USAP Zimbabwe Profiles
Since it's inception in 1999, USAP has helped tens of Zimbabwean students get accepted to top notch colleges in the United States. Some have since graduated and are working in various fields in the United States and elsewhere around the world and some have chosen to remain in academia at various instituations in the United States. There are over a hundred USAP students from Zimbabwe alone and each one of them has an amazing story to tell. Below are brief profiles of some of our students just to give you a glimpse of our diversity as a people as well as the diversity of our their career paths and futures.
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Terrens Muradzikwa
Harvard University '18
"If you do not sweat in training, you will bleed in battle." Terrens is a humble and committed young man who strongly believes in hard work and faith. Born the first in a family of three, Terrens has lived all his life in Mutare. The "go for it" mentality deeply rooted within Terrens has motivated him to do wonders his community has never seen before. After doing his primary education at three different primary schools, Terrens went to Nyanga High School (Marist) where he completed his high school with 25 points in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Business Studies. He broke the national Zimsec 'O' level record in 2011 with 16 As, and he was awarded the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship.
As a well-rounded scholar, Terrens proved beyond doubt that he will take the country for greater heights. He won the SADC Secondary Schools essay awards at regional level consecutively in 2012 and 2013, something the country and the whole region had never witnessed. As if that is not enough, Terrens has also been proudly involved in many community service activities. He was a leader and president in several clubs such as the Environmental Management Club, Junior Achievement Zimbabwe, Science, Ray of Hope and Christian Living Community in which he assisted the needy in his school community and advocated for environmental awareness. Terrens has a heart at Simukai Children's Home in Mutare. He also participated actively in sport as he led the school's volleyball team to the national finals in 2012 and 2013. He also received accolades for being the best House Captain (Senior Prefect) during his stay at Nyanga High.
Terrens hopes to study computer science and mathematics and a minor in economics at Harvard University. He strongly believes that he will alleviate the economic and social problems that Zimbabwe is ailing under. His desire to advocate for education for every single Zimbabwean and every child under the sun remains unparalleled.
Chiza Mwinde
Smith College '18
Born in Binga-Zimbabwe, Chiza Mwinde has always been passionate about changing the general perception about her home area which is considered a remote and "backward". She completed her high school at Guinea Fowl High and is the first girl to have successfully completed Advanced Level from her village. Chiza is currently a student at Smith College studying geoscience and statistics.
In her time before going to Smith College, Chiza taught science at Manjolo high school in Binga. Teaching science was one of the ways she encouraged female students that they too can succeed in school despite discouragement from peers or circumstances. Her experience while teaching at Manjolo made Chiza realize that she is passionate about working with high school students and has continued to do so even at Smith. She was teaching assistant in an engineering program Smith has for high school students and hopes to continue working with high school girls while she is at smith and even after she graduates.
At Smith, Chiza is part of Ssuubi Krafters, an organization (started by a Smithie) that helps unemployed women in Kampala (Uganda) learn craftwork like making jewelry and making African themed bags and clothing. Eventually, these women “graduate” and move on to start and run their own businesses when they are more established. For Chiza, this is a big step towards helping women build skills to make their own income. She plans to start Ssuubi Krafters soon in her home town. While working with Ssuubi Krafters Chiza has actually discovered her own talent in the crafts and makes her own jewelry and clothes in her free time. Chiza is involved in the Smith African and Caribbean Association. Her interests include photography, reading and fashion sketching.
Gloria Sengwe
University of Southern Indiana '18
The Sengwes welcomed a ruby, Gloria, into the world in 1995. Gloria grew up with her maternal grandparents in the rural Chivi and relocated to Bindura for her formal education. The leader in Gloria first sparked in her pre-school years when she was appointed the Head girl of Happy Day Centre. Gloria attended Bindura Primary School. She was appointed Justice for Children Child President at the age of 12. With a young and brave heart, she advocated for Zimbabwean children to have birth certificates during her term of office.
In 2008, Gloria joined the family of ZRP High School. She was appointed Junior Member of Parliament for Harare North Constituency in 2010. During her term of office, she fought for full representation of children in the Constitution of Zimbabwe that was being drafted by then. Gloria is passionate about helping children and believes she will continue to give her all to save children. She also advocated for the interaction between junior members of Parliament and their senior counterparts. Gloria graduated from ZRP High School in 2013.
