Fellows return home to share Lubbock ways with Africa after graduating from Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – 24 fellows graduated from the Mandela Washington Fellowship Method at Texas Tech currently.

This is a grant funded software that pays for 700 fellows from across Africa to occur to the United States in 27 distinct establishments. This calendar year was the first time in two decades Lubbock could turn out to be a 2nd house to these students.

“The arrival, we acquired so excited,” Affiliate Director for International Grants Administration and Partnerships for Texas Tech University, Michael Johnson, mentioned. “We experienced persons in our workplace volunteering, I child you not, to help select up Fellows from the airport on our major charter bus at a single in the morning.”

Fellows go to educational and leadership classes. Each and every institution has a concentration, Texas Tech’s is general public management.

Johnson says the major thing they discovered was how tight the neighborhood is.

“It’s the feeling of volunteerism that usually takes put in the United States, and particularly in Lubbock, Texas,” Johnson explained. “When they go to Lubbock Meals on Wheels and they are getting to see anything that’s performed and see that it is all funded by non-public donations, it just blows them away.”

The Fellows say this is anything they cherished deeply.

“Like the volunteerism spirit, I think that’s a thing that is especially different concerning right here and wherever we are again property,” fellow from Malawi, Lerato Phiri, said. “I assume that’s a thing I want to inject wherever I arrive from.”

They are established to head dwelling Sunday. Just one Fellow from Nigeria, Oluwatosin Oke, states he is completely ready.

“The king is coming! I’m going home a king due to the fact I have know-how, I have relationship with my African good friends and colleagues. It is a, a total great deal I’m likely property with,” Oke said. “By the time I get back again dwelling, I’m energized, I’m encouraged, I’m influenced to do far more.”

Oke suggests this system served him find out his strengths and weaknesses, and he is completely ready to far better Africa’s potential.

The Fellows ended up also capable to provide a tiny little bit of Africa to Lubbock.

“Getting to explain to people today about who you are, your traditions, your people today, our dressing,” Oke said.

The Fellows are a piece of Lubbock forever since they turned honorary citizens. Oke claims this signifies the world to him.

“As I speak to you, I’m an honorary citizen of Lubbock, Texas. So it’s, it’s something wonderful, some thing substantial I’ve attained.” Oke stated.

Johnson says that sharing of tradition connects people today.

“It ties us jointly, but at the exact time, it allows us recognize that they have unique activities and perspectives that we can reward from,” Johnson claimed.

The individuals of Lubbock dealt with them as far more than honorary citizens.

“People who are pouring into us and just making an attempt to get the very best out of us in terms of leadership. I assume my biggest takeaway is romance with men and women below in Lubbock and also my fellow, Fellows,” Phiri reported.

Phiri is not heading residence nonetheless. She is headed to D.C. for an internship, exactly where she will master even additional to far better her neighborhood again home.

“I’m a human rights lawyer. My get the job done is emphasis mainly on the security of women of all ages and children and it is just a great spot for me to perform and learn and be all around other like-minded men and women,” Phiri reported.

These Fellows say they are unhappy to go but ready to carry a little little bit of Lubbock into Africa.

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