By Njoki Chege and Silas Otieno

For many young Africans, the transition from university to the professional world can feel overwhelming. Without the right networks, mentorship, and guidance, talented graduates often find themselves uncertain about their next steps. Recognizing this challenge, the Africa Careers Network (ACN) through its commitment to accelerating career pathways of young leaders has launched the ACN Ambassadors Program; consisting of a group of high-potential Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni from different partner institutions across Africa. Through a rigorous selection process involving applications and interviews, six outstanding Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni emerged as Africa Career Network (ACN) Ambassadors at USIU-Africa, ready to support their peers as they embark on their career journeys.

On February 4, the newly selected ACN Ambassadors— consisting of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumnus Silas Otieno, current Mastercard Foundation Scholars Jacob Alier, Ritah Mbabazi, Kennedy Katiwa, Lydia Atango, and Ronald Parfait—gathered for an introductory meeting with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Transition Team at USIU-Africa. The session, led by Lilian Makinia (Program Officer - Community & Alumni Engagement) and Dolly Mwiti (Program Officer - Career Placement), focused on defining the Ambassadors' roles as well as areas of collaboration in supporting fellow Mastercard Foundation Scholars. This gathering marked the beginning of an important initiative aimed at equipping Mastercard Foundation Scholars with the resources, mentorship, and career opportunities they need to thrive after graduation. The Ambassadors will play a key role in organizing events, encouraging career discussions, and ensuring Mastercard Foundation Scholars have access to networks that will prepare them for success in the path chosen.

Africa Career Networks (ACN) is a platform that connects outstanding young talent from the African Leadership Academy (ALA) and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to career and internship opportunities across Africa. The Ambassadors will play a key role in bridging the gap between education and opportunities beyond. By hosting networking events, mentorship sessions, and skills development workshops, they will equip Mastercard Foundation Scholars with the knowledge, connections, and confidence needed to navigate their career paths with ease.

Mentorship and career preparedness are central to this initiative. ACN Ambassadors are dedicated to helping Mastercard Foundation Scholars navigate the uncertainty of accessing opportunities by providing guidance and support throughout their transition.

"Our role as ACN Ambassadors is to ensure that Mastercard Foundation Scholars at USIU-Africa are aware of the full spectrum of career opportunities available to them, including internships, full-time employment, and entrepreneurship," remarked Silas.