The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences co-sponsors the opportunity for students to study abroad in Namibia (Africa). The program is funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as a joint venture between Texas A&M University (TAMU), Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN). Dr. Wash A. Jones, assistant professor in CAHS, is the PVAMU faculty leader.
Three PVAMU students participated in the summer 2014 trip:
- Fitsum Abuye, senior agriculture major with a concentration in agricultural economics
- Conlee Fry, senior agriculture major with a concentration in animal science
- Jasper Ross, junior psychology major
During the trip, students participate in six semester credit hours of TAMU coursework by completing an agricultural photography course and a cultural pluralism in agriculture course. Scheduled activities for the students include class discussions and experiential learning activities focused on food security, community-based natural resource management, career competencies, photography and cultural pluralism.
Conlee Fry offered the following reflection to get other students motivated to attend future study abroad trips:
“Dream all you want of the wonders of the world or the countries that contain them, but I urge you to, one day, stop dreaming and go.”
Some interesting concepts which the students address or learn about in Namibia:
- Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa and only 2% of the land receives enough rain annually for agricultural purposes
- The country does not have any formal nutrition education program, so malnutrition is a huge concern
- Namibia’s public health system is extremely poor due to bad administration since the country’s independence from South Africa in 1990
- The rate of HIV is as high as one in three persons in some parts of the country
- Although affirmative action for the empowerment of females, Blacks and disabled individuals is a government policy, women typically are oppressed and have no say even though they are represented in leadership roles
The goal for 2015 is to have at least 10 PVAMU students participate in the study abroad trip scheduled for July 7 – August 12, 2015. This opportunity is open to any currently enrolled PVAMU student. For more information or to assist with funding student travel, contact Dr. Wash A. Jones at wajones@pvamu.edu.