To bring together Commonwealth Alumni and celebrate the impact and achievements of Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship recipients in Zambia, on 26 October the Commonwealth Alumni Association of Zambia (CAAZ) held an away-day at the Kuzipa Campsite in Lusaka.
The event brought together 22 alumni to take part in activities and challenges designed to achieve the spirit of ‘ubuntu’ (togetherness) and provide valuable time for alumni to reflect on and share what their Commonwealth Scholarship and/or Fellowship means to them personally, and as a group.
Strengthening Commonwealth Scholarship connections
Activities included team building exercises and obstacle challenges, designed to facilitate teamwork and collaboration, encourage alumni to step out of their comfort zone whilst supported by peers, and discover their personal strengths.
Reflecting on her experiences, Commonwealth Alumnus Martha Mwiinga (2019 Commonwealth Scholar and CAAZ General Secretary) shares:
“One of my favourite activities was the challenge to create an Eiffel Tower using straws and marshmallows in our groups. The staff leader said that the foundation of our tower represented our experiences in high school and university before attaining the Commonwealth Scholarship. As we built the tower higher, we were asked to consider our lives after the Scholarship—how we plan to give back to the community, whether we intend to mentor younger generations, and how we envision our futures. This activity prompted deep reflection for me, and I and fellow alumni will carry these questions with us as we continue our path.”
Following these activities, Commonwealth Alumnus Bobby Chimuka (2009 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar and Alumni Advisory Panel member 2023-2025) delivered a presentation on his Commonwealth Scholarship experience and they ways in which his distance learning Master’s enabled career growth whilst completing his studies. He stressed the importance of alumni applying what they learn through their scholarship in the work and personal endeavours and emphasised seizing opportunities, even when they seem impossible.
Looking to the future
CAAZ are pleased to report that following the event, engagement amongst attendees and those who couldn’t attend has increased and prompted renewed support for alumni to work together to achieve sustainable development in Zambia. The association looks forward to future engagements and growing their national Commonwealth Scholarships community.
