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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Julia Jenjezwa
Yale University '16
Julia comes from Nyika, Bikita but was born and spent all her primary school years in Bulawayo.
Julia attended Gokomere High School in Masvingo and during the six years of High school she proved to be multitalented. Academically, she produced the best O'level results at her school and was thus awarded the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship. She also passed her Advanced Levels with flying colours, producing As in Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Julia was also highly active in co-curricular activities such as the Public Speaking, Debate and Toastmasters Clubs, all of which voted her their as President in her Upper Sixth Form. Julia was involved in the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe for most of her high school years and in Lower Sixth Form, she was voted the Speaker of the Children's Parliament of Zimbabwe and became the first ever female to hold this post. A natural philanthropic, Julia organized various charity fund raising events with proceeds that went to orphanages and the underprivileged children in the Gokomere community.
Julia is also an avid reader, a writer. She has won numerous essay and prose writing competitions including the 1st prize in the Black History Month Essay Competition of 2011. As she is passionate about women and children's rights, she hopes to start a foundation that will see every child in Zimbabwe educated and the end of child marriages. She also dreams of starting an initiative to help people living on the streets earn a living and become productive citizens of the world. Julia will be attending Yale University and aspires to be a civil engineer.
Getrude Yolanda Makurumidze
Bryn Mawr College '16
Getrude is a senior Biology Major at Bryn Mawr College, born and raised in Zimbabwe. She studied at Regina Mundi for her Ordinary Level, where she was the Senior Prefect, and was highly involved in Debate and Public Speaking and Youth Alive. She was also a fervent volley ball player and their team competed at National level. She transferred to St Dominic's Chishawasha for her Advanced Level where she studied Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry. She was the Secretary of the St Dominic's Leadership Experience Opportunity (LEO) club, a member of the Debate club, an Athletics captain and a zealous volleyball player.
Getrude worked with the U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe PAS for a month as a motivational speaker with her colleague, Carol Wogrin, before matriculating into Bryn Mawr. During the summer of her first year, she was part of a team at the Drexel University College of Medicine, PA, that works on developing an HIV-1 DNA vaccine. The results of their research were published in the Journal of Immunology. In her sophomore year, she conducted clinical research in Integrative Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), NY. Following the internship at MSKCC, Getrude joined a team at the Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Global Psychiatry where she was a Research Assistant. Getrude studied in Copenhagen, Denmark for a semester where she completed coursework in Human Health and Diseases. She is one of three Biology Major Representatives, a Hall Advisor, the President for the Bryn Mawr Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, the former Vice President of the Bryn Mawr College African and Caribbean Student Organization (BACaSO) and former Publicist for the Association of International Students at Bryn Mawr College. Getrude is a member of College-100 and a volunteer in hospice care. She is currently working on a chapter on AIDS Orphans and Other Children Affected by HIV which will be published in the second edition of the "Comprehensive Textbook of AIDS Psychiatry."
Kudakwashe Happy Muchandibaya
Jacobs University '16
Kudakwashe was born in family of four. He grew up with his family in the Eastern rural areas of Zimbabwe in a village called Buhera. His family mainly got its income from subsistence farming. He completed his primary education at a local school. Among the few sports his primary school had to offer, Kudakwashe enjoyed Handball and Volleyball. Kudakwashe is an academically curious and talented young man and despite attending an impoverished school he graduated with very impressive grades.
Kudakwashe later attended St. Francis of Assisi High School in Chivhu. Kudakwashe enjoyed learning and exploring new things He was diligent throughout his studies and graduated top of his class. Having grown very fond of Handball from primary school, Kudakwashe became the Captain of the pioneer- Handball Team. He also enjoyed playing Chess and was the Vice President of the Chess Club. Kudakwashe also took part in charitable activities during high school as he was a member of "Help the Need". He greatly believes that a life which is not lived for others is not worthwhile.
During his final high school year, Kudakwashe had the honor and privilege to become a member of USAP. He rather prefers to call it a "family" because of the ambitions the members share – making Zimbabwe a better place and giving back to the society. He then applied for a university place abroad, and he managed to get a place at Jacobs University Bremen in Germany. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Kudakwashe strongly believes in giving back to his society by contributing in every way he can, and with that motivation, he hopes that he will assist in changing and improving the technological advancement of his country in the near future. His background and aspirations have always been his main source of motivation. Kudakwashe also draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's adage: "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
Promise Kondo
Jacobs University '16
Born in Zimbabwe's remote areas, in Mashonaland Central but bred in Chitungwiza, a town close to the country's largest city, Harare, Promise is the firstborn child in a family of five children, four girls and a boy. Promise attended Zengeza High One in Chitugwiza where she did both her Ordinary and Advanced Levels.
