Dear Friends of Makeni,
After a long absence and break in communications, herewith a nice report from Mrs Allen about the Graduation Ceremony held for our adult students on September 7th, which occasion was also used to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Centre.
Please accept this story as part of our reporting procedure to you. Photographs of the occasion are here.
The 30th Graduation Ceremony held on 7th September 2001 was a very happy and colourful occasion. There were 70 graduates: 15 from the Home Economics Department, 12 from the Agriculture General Department, 26 from the Agriculture Settlement Department and 17 from the Electronics Department.
Towards the middle of the year the students decided to organise graduation gowns. The Executive Committee members suggested that the graduation gowns be introduced next year since there was very little time to organise the sewing of the gowns. They were adamant. A committee of three lecturers and two representatives from the Home Economics, Agriculture General and Settlement was formed. The result was that all graduating students had gowns -- different, of course, according to the groups. The Home Economics students had black skirts, green blouses and black shawls. The settlement students wore chitenge costumes and the agriculture and electronics students had the gown, hood and cap.
The organising committee requested that the ceremony be held outside in the quadrangle. I pointed out that it is usually hot by 11.00 hrs. " No problem," came the reply. "One female student is married to an army officer and he will provide three large tents." Free of charge, transport and workers provided! If MEC management had tried to organise the tents I am certain that we would not have managed. I asked whether maintenance workers should assist in carrying the chairs from the Commonwealth Hall. That was not necessary either. I thought to myself tomorrow will be a disaster. The tents were erected the day before; that is 6th September. On the 7th September, the male students arranged the chairs and tables, the female students arranged the flowers (roses bought by the organising committee!) In no time the place was transformed.
The guest of honour, Dr Nkanza, Director General of the Technical Education Vocational Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) arrived shortly before 10.00hrs accompanied by the Director Finance and Administration, Mr Nataraaj. At 10.15 hrs the ceremony started. All the graduating students were crowded in the Grade 3 and 4 classroom opposite the open space. When the music started, they came out dancing led by one lecturer. It was a beautiful sight. Since this was a surprise we did not organise a video. Friends and relatives were invited to the ceremony. Marketeers opposite the centre and passers-by came to see what the loud music was all about. There was a large crowd. Speeches were made and certificates and diplomas were presented.
It turned out that the reason why the graduation ceremony was held outside was that the Commonwealth Hall had been prepared for an end of the year party. After the graduation ceremony, parents, friends, relatives, invited guests and members of MEC staff were invited to the party. I was not told how much each student contributed, but there was plenty of food and soft drinks. The leftovers were taken to the orphanage.
It turned out to be a very pleasant 30th Anniversary celebration, all organised by the students and members of staff from the Adult Education department.. MEC did not spend a single ngwee towards it. I think this was a wonderful gift from the students and staff, thanking MEC for the thirty years of its existence. Unfortunately Fr Dil and Mrs Dil arrived the day after. The tents had been removed and all the excitement had died down. We had nothing to show for it except a few photographs of the event!
Christine Allen
1. The examination results for the 2000/2001 academic year was as follows:
SUBJECT | ENROLLED | SAT FOR EXAM | FULL CERT. | TO REWRITE |
Homecraft | 30 | 25 | 15 | 7 |
Agriculture | 20 | 15 | 12 | 3 |
Settlement | 27 | 26* | 5** | 21** |
Electronics | 22 | 17 | 12 | 5 |
The Computer Knowledge courses are in progress. So far more than 300 students have graduated in courses in Computer Knowledge at various levels.
The Carpentry course academic year is also still in progress
*Not all of these students will be settled -- the number of those who will is to be announced a little later, after further interviews and reviews of their performance in field work and production.
** Academic performance is generally not good among settlement students, many of whom are simple and poorly educated people. The major deciding factor for settlement is candidates' practical field ability.
2. Some of these photographs are sent to you by way of attachments to an accompanying email. You may like to print these out and put them on display at your church.
3. Mrs Allen has prepared an Annual Report for the year 2000. If you would like a hard copy of this, please let us know and we will send it to you by mail (as well as an email copy).
4. The founder and former chairman of the Centre, Revd Pierre Dil, returned from England on September 7th. His heart specialist decided that he should have heart surgery soonest and he has been wait-listed for same in England. Please remember him in your prayers.