KENYAN STUDENT ATTENDING CLASSES TO HELP HER HOMELAND
January 28, 2000, Bloomfield, NJ -- Twenty-nine year old Mary Kamau takes her studies in Bloomfield College’s Child Development Associate program very seriously. And for good reason.
As a social worker and assistant manager of Mathare Community Outreach, a Christian community development organization, she is acquiring knowledge that will serve hundreds of children in her homeland of Nairobi, Kenya.
“It’s a very poor and needy community. Most people have no jobs. There are so many children who are malnourished and education in Kenya is expensive,” said Kamau.
With a small staff, Kamau’s organization currently feeds and teaches about 350 children, of whom 50 are orphans, and also provides substance abuse rehabilitation and job training for adults. She is hoping that her studies at Bloomfield College will help her provide better care for the people of Mathare.
Kamau was introduced to Bloomfield College through Dr. Sandy Van Dyk, a faculty member who teaches African American Studies and has worked in Kenya for many years. Dr. Van Dyk and Bloomfield College professor Elena Scambio forged a partnership with Mathare Community Outreach, and Kamau was invited to enroll at the College.
Although she was eager to learn new skills, Kamau said it was difficult to leave her family.
“At first it was very hard,” said Kamau. “I was about six months expectant and I didn’t want to leave my baby, but my husband was very supportive and encouraged me.”
She enrolled in the College’s Child Development program in September, and has been pleased with her studies so far.
“I am finding it to be very exciting and educational. We have been covering child development and what children’s needs are,” said Kamau, who is anxious to share her knowledge with her colleagues back home.
“I will be able to go back, train all the teachers in my program and train the parents of the children also,” she said. “It’s also important for myself - I have a 9-month old and a 3-year old, so it is useful for me. These are skills everybody needs to know.”
Kamau says the biggest challenge will be obtaining adequate resources to apply her knowledge once she returns to Kenya.
“I’m getting the knowledge, but the facilities are the next step,” she explained.
As part of her program at the College, Kamau also participates in an internship at the Madison Avenue Christian Day Care Center in Paterson.
“I’m able to apply what I’m learning in class immediately,” said Kamau, who coordinates activities for three and four-year olds.
During the College’s winter break, Kamau returned to Kenya to visit with her family and friends. She has also kept in touch with her family through use of the College’s e-mail system.
“I e-mail my husband on a daily basis. It would be too expensive to place phone calls,” Kamau explained.
Kamau hopes to finish the program in May and will return to Kenya soon after that.
“I’m very grateful for my experiences here,” she said. “Bloomfield College is playing a large part in helping my community.”
