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Duke Alumni in Africa

After graduation, Duke students are making a mark in the continent

Duke's presence in Africa extends beyond the work of faculty and students.  Alumni are involved in diverse work throughout the continent of Africa -- as journalists, filmmakers, humanitarians and more. The following alumni are just a few examples:

  • Denise Raquel Dunning '98 is the founder of Let Girls Lead, a non-profit organization that partners with women in Liberia. Malawi, Nigeria and other African countries to improve health, provide educational opportunities and empower communities.
  • Raphael Obonyo MPP'13 and Andrew Cunningham '08 each founded organizations providing educational scholarships for Kenyan youth. Through his Obonyo Foundation, Obonyo has awarded secondary school assistance for the students living in his former neighborhood, Korogocho, since 2008. Cunningham is the co-founder of the non-governmental organization Women's Institute of Secondary Education and Research (WISER) in Muhuru Bay, Kenya. In March, the first WISER-sponsored class will graduate. Many in the graduating class are among the first women from Muhuru Bay to qualify for university admission in the last 20 years.
  • In 2006, former aid worker Tori Hogan '04 produced a 10-part film series called Beyond Good Intentions, and in 2012 she authored a book by the same name to critique the effectiveness of humanitarian aid work in countries such as Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa. Today Hogan continues to speak to national news outlets and students about evaluating and engaging in volunteerism.
  • Matt Bradley '04 has spent the last five years reporting from Egypt. Currently he is The Wall Street Journal's Cairo bureau reporter and has covered events such as Egypt's vote on a new constitution and the ousting of former presidents Mohammed Morsi and Hosni Mubarak.