Ambassador Simasiku Inspires AAI Graduates
Leading community change requires skills, but also access to opportunities, and resources. Most of all, change requires a wide and engaged network of likeminded peers and mentors who are committed to supporting one another. The AAI Graduates and Alumni community is comprised of 29 Graduates from across sub-Saharan Africa who share a desire to improve their communities and work for the betterment of the region. The Graduates and Alumni Team organized the first kick-off event on Saturday, June 19, 2021 featuring Ambassador Godfrey Simasiku. The event introduced AAI Graduates to each other and the Ambassador, who shared his wealth of experiences with them in an intimate Zoom call.
Ambassador Godfrey Simasiku is an economist and the current National President for the Zambia Red Cross Society. He is a former member of Parliament, former Minister of State for Higher Education, and former Deputy Minister of Finance. As a member of Ashinaga’s Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Board, Ambassador Simasiku shared his experiences of overcoming adversity and creating opportunity through the power of his networks and the support of others. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy and negotiating as necessary skills to navigate the world and actively engage in your personal and professional networks. The Ambassador encouraged the Graduates to invest in their networks and support one another, to ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for your community.
When discussing their main takeaways, the Graduates talked about the importance of acting diplomatically and being fully involved in their respective communities. Christoph, AAI Graduate from Namibia, highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and how the Graduates’ and Alumni community can help inspire each other to keep growing. The event served as a reminder of the immense potential each AAI Graduate holds, but also how a supportive community can help unleash that potential.
Staying engaged with your network can help develop and improve your skillset, keep a pulse on the job market, meet prospective mentors, partners, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development. Therefore, Ashinaga considers it a priority to invest in nurturing a solid network of young problem-solvers from across sub-Saharan Africa.
At Ashinaga we believe that the AAI Graduates and Alumni community is a driving force of change, and intend to keep the community engaged, invested, and active!
