By Delisa Thwala
Three young emaSwati are set for an exciting three-week visit to the United States of America for training on conflict resolution.
Their visit is courtesy of the Pan African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) sponsored by the US Government. The pupils are Nthato Nxumalo from St. Michaels High School in Manzini, Anyandziswa Gama from St. Marks High School in Mbabane and Mayenziwe Gama from Waterford Kamhlaba United College.
The pupils travelled and arrived safely on Monday with their mentor Siboniso Sihlongonyane from SAIM Christian High School. The four were selected to travel to the U.S. as part of the 2024 PAYLP.
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According to the USA Embassy communication page, as part of the adventure, the four participants will travel to Georgia, Vermont, and Washington D.C. where they will experience cultural excursions, workshops on leadership and service, interactive training on conflict resolution, presentations, visits to high schools and other activities.
“A key component of PAYLP is to develop community-based projects in their own communities when they come home, to affect positive change upon their return. Congratulations to our 2024 PAYLP cohort.
We wish them all the best on this fabulous experience,” read the communique from the Embassy Communication group.
Worth mentioning is that The Pan African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) supports long-range U.S. foreign policy priorities by offering secondary school pupils aged 15-18 and adult educators the opportunity to explore themes such as entrepreneurship, civic education, youth leadership and economic development, and respect for diversity.
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Through three-week, intensive exchanges in the United States, participants engage in workshops on leadership and service, community site visits related to the program themes and subthemes, interactive training in conflict resolution, presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities, and homestays with local American families.
A key component of the program is to develop community-based projects in their home communities and high schools to affect change upon their return home.
In 2016, Eswatini participated in this exchange program for the first time and sent a cohort of four young leaders and an adult mentor to the United States for this remarkable opportunity.