Gloria is a lawyer in the making. Having grown in the harsh economic system of Zimbabwe, she is set to improve the country's economy. She believes this is the reason why young talented children have failed to reach their full potential. Gloria will be the second USAP student to attend University of Southern Indiana where she will pursue Economics. As she closes her eyes to sleep, she remembers the verse 1 Corinthians 15:10 ‘But by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace towards me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than most of them- yet not I but the grace of the Lord that was with me.
Bazil Mupisiri
Grinnell College '18
Bazil is an ambitious, self-motivated and determined individual who hails from Tsanzaguru Township in the outskirts of Rusape, a sleepy farming town. He grew up with an unemployed father and his mother, a rural primary school teacher by profession and lived and worked in Inyati Mine, deep in the reserves of Manicaland. Most of his early childhood years were spent at the school where his mother taught, but he later moved to boarding school at John Cowie Primary in Rusape. Due to the growing tension in Zimbabwe's economic situation and the increasing rate of inflation, his mother began struggling to pay the boarding fees. His aunt and uncle hoped in and volunteered to finance his education until later during his high school. This is when Bazil's passion for giving back to the community evolved. He lost his father to cerebral malaria when he was grade three and the hardships intensified, but besides this setback, he persevered.
Bazil then moved to St. Faith's High School where he became actively involved in the school and community at large. He was a member of the FLAAG club, Youth Alive Club and the Public Speaking and Debating club. He was one of the best speakers at the Manicaland Provincial Debate competition. His concern on going green made him the founder and vice-president of the environmental club at his school. Bazil was also one of the founders and leaders of Social Concern Club, a community based club which was responsible for educating the youths in his home area. This club as one of its projects hosted a tree planting day where they planted hundreds of trees for the Tsanzaguru Community. He then moved to Marondera High School where his involvement continued and was a leader in clubs that include Public Speaking, science club and many others. He believes he owes his life to his mother who is his hero and his uncle and aunt who made him through his high school education. Bazil has developed a passion for computer science. He was awarded one of three highly competitive Special African Scholarships at Grinnell College where he will be studying mathematics and computer science. He hopes to pursue a career in software engineering and use this knowledge to upgrade the software industry in Zimbabwe.
Itai Muzhingi
Amherst College '18
From the dusty plains of rural Mhondoro sprang a highly determined and self-composed individual. The last born in a family of seven, Itai spent his early childhood in Mhondoro with his subsistence farming parents. He attended Matanha Primary, a very basic rural school, whose poor education prompted his concerned parents to transfer him to Seke 7 Primary School in the densely populated township of Chitungwiza. From the fifth grade, Itai lived eighty percent of the time alone at home whilst attending Seke 7 Primary. The solitary nature of the rest of his primary education thrust great responsibility on him provoking the leader within to sprout. He graduated from Seke 7 Primary school and landed at St Ignatius College, one of the best Catholic high schools in Zimbabwe.
Almost immediately, Itai monopolized the number one academic position at St Ignatius College. He wrote 13 subjects at Ordinary Level and attained 13 "A" grades. Due to financial problems at home, he almost dropped out of school after his Ordinary Level. Fortunately, he was awarded the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship which saw him through his Advanced Level education. At Advanced Level he pursued sciences and mathematics. Outside the classroom, Itai participated in various clubs. Passionate about helping the community, he was highly involved with the Youth Christian Society which visited St Catherine's Home for the Mentally Challenged and organised volunteer work in the surrounding village communities. By the end of his secondary education, he had designed one of the teachers' cottages, won the Old Mutual and the Tynwald Mathematics Olympiads and served for three years as a prefect.
After completing his secondary education, Itai helped several students from his neighbourhood prepare for their national examinations and volunteered at a local high school. Afterwards, he started a one year long internship at EducationUSA Harare. He also led the weekly UsapCares visits to Chiedza Childcare Centre, introduced a Chess Club and tutored several students academic subjects.
Itai was admitted to Amherst College in Massachusetts where he intends to major in Economics and take pre-medicine. Having watched HIV and AIDS consume the life of one of his close relatives, Itai dreams of modernizing his country's medical sector and playing a pivotal role in the eventual annihilation of the virus.
"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" — Audrey Hepburn
Kudakwashe Chinyama
Furman University '18
Kuda is currently a senior at Furman University. He has worked as an audit and tax intern at Elliott Davis LLC in Greenville, SC, and admissions intern at Furman University. He has been a University Innovation Fellow (UIF) and Community Engagement Initiative Fellow (CEI) at Furman University since his sophomore year. As a UIF and CEI fellow, Kuda has worked with the university president's Adviser for Community Engagement, eighteen faculty members, and five student fellows, to help create institutional policies regarding the university’s interactions with the community.