To Promise, USAP was more than a master key to unlocking doors in her academic and social life. It was a step to achieving greater things beyond what she had ever imagined. It was also more than a family, a place of inspiration and support, a place where strong, life-long bonds are made between young people in the group making them very close to each other. She is an aspiring neuro-surgeon and her dream ever since she was young was to promote, inspire and encourage girls to venture into the Science field and go beyond what they believed to be the limit of their ability. Thanks to USAP, Promise has been able to reach a highly significant level in achieving her dream and she is still soldiering on!
Kudzai Absolom Katema
Concordia College '16
"An anthill that is destined to become a giant anthill will definitely become one, no matter how many times it is crushed by elephants"
Kudzai was born in the high density suburbs of Chitungwiza but later moved to a small sugarcane growing town, Chiredzi. He completed his primary education in Chiredzi at a local school, Shingai Primary School. He attended Chiredzi Government Secondary School and later moved to Hippo Valley High school where he completed his Advanced Level in education. Kudzai has proved to be a rare gift to his immediate family and the community at large: he is academically talented and was born a great leader. He was a Senior Prefect at Hippo Valley and was a key participant in community activities where he held the position of Provincial Youth Deputy Chairman of the Red Cross Society in Masvingo Province, among many leadership positions he held.
Having been raised in a challenging environment, Kudzai has learnt to be resourceful and tries to leave no stone unturned in everything he does. His core goal is to contribute sustainable development and poverty alleviation in his community. He hopes to grow into a great leader who will help others grow and hopes to assist the less privileged through the eyes of his education. He has taken part in charity programs in his community and has been part of the student panel that volunteered at Chiedza Child Care Centre, Mbare.
Kudzai is currently majoring in Physics at Concordia College, Moorhead, but plans to pursue an engineering career afterwards. Apart from his academics, Kudzai enjoys volleyball, chess and music.
Charlene Chabata
Brown University '16
Charlene is a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major at Brown University. She did her Ordinary and Advanced Levels studies at Saint David's Girls High School, Bonda. During her time at “Bonda” she was an active member of the Chess Club and the Choral Group, the secretary of the School Choir, and treasurer of the Dance Club. In addition to this she participated in the Junior Achievement Zimbabwe (JAZ) entrepreneurial program. She also dedicated her time to helping other students through her work as a peer educator.
At Brown University, Charlene is heavily involved in biomedical research. During the summer after her sophomore year she awarded the UTRA research award to participate in research focusing on the structure and interactions of the aggregation prone protein hnRNP A2 which is implicated in ALS and inclusion body myositis (IBM) pathogenesis. The results from this work were presented at the 2014 Brown University summer research symposium. Charlene has continued to work on this project and hopes to write an honors thesis based on her findings. During the summer of 2015 Charlene was awarded the LINK award to participate in research at the African Institute of Biomedical Science Technology (AiBST) in Zimbabwe. During her time at AiBST she worked towards understanding the metabolism of the ARV Efavirenz by the drug metabolizing enzyme CYP 2B6 and investigating the effects of genetics on this phenomenon.
When she is not in class or lab, Charlene dedicates much of her time to sharing her culture with the Brown community. She currently coordinates Mashairi Ya Kale, the only African Acapella group at Brown. During the spring semester of her junior year she taught a semester long course on Shona (her native language) to other students through the Brown Student Language Exchange (BSLE) program. She is currently an active member of the African Students Association and served as the secretary during her sophomore year. Charlene also loves to share her love for science with her peers and she is currently doing so by serving as a tutor for Genetics.
Charlene hopes to pursue graduate studies in Pharmacology or Pharmaceutical Sciences so she can make positive contributions to the pharmaceutical industry of Zimbabwe.
