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Deutsche Gesellschaft Fṻr International Zusammenarbeit, popularly known as GIZ (German Development Agency), has donated studio equipment worth Kshs 1.3 million (Euros 10,000) to the Daystar University School of Communication. GIZ is the arm of the German government that promotes international development cooperation.

The equipment was presented on Thursday 6th January 2022 in support of Dr. Lydia Radoli who studied in Germany.

The equipment was presented by Ms. Cynthia Kamau, the Coordinator of Programme Migration and Diaspora (PMD) Kenya, at the GIZ Centre for International Migration in Nairobi.

Headquartered in Bonn and Eschborn, GIZ helps to resource work spaces for those who studied in Germany upon return to their home countries. Dr. Radoli earned a PhD in Media Migration and Development from the Goethe University in Frankfurt Am Main in 2019 and teaches broadcast media at Daystar University. She becomes the 70th Kenyan student returning from Germany to receive this support.

According to Mrs. Kamau, the PMD programme, through the GIZ Centre for International Migration encourages students to come back home and give back to their communities. This, she noted, ensured developing countries do not suffer brain drain.

Receiving the equipment, the elated Vice Chancellor Prof. Laban P. Ayiro thanked GIZ for the support and congratulated Dr. Radoli for her efforts in resource mobilization. He called on other schools and departments to take resource mobilization seriously..

The DVC ARSA Prof. Faith Nguru acknowledged the critical role the equipment will play in helping students to translate theory into practice.

In her remarks, Ms. Cynthia Kamau expressed admiration for the difference Daystar graduates were making in the job market, both locally and internationally as a result of the soft skills that Daystar instils in them.

Ms. Kamau underscored that while the donated equipment was intended to support returning students from Germany, it remained the property of the institution where the staff is employed.

“We are fulfilling a need for Daystar University and through this equipment you are enabled to train students and colleagues,” she emphasized.

Ms. Kamau also elaborated on other available opportunities for collaboration key among them training

The support to Dr. Radoli was also inspired by SDG 5 on "achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls" through which GIZ focuses on providing a favorable environment for women in the workplace.

“This does not mean that we leave out the male gender,” said Cynthia, adding that since inception in Kenya, GIZ had empowered more than 60 men and only about 10 females.

In appreciation, the Dean, Daystar School of Communication Prof. Levi Obonyo assured GIZ that every donation that comes to Daystar University goes into empowering students who in turn impact communities in Kenya and beyond. He acknowledged that soft skills are built through constant engagements and as such the equipment will go a long way to facilitate that.

Dr. Radoli expressed gratitude to GIZ for empowering her by enriching her work space. She promised to put the equipment to proper use by empowering her students and the University community at large.

The Ag. DVC Finance Administration and Planning Dr. Evans Amata termed the donation as a huge budgetary support to the University and said the equipment will put Daystar ahead in terms of providing quality education.