Welcome to Volume 2 Issue 3 of your favorite quarterly e-newsletter (the Dream Catcher), specifically designed and meant for you, our alumni, friends and sponsors.
In this issue, we have a report on how the management of your alma mater is intending partnering with your alumni chapter by first cultivation visit to Maputo, Mozambique. We also have a report on the visit of US Embassy Staff, as well as a report on the visit of AU alumni and YALI alumni to the campus, urging AU students to apply for the 2017 Washington Mandela Fellowship.
We conclude this issue with a report on how your colleagues are changing the world and giving back to their alma mater through scholarships.
While we thank you most gratefully for your continued patronage, we also wish you more blessings as you continue to work excellently towards your desire and that of your alma mater.
Wehnam Dabale
VC and the AVC
The Vice Chancellor of Africa University, Professor Munashe Furusa; Associate Vice Chancellor, Dr. Jim Salley; Director, Alumni, Mr. Wehnam Dabale; and the Student Recruitment Officer, Ms. Sandra Munhumwe were recently in Maputo, Mozambique on an alumni cultivation visit.
The visit aimed at enabling the university’s administration to listen and learn on how can AU could do more in rendering support for the Mozambican government, Mozambique Area of the UMC and the alumni association.
A get together was later organised by the AU's delegation to share the vision and plans of the administration, in addition to exchange ideas with special regard to working closely towards achieving mutual benefits for all parties.
Rev. Dr. Vilancolous
At the auspicious event, the university's administration harped on the role that the alumni could play in AU's development by organising regular chapter meetings with a view to developing the chapter's strategic plans and reaching targets.
It is gratifying to note that AU graduates have made significant contributions to the Mozambican economy and the church within the Bishop’s Cabinet in addressing critical challenges such as food security, poverty alleviation, disaster mitigation, and leadership development.
An example of our impact in education is Rev. Dr. Andre Vilanculous, a two time graduate of Faculty of Theology. He is the provost of the Cambine UMC Mission, which has more than 20 AU graduates at the college as lecturers and administrators. We are truly proud of our alumni and the impact they make.
Mozambique Alumni Association
Highlights of the AU's administrators' visit to Maputo include meetings with the Resident Bishop of the Mozambican Annual conference, the Rector, Eduardo Mondalane University and the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security.
The visit was rounded off by Alumni Gathering in Maputo at the National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (INEFP) whose Director General, Rev. Anastacio Chembeze, is an AU graduate and a serving board member.
At the gathering, Over 30 AU alumni attended the event where they expressed appreciation and commitment to the AU's cause in the years ahead through students’ internships placements, recruitment and financial support.
The vice chancellor used the occasion to invite the alumni to the AU 25th Anniversary celebrations scheduled for 24-26 March 2017 at AU Campus, Old Mutare, Zimbabwe
The Africa University has long standing ties with Mozambique, as the third largest international community on campus after DR Congo and Angola, with over 200 alumni. Distinguished Mozambicans have served on the AU's Board of Directors and helped to guide the mission and development from inception, among who are Rev. Jamisse Taimo and Rev. Anastacio Chembeze.
In April 2008, Africa University celebrated a successful collaboration with the UMC in Mozambique, which saw the launch of a Distance Learning center at the church headquarters in Maputo.
We are grateful to the Mozambique Area UMC, the Alumni Association and ELMA Foundation for the invitation and hospitality during the visit, with assistance in logistics, and for strong partnership, commitment and ongoing support for the Africa University’s ministry.
For more information on how to support your alma mater and the alumni association in your locality, kindly write the alumni office.
Chipo and Hashiti
The United States Diplomatic Mission to Zimbabwe and two Africa University alumni and 2016 Mandela Washington Fellows (YALI Alumni), Chipo Chikomo and Munashe Hashiti, were recently on the campus to seek applications from qualified young Africans for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship programme.
Ms. Chikomo, a Zimbabwean and the founder of Nhanga Trust, holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology and Sociology from Africa University where she graduated in 2005.
