1. Plan for Academic Collaboration between Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone and
Medgar Evers College, United States of America
Submitted to Your Excellency Honorable President Ernest BaiKoroma, Chancellor,
University of Sierra Leone by Shirley Ademu-John-Kablan,CNM, PhD
1. Statement of Need For Academic Collaboration Between Fourah Bay College and
Medgar Evers College
My name is Dr. Shirley Ademu-John-Kablan. I am a Sierra Leonean-American. I
am an educator and health care professional. Due to my personal, professional, and
academic experiences, I have identified a need for academic collaboration between
Fourah Bay College and Medgar Evers College. Prominent American historian and
anthropologist Dr. JospehOpala,researched the historical facts of Bunce Island and the
Gullah for over 25 years and remarked that THE mostsignificant connection between
African Americans and West Africa is Bunce Island of Sierra Leone.
Of the 12 million Africans restrained within the approximate 30-35 slave castles
along the coast of West Africa, approximately 3 million were sent directly from the slave
castle of Bunce Island to South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia within the
United States. The remaining enslaved Africans were sold, untraceable, throughout
South America and the Caribbean. It is this direct connection engagingthe southern
United States and Sierra Leone that makes academic collaboration betweenFourahBay
College and Medgar Evers College a necessity in fostering students’ self understanding
and acknowledgement of a shared cultural heritage between Africans and the African
diaspora.
One visual documentation of the shared cultural heritage between Sierra Leone
and the southern American states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia
are the present day Gullah who,despite physical separation over generations, speak Krio
(a local language of Sierra Leone) and maintain lifestyles that can easily fit into lifestyles
within present day Sierra Leone.
2. Why Medgar Evers College for Collaboration With Fourah Bay College?
I have been a professor with Medgar Evers College in the nursing department.
Medgar Evers College is not located in one of the southern states of America. Medgar
Evers is located in New York City. However, the majority of its enrolled students are of
families who moved from the southern states of Americato New York to seek jobs
guaranteeing improved financial stability. They have family history and cultural ties from
the southern United States. Due to my academic involvement with students enrolled in
Medgar Evers College, I have personal acknowledgement of their hunger for new
learning that relates to their cultural heritages.
Both Fourah Bay College and Medgar Evers College share rich cultural and
academic histories. Both institutions were born out a need to facilitate new learning for
Africans and the African diaspora. Fourah Bay College was founded in 1827 to forge a
pathway for scholarship by Sierra Leoneans and other nationals throughout West

2. Africa.In 1867, Fourah Bay College became a degree granting institution. Presently,
Fourah Bay College is part of the University of Sierra Leone. There are three (3)
colleges under the academic umbrella of the University of Sierra Leone. Along side
Fourah Bay College is 1) the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM)
and 2) the College of Medicine and Allied Sciences (COMAHS) which includes nursing
and physician training.
Medgar Evers College was establised in 1970 to provide opportunity for
scholarship by a culturally diverse population in New York City with specific outreach to
African Americans. Medgar Evers College was named after the African American civil
rights activist Medgar Evers. Medgar Evers gave his life to breaking barriers to social,
political and educational empowerment for African Americans in the United States.
In 1963, Medgar Evers was murdered for acting on his vision to breaking barriers
suppressing African Americans.
Like Fourah Bay College, Medgar Evers College is also under an academic
umbrella. This academic umbrella is the City University of New York (CUNY). CUNY
includes 23 undergraduate and graduate degree granting colleges. The missions and
visions of Medgar Evers College and Fourah Bay Collegeshare similar concepts. Within
Medgar Evers mission, there are 6 goals all aspiring to empower students with new
learning that is life changing for positive integration into society. Goal number three of
Medgar Evers College’s mission most efficiently captures the essence of this need for
academic collaboration between Fourah Bay College and Medgar Evers College.
Goal number three of Medgar Evers College’s mission is as follows:
“The College seeks to improve students' understanding of self, past and present
societies, and future trends by providing its students with a liberal education which
communicates the knowledge of tradition, the teachings of scholars, and the beauty
and profundity of their cultural heritage.”
Fourah Bay College’s mission is as follows:
“A university that demonstrates its commitment to generating and transmitting
knowledge through quality teaching and research for sustained development and
whose products are nationally and internationally competitive.”
Medgar Evers College’s vision is as follows:
“Academically, our vision is to enhance and invigorate the undergraduate learning
experience at Medgar Evers Collegeby honoring the past, teaching in the present, and
creating future academic excellence. The College intends to build curriculum,
programs, and partnerships that transform lives and offer opportunities to students of
diverse backgrounds. Medgar Evers College strives to succeed in cultivating academic
engagement through a culture of assessment, mentorships, learning communities,
service, and research experiences.”

