Fatima

Fatimata-Atty Germaine Djibrine '22, who goes by Fatima, is an AUP junior majoring in international and comparative politics with minors in international law and international business administration. In 2021, she took part in the Athens Democracy Forum, organized by the Democracy and Culture Foundation in association with the New York Times. 

How did you know that AUP was the place for you?

I've always been the type to work hard, but when I started looking for a university, I was adamant that the decision not be just about finding a high-quality education, but also about making the most of all kinds of opportunities that exist in college life. AUP stood out to me because it emphasized wider knowledge and skills. I felt like I could find personal growth and figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. There seemed to be many exciting opportunities to become a well-rounded person. AUP is a real melting pot for leaders. I’ve gained so much knowledge. I think our professors have done amazing things too. 

How did you hear about the Athens Democracy Forum, and what made you want to take part? 

The Center for Critical Democracy Studies (CCDS) sent out a mass email to all current students looking for submissions to the forum. I was curious, so I asked my professors Russell Williams and Stephen Sawyer more about it. They really took the time to explain the process to me, and the idea of a forum where students act as delegates and interact with world leaders speaking about important global topics really appealed to me, so I signed up. There was an application process that involved writing a paper and presenting a video on my chosen topic. The forum organizers chose 24 applicants from across all the universities that applied.  

Why did you choose to speak about climate change and the Global South? 

I became concerned about climate change a few semesters ago. At first, I worried it was a Western concept and not something that affected the Global South. I was quite wrong! I realized that in my home country of Niger there are huge climate issues. The Global South is where climate change is most significant, but there’s little clarity about it and few people helping. I thought that somebody needed to shed light on the damage happening in nations that don’t have a voice.