Loyola Marymount University Visit to Proposed Hekima University
By Gerald Kway, SJ
Ignacio Companions, a group of students from Loyola Marymount University, arrived in Nairobi on the 3rd of January 2025 with lots of excitement. They came for an International Immersion Program (IIP) co-organized by LUM and PHU. IIP was designed to immerse Ignacio Companions into a local culture enriched with a living experience of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs). Molo, a serene town nestled in the highlands of Kenya—where PHU is located, was the destination. While in Molo, they were guided by a few Jesuits from both the local and international communities. Although PHU is still in the infantile stage, Ignacio Companions were eager to see where PHU serves as a beacon of light and hope for the local community and the East African region.
The program was designed to ensure they grasp the Jesuit mission in Africa: the longstanding commitment to education, social and ecological justice, peace and reconciliation, dialogue, etc. They learned about education in Kenya, its challenges, and why PHU stands as the glimpse of hope, wisdom, and a hub for training leaders, and ethical professionals in the region. They had the opportunity to experience the local ways of life and day-to-day encounters in contrast to the urban sprawl of California and Nairobi. The hospitality and generosity of the local community, most of whom are poor farmers, stunned their imaginations. Ignacio Companions felt a palpable sense of gratitude as they walked through villages as the local community members shared openly with them their success stories and struggles on how they make ends meet locals; moreover, the hope for PHU. It was such a humbling experience for them that deepened their appreciation of Jesuits’ response to accompanying and journeying with the marginalized and cura personalis.
On their final day in Molo, each member of the Ignacio Companions was tasked to plant a tree on the PHU site to symbolize care for our common home, and a promise to future generations. The exercise was done with lots of love and dedication as they joked and laughed while working together – they bonded over the shared goal of leaving a lasting mark on the land. Looking out at the wide expanse of the land, they held the promise that “there is a light at the end of the tunnel” rooted in Molo nourished by faith and driven by the ideals of the Jesuit spirit.
As the sun set, the group gathered to reflect on their experience. They spoke of the powerful connection they felt with the local community, the Jesuit mission, and the land that would one day become home to Hekima University. It was clear that their visit had left an indelible mark in their hearts—a reminder that education, service, and the environment are intertwined in ways that shape the future of the university and those it would serve.
