UNIVERSITY OF LIVINGSTONIA
MALAWI, AFRICA
Excerpt from The Chronicle, Page A14, Editorial Opinion
Chehalis couple keeps on giving with university
Sept. 30 2003 --
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UNIVERSITY OF LIVINGSTONIA MALAWI, AFRICA
Excerpt from The Chronicle, Page A14, Editorial Opinion Chehalis couple keeps on giving with universitySept. 30 2003 -- The African country of Malawi is the proud and very fortunate recipient of the volunteer mentoring of Henry and Jenny Kirk in establishing the first private university in that country.In fact, the University of Livingstonia is one of only three universities, the other two public, in Malawi, a country of II million people.We all fondly know Henry Kirk, of course, as the longtime highly regarded president of our Centralia College, a position from which he retired last year.When most people retire, they want to enjoy a rest. Not Henry Kirk he hit the ground running to a part of the world most of us ignore and a time some consider extremely dangerous.He left fingerprints all over our region as head of Centralia College. He's making imprints again, this time half way around the world in a land desperate for education and advancement.The Kirks are giving of themselves to the benefit of mankind. The university is a wonderful project that is an example of the United States at its finest willing to share our resources and our talented people (like the Kirks) to raise the quality of life through advanced education in an underprivileged part of the world.The couple first went to Malawi in 1998 as part of a mission team from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis. They have helped-the Malawians with their 108-year-old dream of finally establishing the private church university, sponsored by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and its Synod of Livingstonia.The Kirks, experienced veterans in post secondary education, were key to establishment of the university with their determined and committed guiding of the project when it looked like it might again be delayed. Also key to their success was the support and encouragement for the project they got here at home from the people of Lewis County, who Henry Kirk points out have shown they "care about the world."The university officially opened Aug. 27 (2003) and now has 500 students enrolled in its five colleges in which it goes out to reach the people, similar to our community college concept that has worked so well.Kirk is vice chancellor of the university and his wife is director of university relations as they continue with their mentoring.But, as pointed out by the Rev. H. Matiya, general secretary of the Synod of Livingstonia, the sustainability of the university depends in part on continued support from Malawians and abroad. Henry Kirk is using one of his strengths fund-raising to help out on that.Third world countries need our help to get started, but ultimately the responsibility should and must be on them rather than dependency on us.It's about mentoring, Jenny Kirk said of their help on the university project. "Henry and I have said we would walk hand-in-hand with them, but this is not an American project, but a Malawian project."Huge kudos to the Kirks and the people here who are helping them for their selflessness and humanitarian giving to lend a hand up. |
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