3. Fourah Bay College’s vision is as follows:
“A friendly world-class centre of excellence responsive to the needs of society.”
An academic collaboration between Fourah Bay College and Medgar Evers
College consolidates the missions and visions of both institutions. From this
collaboration,Sierra Leonean students and African American students will learn from
each other about their historical pasts, how they belong within their societies and the
world, and what pathways they can collectively forge ahead in facilitating an empowered
future.
This collaboration can eventually prove to become interdisciplinary including not
only knowledge sharing in history but also in health care, business, public policy,
leadership,and even sports activity like soccer. Fourah Bay College is located in the
outskirts of Freetown on scenic Mount Aureol. This location is not far from the famed
Cotton Tree where freed Slaves first arrived in Sierra Leone in 1791 and established
Freetown.
3. Presentation of the Idea For Academic Collaboration between Fourah Bay
College and Medgar Evers College to Medgar Evers Administration
I presented this idea for academic collaboration between Fourah Bay College and
Medgar Evers College to Mr. Eugene Pursoo, Director, International Education at
Medgar Evers College.
His reply to my suggestion was as follows:
Dear Nurse Kablan,
It is a great joy reading your letter addressed to me. Thanks for your sharing your
knowledge on the historical background of the Gullah people.
I am very interested in your study Abroad proposal. I do not develop courses or take the
students on study abroad trips. I work with our faculty or national study abroad agencies,
to arrange study abroad opportunities for the students at Medgar Evers College (MEC). In
this particular case, I will contact a friend who teaches History at the College. We may
have a course on the books that can be adapted, rather than having to create a new course
and get it approved through the Curriculum with all the institutional bureaucracy.
Your proposal is precisely the kind of international education experience, we need to be
more solidly grounded. I will begin to plan. In the meantime, I will appreciate your help
to put me in contact with Fourah Bay College so that we can explore establishing
relationship between our two institutions. The idea would be to explore academic
collaborations going forward.

4. Thanks again for your letter, I will be in touch with you.
In further correspondence, I inquired about the process involved in solidifying
writtendocumentation of collaboration between Fourah Bay College and Medgar Evers
College.
Mr. Pursoo’s reply was as follows:
Dear Shirley,
Thanks for you keen interests in the establishment of relationship betweenMedgar Evers
College and FourahBay College in Sierra Leone. The relationship that we would propose
is through a non-legal document called a STATEMENT OF SHARED INTERESTS. The
contents of the document must be approved by the City University of New York
(CUNY). The document says, in essence, that both institutions agree to collaborate in
areas of academic interests in the future. If and when the Presidents of both institutions
sign the document, a relationship is established. The SSI is for an indefinite period.
Once the relationship is established, either partner may take the initiative and express an
area of interest for collaboration. If there is agreement on both sides, then a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) is drafted detailing the responsibilities of each partner, such as
financial obligations, reporting responsibilities, time frame, and other protocols. The
MOU must then be approved by CUNY's Office of General Counsel and the Board of
Trustees after which the Presidents of both institutions must sign before it's official. Then
an implementation plan is worked out and the collaborative programs are acted upon.
There are some programs that do not require such protocols; e.g. If we have a partnership
with Fourah Bay College and agreed to do a study abroad in Sierra Leone, we simply
negotiate an agreement to use their facilities, take a faculty-led program there and do it.
Eugene M. Pursoo
Director, International Education
1150 Carroll Street, Suite 412
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Phone: 718-270-5136
Email: pursoo@mec.cuny.edu
4. The Positive Prospects For Academic Collaboration With Fourah Bay College
and Medgar Evers College
The positive prospects for academic collaboration with Fourah Bay College and
Medgar Evers College are substantial. Besides knowledge sharing, there is potential for
increased tourism to Sierra Leone.

5. 5. Recommended Outcome After Submission Of This Plan For Academic
Collaboration
1. Phone and email contact between Your Excellency Honorable President Ernest
BaiKoroma, Chancellor and Mr. Pursoois the first step to facilitating
understanding of academic collaboration and documentation of necessary
paperwork. Mr. Pursoo will be of assistance in explaining and drafting the
necessary paperwork documenting academic collaboration between both
institutions. The necessary paperwork includes:
a) Outlining by Your Excellency Honorable President Ernest BaiKoroma,
Chancellor of University of Sierra Leone and Dr. Rudolph Crew, President of
Medgar Evers College on how thenon-legal document called a
STATEMENT OF SHARED INTERESTS (SSI) should be drafted in a way
that is mutually beneficial to both institutions. The contents of the document
must be approved by the City University of New York (CUNY) and the
University of Sierra Leone. The document says, in essence, that both
institutions agree to collaborate in areas of academic interests in the future. If
and when the Presidents of both institutions sign the document, a relationship
is established. The SSI is for an indefinite period. If the SSI is not utilized a
mutually agreed on document will be established.
b) Outlining by the Your Excellency Honorable President Ernest BaiKoroma,
Chancellor of University of Sierra Leone and Dr. Rudolph Crew, President of
Medgar Evers Collegeof a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is
mutually beneficial for both institutions. Suggested disciplines for
collaboration are: history, business, and nursing.
c) Mr. Eugene Pursoo’s contact information is below:
Eugene M. Pursoo
Director, International Education
Medgar Evers College
1150 Carroll Street, Suite 412
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Phone: 718-270-5136
Email: pursoo@mec.cuny.edu
It is my hope that both university administrative heads, Your Excellency Honorable
Ernest BaiKoroma of the University of Sierra Leone and Dr. Rudolph Crew, President of
Medgar Evers College will be willing to work collaboratively in empowering our
students.
THANK YOU !
Shirley Ademu-John-Kablan
worldhrmny@aol.com
917-365-4948

