The Sunday News
Yoliswa Dube, Sunday Life Writer
THAT he will get a chance to meet the first black American president and the “most powerful” man on land is just the cherry on top.
The exposure and wealth of knowledge he will get while in the US is one many young people can only dream of.
Velile Dube (33) cannot stop thanking his stars for an opportunity to travel and learn at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
Through the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders, Dube and one other Bulawayo boy among 50 other young Zimbabweans head to the US for a six-week leadership training and mentoring programme.
They will also be hosted in Washington, DC for a three-day Presidential Summit featuring a Town Hall with President Barack Obama.
President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.
“They’re very few people from this region that apply for the programme, let alone go. So I’m going on a personal level and to carry the brand of the region,” said Dube.
He will be at Drake University, Iowa where the itinerary will comprise of business and leadership grooming, entrepreneurship, engaging civil leadership and finance.
“These are areas I deal with every day. It’ll be my first time in America and definitely an exciting experience. I’m excited to learn how people in first world countries go about their daily business,” said Dube, who is also the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce marketing manager.
Dube said he was eager to promote Bulawayo and the Matabeleland region as a good investment destination.
“I’m going with material to promote Bulawayo. I’m yet to engage the City Council so as to get some literature about the city. I’m going to be representing myself, the ZNCC and the city as a whole,” he said.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders takes 500 dynamic young African leaders aged between 25 and 35, from across the continent to the United States for six weeks of leadership training and mentoring at twenty US universities and colleges in three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public administration.
Nearly one in three Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35.
“My desire is to impact what I do daily which is to promote an economic environment which enables businesses to thrive. I’m passionate about resuscitating industry as well as curbing the brain drain that the country has been experiencing over the years,” said Dube.
The idea, he said, was to be able to impact communities.
“When I come back, I need to give back. This is a once in a life-time opportunity and I encourage people to apply,” he said.
Fellowship for Young African Leaders represents the extraordinary promise of an emerging generation of entrepreneurs, activists, and public officials.
Upon returning to their home countries, the Fellows have access to professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking and training, and seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organisations.
