The World Affairs Council of Houston is proud to partner with The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa and Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership for a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded Africa-education orientation program.

Teach Africa Phase I

June 11th Teach Africa Dinner and Presentation
Rodney Ellis, Texas State Senator
H.E. Faida Mitifu, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United States



Luke Jones of Youth Radio interviewed guests
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Her Excellency Faida Mitifu  Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo Faida Mitifu became ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United States on November 19, 1999. Since being appointed to Washington, D.C., Ambassador Mitifu has testified before the congressional subcommittee on Africa on the current crisis in the Great Lakes region, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and at various universities in the United States.

Ambassador Mitifu received her bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from the National University of Zaire, Kinshasa, a master's in French studies from Auburn University, and a doctorate in romance languages from the University of Georgia-Athens. She is fluent in French, English, Swahili, Lingala, and Shi.

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Senator Rodney Ellis Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis is currently serving in his sixth term in the Texas Senate from Houston. During his sixteen year tenure in the Texas Senate, the Senator has earned praise as a legislative leader on economic development, education, civil rights, tax cuts, criminal justice and workforce development issues.

Prior to his election to the Texas Senate in 1990, Senator Ellis served three terms as a member of the Houston City Council and as chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University and has a master's degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. In 2005, Senator Ellis was honored by the University of Texas with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. Ellis also studied at Xavier University of New Orleans and the London School of Economics.