FMSFRIENDS - THE MARISTS

Transformative Education

25 years of Transformative Education

This year, February 10, 2012, Marist International University College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, celebrates 25 years of existence as an institution. And we chose the theme, 25 years of transformative education to mark the celebration which actually reflect what we do at the College.

Education, as we all well know, is fundamentally about the promotion of personhood and the development of full human potentials. While we are confronted by the challenges of different social and educational systems, transformative education, in our view, may play a big part in helping individuals to become truly human beings. We mean that transformative education helps in the development of individuals as whole-persons: physically, morally, creatively, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, aesthetically, as well as the expression of their innate potential as human beings.

Transformative education gives instructions on how to live meaningful and effective lives and it offers opportunities for leading a fulfilled and prosperous life in the light of true and Christo-catechizandous education. True education is based on the principles and values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Looked at from this perspective, transformative education attempts to inform, form, and transform individual persons as well as society. Transformative education thus recreates humanity and society from within. It recreates and transforms the face of the earth so that the will of God may be fulfilled. Transformative education as expressed in the mission statement of the college is, thus, liberative and transformative. Thus we �aim to produce graduates who will be agents of liberation, transformation and development of humanity�. To achieve this dream we make conscious efforts to provide transformative or integral education in which we equip students with Christian values, knowledge and skills for the work of Christian education and the development of society.

Individual and social transformation is, thus, an important goal of our system of education. As a matter of fact, all education and any education system really should be transformative. It should be directed toward learners who must be imbued with values and skills that develop their worldviews and encourage them to act both individually and collectively so that they can improve social conditions and eventually eradicate the evils of society.

We think that transformative education is needed today because our society really needs regeneration. Society today is characterized by various forms of poverty, social injustices, bigotry, terrorism, ecological degradation, economic disparity between the rich and the poor, women and child abuse, corruption, and unethical use of technology. To improve the human condition and to foster social transformation, individuals must work together to increase and foster accountability and responsiveness toward these societal issues. At Marist International University College, this effort is built into our ten core values of: love of neighbour and God, respect for life and lawful authorities, concern for the poor, integrity, generosity, patriotism, passion for work, sensitivity to the environment, and self-discipline.

Transformative education, as described, is never without challenges. It requires hard work. It is not often easy to reap the benefits of transformation since there are no quick fixes or short-cuts. Nevertheless, we believe that with courage, discipline, commitment, and above all trust in God, we achieve positive results. It is also true that there are no mapped out methodologies that promises transformative learning.

Nevertheless, we also believe that as conversion comes from personal choices, lecturers cannot impose the will to transform on students. In spite of these challenges we are convinced that lecturers can influence students when they model and create supportive environments for them to change. When this happens it makes students desire to transform both individually and collectively. The work of transformative education, in our opinion, thus becomes a collective action. As the adage goes, �a complete human being is not one whose mind alone is active and enlightened but the one who is alive in all his/her faculties�. A complete person is one who is both intellectually and morally sound. Thus transformative education is holistic or integral as it forms the head, heart and hands. This form of education prepares individuals to know, to live together with others, to learn to do things for self and society, and above all, the individual learns to be human.

By Bro Cyprian Gandeebo

Graduation ceremony at MIUC, 27th April 2012

Marist Brothers in Nairobi, Kenya, MIC, MIUC

GRADUATION CEREMONY - MIUC, NAIROBI

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Graduation ceremony at MIUC

The Graduation Ceremony at MIUC (Marist International University College) was held on Friday, 27th April 2012 at 9.00am at the Assembly Ground. Graduates in the first group were the young people from NYTA (National Youth Talent Academy). NYTA is a government project sponsored by UNICEF to foster the talent of young people in various branches as music and dance, film and theatre and sports. They finished their training in Life Skills and ICT at MIUC. The second group of the graduates was of the young Marist Brothers who finished their formation at MIC and at the same time they were awarded the diploma in Religious Studies. They will complete three months of Teaching Practice before they go back to their country. Their graduation in Bachelor Degree in Education will take place at CUEA (Catholic University of East Africa) in October 2012.

Sandratana Camille

Achievements - Jubilee joy extended

After the close of the Jubilee celebration, 25 years of MIC, other news items around and in the center of MIC are in some ways extending that jubilee joy.

First, the month of March 2012 ended with the acquisition of new tarmac road passing through MIC. It is 7 km long and this road is named Marist Lane. It facilitates the coming in and out of MIC. It was always full of mud when it rained and a place of dust when dry. It has become increasingly known by the people of Nairobi through external students attending the College at MIC.

Then another name, MIUC (Marist International University College) is also to be included on the list of achievements. MIUC currently hosts over 600 students, among them 105 young Marist Brothers of Africa in the post-novitiate formation. The Centre was known as MIC standing for Marist International Centre and Marist International College. And, since September 2011, Marist International College has been recognized as Marist International University College (MIUC).

Finally, we complete the list of achievement by going to the Fraternities. We have 7 Fraternities and each Fraternity is now supposed to be animated by two Animators. For several years, they were each led by one Animator. There are only three Fraternities expecting three new Animators to reach the goal of having two Animators in each Fraternity. The Administrative Units are preparing to send new Animators for MIC.

To conclude, we convey our best wishes for this Easter festival. May a new life ushered in by the risen Jesus inspire us in our Marist mission.

By Sandratana Camille

quelques nouvellles de l'Institut WEZA

Grand Bonjour de Nyangezi,

Nous avons pas �t� r�gulier � la publication faute � de technicit� toutefois, nous sommes rest�s unis � vous par la pri�re.
Plusieurs activit�s ont eu lieu dans nos murs mais nous serons pas pas capable de tout relater ici.
Nous voulons juste vous faire un r�sum� du mois de mars, mois de la femme.
Ce mois a �t� digne de son nom. Le 8 mars, toutes nos filles ont congugu� leurs efforts pour nous produire une c�r�monie d'une de son nom.
Il y a eu de la danse, le th��tre, les po�mes, le match de foot ...sans oublier le cocktail digne de qualit�.

En outre, ce mois de Mars a �t� aussi le mois de recherche. Les �l�ves finalistes de Biochimie ont effectu� des visites : � la PHARMAKINA et � la BRALIMA.

Nous louons l'initiative de la direction et nous remercions les responsables de ces entreprises qui ont accept� de nous acceuillir.

Les p�dagogues ont effectu� leur stage d'enseignement; certains � l'E.WEZA, d'autres � l.E.P CIHANDA et d'autres encore � l'E.P CIBIMBI. Grand merci aux responsables de ces �coles et � tous les encadreurs.

Tout n'est pas fini.

A suivre.