Kuda has a special interest in microfinance and was awarded the John D. Hollingsworth and Furman Advantage research fellowships for two consecutive summers during which he conducted research on ‘What Leads to Microfinance Success.’ He hopes to use the research results to enhance access to microfinancing for underserved entrepreneurs at the bottom of the economic pyramid in Southern Africa.
Kuda was the president of the Baba Africa Club at Furman University in his sophomore year. In his junior year, he was one of six distinguished campus leaders at Furman University inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. And at the beginning of his senior year he received the Faculty Scholarship Award.
In his free time, Kuda volunteers at United Ministries of Greenville where he assists those in need by preparing basic and advanced individual income tax returns. In addition, he helps with multicultural recruitment and works as a library assistant at Furman University. He also tutors Accounting and Spanish, serves as an interviewer for diversity employment positions at Furman and serves on two different Furman award selection committees.
Simbararshe Chakanyuka
University of the South (Sewanee) '18
Simbarashe- Shona for Power of God Indeed he has witnessed the Power of God in his life.
Born in the bustling city of Harare but bred in the dusty streets of the small mining town of Kadoma, Simbarashe is a testimony of the effects of the faith of a praying woman- his mother. The first of only two boys, Simba rose from a poor family background to become the first member of his family (including extending family) to get into a university let alone an American University.
An astounding achiever, Simba is a trailblazer in the academic field where he has garnered straight A's from the primary level right up to his A level National examination. Unfortunately, his father never got to see his exploits as he succumbed to cancer in October 2006, a few weeks before Simba's Grade Seven Examinations. Consequently, his mother-a devout Christian- has taken the socio-economic tough responsibility of delicately molding Simba into a humble yet out of the box thinker.
A passionate fan of choral music, Simba was the leading tenor in the St Patrick's High School Choir that was 5th and 2nd in the Zimbabwe National High School Choral Competitions of 2011 and 2012 respectively. Added to that, he was the project coordinator of the St Patrick' Interact Club where he engineered fundraising projects to pay tuition fees for underprivileged children in the nearby Chiwundura resettlement area. As an intern at the Gweru American Corner, Simba has continued his voluntary spirit at the Jairos Jiri Naran Center for the Hearing Impaired amongst other numerous activities.
Simba will study electrical engineering at Sewanee University where he also expects to master a few Asian Languages chief among them Chinese. As Simba puts it, "Taking a cue from Strive Masiwa, I want to start my own power company that will quash the power shortages bedeviling my beloved homeland, though I hope Strive doesn't beat me to it!" If given the opportunity, Simba would love to study Education so that one day he can come back to his country and revamp the education system.
Munyaradzi Mahiya
UC Berkeley '18
Munyaradzi, Shona for "the comforter," believes that his name was that of offering hope to others and consoling them in their times of pain. Without sounding or seeming like a bitter person, he would like to share a new meaning he has adopted through his experiences and challenges growing up in the high-density township of Chitungwiza. While getting to know his strengths and weaknesses, he has also been able to harness an ability he didn't know he had. Munya had to silence critics, a newly found gift and ability and above all the hidden meaning of his name that even his mom didn't know when she named him.
Where he grew up, no one ever believed in Munya. Coming from a conservative area of Chitungwiza he was regarded as a burden at the age of 14 by his community after contracting cancer and having to have his left leg amputated, resulting in his disability. Most people viewed his future as bleak, but Munyaradzi decided to show them he was still a contender for excellence both academically and personally.
Having a positive mindset and an I can do it attitude helped Munya succeed in so many areas even some people from his school had not yet reached in the school's 34 year history. Munyaradzi was elected into Zimbabwe's Junior Parliament as a Senator and was then promoted to a Minister by the Junior President. His openness and ferocious speeches when it came to disability Issues only opened up more doors as he joined other organization Like SAFAids, Justice for Children Trust and Leonard Cheshire Disability. Through these organizations he went gone on to represent youths with disabilities in countries like Belgium, USA and Zambia.
Munyaradzi has also tried by all means to show that youths with disabilities can also do well in sport and has a passion for wheelchair basketball. In 2013, he travelled to the US to participate in a wheelchair basketball camp at the University of Missouri. He was also appointed as the Under 23 captain of the Zimbabwe wheelchair basketball squad and led this team at an African Championship Tournament in April 2013 where they won a bronze medal.