Bhekinkosi Sibanda
Harvard University '16
"From Nswazi HERDBOY past Mzingwane HEADBOY to HARVARD graduate"
The self-proclaimed 'Special One' draws inspiration from many greats ranging from his own mother, the most hardworking human-being he has ever known to Steven Gerard, the most loyal Liverpool Captain of all time. As such, loyalty, discipline, dedication and hardwork rank highest among his pillars. His motivation is living up to this self-given name and by his pillars while also abiding by his over-confident, ever-conquering motto, "I am good but I could be better if I faced better challenges!" These drive his motivation, encouraging him to be innovative and always find means to further expand his horizons in both knowledge and experience.
Like most Harvard kids, he has a story, a past but certainly prefers looking towards the much brighter future. The only retrospective comment you will ever hear is, "I'm kinda afraid of heights, so I would rather not look down," and you wonder how far down that could be. Bhekinkosi (Biquey) was raised in the small rural village of Madiliwola in the Nswazi area of South-Western Zimbabwe by his loving parents who have done a great job in a raising their three sons and one youngest daughter, even with minimal resources.
Biquey is the first born and attended Mlomoliwoto Primary School up to seventh grade before proceeding to Mzingwane High School under the sponsorship of City Star Bookshop. He emerged after 4 years at Mzingwane with 15 school awards in 2009 (A school record in awards won by a student in a single year) as well as 11 straight As in the ZIMSEC 2009 Ordinary Level Examinations. He was consequently awarded the prestigious Joshua Nkomo Scholarship to complete his Advanced Level studies.
In his two years of Advanced Level, he served as the First Deputy Headboy of Mzingwane High School. the Child Senator for Umzingwane District Constituency, the Child Minister of State in the Child President's Office, President of three student clubs (also being co-founder of the Mzingwane Entrepreneurship Community), Vice President of another three student clubs as well as Quarter-master of the First Esigodini Scouts Troop. He has participated in both Chess and Debate up to National Level.
In July 2011 he was selected into the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP), and went on to enroll at Harvard College in 2012 where he intends to graduate with an honors degree in Social Studies. He is looking to pursue the fields of developmental economics and civic/political engagement, and will like to eventually run for office in the Zimbabwean Government.
Rumbidzai Mugaro
Arizona State University '16
"Man was designed for success, engineered for greatness and endowered for accomplishment". Rumbi has demonstrated that our success is within, and if focus is blended with determination and hardwork, one is totally unstoppable.
She was born in a family of seven and hence, life was not all rosy as she had to cope with having to share almost everything with six other children and two cousins. She grew up being more than grateful of the chance she got to attend very good schools and used this to her advantage. She made her background her stepping stone to success.
Because of her gender and financial status, many were quick to judge and hence undermined her potential. She took this as a chance to prove to people that gender and poverty were not used as a measure of the intelligence and potential one had. Rumbi has shown that one's gift, if realised and exploited, will make room for that person and bring him/her before great men. Her realised ability will see her be one of the few resident female Actuaries in the country after she graduates.
Her favourite and motivating quote is, "One should never look down on others unless helping them up."With this in mind, she looks forward to the day that she will return and give back to society and help others just as she got the help she needed in making her dreams come true.
Primrose Nyahwai
Keuka College '16
Primrose is was born and raised in Harare’s residential suburb of Budiriro 2, but she spent most of her childhood in Masvingo. She dual majors in Accounting and Business Management, with a concentration in International Business. Primrose is the first USAP student to attend Keuka College - a small liberal arts college in Upstate New York.
Outside her studies and career focus, Primrose also cares a lot about culture awareness, environmental sustainability, poverty eradication, and economic development. Her passion to learn about other cultures embarked her on a study abroad trip to China where she not only took business related classes, but also engaged herself in intensive cultural projects that enabled her to learn some Mandarin as well as the different social aspects that make up the Chinese culture, and how that can be related to so many other cultures. Whilst there, she also studied the effects of global warming in China from the impacts of high industrialization, and how that will have an impact on China’s future economic growth.
On her campus, she is a very engaged student and is a member of several honors societies including: Sigma Beta Delta, Sigma Alpha Pi, and Sigma Lambda Sigma. She is also a women’s rights activist and she makes significant contributions on her school campus through helping design programs of interest for women. She has also won several accolades which relate to high academic achievement, scholarship, service, and professional development. Primrose also likes to help marginalized members of society and she volunteers a lot both on and off campus to heal the world and make it a better place to live.
