Mauritian Pan-African Youth Leadership Program: Four students fly to America

In its fourth Edition this year, the Pan-African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) will offer the opportunity to four students and a mentor to represent Mauritius. The finalists stood out for their strong academic performance, outstanding leadership abilities, and their commitment to community service. Their names were announced by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Tedde Thompson last week. 

The Pan-African Youth Leadership Program is designed for students aged between 15 and 18 and aims to foster regional cooperation in Africa in addition to nurturing future leaders.  The finalists will be joining peers from several other African countries including South Africa, Mozambique and Mauritania for a three-week program, from 7 to 29 July. Participants will visit three cities: Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas and Illinois, Chicago. In addition to the formal program, there will be opportunities for excursions that showcase American culture and life and opportunity to live with host families, giving them an insider’s view of American culture.  The relationships formed during the host stay often prove to be one of the most enduring parts of the program.  

The participants will also focus on developing action plans for community-based initiatives that they will present at the end of the program.  The actions plans will provide a framework for the community service project they will implement when they return home.  A key component of the program is indeed to develop community-based projects in the students’ home communities to affect change upon their return.

Anusha Vencadasmy: “An opportunity to mould my personality” 

Anusha Vencadasmy, a former student of GMD Atchia aspires to work in international relations after her higher education. Anusha is starting her Law degree in September.  She is also deeply committed to the welfare of the elderly and regularly visits homes and orphanages with her mother. Her experience has led her to realise that there is a need to bridge the gap between the younger and older generations. This is the project she plans to implement upon her return from the U.S. She envisions what she calls therapy sessions, where young and old will meet on a regular basis at community centres across Mauritius to highlight the importance of relationships and values.  “It is a golden opportunity for me to mould my personality and to work for my community when I come back,” she says.

Suryakanti Fulena: A learning and fun experience

Suryakanti Fulena, also known as Anu to her friends and close ones, works at Forest Side SSS (Boys) as an english language educator. She is the mentor of the four students. She has been working at the school for the past four years where she has been engaged with students on a more informal basis to organise benevolent activities for special needs children. Those, she says, have been the highlights of her experience as teacher and have proved to be humbling as well as deeply meaningful moments for her students. As a mentor, she expects to bring the fun side of the students during the programmes at the same time bring back lots of good memories. For her it will be learning with fun. 

Nabeel and Imaan Hingun: They plan to make most of it in America 

Nabeel Hingun, 18, is a level-headed young man who is completing his final year of studies at the Royal College of Curepipe. At school, he is known for his academic excellence and his leadership skills, always standing up for his friends. Nabeel has earned numerous prizes at various competitions including the first prize at the Omnicane Public Speaking Award in 2016. However, his bigger dream is to do something big for his country. He enjoys discussing economics and politics with his friends and family, though his biggest hobby remains English Soccer, and Manchester City Football Club is his supporting club. Nabeel is also quite engaged in social initiatives and leaves no stone unturned to reach his objectives. 

His sister Imaan Hingun is a 17-year old student at the Queen Elizabeth College and she aspires to bring positive changes in her community through small actions, and is determined to stand for those whose voices are not heard. Her social engagement includes empowering women being rehabilitated from substance and alcohol abuse, as well as ex-prison detainees. Her most recent endeavour is geared towards the homeless as she strives to bring changes to their lives. 

Both brother and sister have implemented the project ‘Book Nest’ last year, where books fly in and out after being inspired by a trip to Europe. Nabeel and his sister came back to Mauritius with the firm determination of encouraging a reading culture in the country.  They installed three small kiosks in the centre of the island Vacoas, Phoenix and Curepipe where passers-by and other book  lovers can come to place books, magazines and even newspapers so that others can take them for free.

The two young people are very excited about their travels in America. They hope to have a good time with other friends, enjoy American culture, taste different dishes and also increase their knowledge. When they will be back to Mauritius, they plan to carry out their projects with the other participants.

Zaheer Ghanty: “A very good initiative” 

An ambitious, self-motivated and versatile student, Zaheer Ghanty has internship experience obtained in a variety of roles and contexts including in the legal sector and teaching.  While waiting to join the University of Manchester to for his Bachelor of Laws degree, Zaheer is currently gaining industry exposure at the leading full-service independent law firm in Mauritius, BLC Robert. 

He discovered this program by chance thanks to a friend, Hani,a whom he thanks heartily. “My friend told me about this program and it seemed very interesting. It’s a very good initiative on the part of the U.S. Embassy to get young people interested in society,” he says. 

He believes that this program will drastically change his life. He will expand his cultural knowledge and return as a more educated young man. “I cannot wait to meet my host family and discover the American way of life. I expect to learn a lot, especially learn how to manage the scourges of society. I hope to make good meetings and to discover the culture of my African counterparts. I intend to learn as much as possible to have the necessary knowledge to develop our project when I return to Mauritius,” says the young resident of Curepipe.

As a high school student of St Joseph, Zaheer has been extensively involved in various school competitions, such as local or regional debates which have undoubtedly help him in refining his interpersonal skills.