New Chapter in Partnership with African University

It is a partnership that has lasted a decade, and it’s only getting stronger. 

Hamline University’s relationship with Université Gaston Berger, a university in Senegal, West Africa, dates back to the late 1990’s. Together the two schools have developed a close relationship based on the sharing of knowledge, culture, and experiences. Students, faculty and staff at Hamline have traveled to Senegal, and members of Université Gaston Berger have traveled to Saint Paul, which has helped to increase understanding of each other’s culture, lifestyles, beliefs, and challenges. 

Last fall, the Hamline community took a new step in expanding the partnership. Students, faculty, and staff began collecting textbooks and an assortment of other books to send to the partner school and elementary and secondary schools in Senegal. Similar in size to Hamline, the Senegalese university lacks comprehensive library collections. Hamline’s library has about two and a half million books in its collections, while the university in Senegal had just 45,000. 

The book drive, which began last fall and ended in March collected 25,000 books in all. 

The Office of Off-Campus and International Programs led the effort and stored the books during the school year. Kim Zielinski, assistant director of off-campus programs, said, “It was so nice to see the books on the other side of the ocean instead of in our office.” 

To get the books to Senegal, Hamline partnered with the local charity, Books for Africa. The organization found an anonymous donor to pay the $10,000 shipping cost. When the books finally got to their destination, Hamline staff and faculty were on hand. 

Assistant Dean for Study Abroad and Off-Campus Programs Kari Richtsmeier and her staff traveled with the books to deliver them in person. 

“The level of appreciation students and faculty at Université Gaston Berger was amazing,” Richtsmeier said.  

Last year, the Hamline Athletic Department made a large gift to the Senegalese university, as well; it donated its old weight lifting equipment to the university. 

“It is not a one-sided exchange,” Richtsmeier said. “In return for all the tangible things Hamline has sent the Université Gaston Berger, our students, faculty, and staff are receiving life-changing experiences that they would not otherwise have had.”