South African Tour Will Train Teachers in Diversity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2004
CONTACT: Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Hassan Sisay, International Programs
530-898-6664
South African Tour Will Train Teachers in Diversity
The U.S. Department of Education has funded a summer 2004 study tour of South Africa through which 16 educators from Northern California will become trainers in diversity and socioeconomic issues. The $62,900 grant to support the June 21 to July 25 trip is under the auspices of International Studies, the Department of History, and Multicultural and Gender Studies, California State University, Chico.
The proposal, which addresses the need for increased diversity and multicultural understanding, was co-written by Hassan B. Sisay, International Programs and Multicultural and Gender Studies; Alfred Konuwa, professor of economics and African studies; and Mary Oling Ottoo, director of Student Judicial Affairs.
The 16 participants will see diversity through the lenses of South Africa. They will become a core of experts who will train teachers in high schools and colleges in Northern California. The South African experience will prepare them to lead workshops and give talks on their return. They will also have access to relevant films and artifacts collected from South Africa.
The selected educators will visit three major universities in South Africa: The University of Witts Waterstrand in Johannesburg, The University of Western Cape, and the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.
The partnerships created with South African universities will establish a basis for understanding Africa and the global environment. The group will tour and participate in experiential activities at AIDS clinics, non-governmental organizations involved in economic development activities, rural facilities that highlight environmental issues, political institutes that teach and provide research materials on conflict resolution and reconciliation and arts and cultural museums.
Sisay has lead study tours and organized study abroad programs. He organized a study abroad program between the University of Sierra Leone and CSU, Chico. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in South Africa in 1995. His main research area is Liberia, and he has authored several articles including a text: “Big Powers and Small Nations: A Case Study of United States - Liberian Relations.”
Konuwa is an expert on institutional economics and has extensive experience in entrepreneurship education as a model for economic empowerment. He has consulted with local and international organizations on entrepreneurship education. He is acting chairperson of the Business and Economics Department at Butte College, where he teaches courses in economics. A native of Liberia, Dr. Konuwa has made several visits to South Africa and Botswana, where he led projects to establish entrepreneurship programs under the aegis of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) at the University of the Free State in South Africa and the University of Botswana
Oling Ottoo, a native of Uganda, served as Study Abroad Coordinator at the City College of New York where she developed several new programs. She has an M.A. in public communication from Fordham University, New York. She is currently in the Educational Leadership doctoral program at the Rossier School of Education of the University of Southern California.
Anita Fernandez, assistant professor of education, will design and analyze evaluation instruments for the project.
Educators interested in the South African tour must submit a 1-2 page letter stating their reasons for wanting to participate and describing their expectations. Among requirements for participants is that they be interested in African studies, teach in an area that incorporates African or African-American studies, be able to engage in rigorous tour activities, and agree to participate in training activities upon their return.
Each selected participant will contribute $1,000 toward the cost of the trip. Letters of interest and a resume must be sent to Dr. Hassan Sisay, CSU, Chico, Department of History, Zip 735, Chico, California, 95929.
For more information about application and travel details, call Sisay at 530-898-6664. Candidate selection and notification will be completed by April 30.
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