Lack of access to medical care is a serious problem in African countries, where large populations live in rural or bush areas. Some have never seen a medical caretaker; disability and death commonly occur from medical problems we consider minor or nonexistent.
HARAMBEE wants to address this critical need. Using our holistic approach to community development, we’ve launched our GROW A DOC project. We offer scholarship funds to qualified students from underserved areas, where young men and women –just as bright and motivated as our students—have no hope of higher education. We will fund training for nursing or medical director programs (the backbone of health care in most African countries) or, in some cases, for medical school. Cost of these programs is about $3,000 per year, plus another $1,500 for books, housing, food, and clothing. (Is this a bargain, or what?!) In return, students agree to work in their home (underserved) area for a specified time after graduation.
This is a wonderful dream for us. It encourages development of Africa’s human resources, reduces unjust suffering and death, and diminishes “brain drain” from developing African countries. When you consider the number of lives that a doctor or nurse touches during a career lifetime, the impact of GROW A DOC is unmeasurable.
Father Terry Charlton, S.J., founder of St. Aloysius Gonzaga secondary school in Kibera (the world’s largest slum) is working with us to recommend students and track their progress. He's submitted our first three scholarship candidates. They are terrific young people, who already have overcome enormous hardship to complete high school and qualify for college. Two other candidates will be funded; these are equally deserving students from Naivasha, nominated by the Education Officer at Upendo Village.
GROW A DOC part of the
Africa Medical Education Network (AMEN), a collaboration comprising African university medical programs, Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine, and HARAMBEE. Kenyan students will partner with visiting U.S. volunteer medical students for education and service. We’ll begin with scholarly work such as needs assessment surveys and information gathering. Students will be mentored via web conferencing with faculty in Kenya and in the U.S. As students enter their clinical training, they’ll do guided patient care. Because this work will begin in areas where HARAMABEE has established a presence, it will feed into existing economic and education initiatives, completing the cycle of community development.
As with all our projects, we can’t do this without your help. When you next need a birthday gift, or anniversary, Christmas, or “thank you” gifts for family, friends, or teachers, please consider donating to GROW A DOC. We have lovely gift cards for you to give, stating you’ve made a donation in the recipient’s name. If you have a special request for a card, we’ll create what you want! Any amount will be acknowledged and appreciated. Send an email and tell us what you would like.
Click here to watch film interview with Samuel, our sponsored student from Upendo Village, Naivasha
These students know that God understands Swahili…because you are an answer to their prayers!
