SUNY, AEP ink education cooperation deal
Published On August 1, 2022 » 7903 Views» By Times Reporter » Features
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• AFRICAN Education Programme (AEP) founder and executive director Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza, Education Minister Douglas Syakalima and State University of New York (SUNY) Schenectady president Steady Moono at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between SUNY and AEP recently.

By CHRISTINE KUNDA-
EDUCATION is a key factor in producing a labour force that is capable of driving national development for any country.
For Zambia to attain its development objectives, it requires a cadre of educated citizens to translate Government’s policies into reality.
It is for this reason that State University of New York (SUNY) Schenectady and the African Education Programme (AEP) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop academic and educational cooperation between the two institutions.
Through the new agreement, SUNY Schenectady and AEP will provide educational assistance to vulnerable students.
SUNY Schenectady president Steady Moono said the collaboration between his university and the AEP is a humbling opportunity that can change a person’s trajectory in life.
Reflecting on his own educational journey that began in Zambia, Mr Moono recalls how at the age of 18 he left his home village to attend college in the United States (US), a lifetime prospect that opened up a new world of opportunity for him.
“Our collaboration with the African Education Programme is dear to my
heart. I was born in Zambia. My father, siblings and extended family
are here,” he said.
Dr Moono said although he comes from a very poor background, his parents always emphasized on the value of education.
He said it is humbled that now he is part of an agreement between SUNY Schenectady and AEP to offer the same access to youth in Zambia,” Dr Moono said.
He said SUNY Schenectady is part of the State University of New York system and is an accredited community college located in Schenectady, New York.
The university offers 57 degree and certificate programmes and specialized training through Workforce Development.
In 2006, AEP and its local implementing partner – the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) – opened a flagship Learning and Leadership Center in Kafue.
Over 500 vulnerable children and youth have currently taken up various programmes through academic tutoring, leadership development, gender equity and period poverty elimination.
Other programmes the youths are undertaking include HIV/AIDS and health awareness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, nutrition and food security, as well as the arts and creativity.
AEP founder Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza said the agreement with SUNY Schenectady marks a new chapter for the organisation and its implementing partner the AYC.
“Collaborating with SUNY Schenectady is an incredibly exciting opportunity for AEP and AYC. The agreement could not be more timely.
As we prepare to build a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind Learning & Leadership Centre in Kafue,” said Ms Cosenza who is also executive director of AEP.
She said currently, her orgainsation is able to incorporate components that are crucial to the partnership, like a computer lab for remote learning and a culinary space for in-person learning.
Education Minister Douglas Syakalima, who graced the signing of the MoU, said the partnership of the AEP and AYC will provide youths with an education that will empower them to the next step in their lives.
“With this MoU, our students are guaranteed the best academic exposure on an international level and we are therefore eager to see out youths access all these educational programmes,” he said.
Ceasar Samwaka is an AYC alumni who is now the director of academics and scholarships.
He said the agreement will bolster the opportunities created for the youth at the learning and leadership centre.
“Having the possibility to study abroad in the United States will greatly enhance the quality of opportunities that are offered to the students at the Learning and Leadership Centre,” Mr Samwaka said.
He said for the students to access such resources empowers them to be even greater leaders and change makers in their communities and for the nation.
AYC Board Chairman Paul Chisunka said the MoU will create educational pathways for vulnerable Zambian youth to study in the USA.
He thanked SUNY Schenectady and AEP for facilitating the life changing academic opportunities.
“The greatest investment to make in our youth is education because it broadens their world view, refines their correct application of knowledge, and accelerates their social mobility thereby helping to break the cycle of poverty,” Mr Chisunka said.
This makes their contribution to society and their individual communities even more powerful and impactful.
Education is often seen as prerequisite to quality manpower development and creation of wealth.
Hence, SUNNY Schenectady and the AEP should be commended for signing an MoU which will pool the efforts of the two institution in order to provide quality education that will impact national development.

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