Lynne Mansure

Attending Earlham was a certainly a turning point in my life. In June 1962 I was one of eight Earlham students who went out to Kenya to participate in a work camp in collaboration with the Friends Mission there. Having graduated, I opted to look for a teaching job, so when the other seven returned to the States later in the summer, I stayed on in Kenya.

In 1964 I went to France to pursue post-graduate studies in Paris and on returning to Kenya, taught for many years. I was subsequently promoted to the position of curriculum developer in the Kenya Institute of Education and later on to the position of supervisor in charge of the teaching of French throughout Kenya. After taking an early retirement, I have worked in various capacities. I taught French at the Alliance Française and at the Kenyan Meteorological Department for several years. I have also done contract work for the United Nations Office in Nairobi and for non-governmental organizations as an editor and translator.

I have written extensively for the local media in Kenya. Together with the late Sylvia McNair, I co-authored Kenya, published by Children’s Press, Scholastic, Grolier (ISBN 0-516-21078-5). I have written a few children’s books, published in Kenya, including Sundiata, Mystery in Lamu, and several for first graders which have been recommended by the Ministry of Education for use in Kenyan schools.

I live outside Nairobi in a place called “Ongata Rongai.” One of my activities in that locality has been helping to set up a community-based organization focusing on persons with disabilities.