A fantastic kick-off to 2024 for our mentorship team as YESI mentors ignited a spark at Lifidzi Secondary School, Salima, in a dynamic mentorship session on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Our mentors shared their inspiring journeys and motivated students to aim for academic excellence.

One of our mentors, Felix, a LUANAR Agribusiness Management graduate, emphasized the power of setting SMART goals. In telling his tale of translating passion to achievement, Felix reminisced, “Growing up, I had a passion for raising chickens and spending time in gardens. And when I was in college, I could visualize how I could turn my hobby into a viable business. I hold a degree in Agribusiness Management, and I intend to grow my passion into a sustainable source of income.”

Talandila Malizani, a Form Two student, conveyed gratitude on behalf of her peers, stating, “This session comes at a crucial time as we gear up for MSCE exams. Acquiring insights into time management will undoubtedly assist me in allocating my time wisely,” she remarked.

Similarly, Mr Hope Chibweza, a teacher at the school, highlighted the session’s perfect timing, especially with some students gearing up for their MSCE examinations. He praised the rarity of witnessing young individuals motivating students. “Often, students may not heed advice from teachers, but they seem to pay attention when it comes from outsiders. Witnessing young people like you addressing our students is indeed rare and unique. We appreciate your focus on crucial topics like time management and career guidance. Our hope is that the students take these insights seriously and elevate their performance as they prepare for their exams,” concluded Mr. Chibweza.

The YESI team consisted of seven mentors, including the delegation leader Aaron Malunga, a University of Malawi graduate. The team comprised Fyness Phiri and Andrew Khongola from MUBAS, Felix Mdulamitu, a LUANAR graduate, Jack, a LUANAR student, Hastings Malunga, a University of Malawi student, and Grace Kapira from the Catholic University. The team’s diversity provided students with the opportunity to gain insights from various perspectives offered by different colleges.

With 208 students touched, we look forward to more mentorship sessions in 2024 as we aim to inspire the youth to dream big and pursue their goals relentlessly.