RESPECT University:
A Tutor's Perspective

by Ashok Pillai

Elizabeth Radziszewski offered to conduct a course through RESPECT University since she believed that it was one way to do something good for those who lack the educational opportunities she was fortunate to have. While perusing a PhD in Political Science from the University of Illinois, she set aside time to teach the high school graduates in Uganda on Democracy and Its Principles through correspondence. Here she shares her experience about her students, their capabilities and her views about RESPECT University.

Ashok: Have the students been able to come up to your expectations?

Elizabeth: Most of the time, yes. I was nicely surprised that most students had good ideas when it came to writing their first assignment. Although a lot of the ideas need polishing, they still demonstrate that students are capable of learning and improving. My only concern was with three students who apparently provided the same answers to the assignment, and thus did not complete the assignment independently as expected. RESPECT University

RESPECT Laine Overcomes Letter Exchange Challenges

by Sedekie B. Kamara,
Coordinator RESPECT Laine

The RESPECT Letter Exchange Programme at the Laine Refugee School in Guinea has had a lot of problems to contend with since its establishment around the beginning of October 2003. These include problems ranging from lack of frequent communications with our N'Zerekore, Guinea, counterparts to unavailability of funds to bridge gaps of transportation and postage, among others.

However, the programme has continued to gain momentum beyond anyone's expectation. The reason being that many refugee students felt their involvement in a letter exchange programme will keep them in touch with others and also, very importantly, the fact that the relationship may yield some good things some days. RESPECT Laine

Pens Put To Work In Tanzania

by Lakshmi Poorna

RESPECT: Ms. Kay Adoshima, first thank you for your thoughtful gift to the refugee school in Nyarugusu, Tanzania. Tell us something about you.

Kay: While in university and after I graduated, I volunteered and worked with various international aid/development organizations. I am now 26 years old and currently applying to medical school. My dream is to work on a medical team of an international humanitarian aid organization. I spent many years living in various countries in Africa, Asia and Europe as a child. From experiences where I saw many children living impoverished lives, I realized that life as they knew it was a far cry from many of the things I took for granted. I grew up feeling very strongly that for all the blessings and opportunities that I have had in my life, it was my duty to give back what I could to those who were less fortunate. Pens Put To Work