Comments on: Tanzanian Student Leader Reflects on His Visit to Denver http://www.metroafrican.com/2010/02/tanzanian-student-leader-reflects-on-his-visit-to-denver/ Colorado's African Communities Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:40:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Michael Donahue http://www.metroafrican.com/2010/02/tanzanian-student-leader-reflects-on-his-visit-to-denver/comment-page-1/#comment-7188 Michael Donahue Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:12:52 +0000 http://www.metroafrican.com/?p=2483#comment-7188 Thank you for setting the context and I am happy to answer questions. You are welcome to meet with the next group of teens coming to the USA, ( Nov. 28-Dec. 16), as we are always looking for mentors from their continent to support their efforts. The Kenya teens selected for 2010/11 are from the Samburu tribe and their selection is based on the results produced by the Moyale Kenya girls and the Wajir Kenya boys. I just returned from visiting many of the Bold Leaders, (the 10 Nigerian participants, from Kano and Enugu all created social venture projects that were accepted for funding), and three of our bold Leaders have been selected as either finalists or attend the African leadership Academy, in Johburg South Africa and another is now a student on the Auraria Campus and another at Tufts, and yet three more, one in Turkey, one in England and another at Nairobi University are all on full scholarships, provided by their countries. (None of them had families who could pay for their educations and two of them were top ten students in their country.) I was fortunate to see Mustapha, in Nairobi as part of the follow on support to their project. He comes from a very small village. He has a mentor, from Kenya, who is one of the leading urban agriculturist, (when I was at his home he had visitors from three small towns near Nairobi), who is coaching Mustapha regarding a project to raise rabbits, provide quality nutrition, jobs, (it is a cradle to cradle project), as well as use profits to support children with their school fees. Mugure, would love to know what you would change. . .as we are always looking for ways to improve the programs. Feel free to call me. 303-359-1733 Can't help but notice the features on here that include several of the people who support the Bold leaders here and when they return home. Thank you for setting the context and I am happy to answer questions. You are welcome to meet with the next group of teens coming to the USA, ( Nov. 28-Dec. 16), as we are always looking for mentors from their continent to support their efforts. The Kenya teens selected for 2010/11 are from the Samburu tribe and their selection is based on the results produced by the Moyale Kenya girls and the Wajir Kenya boys. I just returned from visiting many of the Bold Leaders, (the 10 Nigerian participants, from Kano and Enugu all created social venture projects that were accepted for funding), and three of our bold Leaders have been selected as either finalists or attend the African leadership Academy, in Johburg South Africa and another is now a student on the Auraria Campus and another at Tufts, and yet three more, one in Turkey, one in England and another at Nairobi University are all on full scholarships, provided by their countries. (None of them had families who could pay for their educations and two of them were top ten students in their country.)

I was fortunate to see Mustapha, in Nairobi as part of the follow on support to their project. He comes from a very small village. He has a mentor, from Kenya, who is one of the leading urban agriculturist, (when I was at his home he had visitors from three small towns near Nairobi), who is coaching Mustapha regarding a project to raise rabbits, provide quality nutrition, jobs, (it is a cradle to cradle project), as well as use profits to support children with their school fees.

Mugure, would love to know what you would change. . .as we are always looking for ways to improve the programs. Feel free to call me. 303-359-1733 Can't help but notice the features on here that include several of the people who support the Bold leaders here and when they return home.

]]> By: Edward Ndegwa http://www.metroafrican.com/2010/02/tanzanian-student-leader-reflects-on-his-visit-to-denver/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Edward Ndegwa Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:08:20 +0000 http://www.metroafrican.com/?p=2483#comment-129 u have got to be kidding me? This article is weird, we have no student leaders who speak proper english(?) and are'nt awed by america. I read this and feel sad! I know that there are alot more deserving people in africa/tanzania that have better levels of education and are seemingly better at expressing themselves but this gets coverage?? is this some sort of "dumbing down" or what they think developing countries should be like so they can feel better abt themselves? u have got to be kidding me? This article is weird, we have no student leaders who speak proper english(?) and are'nt awed by america. I read this and feel sad! I know that there are alot more deserving people in africa/tanzania that have better levels of education and are seemingly better at expressing themselves but this gets coverage?? is this some sort of "dumbing down" or what they think developing countries should be like so they can feel better abt themselves?

]]> By: Mugure Wa Sauve http://www.metroafrican.com/2010/02/tanzanian-student-leader-reflects-on-his-visit-to-denver/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Mugure Wa Sauve Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:11:34 +0000 http://www.metroafrican.com/?p=2483#comment-130 Hi Maish, I know exactly what you mean. But let me try and provide some context. These were kids that had been selected to participate in a leadership training, called the Bold Leaders, based here in Colorado. It was meant for kids from underrepresented communities, so naturally, they were not looking for the more educated urban kids that speak English well and have been to the States. The brought in kids from Ugunja, Garissa (Borana and Rendille, I think) and from Nigeria and South Africa. They did not look urban or privileged to me in any way. The aim was for them to receive leadership training that they would go back and impact to their communities. What is amazing about Mustapha, was that he was this incredibly shy kid, when he first came, and he learned about leadership and is now doing something. He had never been to America, hence his awe. You and I may be a bit jaded by the West, but I think most people are still in awe when they make their first trip, no matter how exposed they are to the West. He is only in high school. ... Tazama Zaidi So all in all, I think this is a good program, yeah, some things I would change, but seeing the change that came about after those two months was incredible, and it led me to think that the future of Africa is bright, if we get our youth to start thinking about leadership and community service etc. But also, you should know that i would never be part of any project that looks down on Africa. That would be defeating myself. But if that ever starts happening, I know we can count on you to keep us straight :). Much love. Hi Maish,

I know exactly what you mean. But let me try and provide some context. These were kids that had been selected to participate in a leadership training, called the Bold Leaders, based here in Colorado. It was meant for kids from underrepresented communities, so naturally, they were not looking for the more educated urban kids that speak English well and have been to the States. The brought in kids from Ugunja, Garissa (Borana and Rendille, I think) and from Nigeria and South Africa. They did not look urban or privileged to me in any way. The aim was for them to receive leadership training that they would go back and impact to their communities.

What is amazing about Mustapha, was that he was this incredibly shy kid, when he first came, and he learned about leadership and is now doing something. He had never been to America, hence his awe. You and I may be a bit jaded by the West, but I think most people are still in awe when they make their first trip, no matter how exposed they are to the West. He is only in high school. ... Tazama Zaidi

So all in all, I think this is a good program, yeah, some things I would change, but seeing the change that came about after those two months was incredible, and it led me to think that the future of Africa is bright, if we get our youth to start thinking about leadership and community service etc.

But also, you should know that i would never be part of any project that looks down on Africa. That would be defeating myself. But if that ever starts happening, I know we can count on you to keep us straight :) .

Much love.

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