Remarks at the official handover of scholarships to 17 Zimbabwean students
Remarks by Ambassador James D. McGee at the official handover of $5.5 million scholarships to 17 Zimbabwean students, Harare, June 26 2009
· We are here today to celebrate education. Education is key to the success of both the United States and Zimbabwe. Education is the gateway to opportunity to make positive change in a community. It is the great social equalizer that doesn’t distinguish between race or economic background, but rewards people on merit.
· Zimbabwe used to have the highest literacy rate in Africa and indeed the strongest education system on the continent due to the cultural value Zimbabweans placed on education.
· The US Embassy in Zimbabwe believes the USAP program is a vital bridge between the people of our two countries and strengthens our mutual understanding.
· USAP identifies young people with great potential to make a significant positive impact in their communities, if given access to the top education that the United States can provide.
· Today we are here to celebrate and recognize 17 remarkable young people. Together they earned over $5.5 million US dollars in scholarship money. They have been admitted and funded to some of top US colleges and universities.
· Congratulations go to these students’ families and their teachers who are all part of their success and who have financed and supported them throughout their education.
· I would like to give special thanks to the mentors and donors from Zimbabwe’s corporate community. In particular, we would like to recognize and thank African Sun Limited, who generously donated three airline tickets from Zimbabwe to the US for three of the USAP students. I recognize Cargill Private Limited for their annual mentorship of USAP students and Capernaum (CAP-ER-NUM) Trust for their support of the expenses of one of the USAP students. I applaud this generous corporate responsibility in contributing to the USAP initiative.
· To the students, I want to say – Make the most of your US education, in and out of the classroom. Take time to experience all that the US has to offer, its diversity of people and opinions and places. Have fun!
· And do return. Zimbabwe needs you and your talent, your open minds and new ideas to realize its potential. It needs highly-educated, critical thinking and skilled doctors and engineers, economists and scientists and professors. Zimbabwe needs people who have experienced it from the ground but who have viewed it from afar.
· As my time as Ambassador here in Zimbabwe comes to a close, I will leave with a healthy dose of skepticism, but with the hope that young, bright, dedicated people like yourselves hold the potential to change this country for the better.
· Congratulations! May you enjoy your time as guests in my country as I have enjoyed my time as a guest in yours. Thank you.