The African think-tank, Platform, recently organized the 1st Prafrica Workshop in Istanbul, bringing together African students from various backgrounds. The workshop aimed to address a wide range of challenges facing the continent, including health, artificial intelligence, economics, and politics.
Souandaou Athoumani Ali, a student from the Comoros and head of the platform, highlighted the importance of exchanging ideas and perspectives on Africa’s pressing issues. The platform, established in 2019, focuses on reviewing theses written in Türkiye to identify relevant topics for discussion.
During the workshop, two sessions were held with presentations covering diverse topics such as politics, healthcare, and artificial intelligence. The discussions emphasized the need for African countries to find solutions to combat infectious diseases and political instability.
Abdoul Fathi Sanogo, the general coordinator of the Platform and a Burkina Faso native, emphasized the inclusivity of the organization, welcoming participation from African researchers worldwide. The platform collaborates with non-African experts as well to promote a global perspective.
One notable aspect of the workshop was the delivery of presentations in Turkish. This decision was made to amplify the voices of Africans residing in Türkiye and foster a sense of shared understanding and collaboration.
The Platform is committed to creating a platform for African researchers to explore and propose solutions that benefit Africa as a whole. By bringing together students studying in Türkiye, the workshop provided a valuable opportunity for young minds to engage in meaningful discussions and contribute to the continent’s development.
Overall, the Prafrica Workshop in Istanbul succeeded in shedding light on Africa’s challenges and encouraging proactive dialogue and collaboration among African researchers and students.