By Jemima Oloo

The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with USIU-Africa, is running a one-year Graduate Associate Program. The aim of the program is to give graduates the opportunity to acquire real work experience and dignified work.

The Graduate Associate Program is a one-year program, starting from April 2023 to April 2024. The Mastercard Foundation recruits Associates all over Africa and they are placed within their country of residence after a series of intense interviews. The associates are then matched depending on their skill sets or education background to different Mastercard partner organizations.

USIU-Africa received 12 Associates who were placed in different departments: Gender office, Fundraising, Counselling department, ICT, Marketing and Communications, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Alumni, Student Placement and Records office.

USIU-Africa runs a unique placement program where the associates are given training and mentorship while working. The Associates in return have been beneficial to the university since they help to offset the workload in their different departments hence increasing the efficiency in delivery of service for USIU-Africa.

The young Associates drawn from various parts of the country offer fresh ideas and a unique work ethic due to the rigorous work ethic training they have received from Mastercard Foundation.

Peter Njuguna, a USIU-Africa alumni and a graduate associate placed at the registrar’s office narrates his experience as being very exciting, having to come back to give back to this institution. “My supervisor has been a great role model and the learning experience has been fulfilling,” narrates an excited Peter.

Cosmas Kiprotich, a graduate associate placed in the ICT department under the School of Science and Technology explains that he has been grateful to for the opportunity to learn new things. “It has been a pleasure assisting students in the labs, helping them install applications and giving them solutions.”

Catherine Mukami, placed in the Counselling Office has been efficient in assisting the department to schedule events, ensuring clients get help when they visit the counseling department and researching on how best to help the Counselling Office.

The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with USIU-Africa is doing a great job in giving a platform to young minds and change makers, by not just offering opportunities to young people but also training and mentoring these future leaders.