Southern Miss Gulf Park Student Completes Mission Project in Africa

Kimberly Docter, a junior marketing and international business double major at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus, spent two months in Kenya and Uganda earlier this spring working with the organization - Know Think Act.

Based in Nashville, Know Think Act's mission is to empower leaders in other countries to improve their environment. Docter, a Biloxi, Miss., native, worked with two partners in Africa: Action Ministry in Mombasa, Kenya; and Bringing Hope to the Family in Kaihura, Uganda.

Docter volunteered by teaching four weeks of crochet classes in Kenya to help with income generation for the community's ministry, which in turn, helps break the cycle of poverty. She also participated in drama classes for the youth in the church every Sunday.

In Uganda she worked in a vocational school for two and a half weeks teaching crochet to girls in an effort to help them sell their products and generate income after graduation.

“I made so many priceless relationships and actually felt like I had an impact on their income generation just because I decided to spend my summer on something not about me,” Docter said.

She also had the opportunity to go on safari in Tsavo, Kenya - an experience she deemed “absolutely amazing.”

“One of the things I love about talking with students over the last 22 years is getting to know them individually and learn their interests and encourage them to combine their passions with their education so they will be enjoy their careers,” said Linda Jordan, assistant to the dean in the College of Business and Docter's advisor. “I wanted to share the story of Kimberly's mission work to inspire other students on the Gulf Park campus to expand their horizons, explore the world and give back to others. I admire her sense of adventure.”

Docter said the mission trip taught her many things about other countries in relation to the United States. According to Docter, the best part of the trip was learning about family life in Africa and the difference in language, culture and food.

“I learned also that it is so important to slow down and have deeper relationships with others around us,” she said. “Having those deep relationships give you the chance to impact people not just through faith but with (their) personal needs as well.”

Docter said her experiences in Africa have changed her life and goals. She plans to be more intentional in her relationships with people and invest in others as a result.

“I have learned that many people really love when you take just a few minutes to ask them how they are and that is my goal,” Docter said. “I came to this conclusion because the word Habari which is Hello in Swahili is not just hello, it means ‘how are you' as well. This leads into a conversation not just a causal ‘hello' and that really struck a chord with me.”

Docter said she plans to use her degree to work with recruitment and development in mission organizations to impact this country as well as the world.