Her excellency Salma R. Kikwete, the First Lady of the United Republic of Tanzania, paid a visit to Monmouth University on September 26 and 27. During her visit, the First Lady received a donation of over 13,000 books for the people of Tanzania from the Monmouth University Library. The books will be distributed to schools and universities in Tanzania.
Accompanied by Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Tanzania’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Ambassador Ramadhani Mwinyi, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Mr. Daudi Nasib, Executive Director of Tanzania’s WAMA Foundation (which is chaired by the First Lady and promotes women empowerment), she met with Monmouth University President Paul R. Brown; Dr. Saliba Sarsar, Associate Vice President for Global Initiatives; Dr. Janet Mahoney, Dean of the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies; and other key administrators and faculty to explore ways of collaboration.
The focus of the discussion was on women’s education, maternal and child health, and health promotion efforts to prevent HIV. President Brown welcomed this opportunity of collaboration, stating that “Our community is the world. The relationships we will build with Tanzania will be mutually beneficial, and we will be the better for them.” The discussion also explored other global connections with Tanzania through the Institute for Global Understanding and cultural arts exchanges through the Center for the Arts at Monmouth University.
The First Lady’s visit and subsequent relationships with Monmouth University are a product Monmouth’s participation in “Footprints to Education,” a cultural and educational exchange program designed to enhance the lives of children while promoting global understanding between students of the United States and Africa. Mr. John M. McLaughlin, founder of the “Footprints to Education” Program, thanked Monmouth University for its hospitality and support. “What we are planting today will bear many fruits tomorrow,” he said.