First Nyadire Mission Summer Intern Named
Ben Dempe, a rising junior at Allegheny College and a member of Mt. Lebanon UMC, has been selected as the first intern who will travel to Nyadire, Zimbabwe and volunteer on the mission for our summer, Zimbabwe’s winter.
The internship program, established by The Nyadire Connection group which supports programs at the United Methodist in Nyadire, provides young United Methodists the opportunity to experience life in rural Zimbabwe while they offer vital assistance to the people of the Mission.
Dempe, an economics major with a focus on international studies, will live with a Zimbabwean host family during the 10-week internship. He will tackle a variety of projects related to his expertise:
1. Assist the new Internet cafe by advising them on income and expenditure, teach computer skills, survey cafe users to document how and why the cafe is being used.
2. Develop a micro-lending program which will offer small loans to locals at a low-interest rate.
3. Assist Emanuel Chiimba, the administrator of the Home of Hope Orphanage, with the HOHO program, which keeps orphans living in the Nyadire area in school.
Based loosely on a short-term Peace Corps assignment, the internship program allows the selected candidate license to focus on projects within their interest and expertise, provide needed assistance to Nyadire programs, and immerse themselves in Zimbabwean culture while building enduring relationships.
Interns will be given the opportunity to study and observe the local culture, experience a home-stay with a Zimbabwean family, work with volunteer teams from the U.S, and participate in a safari on a game preserve.
Keep up with Ben's experiences at Nyadire through his blog www.nyadire.blogspot.com
Requests for more information can be sent to info@nyadire.org.
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