This week I met with Pablo B. Escobar the Founder and Chair of the Africa After Work Committee. In 2008, Pablo joined the All for Africa team as a volunteer to help organize and raise awareness around AFA’s Knock Out Poverty Event. After the inaugural event he stayed on with the team, gradually taking on more tasks and in August of 2009 he founded Africa After Work, a committee within All for Africa.

Pablo described the committee as “a group of entrepreneurs and professionals who put together business/social networking events and hold educational roundtables for All for Africa.” He went on to explain that the goal of these events is “to bring together like minded individuals who are interested in the development of Africa and to introduce or update people on the initiatives that All for Africa and its partners have taken to promote sustainability in the African continent.”

When I asked Pablo what inspired him to launch the project he replied, “I felt that there was a need to create an outlet for those young professionals out there who want to have a discussion about Africa and/or want to help the cause but who might be intimidated by some of the more extravagant events that various non profit Africa associated organizations hold.” Pablo wanted to create a space where individuals of a younger age and of a wide variety of economic or social backgrounds could come together around a good cause and have each individual “feel that his/her presence is equally valued.”

The AAW committee organizes events that range from social mixers to educational roundtables. Pablo described AAW’s last roundtable event, which took place at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in April 2010. The topic of discussion at the roundtable was “Building Sustainable Non Profits and Community Initiatives in Africa.” Pablo was pleased to inform me that “many Directors and Founders of well-established non profits that are operating in Africa (such as Indego Africa, Shine on Sierra Leone and  MacDella Cooper Foundation) served as panelists at the discussion.”

When asked to describe the environment of the last educational roundtable Pablo explained, “the roundtables are meant to provide a comfortable atmosphere for discussion. Specifically in our last roundtable, the moderator asked questions directed toward the panelists that brought about a discussion as well as highlighted challenges the panelist might have faced while launching their nonprofit. The guests were allowed to ask the panelists questions which often prompted the moderator to focus on a topic to be discussed by all those in attendance.”

On the other hand, the social mixers present a different sort of ambience. According to Pablo the mixers serve as “great opportunities for people to relax after work, maybe grab a drink and talk with like minded individuals about anything from current events to specific problems engaging Africa of late or ongoing problems the continent has been facing.” The mixers also provide “people the chance to talk with AFA team members and volunteers to get a better understanding of what we do at All for Africa.”

In January of this year, AAW and All For Africa teamed up with the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, FELA to host an event appropriately entitled, “An Evening at FELA”. After the performance, the FELA cast members attended the AAW Afterparty at Braai alongside other All for Africa supporters. “The show was amazing! We were very honored to be able to collaborate with such a great show and such talented performers!” Pablo continued by saying, “hanging out with the cast after the show was a really cool experience… they were very approachable to talk to and we all had lots of fun!” The next AAW social mixer will take place on Tuesday, September 14th and will kick off All for Africa’s International Palm Out Poverty week so be sure to save the date! Details of the event will be posted on our website as we get closer to the event so be sure to stay tuned!

For more information about Africa After Work contact pablo@allforafrica.org   or visit  http://www.allforafrica.org/joinin/africa-after-work/

By Meredith FitzPatrick