UNC African Studies Center

✈️ Off to Africa!

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s INSITE Africa (formerly the UNC African Studies Center) teacher cohort is off for an immersive learning experience in Morocco and Kenya focused on developing a curriculum to help North Carolina students engage with Africa through nuanced, contemporary, and historically grounded perspectives.

Over the next two weeks, we’ll explore history, culture, education, and community through place-based learning experiences that will directly inform future classroom resources for teachers across our state.

Too often, Africa is taught as a single story. This journey is an opportunity to deepen understanding, challenge misconceptions, and bring richer global perspectives into North Carolina classrooms.

We look forward to sharing reflections, resources, and stories along the way.

First stop: Marrakesh 🇲🇦

The Sacred Door is a Beba folktale from Cameroon that tends with a provocative question: “What would you have done?” This retelling, shared across Africa, Canada, and the United States, demonstrates how storytelling transcends borders and nourishes dialogue about identity, ethics, and community.

Dr. Juliana Makuchi Nfah-Abbenyi is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at NC State University. This talk is part of the Carolina Public Humanities series Humanities in Action developed in partnership with the UNC Area Studies Centers this spring.

Tickets are $10 at full price and $5 with Carolina Alumni Membership. Additional details and discounts can be found here.

After a career as an epidemiologist and ethicist working in more the 40 countries, Dr. Jim Thomas explores the origins of colonial thinking; how coloniality is present today in charities, the market, and the global health industry; how he has been complicit in colonial systems; and how he has sought to unlearn colonial ways.

This event is open to the public. Refreshment will be available.

Applications are now open! is accepting applications for our 2026 and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Practicum. These opportunities give The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students the chance to:

-Apply skills in participatory research & global development
-Gain immersive experience at CFK Africa’s HQ in Kibera, Nairobi
-Work directly with Kenyan staff on program & research development
Deadline to apply: January 16, 2026
🔗 Learn more & apply: cfkafrica.org/peacock-fellow


UNC African Studies Center UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media

Join us tomorrow at 5.

Learn more about these events using the link below or our bio.

https://mailchi.mp/f195b77895a0/ascnewsletter-17610852?e=5ba715d207

Tomorrow: The event will be held at Elon University, with an option to join remotely via Zoom.

To receive the Zoom link, please register at https://bit.ly/3Jk8qC7

TODAY at Manly Hall from 5pm.

A Middle East and African Cultures fellowship is offering K-12 educators global perspectives.

Teachers from across North Carolina joined College of Arts and Sciences faculty and community leaders in Chapel Hill this summer to share in-depth lessons about global cultures.

"Teachers were giving feedback, asking questions, doing activities; the goal was to make it as interactive as possible," said Alaa Hammouda, UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies outreach manager. "And the feedback we heard was great."

The teachers and professors will continue to meet throughout this school year to develop lesson plans to share with fellows.

https://go.unc.edu/Cc57E

📢 Humanitarian VR Simulation at UNC Gillings

Step into the field of humanitarian assistance through immersive virtual reality training led by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 🌍✨

📅 Sept. 24–26
🕒 30-minute sessions | Reservation required
📍 UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

This is the first time ICRC is offering this training in an academic setting. Experience what it’s like to work in conflict zones, watch 360° videos of global humanitarian response, and learn how you can get involved at UNC.

🔗 Sign up here: tinyurl.com/mvmyszzv