Announcing the East Africa SOFE -Spring 2013

Join us on the inaugural East African Service Oriented Field Experience (SOFE) to Tanzania (and maybe Uganda) planned for April 3rd to 13th. We will be visiting several Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to learn from their experiences organizing and working in the East African context. The theme of this trip is “Exploring New Ways for Addressing Old Problems”

This SOFE meets the capstone requirement to graduate with the Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) degree from Regis University. For many students, the SOFE is the highlight of their experience at Regis.

The E. AFRICA 2013 SOFE will combine opportunities to meet and work with representatives of national and International NGOs. Many students embrace working alongside their peers in civil society and create life-long relationships.

The E. AFRICA 2013 SOFE will offer you an opportunity to make a contribution by your service and your academic work. You and your fellow students will gain perspective on operations of African NGOs and will compile a report on training and "capacity" development opportunities for East African NGOs.

The E. AFRICA 2013 SOFE will incorporate experiences beyond the classroom. Although you will have some of the traditional aspects of a Regis course (online activity/assignments), you will be involved with energized East African NGOs, as well as visiting historic, cultural and beautiful sites. Join the SOFE and experience a dynamic part of the world.

The E. AFRICA 2013 SOFE will provide you an enhanced understanding of civil society, the role of the NGO, their challenges and best practices. As the world is forever changing, your experience will serve for you to become alert to global issues and potential opportunities for your future interests. Many students find that the SOFE is not the culminating course for Regis, but an inspired opportunity for discovery. A number of Regis students have used the SOFE to find the next stage of their careers.

The E. AFRICA 2013 SOFE will include site-seeing, play and ability to discover unique foods, dance, shopping and camaraderie with your fellow students. Typically, SOFEs involve between 9 to 12 students, plus facilitators and tour escorts. You may wish to extend your stay to take advantage of the rich regional cultural, historical and adventure experiences as well and have family members join you at this point.

The E. AFRICA 2013 SOFE will provide a rich set of experiences that are reasonable in cost, escorted with local experts, focused upon safety while being inspiring and beneficial. The anticipated costs for the two-week trip is around $3200 plus airfare (actual cost available by first info meeting in late Nov.). Regis is working to see if discounted airfare is possible, but anticipate the airfare to be approximately $1500. You may wish to plan on having a little cash for incidentals (add on trips, shopping, time on your own) as well.

The E. AFRICA 2013 qualifies as an educational expense. Many states offer a College Invest Programs so that you can deposit money to an account by the end of 2012, use those funds tax-free and take a deduction for your academic adventure.

Kinoti Meme, the Faculty Chair for the Global Nonprofit Leadership Department and Dr. Moses Pulei, who works for World Vision International (East Africa Region), will facilitate the E. AFRICA 2013.

We hope you will join us for an academic adventure. Will you have unique experiences? Yes! Will the experience stretch you? Yes, outside your comfort zone, but within your abilities to learn, adapt, contribute and grow!

Once the course is open now for enrollment - MNM 677 Africa – we will be filling on it on a first-come-first-served basis. If you have questions before you enroll contact:

• Kinoti - dmeme@regis.edu

We hope you will join us!