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.
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.