DukeEngage | Duke Center for Civic Engagement

Hi all!

Tomorrow morning at 7 AM, 40 secondary school students (high schoolers- split boys and girls) from the various sublocations of Muhuru will arrive at the WISER campus for two weeks of intense learning and growth, with classes on adolescent health, leadership, and gender, as well as workshops including art, poetry, self-defense, and of course, 'futbol'--all with the overnight campWISER. Our primary goal is to begin to reconsider the gender stereotypes that are so pervasive and constrictive to girls in the community, while encouraging youth to empower themselves and each other. This is the culmination of our time here in Kenya, the program we have been so excited about since Day 1. The roofs of the student dorms just went on today, and we're waking up before sunrise to make our final preparations (with our headlamps on!). We'll be busy 24-14, but I'll try to post updates to my blog which I've linked before, and hopefully the modem in Nairobi will let me post some pictures here on our way out. 

Thanks for reading!

Oya Ore (Good Morning)!

We are excited to report that we have been here in Muhuru Bay for the past two weeks and in Kenya, going on three! In our time so far, we have been busy day in and day out adjusting to life here at the WISER site and jumping into our projects. Those of us working in schools have already observed much about education, through the WISERBridge tutoring program and English Enrichment initiatives, which begin work in new schools today. We are hoping to help raise standard 8 students' scores on the KCPE (exam for secondary school). Those of us working on health research on HIV/AIDS risk behavior and education, and malaria have been working with local teams and are making progress through collecting qualitative data. We are also teaching computer classes and developing microfinance programs, as well as beginning to plan for CampWISER, coming up in August.

Unfortunately, it appears that the modem is too slow to support the site's program for pictures so I cannot upload now, but I will write in more detail soon and also seek contributions from fellow Dukies here. If you are interested to read more please check out my personal blog at knowthisplanet.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading!