African Pathfinder Leaders Initiatives Launch

The African Pathfinder Leaders Initiative (APLI) was recently launched at the University of Namibia (Unam) main campus. The event was attended by over 80 young people from Windhoek.

APLI Namibia will focus on enhancing and developing the spirit of social entrepreneurship amongst young Namibians. This will be done by establishing intersections between community development and leadership development.

APLI will offer leadership training opportunities as well as mentorship to young Namibians in order to address the shortage of skills, resources and networks that young people need to contribute towards socio-economic development in their societies.

In his opening remarks, Sem Mandela Uutoni, the founder and executive director of APLI, questioned why other countries are taking an interest in developing Africa’;s future leaders more than Africans themselves.

“Where are the African leadership programmes for Africans?” he asked.

“I have learnt that leading can be contagious. When you lead with confidence and clear direction, you empower those around you to do the same. Leadership is learnt by doing. At APLI Namibia, young people will get the experience and hands-on practice of initiating and leading a community development project,” Uutoni remarked.

Hilja Eelu, the director for programmes at APLI Namibia, echoed the sentiment: “I’;ve been to places I never thought I’;d find myself in. It’;s not fair to be disadvantaged because of simple head starts like having a proper CV as well as having the network to ask for career advice. We want to provide the platform that would level the playing field for young people. We are the pathfinders for those who are lost.”

The keynote speaker during the launch was Nangula Kauluma. She is currently the executive officer for premium banking at FNB Namibia. Kauluma shared her passion for building conscious leaders and cultivating excellence. “Whatever I do, I make sure that it is done well. If I had to be a cleaner, I want to make sure that I leave the toilets as clean as possible,” she remarked.

Kauluma added that it is important to have a plan: “Have a three- to five-year plan. It will force you to shape your world around that plan. There are no shortcuts. If you take a shortcut, you will have a shortfall and a quick fall. It takes 10 000 hours of dedicated practice to master a specific task. Nobody can take those 10 000 hours away from you.”

Applications for the inaugural APLI fellowship opened on 20 October. For more information, email sem@apli-nam.org or visit apli-nam.

– APLI

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