Harare - The U.S. Embassy yesterday honored five Zimbabwean students for essays about their hopes following the ascendancy to the U.S. Presidency by Barack Obama in 2009.
The students- Joshua Chirambwe of St. Faith Mission in Rusape, Belinda Bell of Chinhoyi High, Munashe Makoni of St. Ignatius College in Chishawasha, Zandile Moyo of Mpopoma High in Bulawayo, and Asher Guni of Mazoe High School respectively, received certificates, books, and cash prizes, while their schools will receive reference book collections for their libraries.
Students wrote a 500-word essay with the title: What hope does Barack Obama embody for you as an African youth in the 21st century? Each high school chose their top two essays to forward to the Embassy. A selection committee comprising graduates of English literature and Zimbabwean students who had studied in the U.S. selected the top ten essays. These were forwarded to the U.S. Ambassador, Charles Ray, who selected the winners.
Congratulating the winners, U.S. Embassy Charg dAffaires, a.i. Katherine Dhanani said the Embassy had received nearly 40 entries from students throughout Zimbabwe. She hailed the quality of the essays received. It is gratifying to read about the inspiration and hopes of Zimbabwean youth generated by the success of President Barack Obama. The U.S. government is committed to continue working with the people of Zimbabwe to ensure a bright future for these bright young students, said Dhanani.
In the essays, students expressed hope for an end to disease, civil wars, and poverty in Africa and expressed optimism that the new African American president would prioritize education during his term of office. President Obamas direct link to Africa and vision for education evokes hope in me that African education shall be revampedI believe President Obama, through the United Nations, can fund African education so that every African child can be empowered, said Belinda Bell, an upper six student at Chinhoyi High school in Mashonaland West.
Musical entertainment at the event was provided by the Chitungwiza Harmony Singers, and featured African American spirituals such as Swing Low Sweet Chariot and Ezekiel Saw the Wheel. A youth gospel musical group sang well-known gospel songs such as Oh Happy Day and Soon and Very Soon.
The Essay Contest and the African American musical concert were organized to celebrate Black History Month. Each February, the U.S. honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles – slavery, prejudice, poverty – as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life. This time of remembrance began in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson first chose a week in February that marked the birthdays of two individuals who greatly influenced the lives of African Americans. The first was President Abraham Lincoln, a force behind the Emancipation Proclamation, and the second was Frederick Douglas, an ex-slave who lobbied for the abolition of slavery. Black History Week eventually expanded into a month of commemoration and led to deeper academic exploration of African-American history and culture.
Post published in: News