MAY 2015

The purpose of theNorthAmerican LiaisonBureau(NALB) is topromote andsupporthigher educationin theDemocratic Republicof Congo and at theCongoProtestantUniversity (UniversitProtestante au Congo)and its initiatives. TheNALB is an IRS-recognized501(c)(3) Public Charity.

Any changes to yourcontact informationshould be sent to:P. and B. SpatrisanoP.O. Box 8210Bend, OR 97708 USApandb@bendcable.com

USA DONORS: Donate online at www.upcongo.orgor checks can be madeout to North AmericanLiaison Bureau (NALB),c/o Doug Cardwell, 2216 Elgin Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 USA. Tel: +1 904 600 4123.

CANADIAN DONORS:Checks should be madeout to CMDS with thedesignation to UPC onthe memo line and sentto: CMDS Canada, 1-197D Main St., Steinbach MB,Canada R5G 1Y5

EDITORLucy Hobgood-Brownlucy@claypartners.com

DESIGNERCherie Cartercc@cheriecarterdesigns.com

NEWS

Malaria researchmoves into new phase

A LMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER HISFIRST TRIP TO CONGO, NOBEL LAUREATEDr. Peter Agre and his Johns Hopkins University(JHU) team returned to UPC and Congo in March.In collaboration with UPC, they launched thenext phase of a malaria research project involvingthe study of cross-border malaria transmission. As we all know, says Linda James, a UPCNorth American Liaison Bureau board memberwho is currently based on the university campus,mosquitoes do not respect borders and bypass immigration as they buzz back and forth.

Tracking the movementof mosquitoes andpeople from northernZambia, where Dr. Agrehas established researchcenters, to Congo isthe next step in JHUsresearch process. After productive meetings in Kinshasa, theUPC and JHU team headed to Lubumbashi insouth eastern Congo. Led by Dr. Paul Law, aVisiting Professor at UPC and a JHU AssociateProfessor, the group included Dr. ThierryBobanga and Linda James. Their mission? To begin preparations for themalaria study even farther east in Kilwa andKashobwe on Lake Mwero. In the KashobweHealth Zone alone, 75 percent of the hospitalpatients are admitted due to malaria. Most arechildren. Beginning in May, Dr. Bobanga will work withtwo assistants, Health Zone doctors and nursesto complete household surveys, and collectblood samples and mosquitoes. The study willevaluate those communities for the prevalenceof malaria, the resistance of malaria parasitesto commonly used drugs and the impact ofpopulation movement across the border betweenCongo and Zambia, among other elements. Afterthe field work is done, the data analysis will behandled by UPC students under the supervisionof Dr. Law.

(L to R) Collaborationunderway with theMinistry of Health:Dr. Sam Mampunza(UPCs AcademicSecretary), Dr. PeterAgre and Dr.MukengengeshayiKupa

New NALBexecutive directortakes the helm

Marilyn and Doug Cardwell

UPCs NORTH AMERICAN LIAISONBUREAU (NALB) HAS ELECTED Anew executive director following the deathof founder Ben C. Hobgood. Dr. DougCardwell, like most NALB board members,has strong Congo connections. The son ofDisciples missionaries, Doug says, I arrivedin Congo on my sixth birthday and, exceptfor two furloughs, lived there until I gradu-ated from high school at Central School forMissionaries Children in Kasai Occidental. Doug joined the NALB board in 2005, andhas served on the Finance and DevelopmentCommittees as well as Associate ExecutiveDirector. Ben and I agreed on many things,Doug says, especially on the importance ofhigher education in the development ofCongo. I am both pleased and humbled bythe prospect of taking on his responsibilities. Dougs academic career includes earninga BA from Transylvania University and aPhD in French language and literature fromYale University. He has been active in theAmerican Association of Teachers of French,serving six years as Regional Representativeand now nearing 25 years as Trustee andthen Managing Trustee of its EndowmentFund. In 2009 he was named Chevalierdans lOrdre des Palmes Acadmiques bythe French government for service to theteaching of French in the United States. Doug and his wife Marilyn have twochildren and four grandsons, all livingclose by in North Carolina USA. To contact Doug Cardwell, emailexecdir@upcongo.org or call +1 904 6004123.

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Remembering NALB founder Ben Hobgood

BEN HOBGOOD, WHO DIED LASTDECEMBER, WAS BORN IN 1928 INLOTUMBE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OFCongo to the late Dr. Henry Clay and Tabitha(Alderson) Hobgood. Ben and his wife Betsy spentmost of their professional lives working in theCongo, which led to Ben being awarded the nationstop honor in 1994, the Order of the Leopard. Hisservice to higher education administration resultedin three honorary doctorates: from his alma mater,Transylvania University, in 1970; from the NationalUniversity of Zaire (now Congo) in 1972; and fromCongo Protestant University (UPC) in 2009. In2000, Transylvania University also presented himwith a distinguished achievement award in recogni-tion of contributions to his profession, communityand alma mater.

These contributions included being instru-mental in the formation of the Free Universityof the Congo (now called Congo ProtestantUniversity), an ecumenical institution thatstruggled for its first years but which today hasfour schools and more than 8000 students. Benserved in several capacities at this university,including as President. Upon retirement, Beninitiated the universitys North American LiaisonBureau and in a pro bono capacity raised morethan $1 million in scholarship funds aimed athelping young Congolese leaders to build theirnation. His Congolese friends affectionately saidhe was an American with a Congolese heart,who could make positive things happen with fewtools and little money.

Ben also held a Masters of BusinessAdministration from Southern Methodist University

and a Masters inDivinity from theCollege of the Bible(now LexingtonTheological Seminary).He and his wife Betsy(who established UPCslibrary) made PenneyRetirement Communityin Florida their perma-nent home after activelives in Congo,Kentucky, Texas andNorth Carolina. Ben issurvived by his wife of65 years, Betsy, anddaughters Anne, Lucy and Susan.

Donations in his memory may be made tothe North American Liaison Bureau designatingthe B and B Hobgood Named Fund, c/o DougCardwell, 2216 Elgin Road, Winston-Salem, NC27103 USA or online www.upcongo.org.

Above left: Ben andBetsy Hobgood

Above center: Ben inLotumbe.

Above right: UPCPresident Daniel Ngoyand Ben Hobgood atUPCs 50th anniversaryin 2009. President Ngoyand Rev. Eliki Bonanga,president of theDisciples Community ofCongo, traveled to theUSA for Bensmemorial service. Theycarried some of Bensashes back to hisCongolese birth villagefor burial.

Ben's remains arrive in Lotumbe.

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DO ALL ROADS LEAD TO KINSHASA, RATHER than Rome? A Czech photojournalist, based in SanFrancisco, found her way to the UPC campus lastsummer (with a little help from HandUp Congowww.handupcongo.org, whose directors are allinvolved with UPC). Jana Aenbrennerov spent aday on campus snapping photos of campus life,and has donated her images to UPC. Merci, Jana!I dedicate most of my time to international

reporting, Jana says. I'm passionate abouttelling stories of people I meet during my missionsas well as in my hometown in the Czech Republic.I collaborate with a variety of NGOs documentingtheir humanitarian efforts while working on myown independent projects. The photographs I makeare visual testimonies of people within their ownsociety. For a snapshot of Janas adventuresfollow her blog www.janaobrazem.blogspot.com.

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SHORTLY AFTER NALB WAS FOUNDED,Ben Hobgood (Uncle Ben to us missionary kids)started what is now known as Named Funds. ANamed Fund is a means for leaving a lastinglegacy for higher education in Congo and a wayof honoring someone who was important in thedonors life or in Congo. Uncle Ben and AuntBetsy were among the first to establish one ofthese funds to which they, family and friendshave been steady donors over the years. NALBs Finance Committee is responsible foroverseeing the Funds. These responsibilitiesinclude day-to-day administration and recom-mending investment strategies and payouts tothe Board of Directors for approval. CurrentlyFunds are pooled and invested in a selectionof index mutual funds, bond funds and interestbearing funds. The allocation of assets is formoderate risk. Payouts are currently determined using a highlystructured approach first developed for use atStanford and Yale Universities. The goal is toprovide a relative steady stream of cash to therecipients, while building asset value duringmarket growth in order to weather the inevitablemarket declines. Using a structured approach alsohelps avoid a common issue encountered by non-profits, which is being overly generous during

times of high marketgrowth. The amount required

for a fund to start paying

A UPC scholarshiprecipient of theB and B HobgoodNamed Fund.

