Kitale Computer Skills Development

Greetings! My name is Mackenzie Hale. I am a 22 year old, recent Xavier University graduate and I am being blessed with a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I have been offered a position that could not be more perfect for me.  My experiences and opportunities have allowed me to obtain my Microsoft Word 2007, PowerPoint 2007 certifications and my CompTIA A  certification in high school.  I utilized these certifications to obtain a part time computer repair technician and small business management position that I held for four years. I expanded and built on my business knowledge and honed my technical skills at Xavier University, where I graduated in December with a bachelors in Management Information Technology and a GPA of 3.61.  

I am so excited to be offered an opportunity to share skills and knowledge with others and impact lives in a big way.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to volunteer for the Empower Africa International group, a volunteer-driven initiative of The GPF Apostolic Missions Network Inc., a 501 C3 non-profit corporation based in Dallas, Texas (USA). This organization is professional, efficient and concerned about their volunteers. Empower Africa International aims at improving opportunities for people in underprivileged communities of Africa through better education, health, sanitation and sustainable development.

I have been offered a position that will allow me to fulfill a lifelong ambition of using my skills in order to help people in the city of Kitale, Kenya. I will be teaching a class to help develop basic computer skills in Kenya through Empower Africa International. I have always had a passion for helping people and I now have an opportunity to do it in a big way and I won't just be traveling, but living and working in an African culture.

With my background in Computer Information Technology, my placement will focus on basic computer skills training, which will help locals be more competitive in the job market and allow them to achieve their goals and missions. My background and experiences have allowed me to develop teaching skills that will aid me in helping these people learn basic computer skills so they can find jobs. A major part of Empower Africa International programs are run by volunteer contributions, and therefore each program has a fee. The fee for this 4 week program, including all meals, lodging, funding of my project and in-country transportation, totals $1290 and does not include airfare to Kenya. Since Empower Africa International exists as a division of a 501 C3 non-profit organization, it is the responsibility of the volunteer to pay for certain expenses involved with volunteering.

This is where I need your assistance. My expenses to participate in the expedition total $3000, this includes:

I have saved $1000 of my own money. I am hoping to get your help in raising the remaining amount. If each of my friends and acquaintances contribute $20 I will have more than enough for the expedition. Should you have any questions about the volunteer program, please call me at [phone redacted] or visit Empower Africa International's website at www.empowerafricainternational.org, or my blog about the trip http://journeykitale.wordpress.com; Your support and the support of those you know is greatly appreciated. I look forward to sharing this extraordinary experience with you upon my return. I plan on posting regular updates on my blog, and I am happy to bring back pictures and souvenirs to everyone that contributes.

Mackenzie Hale