By Silas Otieno

On April 12, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni held a meet and greet event at the scenic Karura Forest. Organized as a platform for reconnecting, collaboration and reflection, the event brought together the class of 2024 to chart the way forward in regard to alumni engagement.

The event was organized by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni Steering Committee Representatives with the aim of fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening the growing Mastercard Foundation Alumni community by providing a platform for celebrating and sharing memories, as well as exploring future opportunities for growth and aspirations.

There were engaging fireside chats where the participants shared their experiences and discussed the best collaboration practices towards building a community that thrives by anchoring each other. Amos Kiana, the General Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni Representative urged the participants to reflect on the kind of community they want to nurture and commit towards building it.

“We are privileged as Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni and as the first cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars who graduated from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. Thus, we have the opportunity of molding unshakable foundation of an alumni community that shall be known for the values the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has inculcated in us, and a home to our upcoming brothers and sisters,” he remarked.

The discussions centered on best practices in maintaining strong alumni networks, key initiatives that will enhance the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni experience and long-term sustainability measures. Speaking to the participants, Silas Otieno, Cohort 1 Mastercard Foundation Alumni Representative reminded the participants of the responsibility they had to contribute to a community they would want to continue being part of.

“Let us collaborate, leverage on our abilities to do that that need to be done. We must not relent on our potential but boldly step up and demonstrate to the world what we are made of through our actions, most importantly, let’s embrace one another,” Silas advised.

The team also discussed their six-month plan and the structure, as part of their commitment toward creating an enabling alumni community, a key reference that will guide them as they embark towards this journey. The meet and greet provided a platform where attendees directly interacted, promoting a meaningful exchange of ideas. Furthermore, the event underscored the invaluable role of alumni in empowering the Mastercard Foundation Scholar community at USIU-Africa and shaping the experiences of future graduates.