Acacia e-Newsletter - April-May 2020

Please Remember Africa University in Your Will Issue: 02

Vol: 25

April - May 2020

Give Now

Africa University Development Office | P O Box 340007 | Nashville, TN 37203 Tel. (615) 340-7438 | Fax. (615) 340-7290 | Email: audevoffice@gbhem.org

Special Giving Tuesday Now Appeal Generates Support for AU's COVID-19 Response Africa University has received gifts totaling $89,356.00 to support its ongoing response to the COVID-19 global health crisis.

The university’s friends and supporters responded generously to the special #GivingTuesdayNow appeal, held on May 5, 2020. Their gifts are an immediate and crucial investment in university’s multifaceted effort to adapt, lead, serve and innovate within its context.

“We thank God for all our generous friends and partners…who care for the university and are deeply vested in its call to invest in Africa’s future,” said Prof. Munashe Furusa, AU’s vice chancellor/CEO. “The funds will not only strengthen our efforts but also our resolve to keep teaching and learning undeterred by COVID 19,” Furusa said.

Africa University is already embracing new opportunities. For example, year-end examinations are taking place on the university’s Moodle learning

platform for the first time.

The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE)—the national body responsible for accreditation and quality control in higher education sector— applauded the move in an email from its Chief Executive Officer, Professor Kuzvinetsa P Dzvimbo.

"I like the fact that you are not focusing on challenges of connectivity and bandwidth for your students and staff," Dzvimbo wrote. "You are re-thinking the way we think about learning, teaching, assessment and examination today."

Africa University’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) is offering grants to faculty to engage in multidisciplinary work on pan-African solutions to the challenges posed by the COVID-19

Students Step Up to Help Their Neighbors Despite stay-at-home orders and closed borders, Africa University students are stepping up to help vulnerable families cope with the impact of COVID-19.

Shaideen Travers and Joseph Zishiri, members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) executive, are drawing attention to the plight of elderly and other vulnerable citizens for whom food, medicine and other necessities are in short supply. Whilst completing their academic work remotely, the two students are leading an effort to assist at least 100 families. They are helping sick neighbors to access medical care and distributing donated food.

“Our vision is to see people have some food in their bellies during this tough

time,” said Travers.

“Many people have stopped working due to COVID-19 and are finding it hard to sustain themselves."

Africa University’s international students who are still residing on campus due to travel restrictions launched their "Feed A Family" campaign in April. They are each foregoing one meal a week and using those funds to provide food to families in the three districts surrounding the campus.

“We have learnt from those (who are) sacrificing for us to be here, so we can also sacrifice the little that we have for those who are less privileged," said Fiston Okito, a student from the

pandemic.

With AU's June graduation ceremony postponed, university officials are turning their attention to planning for success in a higher education sector that is expected to emerge from this crisis profoundly changed.

"We continue to plan on a blended model where, when we resume face-toface instruction, students will have the opportunity to also access most of their lectures online," said Prof. Peter Mageto, the deputy vice chancellor.

Africa University is supporting initiatives to slow the spread of coronavirus infection in Zimbabwe.

Teams of university staff are producing hand sanitizer and face masks for public distribution, while the university’s clinical research center assists with testing and contact tracing in the community.

Democratic Republic of Congo who is due to graduate in June.

In addition, the students are now making reusable cloth masks so that everyone on campus can comply with the requirement to wear a face mask in public.

“It is so moving to see these students offer their talents so readily to support the university and each other," said George Miti, the dean of students.

About 220 Africa University students were unable to return to their home countries when governments across the continent suspended airline flights and restricted border traffic to goods only.

The students, and the essential staff who are looking after them, are observing social distancing as well as the infection control protocols recommended by the Africa Centers for Disease Control (ACDC).

Need to be in touch?

COVID-19 Prompts Estate Plan Checkup When was the last time you visited your family doctor for a checkup? It is highly likely that most of you have had a wellness check in the past year.

But, when was the last time you had a financial checkup?

If you do not regularly review your estate plan, the recently passed tax acts and the impacts of the COVID-19 global health crisis are reasons to take a look. Now is a good time to examine your financial goals and assess your progress toward reaching your goals.

An evaluation of your financial goals should include the review of documents essential to estate plans such as wills, trusts, durable power of attorney, health

care directive and beneficiary designations. Being proactive about your health is the best way to make sure you are in good shape.

Be proactive about your financial health and keep your estate planning documents up to date.

Consult your attorney or financial advisor about what will be most advantageous for your tax, estate, and charitable planning.

For more information about the many ways to support Africa University’s transforming ministry, visit the planned giving website at http: //www. africau.plannedgiving.org / or call or write our Interim Director of Planned Giving, Josefa Bethea Wall, Africa University Development Office, P. O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN, 37203-0007, 615.340.7428 (tel.), 615.340.7290 (fax), jbetheawall@ gbhem.org (e-mail address).

The Africa University Development Office (AUDO) is open and fully operational, on a remote work set-up.

Staff members are available MonThurs: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, and Fri: 8 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CDT). The move to “remote work” by the AUDO has been extended to June 30.

Gifts to support scholarships and other needs can be made online at www.support-africauniversity.org or by check, made out to "Africa University" and mailed to: Africa University Development Office, P. O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007.

For electronic giving, text an amount (eg. $25) to (615) 258-7259 or scan this QR code:

Thank you for your steadfast support for AU.

AU Grad, Public Health Specialist Celeste Madondo, at Work in South Africa specializes in Health Systems and Policy and is based at a non-governmental organization in Johannesburg.

South Africa is still observing stringent social distancing and other COVID-19 infection prevention protocols, so Madondo and her colleagues are adapting their outreach to clients. Those who need to can order test kits online, access support and counseling virtually, know their HIV status, and take the appropriate actions to protect their health and that of others.

For Madondo, protecting the coun-

try's gains against HIV/AIDS is important.

However, the expertise and networks developed in HIV-related work are proving valuable to the ongoing COVID-19 response, including national screening, door-to-door contact tracing and the necessary testing in South Africa.

Madondo highlights the diversity of South African communities—from province to province and from well-planned suburbs to informal settlements—as a challenge.

"It is complex...most of the mapping strategies developed at the provincial level are very context specific, very relevant, and they ensure that we reach the people that need to be reached," said Madondo.

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry The United Methodist Church P O Box 340007 Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0007

Across sub-Saharan Africa, graduates of Africa University are on the frontlines of the fight to stem the spread of COVID-19 and help communities cope with its impact on daily life.

Celeste Madondo, a public health specialist and 2010 graduate of Africa University, works primarily on HIV prevention and intervention strategies to deal with infectious diseases. She holds a Bachelor of Health Services Management from AU and a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Witswatersrand. Madondo

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Nashville, Tenn.

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