Primrose aspires to be both a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Tinashe Matate
Jacobs University '16
The last born in a family of three boys, Tinashe Matate hails from Chivhu. He grew up in the largest sugar processing company in Zimbabwe where he did most of his primary and secondary education at Dunuza Primary School and Terry Goss High School in Triangle under the Tom Dunuza Scholarship. Tinashe was engaged in a lot of activities including in the Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe Quiz at National Level,during and the school quiz team. He is a long distance runner and represented the school at different levels in the 1500m and 4x400m races. He also was involved in a variety of clubs such as being a chess player, Scripture Union member, Public Speaker, Model Bridge-building participant, Math(Olympiad and AMT) member and a leading member of the AIDS Club. He was the public speaker of the year in the 2006 OBZ(Outward Bound Zimbabwe) Public Speaking Competitions which was sponsored by the Malilangwe Conservation Trust.
Despite his humble background Tinashe thrived in his education. The Tom Dunuza Scholarship which saw him through the first four years at Terry Goss High School was wholely based on merit. Tinashe also received one of the most prestigious scholarships in Africa-The Joshua Nkomo Scholarship, funded by Econet Wireless which allowed him to join Gokomere High School in Masvingo as a boarding student for his Advanced Level education. Before Tinashe left Terry Goss High he had led the school as prefect from 2005 to 2008. Later, he was appointed deputy headboy of the school in 2008 until 2009 when he left for Gokomere in his final high school year, 2010. He had the best Ordinary and Advanced level Results at Terry Goss and Gokomere High Schools in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
Tinashe Matate invests his time in the community as well. He regularly visited the Chiedza Child Care Center (Harare) and the Jairos Jiri Association Center for the disabled. During these visits Tinashe engaged himself in teaching the students at the centers as well as cleaning up the children's homes.
Tinashe looks forward to becoming a Financial Engineer and uplifting Zimbabwe's economy. He is currently studying Mathematics and Computer Science at Jacobs University Bremen. Due to Jacobs University's transidisciplinary approach to education, Tinashe enjoys the widest selection of courses from fields like Political science, History, Foreign languages and Economics. With this broad exposure he hopes to bring about development in his country and fulfil his God-given task, that is, to leave this world a better place than he found it. Tinashe accredits all his successes to God and he believes that in Him all things hold together!
Clive Mudanda
Duke University '16
Clive was born in a Christian family in the city of Harare in November 1993. His upbringing has taught him values that define who he is now today. A kind soul who is involved with his community, Clive has worked with different volunteer organizations including the International Youth Fellowship and Usap Cares. He dreams of a world where all the people are actively involved in the betterment of their societies and young people play a leading role in matters affecting them.
He did his Ordinary Levels at Shungu High school and passed with flying colors and that resulted in him being awarded the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship. At school, Clive has many leadership positions which allowed him to interact with a lot of people. Now at Duke University, he is planning on majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering but also has interests in politics, global health and foreign languages. Besides his academic achievements, Clive also plays basketball and has played professionally in Zimbabwe which also led him to be scouted to play in Spain but right now he wants to pursue his academic dreams first.
Brian Zingwe
Providence College '16
"No adversity will ever push the brake pedals of my quest for excellency."
Brian was born in Gokwe, and grew up with his grandparents and mother, while his father was in the DRC as part of the troops that had been deployed to quell the raging 1994 war. They later moved to Gweru where he did his Primary education at Saint Pauls. He enrolled at Saint Patricks High School for his secondary education, and portrayed unparalleled determination, obtaining 10 Distinctions as at 'O' level. He then moved to Thornhill High School where he studied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
Apart from his academic life, Brian has been highly involved outside the classroom. He is a basketball player, soccer midfield maestro and plays table tennis. With a desire to assist the less privileged, he served as the Interact Club secretary at Thornhill High where they organized fundraising activities for the orphaned.
Currently he is an engineering major at Providence College. In the event that God rakes him further through the journey of life he intends to propel Zimbabwe to greater heights in the Technological realm.
Fortunate Chifamba
Smith College '16
"Dreams are renewable no matter at what age."
Fortunate was born the first in a family of two. She attended Gokomere and Shungu High Schools. She was an active member of the Church Choir, Public Speaking and Debate Club and the Interact club at both schools. She was also a striker for the girl's soccer team and a member of the LEOs Club at Shungu High School. Her greatest achievement was becoming part of the USAP family as she values family the most.