Munya thanks God for giving him hope and making him realize that he is more than what people think or say. He feels that if his story doesn't console someone who has been or is in his situation, then it can definitely silence those who have negative things to say about young people with disabilities.
Duane Madziva
Yale University '18
A strong willed and self-starting individual, Duane has grown into a selfless individual with the interests of others at heart. After attending a collection of primary schools, Duane attended his Ordinary and Advanced Level at Kutama College where he studied Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.
In high school, he was mainly involved in community outreach through his involvement in clubs such as Youth Against Aids and Christian Living Community. He was also involved in the graphic design of Little Lilies Crèche at Kutama College. He also has a strong passion for cricket and swimming. Growing up, Duane attained many academic achievements and honors but believes these are the least of achievements yet to be attained. With the community submerged in poverty, poor governance, poor educational and health facilities, there is no reason to lean on such meager achievements. Only when the best in our community has been reached can enjoy the sunshine.
"What you do today will determine your future" and as such, each seed we sow for our community, shall we reap a better harvest. He hopes that with the education he will attain at Yale University, his dream of being a world changer can be attained.
Patrick Zamba
University of California Berkeley '18
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall – Confucius.
Patrick Tinashe dedicates all his successes to his late mother, Edinah, who was tragically, unexpectedly and unacceptedly taken away from him by the Creator two weeks before he received his admission and scholarship news. He was hoping to surprise her for she longed to see one of her children make her proud by excelling beyond her expectations, but ended up being shocked himself. His greatest inspiration now remains in his father, with whom he shares a name with, he taught him how all beautiful things in life come through hard work. Patrick believes in the beauty of love, knowledge and understanding that life belongs to God, he is the only one responsible for judging us, we should just live and let live, for we are mere mortals.
Persistence, determination and a 'refuse to lose' mentality are what propels Patrick to undisputed excellence, both academically and morally. Off a huge bigamous family where he is the eighth of ten children, tolerance and the spirit of ‘ubuntu' are the key elements that keeps him afloat the turbulent waters brought about by the large extended family and his whole community at large. He was weaned off motherly upbringing at the tender age of five to go and live with his aunt for his entire primary education where he was to attend four different primary schools ending with St Joseph's primary in Mutare. He enrolled at Hartzell High school for his secondary education where he sprang a surprise in 2010 by piping all the 'O' Level favorites to the pole position with straight ‘A's. He came back to Hartzell for 'A' Levels where he majored in Sciences and was appointed senior prefect before graduating in 2012.
After his secondary education, Patrick joined the EducationUSA Zimbabwe team as an intern at EducationUSA Mutare. While at work, he coordinated charity events at Simukai Child Protection Program that included hosting a Christmas Party for the children in 2013.Patrick hopes to major in Pre-Medical Sciences at UC Berkeley, learn a few foreign languages and also practice playing the bass guitar. He aspires to become a forensic pathologist as his entire nation depends on one individual, he seeks to revolutionize Zimbabwe and Africa's medical field while trying to combat the deadly cancers and ravaging HIV/AIDS.
Prosper Feya
University of Rochester '18
Prosper an optimistic and determined young man who believes that the name his precious mother, a pillar of strength named him defines and says it all. He hails from a small town in Masvingo where he was born, bred and buttered in the dusty streets of the Mucheke D where he lived with his family of a brother and two sisters. He gives credit for all his lifetime achievements to his primary school Victoria Junior School, a place where he believes the enthusiasm and vision was moulded into an ambition that alone the world can't hold. He models his life with the words that; "If you really really want something the universe always conspires in your favour for you to achieve it and the moment you start to follow your passion, life can never stop blessing you and supporting you." 'A crazy stupid vision'; Unfortunate prisoner and 'A call of destiny' were amongst his motivational articles that featured in the national newspaper, The Sunday Mail. This was the first step to his long walk to ultimate success as this was one of his extracurricular activities at Zimuto High School.
As a young man who believed in an unorthodox approach, an out of the box attitude towards to life; Prosper was one of the most celebrated public speakers of his time during his course of high school. The world now awaits ahead of this young leader who has a strong passion to make a change and solve the problems of electric power cuts in Africa and the world. Prosper believes that attaining the Renaissance and Global Scholarship at the University of Rochester in the state of New York gave him a chance to introduce new clean l methods of harnessig electricity and to bring internet access to the finger tips of every African child. This is his charge and just the beginning of a testimony of God's own engineering. In the essence, Prosper would like to pursue a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and also a major in Business Administration.
