SUMMER 2021
COVID-19 shatters dreams, alters hopes at Africa University According to an April 2021 report by the Centers for Disease Control and other entities, COVID-19 has left more than 1.5 million children experiencing the death of a parent or a grandparent caregiver (orphanhood-report.pdf (cdc.gov). Death is only one part of the story. The economic impact is another as incomes have decreased or disappeared. Across Zimbabwe, the crisis has resulted in increased crime and reduced quality of life for many. Prices of food, utilities, and the internet have gone up. For AU students learning remotely, internet connection is expensive and sometimes unreliable because of electricity cuts. Some families cannot afford an ordinary phone, let alone a laptop. The “new normal” remains abnormal. Students are fearful and uncertain about the future.
more than $300,000 in one-time financial aid grants to students, in addition to the already available direct and endowed scholarships. As a second academic year unfolds, the university’s financial aid committee hopes to keep vulnerable students from giving up and dropping out.
The Department of Student Affairs conducts psychosocial programs to address issues affecting students: bereavement counseling, selfesteem/image, peer As students and staff pressure, relationships, mourn the loss of trauma, stress and anxiety, and life skills. family and friends,
AU provides psychosocial support and encouragement.
Africa University is taking immediate and longterm steps to address orphanhood, economic distress and poverty, and access to university education. In 2020, the university provided
Through the chaplaincy department, students who have lost parents or guardians or tested positive to COVID-19 receive support. The goal, said Dr. Peter Mageto, acting vicechancellor of the institution, is to “provide
reassuring hope, in order for students to make a gradual passage from pain to a renewed sense of life that will sustain them in the future.” Barbara Dunlap-Berg is a freelance writer in Carbondale, Illinois.
AU junior copes with father’s death from COVID-19 Africa University junior Mellan Nyagato, 21, would love to go back to life less than two years ago. Before COVID-19, the social work major lived in an AU dorm. Her family included her parents, two younger sisters, and a brother, now 25. Then the pandemic struck, claiming Mellan’s father, Enock Nyagato, in July 2020.
Studying online with two younger siblings, Mellan Nyagato battles grief and worries about the future.
Mellan and her siblings are not alone, as data from the Centers for Disease Control and other entities confirms. “My three siblings have been healing, as well as motivating each other to continue working hard so that our mother will not get stressed – and to make our father proud,” Mellan said. More than 19 AU students and staff have lost loved ones to COVID-19. (Continued on page 2)
AFRICA UNIVERSITY TODAY
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SUMMER 2021
AU junior copes with father’s death from COVID-19 (Continued from page 1)
100% SUPPORT The Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church with a 100 percent or more remittance to the AUF apportionment over the past two years are: North Central Jurisdiction 2020 2019 Dakotas 100% 100% East Ohio 100% 100% Illinois Great Rivers 100% 100% Indiana 100% 100% Iowa 100% West Ohio 100% 100% Jurisdiction Total Support 90.5% 91.33% Northeastern Jurisdiction Baltimore-Washington Greater New Jersey New England New York Peninsula-Delaware Susquehanna Upper New York West Virginia Western Pennsylvania Jurisdiction Total Support
2020 2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100.34% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 96.11% 98.82%
South Central Jurisdiction Oklahoma Indian Missionary Jurisdiction Total Support
2020 100% 74.18%
Southeastern Jurisdiction Florida North Alabama North Carolina Red Bird Missionary South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Jurisdiction Total Support
2020 2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 102.91% 100% 90.97% 93.26%
Western Jurisdiction Alaska United Methodist California Nevada California Pacific Desert Southwest Mountain Sky Oregon Idaho Pacific Northwest Jurisdiction Total Support
2020 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.93%
2019 100% 78.24%
2019 100% 100%
100% 100% 100% 93.82%
Jestina Nyagato, Mellan’s mother, suffers from seizures and chronic blood pressure problems. Putting food on the table and paying tuition fees and bills is an ongoing struggle, but she persists. Since August 2020, Mellan and her siblings, ages 10 and 12, have been restricted to online learning. “The expenses of Wi-Fi are not sufficient,” she said. “At times, I attend class for the first 30 minutes only.” Sometimes they skip a day or two of lectures so they can stretch the Wi-Fi. “Electricity is also a major problem,” Mellan continued. “During exam period, I wrote one of the exams at my mother’s workplace.” Mellan is grateful for Africa University staff members who check up on her and her family. “The Rev. Maudy Muchanyereyi, AU chaplain, has been a mother, counselor and prayer partner to me,” Mellan said. She also communicated with lecturer, Phillip Bohwasi: “I was traumatized; I shared with him my experience, especially that my father died in my hands with the whole family watching.” Her family had tried in vain to get him admitted to a hospital, but he passed away
at home. Although she was attending online lectures, she understood very little. Bohwasi advocated for her to get counseling. “As a university,” said Dr. Peter Mageto, acting vicechancellor, “we appeal to our partners and sponsors to continue supporting our current and future students. We remain indebted to The United Methodist Church and its partners for standing with us during these difficult times,” Mageto said. Barbara Dunlap-Berg is a freelance writer in Carbondale, Illinois.
