A people… who are possessed of the spirit of commerce, who see and who will pursue their advantages may achieve almost anything. — George Washington, letter to Benjamin Harrison, October 10, 1784.
I am interested in a career in international development re sub-Saharan Africa. I believe that international development in Africa can be realized by fostering a spirit of intranational and international trade. I also believe that fostering such a spirit will require efficient government action and effective project support that enable underserved populations to see and pursue endeavors that are in their best interest.
I became interested in international development from a project support standpoint during my second semester at The University of Texas at Austin in 2001, a year after the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). That semester, I was elected president of the African Students Association–Culture Committee and one of my goals was to develop a fundraising project. I achieved this goal by setting up a program where we bought African-made jewelry and artifacts directly from small business owners in Africa and auctioned them off on campus. The success of the program was made possible in part by the AGOA, which enabled greater access to businesses in Africa.
Ultimately, I am interested in working at the intersection where efficient government action meets effective project support because anything is possible at this intersection, especially international development. The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has demonstrated this each fiscal year since its inception.
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