Marie Kilufya Kishiba
“Graduation day was truly special for me. It was a day I was honored in a way that not many finalists in the DRC get to experience. I felt immense joy, as it was an unforgettable moment in my life – my first time on stage, being celebrated. I danced, had conversations with friends, and reunited with some family members.
My favorite part of the day was receiving my certification, the gifts, and of course dancing together, which helped us all release some of the nerves! I’ve seen stages on TV, but this time, it was me walking on one.
I’ll miss my Saturday English classes, learning from international mentors and teachers, working in the laboratory, and doing research in the library. Sharing meals with friends in the cantine was always special too. The Malaika staff were an inspiration to me, and it will be hard not seeing them every day. Life at Malaika became a routine I cherish, and leaving that behind won’t be easy.
Looking ahead, I aspire to become a banker and businessperson, helping my community find financial stability. We need to develop strategies to lift our community out of poverty.”
Consolate Casongo Ngoy
“I was incredibly happy on graduation day, because, despite the challenges, I reached this milestone with Malaika’s support. Without Malaika, I wouldn’t have made it. At the same time, I felt a bit anxious, knowing that life would no longer be the same—this was my moment of transition.
The best part of the day was receiving my diploma. I felt so proud, knowing I truly deserved it. What excited me even more was being one of the MCs during the ceremony attended by many.
I’ll miss the Zoom calls with experts accross the world and Malaika Talks, which were some of my favorite activities at the Malaika school. They inspired me, helped me overcome challenges, and pushed me to keep dreaming. Access to technology also played a huge role in my growth, allowing me to learn video editing and build my ambition of becoming a filmmaker, all thanks to the free internet provided.
Looking ahead, my dream is to become a medical doctor to improve the health of my community. I also hope to help others access the same opportunities that Malaika gave me, because with equal opportunities, we can all achieve success.”
“Kessia” Josephine Mwange
“Graduation day was truly special because it was held in our honor, and it touched me deeply to see such a ceremony just for us. I felt so happy—I danced, spoke with visitors and friends, took pictures, enjoyed the food, and appreciated the thoughtful gifts.
One of my favorite moments was listening to the speeches from all the guests, as well as from the first and second graduate cohorts. Their stories mirrored my own journey with Malaika, and it made me realize how wonderful my experience had been.
I’ll miss so many things about Malaika. I see it as my second family. We shared so much, like families do. I’ll especially miss coding, group study sessions with my friends after classes, and doing research in the library.
Looking ahead, my hope is for other children to study under the same or even better conditions than I did. I dream of becoming a leader who can address the needs of my community by creating robots to assist in agricultural work. This would boost productivity and help us become self-reliant rather than dependent on other countries. In short, I want to fight hunger through technology and help my community, and the world, thrive economically through agriculture.”