IVLP Impact Awards Perspectives: Mentoring the Leaders of Tomorrow
Alex Matere is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a 2024 recipient of the IVLP Impact Awards for his project Ubuntu Youth Mentorship Program.
Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implements the IVLP Impact Awards initiative. IVLP Impact Awardees from across the world administer community impact projects that build on their experiences and promote innovative solutions to shared challenges. The IVLP Impact Awards initiative engages alumni, strengthens global networks, and supports lasting community impact.
From Inspiration to Implementation: Adapting Effective Models for Local Impact
During my IVLP exchange experience, I visited Washington, D.C., Orlando, Boston and Akron. Visiting My Brother’s Keeper in Orlando, an initiative launched by President Obama addressing persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color, inspired the development of my IVLP Impact Award project, the Ubuntu Youth Mentorship Program.
It was insightful to see how My Brother’s Keeper is positively impacting boys from underserved backgrounds by addressing the root causes of juvenile delinquency, crime, drug abuse, and skyrocketing school dropout rates. This approach to tackling these challenges and mitigating future societal problems was inspirational and provided a platform for adopting a best practice that I replicated in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Ubuntu Youth Mentorship Program is designed to impact 50 boys from single-mother families in the informal settlement of Kangemi in Nairobi. The program empowers teenagers, boosting their academic performance, facilitating higher education transitions, enhancing career awareness, reducing juvenile delinquency, and strengthening family and community engagement. It also promotes ethical value systems and civic duties essential for nation building.
Furthermore, the project provides participants with valuable experiences, life skills, and knowledge which they can pass on to other teenagers through peer mentorship and to future generations. Bobby Felton from My Brother’s Keeper conducted a virtual presentation on mentorship. Additionally, social media and mainstream media played a critical role in raising awareness of the boys’ challenges and amplifying the call for volunteers and program participants nationwide.
The project creates a snowball effect for desired social change in the community and across the country. Overall, it establishes a legacy of empowered and engaged young people equipped with the necessary skills to drive positive impact in their communities and beyond.
A Solution to Present and Future Challenges
The current state of African cities offers a glimpse into the future. By 2050, Africa’s urban population is projected to increase to 1.26 billion from its current 450 million. The implications of rapid urban growth amidst poor economic performance is evident in most urban centers across sub-Saharan Africa, where growth of unplanned urban settlements are common. Kenya, in many respects, exemplifies the new reality of urbanization in Africa, with stark disparities in access to basic social services between informal and formal urban settlements. Amid these challenges, the burgeoning youth population stands out, straining social services and exacerbating unemployment rates, leading to destitution and eroded social values.
This program is essential in addressing these blind spots and providing a platform for adopting best practices and transforming marginalized communities. It profoundly impacts the lives of youth previously perceived as vulnerable and marginalized, offering a crucial pathway for them to change their destinies. The project is not just a transformation tool; it provides career exposure, enhances employability, fosters economic independence, builds confidence, and promotes social integration.
Participants’ adoption of ethical values and civic duty has the immediate potential to reduce juvenile delinquency. In the long run, it builds good citizens who are aware of their rights and responsibilities, laying the foundation for a stable, peaceful and progressive community.
The Transformative Power of IVLP
The IVLP granted me my long-held dream of visiting the United States, learning its history, experiencing its culture, interacting with its people, and witnessing its world-renowned institutions in action. The insightful workshops offered invaluable lessons in initiating, implementing, managing and evaluating projects that are transformative and impactful.
The well-thought-out sessions allowed participants to learn from the very best in the field, including Social Capital Inc., the University of Central Florida, and Gallup Inc. The Clifton Strengths sessions at Gallup were particularly impactful, helping me unleash my inner strengths, analyze my goals, and build programs with the highest social impact.
On this backdrop, IVLP plays a pivotal role in fostering international relations and knowledge exchange for those who came before me and those who will follow. It builds the foundation blocks for democracy, respect for the rule of law, people-driven development and appreciation for life, liberty, and freedom.
The American Dictum of E pluribus unum- out of many, one- is a timeless inspiration to the world. Despite a matrix of differences in gender, creed, ethnicity, race, social status, religion, and ancestry, our rich history and shared destiny can be a pillar of strength as we pursue freedom, liberty and equality for humanity.
The invaluable experience and networks established during my IVLP continue to shape my perspectives and motivate me as I seek to enlighten and share experiences with fellow youth across the world. Based on this, I convened the Pan African Youth Convention that seeks to build networks across the world and push for transformation and progress in Africa and beyond.
IVLP is the magnum opus of international exchange programs. Comprehensive, insightful, inspiring, enriching with invaluable lessons and utmost fun. The IVLP Impact Award gives alumni the rare opportunity to maximize their experience with the program, harness the invaluable networks established and lead progressive impact in their communities and society.
Alex participated in the IVLP Project Youth and Civic Engagement, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with Global Ties Akron, International House, WorldBoston, and WorldOrlando. Learn more about his IVLP Impact Award project, Ubuntu Youth Mentorship Program on our website.
