Machakos University and CorpsAfrica Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Community Development
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Machakos University and CorpsAfrica have officially launched a comprehensive strategic partnership during a meeting on October 14th at the UNESCO Chair office at the University Hotel. Members present including the Chair of UNESCO Prof. Mugendi M’Rithaa, Registrar Research, Innovation and Linkages Prof. David Mulwa, Dean of the School of Agriculture, Environment and Health Science Dr. Julius Nzeve and Chair of Departments from the School and the Country Director CorpsAfrica Dr. Patricia Mugendi and her delegation.
CorpsAfrica is a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains African youth to serve as volunteers in rural communities within their own countries. The volunteers live and work with local residents to identify development priorities and implement sustainable, community-led projects. By promoting local leadership and capacity building, CorpsAfrica empowers communities to drive their own social and economic transformation.
Discussions outlined a multi-faceted framework for cooperation, designed to leverage the unique strengths of both organizations. Key areas of focus including:
1. Academic Integration and Curriculum Review
The collaboration will explore the development of new, practical short courses tailored to community needs. An initial focus will be on creating training modules for community health workers, with a specific emphasis on behavior change communication.
2. Expanding Volunteerism and Practical Student Experience
A flagship initiative of the partnership is designed to equip MksU graduates with real-world skills. By scaling up structured internships and field attachments with joint supervision, the program aims to position Machakos University as a hub for producing “community-ready” graduates.
3. Joint Research and Innovation
The institutions will pursue collaborative research in critical areas vital to Kenya’s development. These include climate-smart agriculture, technology uptake, food security, and community-based resource management for adaptation and resilience.
4. Co-creation of Training and Community Content
CorpsAfrica will contribute its field expertise by delivering specialized human-centered design workshops and providing digital, community-facing information modules, ensuring that training is relevant and accessible.
5. Community Outreach and Public Campaigns
The alliance plans to host annual joint events and public awareness campaigns. An early milestone will see CorpsAfrica participating in an upcoming MksU conference, showcasing the partnership’s initial progress and vision. The strategic alliance between Machakos University and CorpsAfrica marks a significant commitment to creating sustainable, bottom-up development solutions. By combining academic rigor with practicals, on-ground experience, the partnership is set to become a model for how universities and development organizations can work hand-in-hand to empower communities and foster lasting change.