AU alumnus and former NBA player Kermit Washington raised more than $25,000 as of Thursday, through his commitment to a five-day fast, in order to call attention to hunger in Kenya.
Washington invited students to camp on the Friedheim Quadrangle Thursday night with him, he said.
Washington received pledges of support from community members and businesses.
The money raised will feed more than 100,000 people in Nairobi. At press time, Washington was still compiling the final fundraising figures.
"We didn't come to campus to get money from students - they don't have any money," he said. "We want to make them aware that there are things they can do to help - through the School of International Service, they can go to Africa and make a difference."
Washington said he became aware of the need for aid in Africa after he visited Rwanda and saw the effects of genocide for himself. He started Project Contact Africa in 1995 to provide medical services in Nairobi to residents of the slums.
This year, Project Contact hopes to raise enough money to feed 2 million people, according to Washington.
Every semester, 20 School of International Service students can volunteer in Project Contact's clinics and help with food distribution through the study abroad program in Kenya thanks to a partnership between AU Study Abroad and Washington's organization, according to SIS Dean Louis Goodman.
"SIS students want to study abroad with NGOs, and that's how we started working with Project Contact to feed and help refugees," he said. "I was impressed by Kermit's work. It made sense for AU to get involved in this project."
The program had the most enrollment study abroad program at AU for the last three years, according to Goodman.
During the fast's kickoff event Wednesday, Washington described the commitment of one AU student in particular.
"After Chad, a student in SIS went to Kenya [two years ago], he came back and worked with his church to raise enough money for kids to get meat two times a day, year-round," Washington said. "AU students who go down there really realize they can help."
Students' interest in African programs has grown over the last few years, according to Carl LeVan, an SIS professor who is a chair on the Council for African Studies.
LeVan teaches Civilizations of Africa, a course that collaborates with the American University of Nigeria.
"[Washington's] effort is an example of the kind of students AU attracts and the kind of students who will affect international relations in the future," LeVan said. "Our [Africa] program has grown leaps and bounds because it excites graduates and undergraduates at AU."
Seven students in LeVan's SIS course helped organize and promote the campout as part of a community service project that is a class requirement.
Students were directed to incorporate aspects of their Africa class with an innovative project, according to Damien Chevaillier, a sophomore in SIS.
"We had 100 people signed up, but the weather reduced the number that came," he said. "A lot of people have come over and dropped in some money even though they don't plan on staying. We're still glad we raised money and we made some sort of impact."
After almost 48 hours of only water for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Washington said the lack of food had not been a problem so far. He said he heard the third day of fasting was the hardest.
Washington said he had never fasted or camped out in a tent before.
"Every time I looked out the window today, students were sitting on the quad eating their lunches," he said. "I'm definitely looking forward to eating Sunday."
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