"My global mindset was born at Africa University through its enrollment of students from all over Africa,” Chikomo, who is currently based in Harare, where she works as social entrepreneur solving social ills, said. Mr. Hashiti, who is also Zimbabwean and a graduate of 2016, plans to continue his work in entrepreneurship and business development at Africa University and other United Methodist institutions of higher education.
Ilda Guembe
The delegation informed the gathering that the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship programme of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative and a key part of the US commitment to invest in Africa's future.
The delegates said African youths are encouraged to pursue opportunities offered by the programme to access a six-week training course at a top US university in one of three tracks, namely Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership or Public Management. “Eligible candidates should be between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application and have a demonstrated track record of leadership in a public, private, or civic organization, and a commitment to contributing their skills and talents to build and serve their communities,” the delegation said, adding that the application deadline is October 26 2016.
Jean Felix Mwena Ngandu
Four AU alumni have participated in the programme since inception. The first is Ilda Guambe, Mozambican, who graduated from Faculty of Management and Administration (FMA) in 2012 was part of the first group of YALI alumni in 2014. Her speech to the U.S. Africa Summit in Washington, D.C., motivated African and American leaders to work together in reducing the number of early marriages and improving access to education for the African girls. She continues to mentor and inspire young people in her country to stay in school to attain their potential.
The second AU alumni that participated in YALI in 2015 is Jean Felix Mwena Ngandu, a Congolese and 2015 graduate from the Institute of Peace Leadership and Governance. Mr. Ngandu is now the founder of Buswe-RDC; a non-profit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solution based in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is part of the President’s overall effort to invest in the education and training of the continent’s next generation of leaders. In 2010, President Obama launched YALI as a vehicle to support an emerging generation of African leaders.
If you are interested and need more information, visit http://www.yali.state.gov to apply and seek further information, or visit the Information Resource Center at the U.S. Embassy near you.
The Late Professor A. N. Mphuru
Some AU alumni who choose to remain anonymous know the true meaning of life as adumbrated by D. Elton Trueblood that “the true meaning of life is to plan trees under whose shade you will never sit”. These alumni have endowed a scholarship in memory of the founding dean of Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) and the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Africa University, late Professor A. N. Mphuru.
The first recipient of the Prof. Mphuru Endowed scholarship is Tikky Giorgio, a Kenyan national and final year student in the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, majoring in Natural Resources Management.
Tikky Giogio
The elated Giorgio, who was raised by his petty trading mother since the early age of eight in a family of two, whose younger sister is now 15 years and in high school in Kenya, was admitted at AU in 2014.
He said the scholarship meant everything to him. “Due to the sagging African economy and especially my country Kenya, I wouldn’t have achieved my desired academic pursuit as my parent cannot afford my fees," the scholarship recipient said. "It felt like I found another home here and I am waiting for my graduation in June 2017 so that I go back home and develop my community and contribute to a more productive society," he added.
Bishop Ernest Lyght
Endowed scholarships are sustainable response to the academic financial difficulty that results in inability to pay fees and keep talented students on the sidelines. To endow and name a scholarship funds at AU requires an initial minimum gift of US$10,000. But for the endowment to generate enough support for one student a year in perpetuity, an investment of US$130,000 is required. Bishop Ernest Lyght, a retired UMC Bishop and Board Advisory and Development Committee member has this to say: “Don’t be discouraged by small beginnings, and know that Africa University has come a long way but the work is not yet finished. How big will we make it rests with us and I hope we will continue to labour together in building this enterprise called AU.”
We are grateful to these alumni that endowed this scholarship in honour of late Prof. Mphuru and we hope that other alumni and associations would emulate the work done by these colleagues and come forth to endow scholarships to deserving students.
If you are interested in giving back to AU and need more information, you may contact the Alumni Office, or visit https://www.support-africauniversity.org
Date to Be Advised (DBA), Alumni and Friends Gathering at Harare, Zimbabwe
December 2016, Alumni and Friends Gathering at Mutare, Zimbabwe
DBA, Alumni and Friends Gathering at Lubumbashi, DR Congo
February 2017, Alumni and Friends Gathering at Luanda, Angola
24 - 26 March 2017, 25th Anniversary Celebrations, Mutare, Zimbabwe