CSUN Journalism Student Blogs Adventures in Africa, Teaches Dance

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Dec. 15th, 2008) ― For most college students, merely graduating is the ultimate goal, but for Cal State Northridge senior Saharra White, that was just one of many other ambitions.

First, White wanted to start a black newspaper in the San Fernando Valley. Then, she wanted to go to Africa and teach girls. Incredibly, in her last semester before entering the “real world,” White has accomplished all of her aspirations.

The 24-year-old journalism major and Pan African studies minor is spending five months in Uganda teaching children dance and journalism.

Last year, she launched Say It Loud!, the only black newspaper in the San Fernando Valley. White said she founded the newspaper because when her family moved to the Valley in 1996 there were no newspapers with information about the black community.

“We always had to go to L.A. to get the L.A. Sentinel or L.A. Watts Times and we read it and there was nothing in the Valley,” White said.

She has been in Uganda since October with the Bavubuka Foundation, a nonprofit organization that strives to create educational programs that empower youth in Uganda and in other African countries. White paid her own air fare. She said the foundation is taking care of her living expenses, including housing and food.

During her five-month stay, White is teaching different types of dance, including jazz, tap and ballet to girls and boys, ages 13 to 18. She is also utilizing the journalism skills she learned at CSUN to teach these youths how to be reporters. White started them out doing mock interviews “By the end, (they will) come out with their own newsletters,” she said.

In addition to teaching the youth, White said she is completing her degree at CSUN by taking two online courses. She is also working as a freelance reporter for the Uganda-based newspaper/magazine, The Independent.

White said adjusting to her new surroundings has been difficult. She recently found out she has malaria. But she is still happy to have had the opportunity to travel to Uganda.

“I’m officially an international reporter,” exclaimed White on a blog that she is maintaining while in Uganda. “The sky’s the limit.”

She is still remotely contributing to Say It Loud! White said she is proud of the one-year-old publication that she launched with her own money. She has updated the newspaper’s Web site and expanded its readership.

“I wanted to do something for our community and I (have) always wanted to start a magazine or newspaper,” said White about why she founded the newspaper. She plans to share her entire experience in Uganda with her readership.

For more information about Say It Loud!, visit http://www.sayitloudnews.com. To read about White’s journey in Uganda, visit http://uganda.today.com.

http://blogs.csun.edu/news/2008/12/15/saharra/