Tag Archives: Kenya

Progress in Kenya – a Connection to Mentoring

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It has been well over a month since my last blog entry. Much of the reason is that I was in East Africa for over 3 weeks, taking a little vacation and also doing some volunteer networking and work with Metropolitan Community Churches, Other Sheep and Global Roots.

Construction has now started on the Jipe Moyo campsite and Matangini / Kimer Vocational School

With Global Roots, I returned to Mtito Andei, Kenya for the first time since providing the seed funding to start the Matangini / Kimer Vocation School and the Jipe Moyo campsite. (Link here). I am pleased to report that construction has started!

After returning to Mtito Andei, I was asked to go on a three-day survey trip for Global Roots into the Rift Valley area of Kenya, northwest of Nairobi , to assess opportunities for new projects. I met and was hosted by three bright young emerging leaders who head three non-profit groups in the Rift Valley area. These young leaders are attempting to engaged the younger generation of Kenyans in the political process and economic development, with the goal of leading Kenya into a more fair, open and prosperous society that can benefit all people of the country. These three Kenyan groups are:
• Smart Citizens
• Youth Peace Alliance
• Imagine Kenya

Meeting with Kenyan leaders and activists in the Rift Valley city of Eldoret

In addition, I also met with some established senior government leaders who seek to steer Kenya in a good direction. I then saw the connection to the need for mentoring, which is one of the topics I will be speaking on a conference in August. (Gaston Teaching and Learning Conference.) Ways in which mentoring can help with the capacity building of future Kenyan leadership can include:
• The emerging leaders I met with mentoring the burgeoning young adult population of Kenya
• The current established Kenyan leaders with high integrity mentoring the emerging leaders
• Leadership development and economic development expertise from other countries in the world mentoring the willing and enthusiastic future leaders of Kenya.

I left Kenya with a positive hope of progress that can be made under the leadership of these new emerging leaders who want to build strong competencies coupled with high integrity and a real desire for the best future for the entire country. I look forward to staying involved in this development.

Retirement – Having the Time to Make an Impact

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Having retired from IBM in March, I no longer have the time pressures of a demanding full time job. I have more flexibility to manage my time including the mix of working in my own consulting practice, traveling and volunteering to make the world a better place.

To me, one of my core values is to try to make the world a better place. I am excited that in December I have been given two great opportunities for that. First, I was elected President of the North Carolina Council of Churches, an organization of 18 denominations and several independent churches working to build unity and provide a safe space for dialogue across North Carolina, and to impact the lives of all North Carolinians through putting our faith into positive social justice actions. Here are articles from our local press and from the AP (Associated Press.)

Second, I was appointed by the Raleigh City Council to Raleigh’s Human Relations Commission, which is an advisory board appointed by the City Council to serve as an advocate for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, economic status or age in pursuit of human and economic relationships. The Commission promotes activities, education and programs that enhance human dignity, equal opportunity, mutual respect and harmony among Raleigh citizens. Link.

Finally, in addition to community service within North Carolina, I have started the funding for the non-profit Global Roots to build a vocational training school, the Kimer-Kamba Vocational School, in Mtito Andei, one of the most impoverished cities in Kenya. You can read about it on this site: Africa Center.

A recent AARP magazine featured an article about the increasing number of American “baby-boomers” who are retiring from their first careers and ready and able to volunteer in community organizations as well as providing a well-trained motivated part time work force. As for me, I am looking to do both; serving in various organizations included those detailed above, and starting my own consulting practice where I aspire to make some extra income while providing valuable services for companies and organizations.

Photo: My partner Rich Roark interacting with the children at a school in Mtito Andei, Kenya