Summer 2013
In this issue:
Girl Child Scholarship Initiative Promotes Women’s Enrollment at AU
Sharai Muonwa Zimbabwe’s vice president visited the campus to announce a special fund to provide fees for disadvantaged female students from Zimbabwe who intend to study at AU.
Dream Catchers and Visionaries
Paul Black Africa University’s 20th anniversary celebration was a time of remembrance of God’s movement, the institution’s achievements and expectancy toward a vibrant future.
Upper New York Joins as Africa University Celebrates 20 Years of Success
Maidstone Mulenga Upper New York got rousing applause as officials shared the conference’s commitment to providing eight endowed scholarships through its $1 million campaign.
A Partner in Malawi
Mercy Chikhosi Nyirongo Mercy Chikhosi Nyirongo fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. She wanted to be a part of the health-care solution in Malawi.
Africa University Celebrates 19th Graduation Ceremony
Sharai Muonwa AU graduates urged to play a part in the development of their nations.
Marjorie Jean Lightfoot: Changing the World Through the Education of Women
Elaine Jenkins Marjorie Jean Lightfoot places some of her resources and best wishes in Africa University.
and enthusiasm with the Contemporary Issues class upon his return. Marjorie has read that two-thirds of the world’s illiterates are female. So she was particularly impressed that at Africa University, women comprise one-half of the student population; women are roughly 30-35 percent of the faculty and staff; four of the highest ranking staff are women; one-third of the deans are women; gender equality has been mainstreamed throughout the curricula of the six faculties or schools; and the university is pan-African, drawing students from more than one-half of the 55 nations of Africa. The Marjorie Jean Lightfoot Endowed Scholarship Fund will educate women from Kenya and Tanzania for generations to come. “I am putting some of my resources and all my best wishes in Africa University,” Marjorie said. “Endowing a scholarship for a female student from Kenya or Tanzania will help to provide superb role models for the education of women.” Marjorie Jean Lightfoot
—Elaine Jenkins, AU Development Office
Throughout her life, Marjorie Jean Lightfoot has loved learning through books, drama, art, music, nature, travel and people. Her range of interests has led her to dramatize, direct, produce and act in works of Chaucer, the Brontes, Maria Edgeworth, Virginia Woolf and Henry James, as well as write scholarly articles and teach. Marjorie, born in Oak Park, Ill., is the youngest of three children of Maybelle and Cecil Lightfoot. Her mother was a teacher and librarian and her father a pharmacist. Marjorie grew up attending Sunday school at the Congregational church in Western Springs, Ill., but also frequenting the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and Lutheran churches in Chicago and its suburbs. This fostered her ecumenical outlook. Supported by scholar-
ships and a fellowship, Marjorie earned her undergraduate degree at Brown University (R.I.) and her master’s and doctorate degrees at Northwestern University (Ill.). She taught in the Department of English for three years at Northwestern, three years at the University of Arizona, and 40 years at Arizona State University, retiring in 2004. Teaching provided her with the opportunity to share her love of literature with her students, her “kids,” as she calls them. Retirement has offered Marjorie the chance to continue taking classes and traveling the world. Marjorie first learned about Africa University in the Contemporary Issues Sunday school class at Dayspring United Methodist Church, Tempe, Ariz. A member of the class, the Rev. Dr. Darvin Miller, traveled to Africa University in February 2012 with a group of 41 from the Desert Southwest Annual Conference and spent a week on the campus interacting with students, faculty and staff. Dr. Miller was much impressed with all that he saw and heard and shared his photographs Family Photo
Changing the World Through the Education of Women
606213/50M
Marjorie Jean Lightfoot:
Celebrating the Connection between Africa University and United Methodist Congregations 100 Percent Support
Thank you for supporting Africa University through your 100 percent remittance of the Africa University Fund apportionment in 2012. Jurisdiction Total Support and Annual Conferences with 100 percent or more in 2012 (includes 2011 performance) North Central Jurisdiction 2012 2011 East Ohio 100% 100% Illinois Great Rivers 100% 100% Iowa 100.57% 100% Minnesota 100% 102.86% Northern Illinois 100% 100% West Michigan 100% West Ohio 100% 100% Wisconsin 169.31% 151.51% Northeastern Jurisdiction Baltimore-Washington 100% 100% Greater New Jersey 104.69% 100% New England 100% 100% New York 100% 100% Susquehanna 100% Peninsula-Delaware 100% 100% Upper New York 100% 100% West Virginia 100% 112.46% Western Pennsylvania 100% 100%
Southeastern Jurisdiction Florida Holston North Carolina North Georgia Red Bird Missionary Tennessee
100% 100.02% 100% 100%
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 113.58% 100% 100.06% 100%
South Central Jurisdiction Central Texas 100% Kansas West 100% Louisiana 100.03% 100.01% North Texas 100.50% Oklahoma Indian Missionary 100% 100.05% Southwest Texas 100%
Western Jurisdiction Alaska United Methodist Desert Southwest
As Africa University celebrates 20 years of realized dreams, we look forward to your full support in 2013.
• Africa University is located in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, and is the first fully accredited United Methodist–related educational institution on the African continent, established by action of the General Conference. • Africa University offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in six faculties of learning: agriculture and natural resources, education, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, management and administration and theology. The Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance offers postgraduate diplomas and master’s programs.
Africa University
Honorable Vice President, to see what The United Methodist Church has done for Zimbabwe and Africa,” he said. The university was granted an official charter by President Robert Mugabe in January 1992, when few had the confidence that the church could set up a university. Tagwira said the university has made conscious efforts to promote gender equality and equity at the university campus by deliberately increasing the number of female students. Currently, 52 percent of the students are female, compared to the previous year’s 50-50 male-to-female ratio. Dr. Ignatius Chombo, acting minister of higher and tertiary education, said the Zimbabwean government appreciates the work of United Methodist missionaries. “The United Methodist Church has been a resolute, cooperating partner in education in Zimbabwe,” he said. “You have been steadfast despite the innumerable challenges that you have faced and you have remained resolute to the vision of the founding fathers of this institution: to educate the African child.” Rebecca Mutyambizi,
Summer 2013
— Muonwa, program officer, Information Office, Africa University
chairperson of the Girl Child Scholarship Initiative and an alumna of Africa University, said, “This is the first such initiative by any university in Zimbabwe, and we have the first female vice president of the Republic of Zimbabwe and in South and Central Africa as our patron, on her first visit to Africa University.” In her remarks, Mujuru emphasized that the government of Zimbabwe has always believed in the education of the Zimbabwean population. Zimbabwe’s literacy rate is 93 percent, the highest in Africa. She added that the government recognized the issues affecting the girl child, which included poverty, sexual harassment, abuse and early marriages. “We are proud that you have lived up to our expectations and have achieved what you set out to do. With students from 24 to 29 African countries, you truly deserve to call yourself African,” Mujuru said.
Girl Child Scholarship Initiative Promotes Women’s Enrollment at AU
Siboninkosi Hove, the youngest in a family of 18 children, is a third year business student at Africa University. She could not attend school without scholarship support from AU.
Sharai Muonwa
A
special fund to promote women’s enrollment at Africa University was launched by Zimbabwean Vice President Joice Mujuru at the Mutare campus on April 19, 2013. The Girl Child Scholarship Initiative, which is the brainchild of Africa University, will provide fees for disadvantaged female students who intend to study at the university. Speaking at the event, Dr. Fanuel Tagwira, vice chancellor of Africa University, highlighted the importance of the initiative and the visit to the campus by the vice president. “This is a historic day in the life of Africa University and a great opportunity for you,
1