In the late 1990s, Farmer’s Choice Ltd (FCL) – a project company of Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) – began supporting the smokie business in Kenya, which in the eyes of many may not seem like a lucrative business, but has created employment for many people – especially amongst the youth. Today, FCL is working with thousands of smokie vendors countrywide, many of whom are reporting significant gains in income and better prospects.

As an Earth and Environmental Sciences major, remote learning does not allow for the lab and field work that Hangoma enjoys. However, she sees how remote learning is helping her grow to be more responsible and flexible. Dr. Mohssen Moazzen, the chair of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Central Asia (UCA), understands why Hangoma misses the interactive component of her studies. UCA’s campus in Khorog allows him to teach students about geomaterials and mountain range formation amidst the fascinating geological setting of the Pamir Mountains. This semester, Dr. Moazzen and his colleagues are incorporating virtual field trips and laboratories in the Earth and Environmental Sciences department. Although these virtual activities are not the same as in-person labs and field work, they are still helping students understand the practical side of environmental studies.