Press Release: The African Union Mission to the United States and 快猫视频 Expand Joint Efforts in Support of African Education and the Enhancement of the longstanding Cultural Relations Between the United States and Africa
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Atlanta, Georgia, June 29, 2021 鈥擳he African Union Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Hilda Suka-Mafudze, served as the keynote speaker for the grand opening of the 快猫视频 (快猫视频) Atlanta warehouse on June 26, 2021. The event took place against the backdrop of the celebration of the African Union 2021 theme of the year: 鈥淎rts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want鈥�.
Ambassador Suka-Mafudze met with 快猫视频 leadership to discuss collaborative opportunities for improving educational opportunities across Africa and praised 快猫视频 鈥渇or its noble mission and its unwavering commitment to education and a strong belief in Africa.鈥� The Ambassador cited the late United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan who said the gift of a book is a gift of hope and 鈥渘o development tool is more effective than education and literacy. When people are able to access education, they can break free from the cycle of poverty.鈥� Ambassador Mafudze added that the African Union Commission partnership with 快猫视频 is an eloquent recognition of the instrumental role that culture plays as a catalyst for the sustainable socio-economic development of the continent.
It is worth mentioning that 快猫视频 is the world鈥檚 largest shipper of donated books to the African continent and has shipped over 51 million books and served all African countries, since its founding in 1988. 快猫视频 has been rated as one of the top NGO鈥檚 in the United States by Charity Navigator, generating a top rating for nine years straight and rating in the top 4% of all United States charities as measured by transparency and efficiency. Partnerships with members of the African diaspora in the US and across the world has been critical to the success of 快猫视频, with many diaspora members serving on the 快猫视频 board, raising funds, organizing shipments, and providing linkages to various African countries.
Ambassador Suka-Mafudze underscored during the event the African Union commitment to revitalizing the progress it has achieved in recent years in education, health and poverty eradication, progress which has been halted or reversed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淚 am confident that with your support and commitment to this noble cause 快猫视频 will continue to make a great impact in the continent,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou are an eloquent example of an effective instrument of soft public Diplomacy that contributes in enhancing the longstanding historic and cultural ties between our peoples and nations.鈥�
The Ambassador also highlighted that the African Union Commission is 鈥減leased to partner with 快猫视频 in whatever way we can to advance literacy and education across the continent.鈥� The two organizations have partnered in several ways including mobilizing key US stakeholders to deliver more books and securing 快猫视频 books for use at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. New initiatives are also being explored to expand education through such strategies as custom printing of books in local languages to deliver to children across the continent as well as through triangular cooperation programs.
鈥淲e welcome and appreciate this opportunity to partner together to help ensure that more children as well as adults have access to information and the latest and most up-to-date digital content,鈥� she said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 reinforce our partnership and capitalize on the longstanding and deep historic and cultural relations between our Nations, leverage Africa鈥檚 unique advantages including its diversity and widespread Diaspora, as well as U.S thriving knowledge economy, to build together more sustainable partnerships for thebest interest of our people.鈥�
About 200 people attended the event, which also included remarks from 快猫视频 Founder Mr. Tom Warth, Board President Ms. Joni Sussman and Executive Director Mr. Patrick Plonski. The 快猫视频 Warehouse band provided entertainment.
鈥淲e were excited to celebrate the opening of our new Atlanta warehouse, which is our gateway to Africa and its millions of students,鈥� said Mr. Patrick Plonski. 鈥淥ur new warehouse will dramatically improve our efficiency and allow us to automate our operation. It will also be a more effective work area for our thousands of volunteers.鈥�
Mr. Plonski added that 鈥渨e were grateful to have the African Union Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze as our keynote speaker. We welcome our continuing close relationship with the African Union, which helps us to better serve book recipients across Africa.鈥�
Both Ambassador Suka-Mafudze and Mr. Plonski thanked 快猫视频 event sponsors and partners including Thomson Reuters, Vector Global Logistics, MK Management Company, the UPS Foundation, and Zep. The Ambassador and Mr. Plonski also cited the critical importance of the African diaspora as well as African philanthropists living on the continent for their generosity in raising funds to pay shipping costs to send books to every African country.