UEM Scholarship Alumni program in Africa Region

On the 2^nd and the 3^rd August 2018, a meeting was held at the Presbyterian and the Anglican Church of Rwanda. It was convened by the President of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, the Rev Dr Pascal Bataringaya, Bishop Dr Jered Kalimba of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Diocese of Shyogwe and the UEM Africa Executive Secretary, the Rev Dr John Wesley Kabango. Participants were University graduates in different areas supported by UEM: theology, development/management, medicine, education, administration, etc. They were former and current UEM scholarship holders who met to reflect on how to start or reinforce an UEM Alumni Association. The purpose of this association is to foster a spirit of loyalty and to promote the general welfare of their churches and UEM as a supporting organization. The UEM scholarship Alumni association will exist to support UEM’s goals and to strengthen the ties between alumni, the churches and UEM in promoting UEM ownership by African churches. Two initial requirements were shared to start or re-activate an UEM alumni association which are the following:

• The enthusiasm and willingness of several former scholarship holders who are willing to take on UEM initiatives and sustain them.
• The interest of a group of alumni and friends of UEM to participate in the church and organization’s activities.

Who will take on the leadership role of an Alumni Association? UEM former scholarship holders agreed to have the following characteristics:

• Willingness to work more with their churches and promote UEM in their churches,
• Willingness to contribute time and funds depending on their capacity,
• Enthusiasm of serving as volunteers, and 
• Ability to motivate and engage all former and current scholarship holders within their churches.

It was proposed that the organizational structure for Alumni Associations will be developed as UEM member churches and UEM reflect on the way forward. The first step will be to form an Interest group of scholarship holders who will:

• Meet informally with alums to obtain names
• Obtain a geographic listing of members from church or UEM  headquarters office
• Telephone conferences and personal meetings with alums
• Directly ask all concerned people for their participation in starting the association.

It is planned that all UEM member churches in Africa are going to be contacted for the starting of UEM scholarship holders Alumni.

Rev Dr John Wesley Kabango, UEM Africa Executive Secretary