AU ALUMNI PROFILE
Distinguished New AU Graduate Looks “Back” to the Future Zimbabwean business leader Shingai Mutasa is among Africa University’s newest crop of graduates. The university awarded Mutasa the degree of Doctor of Business Leadership (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his efforts to advance ethical business practices and grow investment in Africa. Mutasa is the millionaire entrepreneur and visionary behind Masawara—a pan-African investment company with holdings in financial services, technology, real estate, agro-chemicals and hospitality. “History matters,” said Mutasa, as he accepted the honorary doctorate during the July 3 commencement. He announced his desire to invest in training and research opportunities in the disciplines of archaeology and artificial intelligence at Africa University. “Without clarity of the journey traveled thus far, the way forward is random,” said Mutasa. “The building up of this institution, this Africa University, bodes well
for the future of our nation, for Africa, and for the church on this continent.” The ties that bind the Mutasa family, The United Methodist Church and Africa University date back to the 1890s. Shingai Mutasa’s grandfather, Chief Tendai, granted land to colonialist Cecil Rhodes in exchange for educational opportunities for his people. Rhodes ceded a portion of that land to Bishop Joseph Crane Hartzell, who founded the Old Mutare Methodist Mission Center—home to a hospital, elementary and secondary schools, and an orphanage. About 1542 acres of that initial land grant from Chief Tendai constitutes the Africa University main campus today. In 1988, it was donated to the institution by The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe as the first gift towards the founding of Africa University.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
TWK Churches Celebrate, Grow Partnerships with AU Engagement with Africa University remains a missional priority for congregations as they envision a future together in the new Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TWK) Conference.
United Methodist Church in Clarksville, where Aleeta and Floyd Christian are longstanding members.
“I give thanks for the good work of Africa University and pray that as we walk into the future Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference, that we can continue to maintain our support for the shaping of Africa into tomorrow,” said Bishop William “Bill” McAlilly.
As a faculty member at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in the 1990s, Bishop William “Bill” McAlilly Dr. Aleeta Christian created and supervised a Japanese exchange with Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka. She ran the program for a decade and learned how broadening exchange is for college students.
The TWK conference, due to launch officially in January 2022, brings together the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences, home to congregations that share strong, long-standing partnerships with Africa University. Franklin First United Methodist Church, located in the Harpeth River District in Middle Tennessee, provides scholarships for two Africa University students each year.
For Floyd Christian, connecting with the leadership of African colleagues from Cameroon and Nigeria in mathematics, mathematics history, and computer science over many years at APSU has been an enriching experience.
Franklin First UMC’s Usahwira partnership with the university began in 2009. Translated into English, usahwira—a word from the Shona language of Zimbabwe—means beautiful friendship. Over the past 12 years, Franklin First has prayed for, encouraged, and helped six Africa University students to complete their college education.
The couple now retired, visited Africa University in 2019.
Franklin First UMC will host its 2021 Africa University Sunday celebration on November 14. Two other TWK congregations are working to expand their support. They celebrated Africa University Sunday in September and early October.
With the blessing of Madison Street UMC’s senior pastor, Rev. Harriet Bryan, the Christians shared a video presentation on their Africa University experience with the congregation in October 2020. This year, the church’s World Communion Sunday message (October 3) focused on strengthening the connection and featured a speaker from Africa University.
Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church, located in Crossville in East Tennessee provides an annual scholarship. The church plans to add up to three new $1000 scholarship grants for graduate students specializing in either theology or agriculture at Africa University. There’s a similar effort underway at Madison Street
“We were impressed with the campus, and the serious, warm, forward-looking students, and immediately thought that a student exchange program would benefit the students at Austin Peay and Africa University,” said Aleeta Christian.
