GCIR Board Feature
When you are a Black child in Africa, often the narrative is that our dreams are not valid. However, I am a Zambian who was born and raised on the Continent and was exposed to a multitude of experiences ranging from extreme poverty to traveling to several countries before I turned ten, while also being fortunate enough to play with school friends who came from all over the world. These experiences were critical to instilling confidence in me that my dreams were indeed valid and – even though it is perceived that the Western world and global north holds all the power and resources – what we as Africans had was in fact enough to be happy. However, when I moved to America, those common perceptions started to feel very real, while the dreams seemed nearly impossible.
![Normzana Augustin Normzana Augustin](https://www.gcir.org/sites/default/files/styles/callout_medium_custom/public/Nomzana%20Headshot%20-%20750x1000px.jpg?itok=22GMHUvl)
November 2023
GCIR Board Feature
News
As I reflect on what brings me to this work, I am reminded that these roots run deep. As a Puerto Rican brought up in the United States, I was raised with an awareness of our nation’s history of colonialism and at times violent intervention in Latin America and beyond. I saw how the U.S. government had fought to ensure that the political and economic arrangements in Latin American countries suited its own interests, while then abdicating responsibility for the resulting destabilization.
![Nahir Torres headshot Nahir Torres headshot](https://www.gcir.org/sites/default/files/styles/callout_medium_custom/public/Nahir%20Torres%20250x333px.jpg?itok=nyf7EmoI)
February 2023
GCIR Board Feature
News