Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt (left) with Prof. Rwekaza S. Mukandala, Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam. Ambassador Lenhardt gave a grant of more than 7.5 million shillings on behalf of the American people to the University of Dar es Salaam to support the construction of a planned student center in response to the fundraising campaign launched last Thursday by President Jakaya Kikwete. The U.S. Ambassador added his personal donation, thus increasing the total contribution to more than 10.5 million shillings. The funds will be used to offset the costs of designing the building that will include study and rest areas, sports and cultural areas, information services, and other services needed by the UDSM’s growing student body.
Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt gave a grant of more than 7.5 million shillings on behalf of the American people to the University of Dar es Salaam to support the construction of a planned student center in response to the fundraising campaign launched last Thursday by President Jakaya Kikwete.
The U.S. Ambassador added his personal donation, thus increasing the total contribution to more than 10.5 million shillings. The funds will be used to offset the costs of designing the building that will include study and rest areas, sports and cultural areas, information services, and other services needed by the UDSM’s growing student body.
As he handed over the two checks on January 25 to Professor Rwekaza S. Mukandala, UDSM Vice Chancellor, and Professor Amandina Lihamba, member of the steering committee for the construction of the Student Center, Ambassador Lenhardt said student resource centers, common on American university campuses, formed the core of student life:
'I was surprised there wasn't one at the University of Dar es Salaam. Of course, we are glad to help where we can.' The U.S. Ambassador said education was one of his key priorities in Tanzania: “I know from my own experience the importance of education in shaping a life.
This is something nobody can take away from you. I would not be standing here today as the personal representative of my President if it were not for a commitment to education and self-improvement.
The quality of education received by young Tanzanians today will determine what Tanzania is going to be like tomorrow. My Embassy and I will continue to support the efforts to realize a vision of a prosperous, self-reliant, and well-governed Tanzania.”
The UDSM Vice Chancellor said he was speaking on behalf of the entire University of Dar es Salaam community when he thanked Ambassador Alfonso Lenhardt and, through him, the people of the United States of America, for generously supporting the effort to construct a modern student center at the University’s main campus in Dar es Salaam: 'The donation will go a long way in helping the University establish a suitable place for students to study, interact and access critical information.'
Both Professor Mukandala and Professor Lihamba are former participants of the Fulbright Program, the flagship academic exchange program implemented by the American people through the government of the United States.
Professor Mukandala received a Ph.D in political science in 1988 from the University of California, Berkeley, under the Fulbrigt Foreign Student Program. Professor Lihamba was in the United States on the Fulbright African Research Scholar Program in 2000-2001.
