Africa Home

  Kenya Task Force Home

Minutes of the Kenya Task Force Meeting
February 16-17, 2001

Members Present:

Joe Brockington, Kalamazoo College
Thomas McClendon, Southwestern University
Iren Omo-Bare, Millsaps College
Sara Penhale, Earlham College
John Watkins, Colorado College
Randolph Quaye, College of Wooster
Jill Pernicano, Great Lakes Colleges Association
Jason Wagner, Great Lakes Colleges Association

I. Application results from Joe Brockington

Joe Brockington reviewed the application results and the first round of selections. Task Force Members looked over the applications.

II. Trip Report from Joe Brockington

Joe Brockington reported to Task Force Members on his trip to Nairobi, Kenya in January. Please see the attached trip report. Joe reported that interest in the ILC at the University in Nairobi remains high. Substantial progress has been made in launching an office for international programs. Office space adjacent to the Kalamazoo Program Office has been allocated to the University of Nairobi Office of International Programs. Prof. Ken Mavuti has been appointed acting director of that office. For the ILC both office space and technology are now in place through the Kalamazoo College program office. The next step will be to consider creating a joint venture between the University and an NGO. Given the complexities of the bureaucracy the University, as well as the paucity of resources, it is necessary to look beyond the University for structures to allow the ILC to accomplish its goals. While there is great support within the University, resources are difficult to attain. Task Force members discussed the challenge of finding someone to run the office in Nairobi. Personnel is key. The position must be similar to a Program Officer rather than to a Secretary. The position requires someone who will show initiative and independent action. The economic reality in Kenya is harsh. We may have find additional funds to cover a salary in order to attract the right person. Brockington noted that coalition and consortium building is one of the few ways US institutions will be able to afford Study Abroad Programs in the future. The key is to keep costs down and home institution recognition high. Having an education abroad facility in-country is an indispensable resource to a US college. We need a coordinating focal point to arrange home stays, logistics, tours, classes, and independent studies. In the future (when the grant has been completed), money may come from student fees and individual institutions. Joe Brockington is also hoping that a conversation with NAFSA will bring in partners.

Joe Brockington also reported that a publisher in Kenya has been identified to publish the 2000 Seminar papers. All participants from last year will receive copies, as will their campuses. The remaining copies will be distributed in Kenya and East Africa. There may be a couple of papers still outstanding. Jason Wagner remarked that he thought they were on the web site. Jill Pernicano and Joe Brockington will follow up to be sure the papers get to the publisher.

III. Final Selection and Ratification of Applicants

The Task Force Members selected the final participants for the Kenya Seminar and Travel Grants. Every effort was made to balance participants in terms of consortium, college, discipline, experience and gender. There was some discussion of the role of Travel Grants. All agreed that Travel Grant money should contribute to support (i.e., cover airfare), not fund the recipients entire stay in Kenya. Some of the money should come from out of pocket or from institutional support. Everyone agreed that priority should be given to 2000 Seminar participants to allow them to follow up on their own research and foster their in-country connections. Joe Brockington pointed out that next year we should be more directive about whom we wish to apply for travel grants. Letters of support should be encouraged and the CAO's support is a necessity. Brockington expressed some concerned that if we fund six travel grants at $2500 each, we will go over budget. However, it was noted that GLCA President, Jo Ellen Parker, has assured the Task Force that sufficient money will be available to cover the 6 travel grants.

