Megan Derse, an elementary education major from Sheboygan, has made post-graduation plans to move to Kenya and start a preschool with her mother after her anticipated graduation in spring 2014. Derse, a transfer student from Concordia University and UW-Sheboygan, came to Lakeland College last spring to finish her education.
The idea to start a preschool came to them last October when the Derse family traveled to Kenya to help their sponsor child, Mikal, which led to them also rescuing his sister, Gladys. The sponsorship is made possible by Oasis for Orphans, an organization whose goals include rescuing orphaned children and helping them to develop physically, spiritually, academically, and socially so they may grow into contributing members and leaders of their countries.
The Oasis for Orphans organization has schools set up for children in grades first through ninth, but nothing for the younger children. Beginning in January, Derse will take a break from school for a semester to go to Kenya and start the preschool with her mom, who has her degree in education.
“I’m going to be head of the sponsorship program,” Derse says. She also plans on helping with the communication between sponsor families in the United States and the kids in Kenya.
“We are going to be working together to create a preschool program that will help the younger children at the home prepare for their upcoming years of schooling,” Derse says. “In Kenya, an education is something that not many people have the opportunity to pursue. Therefore, education is valued.”
Needless to say, the preschool will serve as an important aspect in these children’s lives. In addition to her work with the preschool, Derse also plans on increasing her involvement with the sponsorship program through Oasis for Orphans.
Associate Professor of Education Dr. Homstad supports Derse’s ideas and goals. “It’s interesting for people to take what they are learning and see them do something with it,” Homstad says.
Her entire family is planning to go with her. Derse’s dad, who is a doctor, will be working in the medical clinic there. Derse will return in May to finish her degree. Unlike her parents, Derse doesn’t know if she will live in Kenya long term.
“I’m going to wait and see what happens with involvement in Oasis for Orphans, to see if there is an opportunity for me to teach there part-time or full-time,” Derse says.
“The organization is growing; they opened up one more children’s home this year and they have a couple more sites they’re looking at in Kenya to open up children’s homes. So, the organization is growing; their need for employees is also growing, so it’s hard to say where their needs are going to be in two years when I graduate.”
Nevertheless, as far as her trip in January is concerned, Derse couldn’t be more excited, “I love each one of those kids so much and I cannot wait to spend five months with them.”