The Africa ABC project encompasses a range of initiatives aimed at promoting African culture, education, and sustainable development. From exhibitions of books to documentaries and community engagement programs, the project seeks to make a lasting impact on the continent and beyond.
Exhibition of Books Dedicated to Africa
One aspect of the ABC project involved the design and creation of a touring exhibition of books dedicated to Africa. The exhibition aimed to showcase Africa through the best editorial products for children and young people in recent years. It featured numerous works from both African production houses and international publishers.
In conjunction with the exhibition, animated reading sessions were organized for schools in the city. The ABC project was also included in the "Proud to Read" initiative, sponsored by the City and the Province of Bologna. A series of meetings, facilitated by the Cooperative Giannino Stoppani Drosselmeier and the Academy of Bologna, involved project staff visiting schools in the province of Bologna for a total of 12 sessions.
A printed catalog accompanied the exhibition, with 2000 copies distributed in 2011 alone. The catalog contained reflections from specialists on using books as tools for development education, targeting institutions and organizations involved in international cooperation, such as local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and third-sector associations.
The ABC Way: Sharing and Conserving Africa
The ABC Way is defined as sharing and conserving Africa together, taking true custodianship of the areas, wildlife, and people around the camps. It represents the DNA and attitude of the business, aiming to create authentic connections with guests to enhance their stay. The ABC Way is built on three core pillars:
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- Guest Experience
- Foundation
- People
The goal is to create ‘WOW moments’ by making guests feel at home and part of the family, tailoring the experience to suit their needs and preferences. The people involved are passionate, striving for excellence, quality, safety, and caring for the land and its people. Since 2006, the foundation has been making a difference in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. By staying with African Bush Camps, guests contribute to making a long-lasting impact in the communities and wildlife areas surrounding the camps.
ABC Africa: A Documentary by Abbas Kiarostami
Inside abc Africa
Abbas Kiarostami, a renowned Iranian filmmaker, created "ABC Africa" at the request of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development. The documentary focuses on Uganda’s Women’s Effort To Save Orphans (UWESO), showcasing the lives of orphaned children in Uganda.
The film captures the children's excitement and the efforts of elderly women who volunteer to care for them through a program started in 1986. Kiarostami also visits an AIDS treatment center, highlighting the challenges faced by the staff and patients. Despite the somber subject matter, the documentary also includes moments of levity, showing the resilience and spirit of the Ugandan people.
Fun Facts about ABC Africa:
- The documentary features three languages: English, Luganda, and Persian/Farsi.
- Most of the film takes place in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city.
- Abbas Kiarostami collected 20 hours of footage before editing it down to less than an hour and a half.
- This is the first Kiarostami film to be filmed outside of his home country of Iran.
Curtis Monroe notes that while the film has its merits, including a balance of levity and severity, it also contains elements of poverty exploitation and condescending attitudes.
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Sustainable Design and Construction in Africa
The ABC project also emphasizes the importance of sustainable design and construction in Africa. It is crucial to study the best sustainable designs for warm climate zones to unlock their market and research potential, popularizing these concepts to a broader audience.
These designs involve bioclimatic approaches, low-energy cooling techniques, and the use of local construction materials. Globalization trends in the building sector have often resulted in inadequate design solutions, particularly for warm weather regions. The project advocates for fighting this cycle by investigating and implementing sustainable design and construction practices.
Design strategies include bioclimatic approaches and low-energy solutions for maintaining comfort levels in warmer climates. Inspiration can be drawn from nature, such as the Saharan Silver ants, which have enhanced optical reflection and radiative heat dissipation capabilities. This concept has been successfully adapted as a building surface finishing layer.
GOPPPA and Investment in Africa
GOPPPA, the Global One Percent Profit Pledge Alliance, is a consortium of global participants who have agreed to contribute at least 1% of their quarterly or annual profits for a minimum of three years. These contributions are deposited into the Pooled Impact Investment Capital Account (PIICA) held in guaranteed accounts at national banks.
The ABC project also focuses on facilitating investment in Africa and establishing a foundation for future summits. It aims to connect organizations and institutions with influential leaders in Africa, providing access to exclusive networking sessions.
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Table: Key Aspects of the ABC Project
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Book Exhibition | Touring exhibition showcasing African literature for children and young adults. |
| The ABC Way | A philosophy of sharing and conserving Africa through sustainable tourism. |
| ABC Africa Documentary | A film by Abbas Kiarostami focusing on orphaned children in Uganda. |
| Sustainable Design | Promoting bioclimatic and low-energy building techniques. |
| GOPPPA | Encouraging investment in Africa through profit pledges. |
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