International Student Completes Service Project in Hometown
Published: February 12, 2020 | Author: Savannah Byers | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University student Nouman Kante recently completed a service project in his hometown of Bananlozole, Mali. He collected shoes, socks, uniforms, shin guards, cleats, pumps, and soccer balls to donate to soccer teams in this West African town. Kante also lead a training session for all of the teams, before ending his project with a friendly soccer game.
“The main goal of my project was to serve my community, and especially serve the children who are less fortunate; I think about them everyday,” Kante said. “We should be serving our communities no matter what. Change doesn’t happen quickly, it’s a process. I’m not going to wait until I’m famous or educated to give back. Now is the perfect time.”
Kante partnered with the International Affairs Office during International Education Week (IEW) in November of 2018 to help his service project reach further on SUU’s campus. He worked with Meagan Beesley, International Affairs Business Manager, to organize a donation table for the service component of IEW.
“Nouman knows how soccer brings people together and wanted to make sure that as many kids as possible would have the opportunity to play safely,” Beesley said. “Knowing exactly where the supplies were going and the impact that it would have made the drive to succeed much higher.”
A table was set up for two hours in the Sharwan Smith Student Center to collect donations and supplies on the final day of celebrations for IEW. They collected mounds of supplies while tabling, and additional supplies and donations continued pouring in until Kante flew to Mali in May of 2019 to visit his family and complete his project.
As a result of Kante’s service project, each team received a large bundle of supplies for their players. Everything was completely wiped out.
“Projects like this enabled me to grow not just as a person but as a leader,” Kante said. “I believe that leadership must reflect on one’s service to others, otherwise there is no point of being a leader.”
Kante is currently a senior majoring in business management and minoring in philosophy. He is currently president of the African Union Club. Learn more about his journey from Mali to the SUU.
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