During his A level holiday he took an internship at Edgars Stores where he pioneered the relaunch of the auspicious Club Magazine. To take a cue from the words of his fellow countryman, Strive Masiyiwa that, "If you want to be a success in life realise the human need and reach out to meet it and you will wear the crown." In a nutshell, Prosper believes that as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give others permission to do the same and as we liberate ourselves from our own fears our presence automatically liberates others.
Kudakwashe Mawunganidze
University of Pennsylvania '18
"Learn everything. Later you will find that nothing is superfluous." – Hugh of Saint-Victor
Always aiming for the best, Kudakwashe is a humble, dedicated and self-motivated individual inspired by challenge. He was born and raised in Harare as the second born in a family of three. Kudakwashe learnt at ZRP High School for the six years of his high school education. He was actively involved in Debate, Quiz, Drama, Writing, Interact Club, Entertainment, Culture Arts, Public Speaking and Peer counseling. His major achievements includes winning the national Cover to Cover Short Story Contest, numerous subject awards at school, best speaker in debate and public speaking accolades both locally and nationally. With a passion for Biology, Natural Sciences, Political theory, Art History and Classics he will studying under the Integrated Studies Program with the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts and Sciences. He intends to later on attend Medical school and has a desire to be pediatric surgeon as he is a natural with children and wants to improve primary care and child welfare in Zimbabwe.
He is currently working at Leon Business Solutions where he is a debt recovery agent. Here, he has developed a charismatic approach to understanding challenges that people meet and results in them not being able to pay up their debts and tries to address these in a way that makes sure that a resolution is reached amicably.
Kudakwashe believes in being well read and learning everything that is learnable; with a zeal for writing he has a blog called kudakwashevitalis which he administers and also reads a lot of African literature. He lives and believes in this quotation,
"No single discipline, method or perspective can answer all questions by itself or give us sufficient knowledge of any complex problem…" - Penn President, Dr. Amy Gutmann
Roy Randen
Yale University '18
Roy was born and raised in the small border town of Plumtree. The first seven years of his education were spent at Alan Redfern Primary School where he distinguished himself as a bright and disciplined student. He then proceeded to John Tallach High School where he would etch himself into the school's history books. There he became part of the school's first ever group of A-level students, opening up a new chapter in the school's history. In recognition of his excellent behavior and outstanding academic record, Roy was appointed Deputy Head boy in 2011. In 2012 Roy was awarded the Joshua Nkomo scholarship in recognition of his excellent O-level results, it was through this scholarship that his passion for community work would be ignited.
After realizing that most of the children around Ntabazinduna could not afford basic school costs, Roy and his peers founded the 'Enriching Young Lives' program. This is a program dedicated towards subsidizing basic education costs for disadvantaged children. To date the program has funded more than 20 students from Ingwenya and Imbizo Primary. Roy has displayed a talent for public speaking, representing his school on numerous occasions and heading up the school club as President in 2012. He hopes to pursue this passion further at Yale where he also hopes to study Mathematics and Computer science. As he proceeds to the next step in his journey, studying at Yale University, Roy intends to keep in mind the words that have been a source of inspiration during testing times; "Sometimes the fall kills you, and sometimes, when you fall, you fly."
Charity Bhebhe
Arizona State University '18
Charity grew up in a high density surbub in Bulawayo where she lived with her sisters while their mother had to work to provide for the family.She did her Primary education at Mgiqika Primary School and completed her High School education at John Tallach High School.She had a faultless record on every level throughout that time: personally,academically and socially.She has an engaging personality :open,bright ,lively ,freindly,and positive with a strong 'can do' attitude and a strong work ethic.She is a well disciplined young lady who is able to focus on her studies and prioritise effectively so that she meets all her deadlines.
Charity is not only focused on her own personal success:as she has developed a strong sence of responsibility to the community around her.At school she was a founding member of 'The Enriching Young lives' Project an initiative started by her Form 6 group to assist vulnerable children in her local community.In lower six she was awarded one the fifty Joshua Nkomo Scholarship awards to further her education. She is passionate about women and their rights and plans to study Gender Empowerment and Development studies at Arizona State University on a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship so as to equip herself with the right tools to stand up and fight gender inequality.