Named Funds can be living legacies by Ernie Ross, NALB Finance Committee

is based on the level of assets required to fund atleast a significant portion of a students tuition.Historically that has been around US $25,000,although that may change depending of the costof education. The donation may be made in eithera lump-sum or built over time. Payouts commenceonce the Fund is fully vested. Donors may desig-nate how funds are used within the limits specifiedby the IRS tax code and NALBs policy. As of 2014 the total number of Funds is 36 with21 paying and another 9 starting to pay within thenext two years. At the end of February 2015, thetotal assets were approaching US $1.4 million. If you are interested in establishing a NamedFund, please contact Doug Cardwell, NALBExecutive Director, at +1 904 600 4123 orexecdir@upcongo.org for more details.

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Alumna Profile:Meet Esprance M. Nsarhaza,Chief Relationship OfficerAssistant, OpportunityInternational

ONE OF 11 IN HER family of 17 childrento receive a universityeducation, 27-year-old Esprance M.Nsarhaza graduatedfrom UPC in 2011after studying themarketing strategiesof microfinanceinstitutions. She wasencouraged to studyat UPC by four familymembers who are alsoalumni. They toldme potential employ-ers have confidencein UPCs educationalstandards.

UPCs Congolese-German Microfinance Center,where Esprance took most of her classes, is one offive Centers of Excellence in Africa. It is a jointinitiative undertaken by UPC and the Frankfurt Schoolof Finance and Management. It has a reputation thatinspires confidence, declares Esprance. After taking classes in economics, math, governance

and microfinance, Esprance says she feels capableand especially enjoys working with small businessentrepreneurs and people on small incomes. One dayshe hopes to be a microfinance consultant, workingwith universities and institutions both nationally andinternationally.In her spare time, Esprance loves to watch television,

meditate, read, and go out with friends especially herfianc, who is also a UPC alumnus. The couple plans tomarry in July.

Esprance M. Nsarhaza

CONGRATULATIONS TO PASCAL KINDUELO ONreceiving an Honorary Doctorate from UPC, for hisexceptional leadership in business and communityaffairs. At the January 30th ceremony, attended byCongos Prime Minister and other distinguishedguests, Business School Dean Prof. Ilashi recognizedMr. Kinduelo for providing many employmentopportunities to Congolese over the years, and forbeing such an excellent role model for youth. Bornin Matadi, Bas-Congo province in 1938, Mr. Kinduelohad little formal education but went on to co-foundVodacom Congo, as well as manage the nations firstcommercial international bank, Barclays Bank Zaire.His active life has included serving as vice presidentof the Lions Club and leading business delegationsabroad. His community spirit and quest for excellencehave been honored by Congos government withmany awards, including Grand Officer of the Orderof the Leopard.

IN FEBRUARY, THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP),which aims at a world with zero hunger needs,organized a conference for UPCs economics studentsenrolled in its Purchase for Progress subject. Theconference was moderated by WFPs country director,and focused on how to help farmers in rural areasadd their contributions to the fight against poverty.

DAVID LIPTON, FIRST DEPUTYManaging Director of theInternational Monetary Fund,visited Congo in March. His itineraryincluded a meeting with UPC'sbusiness students. The energy,commitment and enthusiasm of thepeople I met was impressive."

Business School exemplifiesits slogan: Building aprosperous Congo - by Dr. Christian Mabi

David Lipton

Florida registration #CH39562. A COPY OF THE OFFICIALREGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BEOBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICESBY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THESTATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.