This spring break, six students and a professor from Penn State will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in a mock meeting of the Organization of African Unity.

The Organization of African Unity was founded on May 25, 1963, to promote African unity.

It functions in a manner similar to that of the United Nations.

Clemente Abrokwaa, a senior lecturer in the African and African American Studies department, is coordinating and heading this year's trip.

Students who have taken his Contemporary Africa class, AAAS 110, are eligible to go to the conference.

"The conference gives the opportunity for students to learn about Africa and the social and economic programs there," Abrokwaa said.

This is the 21st year that the mock conference has occurred and the fourth year that Penn State has participated.

During the five-day conference, Abrokwaa said, students will participate in parliamentary-style debate, will get a chance to visit the embassy of their chosen country and will also get to interact with different students.

"It's good for students because they're able to meet new people from new places, and they also get to learn debating skills," said Abrokwaa.

"Also, various people from the state department and foreign services are there. Often, students are able get jobs and internships through this experience."

Representatives from 45 universities are attending the meeting, said Abrokwaa. Each university will represent a different African country.

Trip coordinators are given the opportunity to choose the country their students will represent.

Abrokwaa chose to represent Lesotho at this year's conference.

Lesotho is a small country that is landlocked within South Africa. The country has a population of about 2 million, with 96% of the population under the age of 64.

Formerly Basutoland, Lesotho gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and now functions as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

According to Abrokwaa, this means the country, though independent, is still a protectorate of the British crown.

"It's sort of like Canada," said Abrokwaa. "The country is officially under the queen, but they vote for their own rulers."

Abrokwaa liked the fact that Lesotho wasn't too well known. He thought that representing Lesotho would give his students even more of an opportunity to learn.

Also, he said, Lesotho experienced a lot of upheaval during apartheid because it is surrounded by South Africa.

"Lesotho wasn't under apartheid, but it was influenced by it," Abrokwaa said.

Abrokwaa is excited about the trip.

"The world is getting smaller, and Africa is now part of the global village," Abrokwaa said. "This helps to know about the world."