Charity has demonstrated a desire to make a difference in the community being prepared to invest time and energy in a variety of community initiatives.She believes in the power of dreaming big and works hard to achieve her goals.
Tatenda Chakoma
Hamilton College '18
I am because we are.
Tatenda believes that beyond the complexions of our skins, the complexities of our languages and the boarders that demarcate our geographical territories, the essence of our being depends on each other for existence. His life is an integration of efforts from family, friends and teachers who have moulded a once shabby first grade kid in baggy shorts and a mushroom sunhat to an exquisite gentleman who has a vision to change the world.
Tatenda hails from a high density suburb of Mkoba in Gweru. He did is secondary education at Chikwingwizha Secondary and got the best O'Level results in Shurugwi district. His unique flair for numbers and insatiable curiosity in science led him to pursue pure sciences at Gokomere in which he got straight A's as well as a Zimbabwe Maths Olympiad finalist in 2012. His great intellectual abilities and leadership charisma made Tatenda hold various leadership positions in clubs such as Gokomere Charity association, Rosarians, School Choir, Kids Club, Students Association For Development among others during his high school years.
Tatenda is a choral music enthusiast, an adventurer, a soccer player and a peer counsellor. Furthermore, during his time awaiting departure to the US, Tatenda participated tirelessly in the Gweru USAPCares projects that improved the lives of the children at Jairos Jiri Naran School of the Deaf. This young man from rural Bikita believes the brain is the source of all the imaginations, innovations and inventions that transformed this world into a digital planet. In his quest to discover the complexity of the brain, Tatenda wants to major in Neuroscience at Hamilton College which will lead him into medical school or specialize in pharmaceutical neuroscience where he wishes to better drugs that treat neurological pathologies.
Taringana Guranungo
Dartmouth College '18
After learning at one primary school in Mufakose, Taringana went on to attend 4 different high schools from Chemhanza High School to Universal Training College, Mufakose 2 High School and finally St George's College. At Mufakose 2 High, he was part of the six famous students who had 10As from 10 subjects and was awarded a Makomborero Scholarship to St George's College for his A levels. He went on to scoop 20points at St George's College where he was doing Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. During A level he extended his science dominance to beyond the boarders by winning the South African Science Olympiad SADC section (excluding South African schools)
Taringana is not just a science person but a well-rounded one. Mentioning him is incomplete without mentioning his passion for chess. He captained Mufakose 2 High School and St George's College in 2011 and 2013 respectively. In 2012 he came 2nd in the National Under 20 category and helped his team win the Chess league. He also played soccer, volleyball and cricket in high school because of his passion for these sports which help him enjoy the book free world part of his life.
After being helping by someone for his A level studies, Taringana has already done a lot for the community. He has helped O level students in high density suburbs with maths and science. He has also extended his passion for chess to children's homes in Harare with St Joseph's home for the boys and Chiedza Day Centre being the beneficiaries. Taringana is going to be doing Engineering Sciences at Dartmouth College and is looking forward to specialising in Electrical engineering and help the country in the world of technology. He believes one day the literacy level of a country will be measured in terms of computer knowledge so he wants to start raising that level in Zimbabwe.
Lisa Luka
Wellesley College '18
The sky is indeed no longer the limit and with enough trying and pushing one can reach far beyond the sky. Her life can be compared to the streets of downtown Harare. Sometimes, it has been noisy, like during sunset where a lot of cars hoot and there is a heavy sound of footsteps of countless people moving about in a rush to their families after work. Nonetheless, other times it has been silent like during the midnight when the streets are as silent as a grave.
Born as a second daughter to Mrs Luka and the now deceased Mr Luka, she has grown into a strong and resilient young adult. She has spent most of her life in Mabvuku at her family home though during school holidays, she usually visits the rural home in Guruve where her maternal grandparents and relatives live.
She attained the best Ordinary level results (9A's and a B) at Mabvuku High under Mavambo Trust Sponsorship and went on to do her Advanced Level studies at Hellenic International Academy under the Makomborero Zimbabwe Trust scholarship program and obtained and obtained top results in Chemistry, English ,Biology and Mathematics). At Hellenic she was not only a bookworm, but also engaged in constructive discussions during first aid club sessions, was a member of the school senior quiz team and she also sang in the school choir.
She came fourth in the National Black History Month essay contest for 2013. Being selected into the USAP program was a major accomplishment for her, and she is the first to go to University in her family. Lisa's spirits soared when she was admitted into Wellesley College on early decision funded by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program where she looks forward to the next chapter in her dream to unfold.
