Thursday, March 28, 2013

MY EXPERIENCE AT ALA


It has been just over a year since I graduated from high school and so many things have changed. Many of the changes have been overwhelming. All the things that have happened since I graduated have taught to me to either let go, hold on or try a different route.
In May 2012, I was admitted to the African Leadership Academy (ALA) in Johannesburg, South Africa. I was very excited about this opportunity then and I still am.  ALA is a different learning environment that encourages self discovery and self growth. I must say that I have grown a great deal since I came to the academy. And I believe that many every young person should be allowed this growth. I encourage you to apply to ALA guys.
The vigorous curriculum at the academy has helped me to discover new limits for myself. I can effectively manage a heavy academic load and an equally heavy load of extra curricular activities like competitive sports and networking with the wide range of talented students, faculty and guests that visit the academy. More importantly I have been equipped with entrepreneurial leadership skills; more than ever, I feel I am not limited by the constraints in my community with regards to bringing about positive change. I see every problem as an opportunity.
I will never thank kucetekela foundation enough for impacting my life positively and for making me into a limitless youth. I would also like to encourage every Kf student to pursue the opportunities before them. Stretch your hands as far reaching as you can. Remember every change teaches one of these three things: let go, hold on or try another route. Just be clear that letting go does not mean you are a failure, it only means an opportunity to try something new.
Thank you Kucetekela Foundation!!!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

JUSTINE'S MATERO GIRLS REPORT

At Matero Girls there are two Chipembele groups, one meets in the morning and the other in the afternoon, which are both actively operating. The morning group consists of 41 and the afternoon group has more than 20 members. These clubs have weekly meetings, on Thursdays, for an hour. The morning meetings are usually chaired by the president of the club, Trina Musonda, and the afternoon meetings are chaired by the vice-president of the club, Blessings Sinkala. Learning is the main activity during the meetings and the lessons are conducted by either the President or Vice-President. On other days they pick litter around school and do some intense cleaning of the school premises, and on Fridays the club members and their leaders water the orchard. The litter picked around the school is later reused to make useful things, for example bags, which are later exhibited and were once exhibited at Alliance France. After some weeks of learning the group usually has local quiz to check whether people understand. Some of the topics they learn as a group are; • Deforestation • Effects of climate change • Importance of trees • Recycling • Fighting climate change The future plan is to start selling the collected bottles to companies and use the money to hold functions. The only challenge they are facing is the lack of seriousness from a few students and getting all students to attend. Mr. Tembo said he will need to have an outsider to go and meet with him and the group to come up with a monitoring and evaluating system. He has noticed the lack of seriousness from some students, which makes it hard for him to know the effectiveness of the group.