One hundred and fifty students of the School of Management are involved in a project called “Making Niger Our Business” to help relieve the famine currently affecting the African country of Niger.
Under the guidance of professor Guy Laflamme, students from marketing and consumer behavior classes are organizing a number of fundraising activities during the month of November in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Their objective is to raise $100,000. Students will be selling orange (symbolizing famine) ribbons and wristbands, as well as fair-trade coffee. Laflamme is donating his salary as part-time professor to help the cause.
The funds will be used to build two water wells, provide financial assistance to a health clinic and form partnerships with both the Youth Parliament and Niamey’s University.
The students are not alone in this major endeavour; many organizations have come forward to provide assistance. The public will be able to donate at nine of Alterna Savings’ branches. “Alterna Savings is very excited to be part of this innovative project. Helping the people of Niger while fostering and encouraging a culture of social responsibility in our students and future business leaders is a two-fold benefit that will have an impact for years to come.” said Kimberley Ney, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Alterna Savings.
Sixteen McDonalds’ Restaurants have also offered 10% of their one-day sales to the cause. The Ottawa Senators, Thirsty Scholars, On Tap, Acadian House, Earl of Sussex, Caisse Populaire Vision, Silent Philanthropists and the University of Ottawa have also confirmed their support for this project.
Her Excellency Nana Aicha Foumakoye, Niger’s Ambassador to Canada also supports this project. “Far from being a lost cause, Niger has great potential for development, and it’s in that light that the students, tomorrow’s managers will succeed in making a significant contribution to the long term development of this nation,” she said.
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Making Niger Our Business
