Last month we had a visit from the Tanzanian Commission for Universities. In mid-May, a committee of five came to SEKUCo to observe and check on our progress. What they found is a university that has grown substantially, both in academic ability and administrative skill. 
We gave the members of TCU a tour of the university. Each department head gave a detailed description of his or her department’s strengths and weaknesses. I had the privilege of showing the committee our new equipment for students with visual impairments and teaching them how it works.
Before leaving Magamba, the TCU committee gave their report on how they see our performance – we made the grade! – and suggested ways we can improve. Additional documentation will follow.
In the midst of meetings and administrative responsibilities it is easy to lose sight of the reasons why we are doing what we are doing. I had the opportunity to refocus recently and see first hand why we are fighting for the rights of children with disabilities.
In a small town about five kilometers north of SEKUCO lives a women with a child who has Down syndrome. Because of his disability, her child has been left out of school his whole life. This mother wanted, needed to change his reality and started a school for children with disabilities.
She turned an old two room chicken coop into a school for seven children. The children came to her with no official education in their life and now have the opportunity to attend school five days a week.
The school is less then perfect with three walls and chicken wire as the fourth wall. Each child has one pencil and one notebook. Though it is not much it is their first opportunity to attend school and they are proud, enjoying every moment.
Meetings and the work of administration will always need to be completed but it is the opportunity to assist a world-changing woman who walks the kilometers to become a better teacher that drives our work at SEKUCo.
Amani,
Amanda
PS: The work of advocacy emerges here from community; SEKUCo builds on the energy and dreams of its students. Our prayer is that the SEKUCo student experience will empower world-changing men and women to walk the kilometers that make a difference.
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