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National Peace Corps Association > News > Service > Encore Staff Arrive at Moi University
Encore Staff Arrive at Moi University
By Molly Mattessich on Thursday, June 16th, 2011
In the photo (L-R): Isabella Mbai, Dr. Thomas Kipkurgat, Jeannine Greenfield, Vice Chancellor Prof. Richard K. Mibey, Anne Baker
Anne Baker, NPCA’s Vice President and the Managing Director of Encore Service Corps International, arrived in Kenya Wednesday to start a series of meetings with Encore program partners and potential supporters. Joining her is Dr. Jeannine Greenfield, a consultant with Encore, beginning her evaluation of the nursing education project funded by Johnson & Johnson.
The trip got off to a slow start when their flight to Kenya was grounded just before take-off from Istanbul due to ash from a volcano in Eritrea, erupting after a 150-year dormancy. After a restless day awaiting news on all flights to East Africa, they were called to complete their trip into Nairobi. Former NPCA Board Member and Group Leaders Forum Coordinator Ben Bellows’ family hosted Anne and Jeannine for a brief early morning respite before they were able to complete their trip with a flight to Eldoret and to Moi University.
Encore started working with Moi University two years ago, sending volunteers to work with students and faculty in the nursing education program through the School of Medicine. With thanks to Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Nursing Sciences Isabella Mbai and Lecturer in Paediatric & Neonatal Nursing O’Brien Kyololo, Anne and Jeannine met with Dr. Paul Nyongesa (Continuing Professional Development Coordinator), Dr. A Kwena (Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry and COBES II Coordinator), and Amos Getanda (Lecturer in Midwifery and graduate of the MSc program), ending with a trip to the main campus and a meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Richard K. Mibey.
Anne was very pleased to hear such positive comments on the work of the Encore volunteers at Moi University (all of whom to date have been women):
She “made students appreciate what it means to be in the field.”
She “showed me multiple perspectives. [In mentoring me in preparing for my thesis defense, she] helped me with my approach to research. I am a better teacher than those who taught me.”
And even a connection to Peace Corps:
One senior lecturer’s Peace Corps Volunteer teacher in secondary school “made us what we are.”
Encore is being managed by NPCA this year through a Joint Project to build capacity among our program partners in the developing world. To learn more about Encore and to apply for any of the five current volunteer opportunities, visit www.encoreservicecorps.org
Nice picture. Glad it has been a productive and positive trip.