6. Proposed Itinerary For Medgar Evers College Students Who Travel to Sierra Leone
(2-3 week visitation)
Orientation pre-visitation required:
Location: Medgar Evers College Campus
Students will be given background information on Sierra Leone’s history; ethnic groups;
language groups; local customs; political structure; socio-economics;and political
conflicts. Students’ expectations upon arrival at Lungi Airport and in Freetown will be
discussed.Introduction to Bunce Island within the context of its being one of the many
slave castles along the coast of West Africa will be discussed as part of this orientation.
Kindly review these links below. This is the type of content that can be used in student
orientation pre-visit:
Geechee and Gullah Culture | New Georgia...
 www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
 › …
 › Folklife& Customs
The Gullah and Geechee culture on the Sea Islands of Georgia has retained ethnic traditions from West...
This footage was filmed by Shirley Ademu-John-Kablan
Historical Ties - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNGN6cQbaCs
Nov 25, 2013 · Historical Ties African American ... BunceIsland is located 20 miles off the coast of ...
Tour Guide ...
___________________________________________________________________________________
Agenda for the visitation will be distributed and reviewed.
1. Travel times can be arranged between the months of September and early June.
Late June, July, and August are rain season with heavy rainfall. Due to the heavy
rainfall, travel during late June, July, and August will not allow students to enjoy
the sites and travel throughout Sierra Leone.
2. Brussels Airlines is preferred as the airline of choice. Due to their usual time of
arrival (18:00/6:00 pm) at Lungi Airport, flight arrangement with Brussels
Airlines to Freetown can be arranged. When students arrive at Lungi Airport in
the early evening, this gives them a chance to see, enjoy their new surroundings as
well as enjoy their ride by sea coach to Freetown mainland.
3. Students will arrive in Aberdeen, Freetown then connect with previously arranged
transportation to Brookfields Hotel where arrangement will be made for them to

7. stay for the duration of their visit. Brookfields Hotel is in the center of Freetown
with easy access to historical sites in Freetown and lectures at Fourah Bay
College. To guarantee physical safety/security; food safety/security; safe water
and continuous electricity access, lodging at Brookfields Hotel is most practical.
4. The next morning, students will be driven to Fourah Bay College, to meet with
faculty there. Agenda for the visitation will be reviewed again.
5. On Friday afternoons, as part of the curriculum, students will participate in
mandatory group sessions (2-3 hours, time duration adjustable) in which they will
discuss and share experiences while in Freetown. Students will be given the
opportunity to discuss and relate those experiences to the Medgar Evers
curriculum.
6. Proposed weekday and weekend excursions in between lectures at Fourah Bay
College:
a) Tokeh Village
b) Makeni Village (Makeni Village has a vibrant market for shopping)
c) Waterloo Village (Waterloo has a vibrant market for shopping)
d) Bunce Island (guided tour od island with historical lecture)
e) Sierra Leone National Museum
f) Lumley Beach
g) Chimpanzee sanctuary
h) Boat travel down the Peninsula
i) Over night excursion to Ghana to visit Elmina slave castle, the largest in West
Africa
j) Others to be arranged
Lectures with Fourah Bay College faculty to be arranged with permission by MOU
Post-Visit Debriefing Sessionrequired:
Location:Medgar Evers College Campus
Students will have a group session (2-3 hours, time duration adjustable) for opportunity
to discuss experience in Freetown and integration of those experiences into life back
home in New York. This session will be a mandatory component of Medgar Evers
curriculum. Students will be introduced to information on the annual Gullah Festival in
South Carolina in May (usually during Memorial Day Weekend) and encouraged to
attend. Students can attend The Gullah Festival on their own or this could be another
group trip. Guest lecture by Queen Quet of the Gullah Nation can be incorporated for
lively discussion of students’ experiences.
3D Exhibit of the Gullah and Bunce Island can be arranged at Medgar Evers College as a
reflection exercise for students.