printer-friendly email a friend

Apportionments Africa University

A quality education close to home is provided by Africa University to students from across the continent. Yes, the continent is large, so "close to home" is a relative term. But compared to going to Europe or the United States to receive an education, Africa University is not only close to home, it is also economically much more feasible.

On March 23, 1992, the College of Theology and the College of Agri­culture and Natural Re­sources opened on a site near Old Mutare, Zimba­bwe, with 40 students from Burundi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Congo and Zimbabwe. This United Methodist university has continued to expand, with new courses of study, additional buildings and more students and faculty members. There are now approximately 1,250 students.

The years of hope, hard work and sacrifice paid off for Nazare, who was awarded a bachelor of divinity degree. "I'm almost without words to describe how I feel. Leaving this place is a big achievement in my life," she said. Nazare moved from Angola to study at Africa University in 1999. Across five years, she did not go home, nor did she see her family, as she first learned English and then completed her course of study for the degree. The 30-year-old Nazare is the fourth child of eight and the first in her family with a university education. Nazare's parents could not pay for her education. She was granted a full scholarship by Africa University, and for her it was a life-changing gift. (The Oklahoma Conference provides scholarship funds for Africa University students each year through a grant from the Woodworth Trust.)

"This is a dream fulfilled, not only for me, but also for my family and my church, which have been supporting me very much," said Nazare... Now I have what I came for and a lot more confidence, too."