December 2021
Hawine Eticha
BS International Studies (Global Environment and Health) and Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience; Minor in Community Action and Social Change, '22
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Affiliations: Indigenous Africa (president), Kindness in Numbers (president and founder)
I've been involved in research throughout my undergraduate studies, and one project that influenced my interests and passions greatly is Indigenous Africa, an online platform and research project that aims to demonstrate an awareness of various conflicts arising in indigenous communities throughout Africa. When I joined the project my freshman year, I was exposed to conflicts that arise from conservation projects, urban expansion, farmer-herder disputes, and several other conflicts that contribute to the displacement and loss of lifestyle of indigenous peoples. This led me to research groups living in several countries, from Amazigh in Morocco to Mbororo in Cameroon. I learned to center my research around the history and the lives of indigenous people and craft cases expressing the hidden side of these stories. Throughout my three years working on this project, I've helped publish numerous cases on these injustices and violations against indigenous people throughout Africa. Highlighting these cases and prioritizing their reach to a global audience has the potential to raise awareness on this issue and mitigate the injustice targeting indigenous people in Africa, which is a big component of what drives me to conduct this research. Through careful and comprehensive research, we bring these cases to light and encourage action towards justice for those whose voices are often suppressed. Our website features all of our cases and we are constantly updating and publishing new cases, and you can access it at indigenousafrica.org or engage with us on social media @indigenousafr.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I aim to pursue a doctorate in Social Psychology. I’m particularly interested in how culture and society interact to contribute to individual beliefs through socialization. I aim to practice as a Psychologist, specifically working with marginalized identities. Recognizing that discrepancies in mental health across demographics exist, I will dedicate my career to achieving the goal of more accessible healthcare.