“Our dream is not only to provide scholarship assistance to a student at Africa University but also to establish a partnership that will allow for greater crosscultural awareness so that we may learn from each other,” said Rev. Bryan.
SEARCH BEGINS FOR NEW VICE CHANCELLOR/CEO
Located at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa University is an accredited United Methodist-related educational institution in Africa, established by action of the General Conference. The university offers degree programs in three colleges: Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CHANS); Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance (CBPLG); and Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education (CSSTH&E). New academic programs include master’s and doctoral degree programs in military chaplaincy, migration, citizenship and refugee protection; and entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. Africa University continues to be the evidence of faith, hope and belief in the visions of dreamers. Thank you for investing in changed lives and communities! Encourage your church to set a 100 percent apportionment remittance goal. Sending a portion of your goal each month makes it easier to reach full remittance by year’s end. Your church’s generosity ensures 100 percent support of Africa University’s operational budget for costs such as utilities, equipment, and faculty salaries. Consider these additional ways of helping the university educate new leaders for the nations of Africa:
PLANNED GIFTS are the foundation for the long-term
survival of Africa University. As you make your estate plans, consider leaving a gift or bequest to Africa University in your will. If you have already included the university in your estate plans, please let us know so we may welcome you to the Richard E. “Dick” Reeves Legacy Society.
USAHWIRA—This word in the Shona language means “a
beautiful friendship.” Encourage your local church can become a partner with Africa University by supporting one student for four years. The annual cost of supporting one undergraduate student is just under $6,000. Local churches and individuals may provide full or partial scholarships.
ENDOWMENT FUND—Give to the Africa University
Endowment Fund (World Service Special Gift #03-01-88). The interest income from the endowment provides scholarships for our students. For more information about giving opportunities or to make a gift, visit us at support-africauniversity.org. To learn about Africa University and its impact, visit africau.edu. Let’s work together to continue the transformation of lives and of Africa. To download resources to help tell the story of the Africa University Fund apportionment, visit: umcgiving.org/ auf and/or the resources page at support-africauniversity.org. Current resources include: • Africa University at 29 - Talking Points • Africa University: The School of Hope (video) • Usahwira (brochure) • AU in a Nutshell (presentation) Africa University Development Office P O Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 (615) 340-7438; Fax: (615) 340-7290 audevoffice@gbhem.org www.support-africauniversity.org
A global search for Africa University’s next Vice Chancellor/CEO began in August. The Search Committee, constituted by the Board of Directors and led by Board Chair, Bishop Mande Muyombo, expects to have the institution’s fifth vice chancellor in place by June 2022. The search was necessitated by the untimely death of Prof. Munashe Furusa, AU’s fourth vice chancellor, in January 2021. For the announcement as well as institutional and candidate information, visit: www.africau.edu. Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm assisting Africa University in this international search, invites confidential applications and nominations. Applications, including a current CV and letter explaining interest and relevant experience, should be sent to AfricaUniversityVC@kornferry.com.
Nurturing Leaders. Changing Lives.
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Latest News from Africa University AFRICA UNIVERSITY TODAY
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SUMMER 2021
Unlocking a Brighter Future
The AU Today is published by the Africa University Development Office, in partnership with the Office of Communications, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).
Since funding their first Usahwira Scholarship in 2006, Gary and Jane Powell have supported the education of five female students. Their commitment to education helps to prepare Africa University graduates for leadership roles across the African continent. The Powells, both born in Oregon, were reared in families that stressed the value of education, church and being of service to others. Having achieved their educational aspirations, they built rewarding careers— Jane in the clothing and design industry and Gary as a United Methodist minister in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. Throughout their careers and in their own family, education has been a focal point. That can be seen in their support of Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi and the Stand for Children education advocacy organization in Oregon. They understand the powerful impact educational opportunities can have on the life of students. By designating their funds to female
For more information, contact the: Gary and Jane Powell
students, the Powells further the potential for generational economic impact that will improve the lives of students and the communities where they live and serve. The Powells have included Africa University in their estate plans, which assures that future students will benefit from their commitment and generosity. “Education is the key that unlocks a brighter future for Africa and for our world,” said the Powells. “With two daughters of our own, we can think of no better use of our financial resources than providing opportunities for young women to attend college. We are excited to provide an ongoing legacy that will benefit Africa University for generations to come.”
Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 Tel: (615) 340-7438 Fax: (615) 340-7290 Email: audevoffice@gbhem.org support-africauniversity.org.
