The YALI Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa, in partnership with the YALI Alumni Chapter of Zambia, recently organized several successful alumni engagement events in Zambia last month. Through an innovation challenge activity, an alumni exhibition and a number of alumni project site visits, the visit illustrated how alumni lived up to the creativity, inclusivity, integrity and diversity values of YALI.
The Innovation Challenge aimed to enhance alumni initiatives through human-centered design thinking, including online instruction followed by a three-day in-person program, culminating in a pitch day and an award ceremony. Thirty-one alumni from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe gathered in Lusaka for the three-day, in-person meeting. Following the pitch activity, an award ceremony was held where all alumni received certificates. Five of the participating alumni were additionally recognized with certificates of distinction.
Notable awardees include:
People’s choice/Investors choice award - Chipo Amanda Mataka (Zimbabwe)
Best Pitch - Oratile Medupi (Botswana)
Most Improved - Thulani Ndzinamarira (Zimbabwe)
Potential for Impact - William Mmasekawana (Botswana)
Most Innovative Pitch - Goitseone Rantsha (Botswana)
The alumni exhibition provided a platform for 10 alumni to present their businesses, projects, and services. This event also provided networking opportunities among alumni, fostering collaboration and possible partnerships. In addition to showcasing YALI innovations, the exhibition also aimed to inspire and recruit potential young leaders to apply to the YALI program and leverage YALI tools, resources, and networks. Attendees also helped to support alumni by purchasing products from Alumni vendors.
In addition to the exhibition, the YALI RLC SA team visited six alumni projects and discussed the progress of their projects post-graduation and their future growth and sustainability plans. Aleta Musvoto, the USAID YALI Regional Coordinator, and Dr. Felicia Wilson Young, Director of Education and Youth with the USAID South Africa Mission joined the RLC team on the final site visit to Sydney Ngandu, the founder of Afrikaada Teethsavers. Afrikaada Teethsavers focuses on promoting oral health in Zambia and provides dental care to underserved communities, especially children. The delegation also explored strategies for expanding Afrikaada's reach, enhancing community impact, and fostering a culture of health and wellness in Zambia through diversified funding sources.
