IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dream Tour presented by ExxonMobil and featuring former astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris is in the midst of its first international stops in Angola, Nigeria and South Africa.
During a 12-day visit to Africa, students will hear from Dr. Harris, the first African-American to walk in space, as he delivers his personal message to motivate the next generation of Africans. The program is underwritten by the ExxonMobil Foundation and encourages students to realize their dreams and reinforces the importance of studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Tour stops include Lagos, Nigeria; Luanda, Angola; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr. Harris is speaking to public school students in secondary grades as well as girls at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in Johannesburg. Dr. Harris will also meet with community leaders, educators and key policy makers to discuss the need for strong STEM initiatives and the positive effects they have on their communities.
“Math and science are universal languages and can provide unlimited opportunities to students,” said ExxonMobil Foundation President Suzanne McCarron. “ExxonMobil is taking Dr. Harris to Africa so students can hear firsthand his powerful and inspiring message about the importance of education and following your dream."
The Dream Tour’s African visit is one of many investments the ExxonMobil Foundation makes to assist African communities in enriching the education of its young people, fostering economic development, and improving health and wellness.
In addition to Dr. Harris’ Dream Tour presentations to students in Angola, he will meet with graduate students at Agostinho Neto University to discuss the importance of leadership in the scientific community. In Nigeria, Dr. Harris offered his medical expertise to the Family Care Project at the Ikota Community Clinic, which focuses on providing free care and medicine to high-need patients in Lagos.
“The knowledge required to be successful in STEM careers crosses all geographic borders, cultures and languages. In order to progress in today’s high-tech, international workplace, fluency in the global language of STEM is essential,” said Dr. Harris. “The Dream Tour is one way to open students’ eyes to the limitless possibilities available to them through careers in these fields.”
As part of the tour, ExxonMobil and Dr. Harris will donate $20,000 to the Clube de Jovens Amigos do Inglês to fund the expansion of the English-language math and science reference sections at the Rosa Parks Center for Information and Culture in Cazenga, Angola. In Lagos, Nigeria, another $20,000 was presented to the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria to provide new equipment for their STEM Research Center.
From humble beginnings in San Antonio, Texas, to making history as an astronaut, Dr. Harris knows about reaching for the stars. In a career at NASA he participated in two shuttle missions and traveled more than 7.2 million miles in space. Dr. Harris is also an accomplished physician and businessman. In 1998 he founded The Harris Foundation, a nonprofit organization that invests in community-based initiatives to support education especially related to STEM, health and wealth.
After successful stops in Africa, the tour will return to the United States to visit students in Dallas, New York, San Antonio and Washington, D.C. Since the program’s launch in 2008, the tour has reached more than 42,000 urban middle school students in 31 U.S. cities, with support from the ExxonMobil Foundation.
The ExxonMobil Foundation also works with Dr. Harris on ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps, which offer more than 1,200 students across the country the opportunity to attend two-week, all-expenses-paid residential camps at colleges and universities that provide hands-on activities focused on STEM principles.
About ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels.
Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide, of which $110 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About The Harris Foundation
Founded in 1998, The Harris Foundation (THF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization based in Houston, Texas. Its overall mission is to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. The foundation supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and others who are economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. The education mission of the Harris Foundation is to enable youth to develop and achieve their full potential through the support of social, recreational and educational programs. The foundation encourages math and science education; motivates youth to stay in school; fosters youth leadership and citizenship; and instills the values of responsibility, fairness and respect.
The Harris Foundation believes that students can be prepared now for the careers of the future through a structured education program and the use of positive role models. More than 10,000 K-12 students participate and benefit from THF programs annually. www.theharrisfoundation.org