Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development

2008 GRADUATION

The 9th KISWCD graduation ceremony was held on 27th September, 2008 at CITY HALL NAIROBI. A total of 279 students were awarded Certificates and Diplomas in various programmes.

The Chief Guest and Speaker was Prof. Enos N.Njeru - Dean Faculty of Arts - University of Nairobi.

In his speech, he lauded KISWCD for organizing an excellent graduation ceremony. He asked the management of the college to think of utilizing all the available resources at their disposal to reap maximum benefits.

To the graduands, he had the following advice

" I have no doubts when saying that the input in terms of skills and knowledge acquired in Kenya institute of social work in the last 15 months have been and are going to be very useful to you as individuals in the future and to the communites,you will be working with.

You will need to sharpen your interpersonal dynamics in the management of community projects. Please strive to build effective teams by;

Communicating organizational goals and objectives
Planning community project effectively
Building high performance images
Defining work processes and team structures
Building enthusiasm and excitement
Establishing effective communication channel and methods
Manage conflicts and problems amicably

This is not likely to be easy but listening more than talking will be the answer”

During the ceremony the chairman BOG Mr. Felix Ndoi enumerated the many achievements realized during his terms as chairman.

He challenged the incoming Board to work hard to propel KISWC to the next level of excellence.

In his speech, the Director of Programmes had this to say to the graduands

To you who are graduating today,

“You will need every bit of wisdom to defy the tide and to fend off the attacks of those who do not play by the rules. You will need the Wisdom of Solomon to navigate the minefield of life without stepping on the landmines of sin, corruption, unethical conduct and unfair play.

So, as you graduate today, and as you go into a bi-polar world split cleanly along the axis of good and evil, your destiny is in your own hands. Some of you will make the hard choices, when they find or create employment, to do what they believe to be right, good, ethical, fair and proper. These graduates will be swimming against the tide, but everyone else swimming downstream while they swim upstream will notice and admire them for their effort.

Yet other graduates will hit the job market with a gleam in their eye. They will be looking to do anything that can make them quick money so as to be able to spend freely and look ‘successful’. With this kind of appetite and ambition, it should surprise no one if such graduates fiddle the accounts in the offices where they work, or give and demand bribes. It should surprise no one if such graduates feature in the newspapers every time funds have been embezzled.

It takes bravery, incredible courage, faith and hope, to swim upstream. We all know how easy and convenient it is, even though wrong, to swim downstream; after all, it is said, everyone is doing it. This is the difference between the hard right, and the easy wrong. It is a choice you will make every day of your life, and is the primary tool with which you will shape your destiny and determine what is said about you when you exit the stage at the end of life.

I exhort you to be selfless in service to mankind, and to be forthright in all your affairs. I encourage you to be patriotic to your country, and to its finite resources, and to think always of the needs of all the people of Kenya and of future generations. I encourage you to always choose, and prefer, the sometimes slower, more difficult road of living honestly, and to spurn the path of easy riches that are corruptly, dishonestly and selfishly gained.

As you leave here today, remember that the road of life is long, and that in the final analysis, it is better to be a Sheep than a Goat”

The following students were awarded presents fro excellences in different fields

“Our Chief Guest Sir, in 2006/2007 academic year the following student was the best overall in the DIPLOMA class in the college;

Humphrey Malimbe Wafula - Diploma in Social Work and Welfare

“Our Chief Guest Sir, in 2006/2007 academic year the following student was the best overall in the CERTIFICATE class in the college;

Phylis Amukhaya Katumanga - Certificate in Computer Studies

“Our Chief Guest Sir, in 2006/2007 academic year the following student distinguished herself by taking two DIPLOMA courses and excelling very well.

Vicky Waigumo Mwangi Diploma in Social and Welfare and Community Development

“Our Chief Guest Sir, in 2006/2007 academic year the following students were the best in their respective courses”.

CERTIFICATE CLASS