08 Dec 2013

As part of the White House’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the United States government through its embassies in Botswana and Zimbabwe last week organised a five day trans-border student exchange to expose participants to the importance of wildlife conservation and ecology, health, and cultural understanding.

The initiative was held in partnership with the Tachila and Bulawayo nature reserves and started in Francistown and ended in Bulawayo.

A total of 30 students aged between 16 and 18 years participated in the programme. The programme was attended by the deputy assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr Shannon Smith, US Ambassador to Botswana, Ms Michelle Gavin and US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Bruce Wharton.

During interactions, students were engaged in discussions on contemporary issues affecting them such as wildlife trafficking and conservation, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, higher education, gender based violence, career opportunities and employment.

The youth also engaged in some community service projects such as cleaning at the Mother Theresa centre and painting and decorating the Tachila Nature Reserves’ educational centre.

US Embassy public affairs officer, Ms Amanda Jacobsen explained that the youth were chosen for their intellectual achievements and engagement in youth initiatives.

She also highlighted that the program served to promote mutual understanding for youth in both countries.

Addressing the students at the nature reserve during interactions, Ambassador Gavin informed them that if they wanted to do well in life they had to work hard at school.

She also told them that while in secondary school, she had not figured out what she wanted, did not have a passport and had never met a diplomat.

In addition, she informed them, as long as they knew what they wanted in life, it becomes easy to figure it out and said that the youth exchange offered participants a platform to realise their dreams and share ideas.

For his part, the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Bruce Wharton explained to the youth that growing up, he was an example of someone who did not know what he wanted to do but, was guided by values his parents imparted on him at home such as community service and learning other cultures.

“I learnt languages such as German and also took an interest in learning about other people. The foreign service exam opened doors for me as I have lived and raised kids abroad,” he mentioned. ENDS