New year, new opportunities
The year is off to a flying start for Watipa – as we hope it is for you too!
Twenty of the Watipa scholars have been busy working alongside the consulting team on a research project for UNAIDS as part of the #Uprootagenda to understand young people’s participation in community responses to HIV. The scholars completed a research training in early January, and went on to conduct almost 60 peer interviews within their communities to contribute to the project.
Two scholars have also been achieving great things already in 2018, and making progress towards their community services goals:
- Prudence Chavula in Malawi was honoured recently for her volunteer work at an event at the British High Commission in Lilongwe, Malawi. Congratulations Prudence!
- Aisha Nalukenge in Uganda is participating in a Balloon Venturestraining programme for young entrepreneurs, to help her hone her social development and business plans for the future. Good luck Aisha!
We are proud to welcome the 15 new Watipa scholars to the programme, and can now announce who they are and what they are studying. Join us in congratulating:
- Kenya: Elias Mwagi Waithera, 22, studying Civil Engineering.
- Nepal: Simran Kunwar, 19, studying Social Work.
- Malawi: Joseph Chimbatata, 20, studying Food and Nutrition; Despina, 18, in Form 4 at secondary school; Dalitso Mawina, 22, studying Nursing and Midwifery; Rachel Nyasulu, 24, studying Civil Engineering; Tiyamike Malungo, 20, studying Medicine and Surgery, Josephine Trish Kondowe, 21, studying Medicine and Surgery; Menard Mkalira, 22, studying Mining Engineering; Lydia Pakira, 22, studying Human Nutrition and Food science; Leonard Chakanga, 22, studying Chemical Engineering; and Chisomo Chikomola, 23, studying Human Nutrition and Food Science.
- South Africa: Justin Almano, 20, studying Medical Laboratory Sciences.
- Uganda: Nalukenge Aisha, 19, studying Public Administration and Management.
- Zambia: Togala Zulu, 22, studying Political Science and Philosophy and Applied Ethics.
The average age of the 2017 Watipa scholarship recipients is 21 years. We awarded more scholarships to young women again in 2017, staying firm in our commitment to supporting adolescent girls and young women to overcome gender inequalities and reach their full potential.
The 2017 cohort join the group of inaugural Watipa scholars from 2016, who we are continuing to support.
It was a tremendously competitive field with hundreds of applicants in 2017, and a very difficult decision for the selection committee. We hope to grow even more in 2018 so that we can offer even more scholarships next time around.
Finally, we celebrate the 4 Watipa graduates who left the programme at the end of 2017:
- Melusi Kubheka Bohloko, who completed a degree in Social Sciences in South Africa.
- Elizabeth Kasawa, who completed her International Bacalaureate (secondary school) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Mary Micah Nyama, who completed her degree in Journalism and Media Studies in Malawi.
- Aldo Kastory Sanga, who has secured government funding to complete his studies in History and Political Science in Tanzania.
Wishing everyone a prosperous, fulfilling, healthy, rewarding and very happy 2018!
Keep up-to-date with our thinking, work and new ideas through our latest blogs: