Lisle-based Friends of Imiliwaha to host open house Nov. 12
Weaving the 8,000-mile connection between Lisle, Illinois, and Sumbawanga, Tanzania, Sister Afra Mgwama OSB will meet with her Benedictine University classmates, friends and supporters at Benet Academy's St. Mary Hall for an open house on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Lisle-based Friends of Imiliwaha (FOI), the nonprofit supporting Sister Afra's school in Sumbawanga, will host this event to raise funds for the newly-expanded FOI Scholarship Fund for orphans and struggling students.
Sister Afra first landed in Lisle in 2003 to attend Benedictine University. Undaunted by her rudimentary English and lack of computer skills, this determined woman earned undergraduate and master's degrees in education and administration. Benedictine University honored her as a Visionary in 2020 for her accomplishments establishing and leading a thriving school in Sumbawanga.
St. Gertrude Pre and Primary English Medium School, now a bustling campus with more than 300 students, grew from abandoned buildings that the government offered to the African Benedictine Sisters from Imiliwaha, Tanzania.
Use it or lose it was their offer, and S. Afra was selected to get the school operating.
She turned to her Lisle friends who began raising funds to refurbish where possible and build new when necessary. This vibrant school just celebrated their 10th anniversary, with 5 FOI representatives attending the ceremony.
Recently Sister Afra traveled to Rio Di Janeiro as a delegate to an international Benedictine education conference. On her way back, she stopped in the U.S. to develop support for her school, focusing on the newly expanded scholarship program. Students who demonstrate academic excellence but their circumstances - orphans or poverty - would keep them from advancing to high school can qualify for FOI scholarships to highly regarded secondary schools run by the Sisters.
"I've seen this school in action," states Alice Sima, FOI board president, one of the delegation who spent time in Tanzania this summer. "The top-notch quality of education will prepare these students to be leaders on an international scale."
FOI's donors have generously contributed to the scholarship fund. Five student-scholars from Sumbawanga are now studying at the Imiliwaha high school, but their sights are set higher - to the hard-to-attain universities.
FOI board of directors recently approved an expansion of the scholarship support to the university level. "It's clear that these scholars are aiming for advanced education," states Sima. "We want to pave the way for these future leaders."
The FOI Junior Board at Benet Academy are co-sponsors of the event. Sister Afra will address Benet Academy students on Nov. 1.
The Nov. 12 open house will give guests the opportunity to speak with Sister Afra and FOI board members. Refreshments will be served. For information about this event, contact Sister Afra, (630) 943-0786.