CULTURAL EXCHANGES
The AIM for Africa project hosts annual exchanges between Kenya and Florida that allow renowned artists to share the cultural traditions of Africa and the U.S. To date, four exchanges have taken place.

Florida 2006: The project’s first cultural exchange brought Kenyan singer/songwriter Suzanna Owiyo to Florida for seven weeks in the summer of 2006.  During her visit Suzanna participated in the Arts in Healthcare Summer Intensive training program, was in residence with Shands Arts in Medicine, presented numerous public performances, and undertook short resiencies at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville and at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.

Nairobi 2006: In October of 2006, CAHRE co-director emeritus Rusti Brandman and AIM Artist in Residence Madeline Austin traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for a two-week residency to help launch the Mater Hospital’s new Arts in Medicine program. 

Nairobi 2007: In the summer of 2007, CAHRE director, Jill Sonke-Henderson was in residence in Nairobi, working at the Mater Hospital, at the GoDown Comunity Arts Center, and visiting with traditional healers in rural areas.

Florida 2008: In the summer of 2008, Rebecca Ngawa from Gertrudes Children's Hospital in Nairobi received a scholarship from CAHRE for a one-month residency in Florida that included participation in the Arts in Healthcare Summer Intensive training program and work with the Shands Arts in Medicine program.


THE MATER ARTS IN MEDICINE PROGRAM
Established through the AIM for Africa Cultural Exchange project in 2006 and modeled after the Shands Arts in Medicine program at the University of Florida, the Mater Arts in Medicine program brings the arts to patients, caregivers, and the Nairobi community. Mater’s CEO, Medical Director, and Arts in Medicine Coordinator work together with Artist in Residence and a host of volunteer artists and performers to enhance the medical experience of patients and caregivers through music, dance, the visual arts, writing, and theatre. To visit the Mater Arts In Medicine program website, click here.

Drs. Benson Njoroge and Nicholas Gkonyo of Kenyatta University discuss herbal medicine in Kenya with the class in February 2008. Photo by Sarah Keiwel, University of Florida Health Science Center.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES The AIM for Africa project spurred the implementation of Culture, Health, and the Arts inSub- Saharan Africa and the U.S., a new course at the University of Florida. The course explores the roles of culture and the arts in healthcare in these diverse nations and includes a live web-based open classroom interface between UF and Mater Hospital.  For more information, Fine Arts students may contact Jill Sonke-Henderson at jsonke@ufl.edu, and medical students may contact Nina Stoyan-Rosensweig at nstoyan@vpha.health.ufl.edu Each year, one to three artists and caregivers from Nairobi are also offered scholarships to CAHRE’s Arts inHealthcare Summer Intensive training program.

MEDICAL SERVICE TRIPS
Through the University of Florida College of Medicine and Medical Humanities program, month-long externships to Nairobi have been available to forth year medical students and shorter medical missions have been available to other medical students annually.  Currently, UF student travel to Kenya is on hold due to the travel advisory. For more information about future travel opportunities for medical students, contact Nina Stoyan-Rosensweig at nstoyan@vpha.health.ufl.edu

The program is made possible through support from:
- UF Center for World Arts
- UF College of Medicine and Medical Humanity Program