CULTIVATING CONNECTION, CAMARADERIE AND COMPASSION IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Unite’s Vision: A world in which people UNITE in service, crossing borders seen and unseen, so that every human may live with health, hope, opportunity and dignity.
Last week we launched a new 6-week-long pilot “Unite Youth Ambassador Program” connecting college student Ambassadors across America to our Unite Scholars in Tanzania to promote friendship, connection and collaboration, creativity and imagination, camaraderie and compassion, and academic and professional success. Click HERE to meet our Ambassadors. Click HERE to meet our Unite Scholars enrolled in this program. Click HERE to meet our leadership team.
As I am included in every Ambassador-Scholar What’s App group, I can report that the program is off to an awesome and enthusiastic start… Why? My phone is blowing up! “Ping,” “ping,” “ping ping ping” all day every day. In fact as I write this I am listening to Lila, Quinn and John John on a Zoom call behind me sharing stories and discussing John’s John’s rabbit keeping business. This extraordinary group of college students (who come from Northwestern University, UC San Diego, University of Michigan and Fairfield University) are busy texting and video-chatting every day with their paired scholars, introducing themselves and their families; sharing their dreams, challenges and passions; discussing such topics as the impact of the coronavirus; leadership and the power of mindset; astrophysics, black holes and space programs; livestock keeping, best organic farming techniques and food insecurity; chemical kinetics and engineering; pop culture and their favorite music; and so much more.
Each of our Ambassador/Scholar teams is engaging in academic challenges and preparing creative final projects. Some teams are working on writing new music to perform and rap videos, some are preparing group speeches and poetry, some are even doing side-by-side workout challenges (sit ups, push ups, sprints). While they may be 7,000 to 10,000 miles apart, they are together through technology and in heart and spirit… For me (note Unite’s vision statement above) this program is A DREAM COME TRUE.
In July, after our Unite Scholars head back to school in Tanzania for their A-Levels, we will compile all of their creative projects and present them to you, our extended Unite family, for your enjoyment. For now, please click on the links below for some video insights to this program:
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Contact Program Youth Director Lila Wells at lilawells2023@u.northwestern.edu.
To date, Lila and her teammates have enrolled a number of “Guest Speakers” from such academic institutions as Northwestern University and Greens Farms Academy and such businesses as EY and MILK who have kindly and generously agreed to submit five to 10-minute videos of themselves speaking about a topic of their choice (topics currently range from economics and globalization, business development, stress management and essay writing to organic chemistry, leadership and public speaking techniques). These speakers and their presentations will soon be featured on our Uniteafricafoundation.org website for your review.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @unitetnz. We are posting regularly and the excitement and creative vision of these Ambassador-Scholar teams is thrilling to see and be part of. Follow our hashtags: #unitetnz, #unite_scholars, #unitehummingbirds.
“It has been so delightful and fruitful to connect with David who is such a bright student living a daily life that is so different than my own but with whom I share so many similarities and interests. I’ve been learning more about the education system outside the U.S., and I’ve been learning some Swahili as well as a bit about Tanzanian culture. So far we have discussed our goals, leadership, science, and current events. For our creative project, we will do a skit where we both act as news channel hosts/ reporters, and we’ll be informing the public about the impact of this amazing program. We plan to have some guest interviews in our skit as well.” ~Ramzy Issa, rising Sophomore at Northwestern University.
Screenshots from some of the many videos being sent back and forth, ambassador to scholar, scholar to ambassador. So much LOVE, HOPE & JOY is being spread around the world!
“I'm glad to have this opportunity to connect with unique and interesting people around the world. John John (my paired scholar) is a great partner for me with his entrepreneurial disposition, skill and ability in raising animals, and with his curiosity and kindness. And, as an engineer, I am learning to be more conscious of other ways of problem solving.”
- Quinn Boyd, rising Sophomore at University of California San Diego.