IV. Seminar Schedule and Itinerary

Joe Brockington reviewed the Seminar schedule and itinerary and the group discussed logistics and ideas. Sara Penhale will send information on the Kakamega Forest and Randy Quaye will send information on a women's group he visited to Joe Brockington. The group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of holding the Seminar at the University of Nairobi. If the Seminar is off-campus, a per-diem is typically paid to the University of Nairobi participants. Also, it would be difficult to attract graduate student participation and interest. If it is held on-campus, there is always the danger that University of Nairobi participants will be distracted from the Seminar by University tasks. There was considerable support from members of the Taskforce to hold it at the Naivasha KWS conference site. All agreed that if the Seminar were to be held at the Naivasha KWS conference site, some time in Nairobi would still be necessary. A possible solution would be to do the kick-off on campus, then move to a remote location. Joe Brockington will investigate how a change in venue will affect the budget. Joe Brockinton will contact Dr. Mbae, Cultural Affairs Specialist, at the US Embassy in Nairobi to discuss a possible dovetail between the Seminar and the Kenya American Studies Association's annual conference. It may be possible to receive monetary support from the US Embassy. Last year the most prominent scheduling complaint was that US participants didn't feel they had enough time to meet and talk with people in their disciplines. All agreed that this year we want fewer formal papers and more discussions, roundtables, and US style panels to allow for more interchange. The group identified three tasks to address:
1. Choose a US keynote speaker for the opening ceremony.
2. Choose four participants to present papers.
3. Identify other participants to address topics in their disciplines and to contribute to the general discussion.
The Task Force selected possible presenters and keynotes. All participants will prepare workshops on pedagogy and research to be presented in the Departments.

V. Safety Issues and Concerns in Nairobi

Contingency plans were discussed. If the University of Nairobi were to close, it may be possible to use the hotel conference room. If the city of Nairobi were to close due to civil unrest or disturbances, the Seminar would be cancelled. Everyone agreed that the safety of participants is top priority. We learned from last year's experience that participants were in Nairobi just long enough to begin to feel comfortable. This made it easy for participants to misread situations and to unwittingly put themselves in danger. The group discussed beefing up the safety and security portion of the orientation, providing links to US State Department information, and encouraging participants to take taxis rather than walk, even for short, seemingly safe distances. There was some discussion about how to give people the information and advice they need to be safe and cautious without causing them to feel overly concerned or afraid.

Some discussion was given to health issues. Joe Brockington informed the group that the CDC now recommends a new anti-malarial prophylactic. The side effects of this new medication are not as severe as the previously recommended one. While Nairobi is not in a particularly malarial area, there was some disagreement in the group about whether participants should be advised to take the CDC recommended prophylactic even though it has side effects. Sara Penhale pointed out that some people should not take the prophylactic, and should be informed about alternatives. Joe Brockington had concerns about liability, that we should not be recommending any medication not recommended by the CDC. As part of their participation agreement, participants are asked to sign a waiver holding them responsible for their own health education. He would like to advise participants to talk to their physicians about these issues. John Watkins thought it important for us to give people access to information on health issues, and not to ask participants to rely solely on their physicians for this information.

VI. Suggested Reading List

Task Force Members worked up a suggested reading list. Suggested book and article titles are:

Devil on the Cross by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre
Abyssinian Chronicles by Moses Isegawa
African Diary, an article in the International Educator by Sara Penhale and Allan Winkler
Kenya, The Rough Guide by Richard Trillo
The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Tentative:
Women, Art and Geometry in Southern Africa by Paulus Gerdes

VII. Miscellaneous

Joe Brockington pointed out that a $50 visa fee (per participant) must be added to the budget. A "goals statement" must be sent to participants with the admissions packet. They must complete and turn it in before the Seminar. This will be the basis for evaluations. The reading list, a participation agreement, and a release from liability should also go out with the packet. Next fiscal year we should consider holding a three day reunion/conference in the United States for past US and Kenyan participants. Last year's participants have expressed great interest and enthusiasm about meeting. It's possible that the ILC and the participants' institutions could fund this. Participants for this year's Seminar will be charged a $500 non-refundable fee. The Task Force agreed that participants must invest their own resources. It allows us to stretch the program and also demands the commitment of the participants and their institutions.

The group discussed a policy on spouses. All agreed that spouses of participants must make their own travel and logistical arrangements. We are not set up to take on the responsibility and logistics of non-participants. The most we can do is give them contact information for a travel agency. Their arrangements must be made separately. It is important to be explicit and firm on this point from the beginning.

The date for the next Kenya Task Force Committee meeting shall be September 15-16, 2001.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Jill Pernicano, Recorder

| home | task forces | africa | central europe & russia | turkey |

|  web board | opportunities board | contact | consortial partners |

| acm | acs | glca |