MAKING CONNECTIONS
GETTING STARTED
In June of 2009 Jennifer Saylor and Laurie Clute, both faculty members of the health science program at River Valley Community College, traveled to Kenya with Susan and Lewis Greenstein, Wenzi kwa Afya founders. The purpose was for potential partners to get to know one another and see how the idea of bringing graduates of St. Cecilia’s to RVCC might work. Over two weeks the group explored ideas, shared information, and had a grand time meeting students, teachers, and members of the wider community. Before they left for home, the seed of an idea had been fertilized, watered, and had begun to sprout.
VISIT BY EMILY OKHOBA, ST. CECILIA HEADMISTRESS
In March of 2010, Emily Okhoba, Headmistress of St. Cecilia’s, visited the U.S. to continue the conversation and get to know the RVCC side of the equation. Her visit sparked further enthusiasm for links to St. Cecilia’s, not only at River Valley but at Lyndon State College in nearby Vermont.
WIDENING CIRCLES
The student Rotaract Club at Lyndon State College in Vermont, sponsored by the Lyndonville Rotary Club, has recently launched a project to provide tuition support for a current St. Cecilia’s student. Inspired by a visit from Emily Okhoba, the headmistress of the Girls High School, they dedicated the proceeds from the 2010 fundraising project to this purpose. Plans are in progress to continue and expand the relationship, now known as Project H.O.P.E. for “Help Others Pursue Education.” Leadership was provided by Elizabeth Jackson, pictured here with Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont, to whom she described this effort during his visit to the College in the Spring of 2010.