By Marisa Loranger, News Editor.
Through a 25 year partnership with Delta College, the city of Nakuru, Kenya has been able to provide its community with education, libraries and technology.
Delta professors had the opportunity in November to visit Nakuru and its colleges: Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, Nakuru Tracom College and Nakuru West Medical College.
This particular visit was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the partnership between Delta College, the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology and Nakuru Tracom College. The trip also took place to celebrate the new partnership with Presbyterian Church of East Africa Nakuru West Medical College. Past President, Donald J. Carlyon, and past Vice President of Instructional and Learning Services, Betty Jones, came together to create the sister school program.
Felicia Peters (computer science and information technology professor) and Scanlon Romer (economics professor) were the trip leaders. Other Delta faculty that attended were: Reva Curry (vice president of instruction and learning services), Amie Anderson (former dean of students), David Bledsoe (associate professor of residential construction) and Diana Gutierrez (director of counseling and career services).
Curry believes that the sister schools in Nakuru have mutual benefits.
“The most beautiful part of the partnership is the cultural exchange between Americans and Africans, and the faculty and student exchange between Delta College and Nakuru College,” explains Curry.
Tracom College, a business school, has about 350 students, Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology has about 5,000, and Nakuru West Medical College, a nursing school, has about 160 students.
These students have the opportunity to live on campus at the RVIST dormitories or guest houses. Students and faculty from the three Nakuru colleges also have the option to study abroad at Delta.
“Without that initial partnership started 25 years ago, they probably would not have had some of the technological advances that they have in terms of equipment that they own at the institutions,” explains Peters.
The partnership started off with federal funding, but now it relies on scholarships and donations from foundation donors.
“Federal grants are not permanent, some are renewable and some are one time monies. The grant we received 25 years ago was one time money. We have applied for other grants but have not been fortunate enough to get funding,” explains Peters.
The Kenya Partnership Committee is made up of Delta faculty and staff who volunteer their time.
The partnership helps Delta share resources, like books and computers.
Jack Crowell was a Delta mathematics professor for 45 years before retiring and becoming an adjunct faculty member. He has sent over 4,000 computers and tons of books donated by local schools, businesses and community members to the schools in Nakuru. The computers are sent to churches, nonprofits and educational programs in Nakuru.
“I was in the Peace Corps serving in the Ivory Coast 1962 to 1964. Since then I have had a warm place in my heart for Africa and the awareness of the great need for any educational resources such as books, books and more books,” explains Crowell.
Fifteen shipments have been sent to Kenya, since the partnership started, in 40 foot sea container that hold 40,000 pounds. It takes a year to fill the shipping containers and clean the materials. “The container goes to Detroit by road, to New York by rail, to Mombasa by ship and to Nakuru and RVIST by truck. The whole trip takes about 3 months,” explains Crowell.
Delta students have the opportunity to study abroad in Nakuru. Depending on the student’s course, as well as the location and availability, the trip can last from 10 days to an entire semester. The cost of studying abroad varies depending on travel, the semester and length of stay. For more information, contact Michelle White, Academic Career Manager, at 989-686-9474 or visit the following link: www.delta.edu/ace_sl/internationalinterculturaleducation.
