Courtesy of Aztecs for Africa

San Diego State’s student population is comprised of a wide spectrum of students, and there is no shortage of clubs and organizations dedicated to celebrating this diversity. One such organization, Aztecs for Africa, aims to bring light to injustices plaguing the continent of Africa.

President of AfA and SDSU sophomore, Alejandra Paz, fell in love with the program after attending one of the Invisible Children movie screenings put on by the organization. Paz had been familiar with the nonprofit, which calls attention to the thousands of child abductions and ongoing wars in Africa, since high school. The club screens the documentary every semester. According to Paz, AfA sees support during these screenings from honors societies, the Greek community and various student body members.

Paz said the ultimate goal of AfA is to educate students about the lesser-known problems in Africa.

“There are countless issues related to Africa that go beyond HIV and AIDS,” Paz said. “There are physical and emotional epidemics.”

AfA works with The Fistula Foundation, an organization that combats discrimination against women in African communities. According to the foundation’s website, a fistula, or the abnormal hole in a woman’s internal pelvic region, can be the result of childbirth or sexual violence. The humiliating condition, though preventable and treatable with proper funding and care, renders women incontinent and often results in them being shunned from the community. AfA has taken on this cause and will continue to donate throughout the year.

Last year AfA raised nearly $3,000 through activities such as Rubio’s fundraisers. The organization donates hundreds of dollars every semester to various nonprofits, such as Invisible Children and other campus programs that are raising money for social injustices. AfA is always looking for new, deserving recipients who don’t receive as much attention as the larger organizations or focus directly on Africa.

Ending today, AfA has hosted the three-day Refugee Week on Campanile Walkway. Simulated Palestinian refugee camps has brought to life the injustices that many people in the Middle East face on an everyday basis.

AfA is also planning a benefit concert this December. Toys, canned food and donations from the event will all benefit small organizations that AfA has been researching and hopes to help.

Also on the horizon for the group is a trip to Kenya. The group’s members will work in hospitals with HIV patients and teach hygiene to school-aged children. Paz said there is still much planning and fundraising to be done but hopes to have the trip finalized within two years.

AfA is open to any student who would like to participate and the organization continually accepts new members.

“It’s a small organization, but it can do big things,” Paz said. “Knowing you can help a child get clean water because you supported for one day makes you feel better about living.”

AfA meets at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday in Lower Aztec Center. To learn more about AfA, visit the Aztecs for Africa Facebook page or e-mail aztecsforafrica@gmail.com for more information.

Disclosure: Alejandra Paz writes for the News section of The Daily Aztec.