Being the first child to go to college in her family, Fortunate believes that she has set a good example to her younger brothers and sisters in her family and community. Family is the most important part of her life that is why she is proud to be a USAP student. She believes in community and community service as her community helped her realize her dreams.
Although her education was greatly disturbed by financial constraints that saw her graduating late from high school, determination and the zeal to achieve her goals together with support from family and friends have seen her through. She faced many challenges that were a threat to her education but believes she will utilize the chance she has now to the fullest. Her goal us to help other disadvantaged children realize their dreams on time without financial delays. Now a student at Smith College, Fortunate hopes to major in Biochemistry and then proceed to Medical School.
Favorite quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Veronica Tinotenda Mupazviriwo
College of St. Elizabeth '16
Veronica was brought up in Glen Norah. She attended Kuwangira Primary and Monte Cassino Girls' High Schools. She believes that her stay at Monte Cassino instilled in her the culture of excellence as well as a thirst for holistic growth that enables one to be of true use to society. Veronica is very passionate about working with people and impacting lives. She was the president of the Youth Against AIDS Club at her school and this saw her facilitating fundraising activities and visits to the underprivileged in her community. Veronica is a keen sportswoman who made it to the national athletics competitions in 2009, where she attained a silver medal. She is also an active member of the Youth Group at her church.
Motivated by the adage, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams", Veronica believes that faith, which prompts effective action, is all it takes to be who you want to be.
Mengezi Ngwenya
Connecticut College '16
Mengezi Ngwenya was born, and raised in Matobo prior to moving to Bulawayo with his family of five in 2000. At Matobo he attended Mahetshe (a rural primary school) for his first two grades. Since then he has never looked back in his hunger for success which has seen him achieve considerably in sports and academics. During his high school years he also gave much to chess, health and HIV/AIDS awareness amongst other several extra curricular activities.
Mengezi is a calm, humble and self motivated character who above all believes in his own dreams. He wishes to see his community and country living their own dreams and not merely dreaming them. This he believes can only come if the ordinary man gets a decent opportunity at empowerment. At Connecticut College he intends to acquire what will change his world and eventually change other people's.
Nigel Mevana
Amherst College '16
The second of three children, he lived mostly with his grandmother as his single mom tried to fend for the family. It is at Mzilikazi Primary school where he did his primary studies that his intellectual curiosity was developed. In Grade 5, he became a prefect and made it into the quiz first team. Afterwards he went to Milton High School he participated in various environmental campaigns and was involved in the mobilizing his fellow science students to start a Physics Club. In 2008 he got the best Ordinary Level results for the Bulawayo Metropolitan District, this in spite of the crumbling education sector at that time.
"Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu" literal translation, "a person is a person because of people"
This Ndebele adage always reminds Nigel that whatever his success story cannot be divorced from the people around him; that is, his family and his community. From the anxious moments of prayers during exam time to the raucous ululations at prize giving ceremonies he has always felt the full force of their support. No wonder he just cannot stay away from charitable work. To date, he has volunteered with various charity organizations like Good Hope Care and ZimKids. He has also given back to his high school by volunteering to teach Advanced Level students for free.
PraiseGod Nyamundanda
University of Pennsylvania '16
Born in a family of six and the first boy in the family, his mother instantly knew that an achiever had born the family and named him PraiseGod. He grew up in the small town of Marondera and at a tender age of six he went to live with his cousin who was a teacher at an orphanage. At the orphanage that's where he developed a compassion for helping orphans and consequently he was a member and vice chairman of his high school orphanage club. Besides the soft heart, he is an academic genius and a straight A student who never knew anything other than A's in High School despite dropping out of school for a whole term in his final year at O level.
A born leader, PraiseGod was a dorm prefect in O Level and the school head boy at A level and also held various leadership posts at St Augustine's High School where he did his O & A levels. He is also a talented hockey player who was in the Manicaland provincial hockey team in high school. He draws his inspiration from his family who support him to achieve his goals and his desire is to always see his family smiling at his achievement. PraiseGod will be attending the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business school where he plans to major in Acturial Science and Economics.
