Press Releases
Tanzanian sponsored through Great Lakes Consortium returns home from U.S.
May 15, 2007
Naftal Mandi recently graduated from Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and returns to Tanzania this week. Mandi is the first Tanzanian to graduate and return to Tanzanian after being recruited by the Great Lakes Consortium (GLC) based in Ohio. The GLC is a collaborative effort of the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes College, the Medical College of Ohio, and WSOS. WSOS is the administering agency of the consortium which initiates, seeks support for, and coordinates international training and development efforts linking and enhancing capacity and resources with needs in the world community.
Mandi received his bachelor's degree in Pre-medical studies from Bowling Green as a result of a previous program exchange funded by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs organized under the Great Lakes Consortium. He earned the scholarship after showing his interest when he met with a delegation from NW Ohio in the late spring of 2003. Mandi helped out the delegation that included Dr. Bruce Edwards, Director of Distance Learning Program and Associate Dean of International Studies at BGSU. At that time, he had just graduated from high school with very good grades.
As a result of his involvement in the delegation's activities, Karl Gingrich's support and with encouragement from both Tanzanians and Americans, Dr. Edwards was able to arrange a handful of scholarships at BGSU to allow Tanzanian students access to study at BGSU.
Since that time first scholarship, an additional 18 Tanzanians have had the opportunity. One graduated in December 2006, but she is still in the U.S. on practical training and would like to pursue graduate school.
Karl Gingrich, a GCL Tanzanian Projects Advisor said, “Mandi, who has been trained in business and gained practical experience in the U.S., has also built very good connections across our community, and he helped the others who came after him from Tanzania. Now he is looking for a job where he can use his experience, and in addition he will be involved in activities that GLC has started in different regions.”
He added,” We hope he will be a good speaker for the youth in Tanzania and will motivate them to reach their full potential, and involve them in various community activities.”
Separately, Dr. Elizabeth Balint, Project Manager for Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development said another Tanzanian Peter Mateso, Dar es Salaam Zonal Director of VETA has been selected for a PhD program at BGSU from the Fall of 2007. “Mateso was at BGSU with other members of the Workforce Delegation in 2006 and since his return he has implemented several follow on activities,” Dr. Balint said.
Members of the GLC are scheduled to visit Tanzania at the end of this month to carry out workforce development activities in Arusha, Tanga, and Dar es Salaam.