Brava: 'Yali Fellows' of 2015 encourages young Brava to take risks and take advantage of opportunities

Adalberto Varela, 'Yali Fellows' of 2015 and presenter of the Yali Mandela Washington Fellowship 2020 program today asked young people from Brave to take risks and be persistent.

This 'Yali Fellows' of 2015 made this request in statements to Inforpress, after introducing young people to the Yali Mandela Washington Fellowship 2020 program, explaining to them that this is a program of the American State that wants to 'empower' young Africans who have ideas and who they want to make an impact with these ideas in their communities.

In other words, as he said, the program intends to transform his ideas into actions that change lives, adding that it would be a pleasure to see a young man from Brava among the other candidates, whose country has six scholarships out of the 700 offered for 2020

On the island, many young people complain that there are no opportunities, so Adalberto Varela challenges them to leave their comfort zones and take risks in the opportunities that arise.

“We have already come here at Brava to talk to them to take advantage of the set of opportunities they have, with the intention that they will participate, to change their lives”, said the same source.

Well, he added that when someone gets an opportunity of the type that allows them to 'empower' their head and their community, it also allows change in people's lives.

And, he added that the country will only move forward from the moment that young Cape Verdeans begin to implement their dreams.

Hence, he asks them that when one door closes, they knock on another and another, and so on, being persistent, without giving up on the first no and thus, they will “be able to achieve the objectives and make dreams come true, breaking down barriers”.

According to Adalberto Varela, this program has been an “opportunity” offered to young Cape Verdeans since 2014 and every year it has contributed to demonstrating the work of young people who have excelled in civic leadership, public management or in the area of entrepreneurship and business.

“These young people have contributed to change in these areas, which enhances the program and which makes the US embassy in Cape Verde satisfied with the performance of the Yali's”, he emphasized.

The young people who were present showed some interest in applying for Yali 2020, although they showed a certain fear when it comes to English.

The 700 2020 Mandela Washington Fellows for Young African Leaders will travel to US university or college campuses for six-week leadership institutes in one of three areas, namely business, civic engagement or public administration to develop direct contacts with important institutions in this country.

These young people aged between 25 and 35 will also participate in a summit in Washington with the US government and private and public partners and NGOs and will still have the opportunity of two months in the US for a professional experience in the workplace.

MC/CP

Inforpress/end