Farai Musariri
Hendrix College '16
Born in Bulawayo and raised at St Patrick's mission in rural Gweru, Farai Musariri is the first of only two boys in his family. A passionate thinker and writer, Farai's dreams radiate from Winston's Ideology "The Empires of the world are the empires of the mind." He believes that an alert, informed and culturally aware mind will stand against all odds, and as such is interested in social entrepreneurship. For example, he has worked to combat inner city homelessness through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty in Baltimore, MD, an experience he feels was especially influential in shaping his desire to pursue interventions to emancipate rural and/or poor urban communities. With a strong passion to give back to underserved communities, Farai is excited to pursue the many avenues to combat poverty through health related interventions — a critical tool in the public health world as poverty and health problems are almost always inseparable.
A particularly studious young Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, he also commits a lot of his time to organic chemistry research, particularly the synthesis of isatin derived glyoxylamides which have been shown to possess antibacterial properties against gram positive bacteria. At Hendrix he also invests a lot of time into his roles as a Resident Assistant, an executive member of the African Students' Association, the team leader for the SOAR program (an extension of the Student Outreach Services office through a social mentoring program), the culinary club, as well as a few other faculty/student committees. During his spare time Farai enjoys traveling, trying out new foods (also a big tea devotee), as well as playing basketball and tennis."
Allen Kawanzaruwa
Arizona State University '16
Allen was born in Mt. Darwin but grew up in the high density suburb of Warren Park. He attended Warren Park 4 and Warren Park High schools for his primary and secondary studies respectively. Through hard work and determination he became the Best Ordinary Level student for the year 2009 and thus earned a scholarship to learn at St. Johns High for his Advanced Levels. He believes, "When a person fails to contribute he/she dies and everyone should accomplish something for the common good." With the motivational quote being 'Be the change you wish to see', he has been more determined to make a positive difference. At St Johns High he was involved in various awareness campaigns and fundraising initiatives for the disadvantaged through several community serving clubs. He was also the school's Headboy and chess club president. He hopes to major in mathematics and one day to become an actuary.
Leslie Mateveke
Berea College '16
A very motivated young man who has overcome a lot of adversities in his life, Leslie was born in Masvingo. He grew up in remote area of Triangle under the care of his uncle. His parents had both passed away at a tender age of his life. He also spent the holidays with his grandparents in Bikita assisting them with duties in the fields and at home. Leslie completed his High school education at Terry Goss High School in Triangle where he was exceptionally successful. Leslie hopes to study computer engineering and business management at Berea College. He has a long term dream of starting his own business in Zimbabwe meant to design software specific for banks.
Leslie has taken part in charity programs and has visited Chiedza Childcare Centre to assist the less privileged children there in their education endeavors. He also visited Jairos Jiri to assist the few caregivers there with duties at this home. He believes that if all people would put their heads together then the world would be a better place for everyone. He hopes to assist the less privileged in future attain a better education in Zimbabwe. Leslie takes pleasure in being a motivational speaker because he believes he has what it takes to be one; he has overcome several challenges and is also a good speaker. He is currently an intern at Cargill in Chegutu. His favorite saying is, "hard times never kill, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Gamuchirai Tavaziva
Arizona State University '16
Inspired by the words of Socrates, "Give me but a place to stand and I will change the world," Gamuchirai has demonstrated the power that lies in realising opportunity, taking hold of it and using it to be an agent of change. "Dhokotera" as he is called by his friends was born and raised by his single mother in the high density township of Mbare. He did his primary school at Ardbennie Primary School and was made a student leader at a very young age when he was in Grade 4. He later graduated from Ardbennie School and enrolled at Zimbabwe Republic Police High School for his secondary learning.
Gamuchirai showed high levels of academic excellence whilst at Z.R.P High School. He managed to scoop a total of 13 academic prizes and 2 extra-curricular certificates in a period of 3 years. He wrote his Ordinary Level examinations in 2009, passed with 9 A grades and 2 B grades and was recorded as the best Ordinary level student at the school and amongst the best in the Harare province. In 2010, Gamuchirai returned to Z.R.P High School and to complete his Advanced Level studies. He later wrote his final exams in 2011 and scooped 15 points in Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.Whilst at Z.R.P High, Gamuchirai served as the school Head-boy, Scripture Union House Leader, Club treasurer for the Youth Against AIDS club, Committe member for the Environmental and Wildlife Management Club and Club Organised for the Chess Club. He also helped out in school fundraising aimed at improving the standards of the school and assisting the less privileged in the community. After his High School, Gamuchirai helped out at a college in his home community serving as a temporary tutor in Math and Science subjects. He was also a peer mentor and student leadership adviser at the college.
