his idea of 'spontaneous order.'
After speaking for about 30 minutes, Arunga opened up the presentation for a question and answer session.
"I support her ideas of alternative solutions compared to the mainstream opinions, especially about providing aid to under-developed economies," said Joseph Corey, a Rochester junior. "By using the market for themselves, they work from the bottom up and can see better outcomes."
Students for a Free Economy, Campus Conservatives and the Collegiate Forum co-hosted the event.
"She (Arunga) feels the answer is economical not political. And frankly, I agree with her." Saunders said.
news@cm-life.com
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