My Zimbabwe Experience

If there is one action I will never regret in my life, then I guess

that action is applying for YYAS. Not only did it change my way of

thinking, it also opened my eyes so that I saw many opportunities

around me that I  would have never seen on my own.

Firstly spending one week with Africa's most intelligent students is

one thing one can always treasure. I enjoyed the program because I got

a chance to learn new cultures as well as learn new languages. I got

to exchange views with peers of my age. This was a great thing because

I l learnt to look at things at different perspectives. I also got a

chance to showcase my piano skills with others.

I was able to meet Yale faculty who delivered mindblowing lectures

ranging from political science to information technology. These

lectures surely kept me at the edge pf the seat as I was keen to

learn.It was also was a blessing to meet university students from USA

who shared their college experience with us. This was a giant leap

ahead for me because I now know some of the things to anticipate when

I apply for college.

Before YYAS I was not good at socialising with people because I was

shy but during the course of the program, I learn so much

communication skills and made so much friends from all over Africa

that when I went back home  I was surprised with the progress I had

made in terms of socialising. I wouldn't dare to leave out the food

whenever I mention about YYAS. Words can not describe the food at YYAS. One has to experience it to know what I mean. I would certainly

recommend the YYAS to everyone for it is one awesome experience. I

would even recommend it to those who hate me,who knows they might

like me for that!

Joy Talemwa reflects on Zimbabwe 2016

My alarm went off and I jerked out of bed and run to my mum’s room. Mummy! Mummy! We need to go to the airport now, otherwise the plane will leave me! Throughout the 1 hour journey my mind was spinning and turning as worry waged in my mind about the plane living me. Finally, we reached the airport and I was right on time for check-in. Phew! I was finally settled. It was hard to say good-bye to my family and a few tears did flow down, but their eyes glowed with great pride and optimism (given their teenage daughter was flying alone for the first time). There was no backing down now!

The flight was relaxing and calming. While at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport, I met other Scholars from Kenya and immediately the fear and anxiety melted away. We started sharing and laughing about school, friends and future plans.  The journey took 6 hours and at midday, we arrived in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is such a beautiful country!  Despite its economic and political instability, the breath-taking scenery and warmth of her people outweigh the former.

Yale Young African Scholars was an intellectual, leadership building, and fun-filled 5-day experience that united talented and intelligent African young future leaders at the aesthetic Arundel School. Meeting other participants was a hilarious experience; remembering everybody’s name and nationality was studious!

As the birds hummed a morning melody and the sun’s beautiful bright rays pierced through the sky, we woke up and freshened up for the day. Breakfast was always served at 7:30 and by 8:30, we were expected to be in the lecture hall for the day’s lecture. The lectures were very interactive and enlightening presentations- by notable speakers and distinguished Yale lectures and faculty members- about various topics like Cyber Internet, Leadership and Ethics, Nostalgia for the Colonial Times, among others. Discussions then followed. These were one of my favourite parts of the program because we got to share, discuss, and even counter-argue the topics discussed in the lectures. The morning sessions were climaxed by workshops, were aspects of the common application were explained (in my workshop we always played buzz/bing before discussing!)

 A sumptuous lunch buffet awaited us at 12pm. The lunch break was one hour, during which we could have special lunch sessions with the YYAS facilitators about college life, cultural adjustments, applications, and career paths in fields like medicine and engineering. After the delicious meal, we would proceed to our seminars. All Scholars chose seminars that they wanted to participate in.  I chose Digital Footprints, Education Policy, Social Economic rights, and ‘What it means to be African?’ The debates, presentations, practical and visual methods of presenting these topics made them so interesting and easy to understand. During the program, we also had families and every-day at 2:30-3:00 pm, we met our families and played and had fun together. We got at connect at a deeper level with our family members and leaders.

A College admissions student panels, keynote speakers, a Yale mixer night, and admissions session were some other events we enjoyed throughout the week.  During admissions sessions, questions about SAT and ACT, Financial aid, majors, and college life were addressed. One the second last day,we  were separated in different project groups and tasked to develop an “Afrotopia-a new Africa.”

The last night was lit! After the group presentations (where we presented our ‘Afrotopia’ to fellow scholars) and certificate ceremony, we had a talent show. It started off with a spoken word piece and then several dance presentations followed: shoki, dubbing, nay nay, and many more dance moves were showcased in the two hour performances. Musical talent and several piano pieces and melodies were sang (the audience got to sing along too!).

Yale Young African Scholars was a life changing experience that challenged me to love my country and continent. Life-long friends from Cameroon (one participant from Cameroon was Joy Jude- we shared a name!), Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Somalia, Somaliland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Mauritius were forged. YYAS was an unforgettable experience because it was intellectually stimulating yet so engaging and fun at the same time. Advice, Insight, contacts, and selfies were shared. The Alumni of YYAS 2016 is a family of committed teenage Africans united by a love for the motherland, and driven by a passion to transform their communities by using their gifts, talents, and resources.

YYAS is the right place for any African teenager, with a love for their continent, to connect with like-minded young Africans with great visions and dreams!