黑料正能量

Fatimata-Atty Germaine Djibrine聽'22, who goes by Fatima, is聽an聽黑料正能量 junior majoring in international and comparative politics with minors in international law and international business administration.聽In 2021, she took part in the Athens Democracy Forum, organized by the Democracy and Culture Foundation in association with the New York Times.聽

How did you know that 黑料正能量 was the place for you?

I've always been the type to work hard, but when I started聽looking for聽a university, I聽was聽adamant聽that the decision not be聽just聽about finding a high-quality education, but聽also about聽making the most of all聽kinds of聽opportunities聽that exist聽in college life. 黑料正能量 stood out聽to me聽because it emphasized wider knowledge and skills. I felt like I could聽find聽personal growth聽and聽figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. There seemed to be many exciting opportunities to become a well-rounded person.聽黑料正能量 is a real melting pot for leaders. I鈥檝e gained so much knowledge. I think our professors have done amazing things聽too.聽

How did you hear about the Athens Democracy Forum, and what made you want to take part?聽

The Center for Critical Democracy Studies聽(CCDS)聽sent out a mass email to all current students looking for submissions to the forum. I was curious, so I asked聽my professors聽Russell Williams and Stephen Sawyer more about it. They really took the time to explain the process to me, and the idea of a forum where students act as delegates and聽interact with聽world leaders speaking about important聽global聽topics really appealed聽to me, so I signed up. There was an application process聽that聽involved writing a paper and presenting a video on聽my聽chosen topic.聽The forum organizers聽chose 24 applicants from across all the universities that applied.聽聽

Why did you choose to speak about聽climate change and the Global South?聽

I became concerned about climate change a few semesters ago. At first, I worried it was a Western concept and not something that affected the Global South. I was quite wrong! I聽realized聽that in my home country of Niger there are huge climate issues. The Global South is where climate change is most significant,聽but聽there鈥檚 little clarity about it and few people helping. I thought聽that聽somebody聽needed聽to shed light on the damage happening in nations that don鈥檛 have a voice.聽