Remembering Kenny Doren (1966 – 2012)

By Philip Landon, Regional Director, Botswana

WUSC would like to extend deepest condolences to the family of former Uniterra volunteer Kenny Doren who passed away after a difficult but courageous battle with cancer.

Kenny is survived by his wife Gayle and newborn child Kenneth.

Kenny was a former multi-media artist and composer whose art installations, videos and digital operas have been presented in Canada, China, Finland, France and the U.S.A. He obtained his MFA from NSCAD University in 2005 and received an Alumni Award from Alberta College of Art and Design for recognition as one of the top 75 students throughout ACAD’s seventy-five year history.

In 2010, Kenny came to Botswana as a Uniterra volunteer based in the WUSC-Botswana office. As a communications volunteer, he was tasked with building the capacity of partners in telling their stories as well as helping WUSC-Botswana better communicate the Uniterra program.

“He very quickly endeared himself to staff and partners alike with his gentle humour and his deeper analysis of the challenges facing a country like Botswana. He could be seen in the field always with a video camera and a tripod, filming volunteers, questioning partners and engaging with the beneficiaries of the program. When he got sick, it was very difficult for he and his wife Gayle (another Uniterra volunteer working with SADC) to leave their beloved Botswana as he said he still had so much to do. He is dearly missed by all who met him.”