The fifth year of the scholars’ engagement in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar has come to a conclusion. At the end of every year, the Scholars Program at UoG creates the opportunity for Scholars to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience which culminates in adventure, leadership trainings and outright enjoyment. The scholars are gifted youth with the capacity to significantly improve the lives of many others, and today they demonstrated their commitment to doing so by taking a pledge to take part in the yearly Summer Leadership Camp.
The Summer Leadership Camp is an over 2-week long Leadership training camp which is based and established to enhance community engagement and leadership. Once these individuals learn to serve and transform their society, they will in essence be transformative leaders which will be able to go back to their respective communities and create a world that they want to see.
To begin the great journey, the Scholars are getting much needed prep from Scholars Program office administrators. Director of the Program, Dr. Molalign Belay, and Part A Manager, Mr. Geta Asrade, created a platform to share the ins and outs about the camp and what it will mean for their overall growth as a Scholar. Some of the topics that were raised included the journey to Addis Ababa and the subsequent Camp experience, the services which will be provided, and an orientation on what is expected of the Scholars in this life changing program.
The scholars will be able to learn more about and develop their self-awareness, critical thinking, adaptability, inclusion, creativity, communication, ethical abilities, and professionalism at the summer leadership camp. Students will spend their time participating in leadership training, exploring wonderful inclusion facilities, enjoying the sites, and sharing their experiences and leadership knowledge.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partnership, which was established over 5 years ago, will eventually offer scholarships to 450 gifted but underprivileged youth with impairments to attain their bachelors or graduates degrees. And now coming over the half way point of the Program’s implementation, thee progress made and the positive trends are showing that the Scholars and their determination to becoming transformative leaders is making a sizable impact in the lives of many in this country. In the last academic year the University of Gondar was the top destination for people with impairments who chose UoG because of its keen attention to inclusiveness.
