A SPECIAL GUEST: Elaine Mukuru is the chair of and a founding member for the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in Kenya.

In addition to the keynote address by Stephen Lewis on Sunday, October 21, the College of the Rockies is pleased to announce a second keynote presentation on Friday, October 19 by the chair of the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Kenya, Elaine Mukuru. Both presentations are part of the Africa: Development Challenges conference October 19 to 26.

Elaine Mukuru is a passionate speaker with a wealth of experience and knowledge in influencing policy and advocating the importance of access to education for females.

She is a founding member of Forum for African Women Educationalists. FAWE is an international organization dedicated to furthering the education of girls and women in 33 African countries and works very closely with ministries of education and education policy makers at all levels to promote access, retention and performance of girls' education at the national level.

Mukuru is an educationalist with more than 25 years of senior managerial experience spanning the entire education sector, key government ministries in Kenya, development partners and civil societies. She has significant knowledge of central government structures and systems including government institutions, and she is well versed on key issues impacting the social, economic and political development of Kenya.

Mukuru graduated from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, in 1971 obtaining a Bachelor of Art degree in Economics, History and Education. Her subsequent management training took place at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and the Kenya Institute of Administration. In her career as an educationalist she rose up the ladder to the level of senior Deputy Director of Education in 1993, thus holding the highest position as the top woman in the field of education policy. As an education consultant, Mukuru has undertaken several studies and achieved many other accomplishments during her career.

“We are very excited to have Elaine Mukuru as a keynote speaker at the conference,” said Jeff Cooper, international project co-ordinator. “She is a powerful speaker and a fascinating woman, and I know people will be interested in her unique perspective.”

Mukuru will be speaking in the Cranbrook campus gymnasium at 7 p.m. on October 19. Admission is by donation.

“The goal of the Africa: Development Challenges conference is to increase the Kootenay community’s knowledge of development issues in Africa," said Cooper, "and ultimately to form a community action group that will plan and implement international development activities. The action group will work directly with Kenyan community groups and organizations to address their development challenges and make a real, positive and lasting impact in their lives.”

For more information on the Africa conference including registration and workshop fees go to: www.cotr.bc.ca/africa or contact the College of the Rockies at 250-489-2751 (ext. 8430) or toll-free 1-877 489-2687 (ext. 8430).