Yevedzo Chipangura
College of St. Scholastica '18
"No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself". Yevedzo was born and grew up in Charandura location in Chirumhanzu. Being the first born in a family of three, her dream is to set the pace so her siblings can follow her steps.
She attended rural-based St Joseph's Primary School and then went to Gokomere High School where she managed to unleash the academic beasts within her. She had the best O' Level results in Masvingo Province which earned her the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship. She did Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Further Mathematics and she aced all five. She was actively involved in community work as a leader of the Christian Living Community and Interact Club. Yevedzo was a senior prefect at Gokomere. She is involved in tutoring Math for free to people in her community.
She will be studying Math and Economics and pursue her dream of becoming an actuary. Hard work and determination are her best friends. Her real dream is to return to Zimbabwe after acquiring her studies and apply her knowledge and skills to develop Zimbabwe.
Orwell Madovi
Michigan State University '18
Born in Epworth- a peri urban location just in the outskirts of Harare, Orwell is the last born in a family of four. He has a very strong rural background and he says this has shaped him to be a hardworking person as his mother is a perfectionist. He did his primary education in Epworth where his father taught and due to his father's death he had to move to Mutiunokura primary school to finish primary education as his mother relocated in the rural areas of Zimuto. He moved in with his uncle and as an orphan it was not an easy road for him. He enrolled at Mufakose 2 High School and his uncle said he could no longer afford paying his school fees but the hunger to succeed pushed him to approach the headmaster with his situation which threatened his dreams. He was allowed to go to school for the whole year without paying fees and afterwards he got into the Mashambanzou Scholarship program. In upper six he again got the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Fund as his mother could not afford to pay his fees at St Faith's which was a school he thinks helped him to pursue his dreams in Sciences where he discovered his love for Physics. He loves Romans 8 vs 28 and he says it's now like a personal motto for him.
Despite the adversities he has faced in life he is glad he is on the path to realise his dreams of becoming an Electrical Engineer. He thus plans to pursue Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University on a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, and believes with this major he will help his country curb the electricity shortages it is facing by resorting to sustainable power sources which will revive the industries.
"If you live long enough you make mistakes but if you learn from them you will be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you, the main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit" - Bill Clinton.
Hezel spent the first five years in Juru village with her grandmother, a woman who greatly inspires her. She later moved to Guruve where she has been staying with her parents.
She attended the first two years of her primary education at Magwenya Primary in Guruve and later moved to Banket Primary where she completed her primary school. There she was actively involved in Public Speaking. Speaking has always been a passion and she uses her talents to speak out and stand up for herself. Life has not always been easy for her but she says that every challenge she faces, she encounters it with a smile and hard work.
She did her high school at St Dominic's High school where she continued Public Speaking and fell in love with debate. She says debate has been very important in her life because it has helped her become who she is and has made her more open minded. She says be the change you want to see and with that you will succeed.
Hezel looks forward to being a renowned pharmacist who is directly involved in drug manufacturing. She says the long queues of people waiting for ARVZ that she sees in hospitals really affect her and inspire her to change the situation in her country. She hopes to do something about the HIV/AIDS situation in her country.
Tanyaradzwa Chinyukwi
Earth University '18
Born in a family of five, Tanya is a determined girl who does not rest until she achieves her goal.
She grew up in the high density township of Chikanga in Mutare before moving to Chinhoyi in Western Zimbabwe. She was appointed a prefect at Grade 4 and became the Headgirl of her primary school in grade 7.
Tanya did her "O" and "A" level studies at Nemakonde High School in Chinhoyi. She received a Joshua Nkomo Scholarship that funded her A level studies.It was a great achievement which made her believe that the sky was the limit for her to reach greater heights. At Nemakonde, she was appointed a prefect, public speaking president and secretary of the science club. She also has love for the environment and a passion for sustainability, and was one the founding members of the Environmental Club at her high school.
Her inception into the USAR family was yet another success story to be recorded in her humble family's life history. Tanya will be attending Earth University in Costa Rica to study sustainable agriculture, where she will meet other friends of the environment who aim at becoming world changers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Betty Mafemera
Cottey College '18
Her past is her treasure and with it she is able to go from level to level in life with humility, discipline and integrity. Her challenges and accomplishments are what define her. The experiences she met each and every day left her a changed individual as she managed to endure and succeed through them day by day.
