A Transformative Collaboration
Interviewed and written by Lorna Kipkosgei, a Public Relations and Corporate Communications graduate at Fanshawe College.
Over the past four years, a transformative partnership has been developing between Fanshawe Global and Friends College Kaimosi in Kenya. The initiative aims to enhance the college’s curricula in Food Processing, Agriculture, and Gender Studies, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This significant undertaking has been led by Benjamin Ilagosa Indulagi, the partnership coordinator from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), and Tracy Gedies, Project Coordinator from Fanshawe Global.
This collaboration is part of the Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) program, a five-year strategy (2020-2025) designed to improve the quality and relevance of technical and vocational education in Kenya. This ambitious program brings together CICan, the Kenyan Ministry of Education, the private sector, and the Mastercard Foundation.
The Canadian consortium, led by NorQuest College and in partnership with Fanshawe College, was chosen to deliver the partnership project TVET-17 working with two colleges in Kenya. NorQuest would work with Sang’alo institute of science & technology and Fanshawe College in hand with Friends College Kaimosi.
The core of the program focuses on Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). It includes pre-service and in-service training for trainers, recognizing prior learning, delivering life skills and employability curricula, establish work placements and expand employer engagement. With the hands-on training and immersive experiences facilitated by Fanshawe Global, Friends College Kaimosi has made significant strides.
Sylvester Odundo
Sylvester Odundo, an Agriculture and Gender focal person at Friends College Kaimosi, embodies the transformative power of this partnership. A father of three boys and a seasoned volunteer in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and World Relief Operations in Lake Turkana, Sylvester is passionate about increasing female enrollment in the agriculture program. “After Covid-19, many female students returned to college either pregnant or with infants, disrupting their education,” Sylvester explains.
With the support of CICan and Fanshawe Global, policies were implemented to support these female students. A lactation room was introduced on campus, allowing nursing mothers to take breaks while nannies cared for their children. The college principal even gave up his three-bedroom house within the college to provide this vital space. This initiative not only improved female student enrollment but also significantly increased completion rates, so much so that the Kenyan government has now mandated all training institutions to establish lactation rooms.
During a visit to Fanshawe College, Sylvester and his colleagues were deeply moved by Canadian hospitality. “Canadians are kind and patient. People hold doors for you, and when we didn’t have enough coins for the bus, the driver let us in. It touched my heart,” Sylvester recalls. The visit to Tracy’s home for dinner and the warm interaction with her family left a lasting impression. “My spirit was lifted,” he adds.
Pamela
Pamela, a single mother of three boys and one daughter, serves as a Food Processing Technology trainer at Friends College Kaimosi. Her visit to Misty Glen Creamery in Canada sparked her imagination. “I can now envision setting up a dairy farm, producing milk, and creating milk products,” Pamela says. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the entire food processing chain and is determined to advance student placements and industrial attachments. “Fanshawe’s curriculum is transforming our teaching approach, making students more attractive to employers,” she reflects.
Pamela was also inspired by Fanshawe’s Career Closet initiative, which provides students with professional attire for job interviews—a concept she plans to replicate at Friends College Kaimosi. “Tracy has been instrumental throughout this partnership, always striving to share best practices,” Pamela notes. A visit to Niagara Falls left her in awe: “I’m still amazed by its grandeur.”
Rita Akinyi
Rita Akinyi, a trainer in Food Technology and the newest member at Friends College Kaimosi, is responsible for the new food technology equipment at the college. Having visited Fanshawe’s Chef’s Table, she envisions producing and labelling food products for the local market. “It’s a game-changer,” Rita asserts. Philip Huff, a part-time professor at Fanshawe and a food product designer, played a crucial role in developing the curriculum and training trainers in food safety and quality.
Rita highlights the significance of teamwork. “Collaboration has been our guiding principle since our first session at Fanshawe College,” she says. “Tracy’s meticulous planning helped us connect our four years of training with practical experiences firsthand.” Rita, who had been afraid of dogs, found an unexpected but heartwarming benefit when she met Tracy’s friendly pet.
The Barbie Project
The innovative Barbie Project at Fanshawe College demonstrated the power of cross-faculty collaboration. Fashion Marketing and Management (FMC) and Interior Decorating (ITD students created unique Barbie outfits from recycled materials, with all proceeds funding education and gender equality initiatives for Kenyan women and girls through Friends College Kaimosi. This creative project showcased the magic of interdisciplinary teamwork, making a lasting impact on everyone involved.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Benjamin Ilagosa Indulagi expresses his gratitude to Fanshawe College for transforming Friends College Kaimosi into a beacon of hope. “This collaboration has been instrumental in changing lives through education in Kenya,” he says. The transformation of Friends College Kaimosi from a college to a polytechnic, highlighted by the highest number of graduates in the agriculture department’s history, underscores the project’s success. Out of the current batch, 53 out of 67 students will be graduating—a record for the department.
For Tracy Gedies, leading this project in her retirement has been incredibly fulfilling. “It has been a privilege for me,” she says. The commitment and expertise from Fanshawe College, particularly Tracy’s leadership, have been pivotal in this tremendous journey. “I feel very proud of our team at Fanshawe,” adds Rosa Cristina Aguilar, Manager of Global Strategic Initiatives at Fanshawe Global.
This partnership is a testament to the power of education in achieving sustainable development goals. It promotes gender equality (SDG 5), environmental awareness (SDG 13), and access to educational opportunities (SDG 4) while generating meaningful work-related experiences. It epitomizes Fanshawe Global’s mission, fostering impactful and sustainable educational development.” “There is so much we can learn from each other, which better equips all of us to make meaningful change,” Tracy says. “To the future! Cheers.”
As the team from Friends College Kaimosi concludes their visit, they return to Kenya equipped with knowledge, experiences, and inspiration gained from their time in Canada. With renewed vision and determination, they head back to Kaimosi, ready to create an even more significant impact. Their journey has just begun.
