University of Michigan- Flint Named Venture Grant Awardee

The University of Michigan-Flint has been awarded a Venture Grant for the International Service-Learning for Nursing Students in Kenya program.

In partnership with St. Mary's Mission Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, UM-Flint nursing students will provide nursing care, health promotion and health education activities in hospital and orphanages in both urban and rural settings. The students will work in areas where people are living in extreme poverty with limited access to secure water, food, shelter and health care.

International academic service-learning provides students with opportunities to gain cultural understanding, increase competence, and expand communication and critical thinking skills. The opportunity also helps the students to grow both personally and professionally, as well as, become engaged citizens within a multicultural society.

The UM-Flint faculty member coordinating this grant is Linda Knecht, assistant professor.

The grant was recently announced by the Michigan Campus Compact (MCC). UM-Flint is one of six recipients in the 37th Venture Grant Cycle, which grants financial awards up to $3,500. The application for Venture Grant funds is open to those on MCC member campuses who wish to develop or expand community service programs, service-learning opportunities, and/or civic engagement activities.

MCC is a coalition of college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. It promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning, and civic engagement.

More information about Michigan Campus Compact can be found at http://www.micampuscompact.org..