Through USAP, a program which helps academically talented students, who are wellrounded, to apply for scholarships in the United States, she is today at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Business with an interest in actuarial science as a career alongside a career in the business world in which she will be her own personal manager. Hard work, integrity, determination, perseverance and most importantly, God the Father has
taken her this far. She believes that with the knowledge she is getting, she will be able to make a positive impact among her people in her country and everywhere she goes.
At Cottey College she has been honored as a member of Phi Theta Kappa which is an honor society for high academic performance and has been listed under the President’s list for excellent performance and for completing 45 hours of community service and engagement in one semester thus earning her a certificate of recognition in the Missouri Campus Compact as a community contributor. Betty has also earned the title of a tutor of mathematics as she displayed clear understanding of concepts and hard work. It is her joy to help the campus community in this way as she facilitates a student’s learning and understanding of concepts. She is also a Volunteer Management intern for 2015. She is a leader in many different organizations and one of these is Phi Beta Lambda, a business organization which prepares future business leaders for the workforce in which she is the president.
She describes herself as a passion fruit, which is a fruit which can strive and grow very well under harsh or difficult conditions. Betty is very flexible and likes to have progress in the different areas of her life at the same time and is actually running a small business back home with the aim to help her family pay for different expenses from the profits and also wishes to
expand so that the help is extended to the community as well. This is how she can be identified among many because with more challenges in life, she continues to pull through till she achieves her goals in life. If she was a brand, she would definitely be identified with this characteristic.
Nyasha Shumbayarerwa
Earth University '18
"Anything you can think of is real and if it is not, you can create it, that is the virtue we were born with, to create advance and make things happen!" These are the words of the gentleman from Zimbabwe's small town of Masvingo, Nyasha Shumbayarerwa. Unlike many other excellent students, Nyasha has a very positive mental attitude which drives him to believe in sustainability, continuity, skills transfer and team work to achieve common African goals, which are poverty alleviation and young people's empowerment. Born first to a family of four he has lived to be a good example to his community, dedicating some his time in high school, to environmental management work that revived the environmental management club at his school. Nyasha attended Zimuto High School from form one through upper six where he attained 10 'A's at ordinary level and took Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science and Chemistry as his A level subjects. Nyasha was an active member of the public speaking and debate club at his school and also the captain of the chess club. He represented his district at provincial chess competitions, and managed to scoop a bronze medal in the 2013 competitions. Nyasha is a multi-talented gentleman who has passion for sport, particularly cricket, hockey and basketball. He is a talented writer who wrote two articles that were published by a local newspaper, The Sunday Mail entitled, "Recipe to be a winner in this life," and, "What if I was Mr Apple."
An aspiring Earthiano. Nyasha will study Sustainable Agriculture at Earth University in Costa Rica, Central America, where he will join a group of people who share the same vision as his and are to be leaders of change around the world. It is also at Earth University that he will be learning a new language to fluency, Spanish.
Sabelo Dube
Asheshi University '18
Sabelo grew up in Bulawayo, a city where the most prevalent culture and language is Ndebele but he attended his high school education in Kutama College, a school located in Mashonaland West where the majority of the people are Shona. The experience of growing up between cultures molded Sabelo to be a person with an acute understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.
He believes that the first step in any direction is the beginning to making an end. At high school he was part of various enriching clubs and activities, notably he was part of the panel of executives who revived the defunct Youth Against Aids movement. He also was the second speaker of the two time national winning Kutama debate demagogues, a fervent public speaker and the secretary of the debate and public speaking club. His passion also extended to helping the local community which saw him spearhead several community service projects as the projects co-ordinator of the charity organization, LEOs. After high school graduation in 2012 Sabelo took a unique path and decided to join the EducationUSA office in Bulawayo as an intern. This professional opportunity boosted his interpersonal skills and catalyzed his work ethic to a prominent level.
As the first student from USAP to join Ashesi University in Ghana under the prestigious MasterCard Scholarship, Sabelo appreciates the ambassadorial role placed upon him and views it as an opportunity to learn more about Africa and be part of a community of people who share the same drive and passion to ignite positive change in Africa.
Sabelo aspires to be a leading social entrepreneur and an expert in investment banking which he believes is the key to African economic emancipation. As an enthusiast in classic art and film, he draws his inspiration from a quote by a fictional character in the popular 1987 film, Wall Street, which says:
"Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures, the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind."
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