Gamuchirai is currently a Pre-health professional student at Arizona State University majoring in Biochemistry with Medicinal Chemistry Concentrations. After attaining his undergraduate degree, Gamuchirai plans on going to Medical School. He strong has a strong desire to serve the people of Zimbabwe and Africa as a Medical Doctor and envisions changing lives and nations. Above all this, Gamuchirai gives all credit of his past, current and future success to God and acknowledges Him as the source of his ability.
"It is not ones fault to be born in a less privileged environment and society but given the opportunity to be an agent of change, it becomes one's fault if a change of status is not brought about" - Gamuchirai Tavaziva
Paul Takunda Chazovachii
College of St. Scholastica '16
The only son in a family of four children, Takunda Chazovachii was born and raised at St Theresa's Hospital near Mvuma. It is the Hospital life that has given him the drive to pursue a career in saving lives.
Takunda did the greater part of his primary education and all of his Secondary and High School education at Gokomere High School in Masvingo, where his academic performance and involvement labeled him "multi-gifted". In academics, Takunda produced the best Ordinary Level results in Masvingo province which were also outstanding nationally and he was awarded a national academic and leadership scholarship, the Joshua Nkomo Econet Scholarship. In leadership, Takunda was a junior prefect in 2009, the first vice head boy in 2010 and finally the head boy in 2011, and he was awarded certificate for outstanding student leadership each year. Takunda was also an active member of the school's volleyball team, an honorable member of the Interact club, a co-founder of the most vibrant acapella group at Gokomere High school, a member of the current best catholic church choir in Zimbabwe, a spear header of one of the best projects in the school's history on helping the less privileged, a blood donor, a Joshualite, a USAPer, the list is endless.
Takunda believes that God gave each one of us ability not to sustain ourselves but to pull to others from the ditch and because of this Takunda's dream is to gain significance through saving lives. Success is something no one should brag about, but appreciate that God put them on the receiving end of an infinite chain of events. The credit is not yours alone but shared.
Iris Vimbai Chipendo
Wesleyan College '16
Iris' parents were both teachers, so her family moved from place to place until her parents died. After that she lived with her uncle in Kwekwe until she was fifteen then moved to live with another in Norton until she left for Wesleyan University. She went to Manunure High School in Kwekwe for the first two years of High School, then to Sandringham for the rest. Fashion designing was one of her aspiration, together with creative writing. She was a senior prefect and debater for Sandringham during her O' Levels and also a committee member in the school's Interact Club, whose main, if not sole purpose was to help the neighbouring communities of the school, especially, the disadvantaged youths. After her O 'Levels, and because of her exceptional results, she earned the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship. After that, she was the Deputy Headgirl of Sandringham during her last two years of high school.
Her own upbringing and background, made her even more passionionate towards making a difference in society. Therefore, together with four other students from her class created a group known as GMAD- Group Make A Difference after High School, although it was shortlived due to the separation of the members into different Universities and countries and lack of funds. This group Iris believes, she can still make a difference, because to her, it is everyone's responsibility.
USAP and her admission into Wesleyan were a huge stepping stone in her life. The chance to explore what the world has to offer in such a dynamic and diverse community has since opened her eyes to many things. She has since come to know that, with courage and determination, one can do anything they set their mind to. Already she is taking advantage of all the resources she has at her disposure to take Fashion Designing Courses. All she wants is to do her part in society, remembering that to whom much is entrusted or given, much more is expected. To this girl, there are no limits, not even the sky.
Will Desiree Dokotela Moyo
Harvard College '16
Will Moyo believes that when one ventures where no one has trod, success is inevitable. She therefore aspires to major in forensics. Because she treasures her community, she hopes to build funeral parlours in Nyamandlovu and thus afford everyone a decent burial. Her dream is to inspire young ladies to refuse to be defined by society but to realise that only they can define themselves.
She was the Head Girl at the Dominican Convent High School in Bulawayo and during her school years she became a splendid debater. She was the third speaker of the Convent Debate team and she eventually represented Zimbabwe at the Pan African Universities Debate Championships. She was also the Interact Vice President, Toastmasters President, Debate Disciplinarian, International Climate Champions and Rocapella Disciplinarian. Hailing from Nyamandlovu, she will be studying at Harvard College.
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