I have been trying to write this post for a while now. I was going to title it “My YALI Experience” but when Caroline Gitau came up with the brilliant idea of starting the #83DaysOfGratitude campaign I realized that in essence, experiences shared with, among and around each and every one of the 83, Cohort 3, YALI RLC EA participants, is my true YALI Experience. This is my story as part of the 83.

On the 15th of November 2015, I packed my entire wardrobe (no, really…well almost) and headed for Kenyatta University. I was about to start the first part of my Business and Entrepreneurship Fellowship at YALI Regional Center, East Africa. This was to be a three – week stay and I looked like I was moving houses when I arrived at KUCC Annex that Sunday afternoon.

The reception at KUCC Annex was like none I had ever experienced. The minute we drove into the compound, there were people everywhere in YALI t-shirts, I mean, everywhere. They were genuinely happy to receive us and for a moment there I thought I had known them all my life. Let’s just say I did not touch my bags till I got to my room. I later came to learn that our welcome party composed largely of Cohort 2 members and part of the YALI RLC EA Team including the Chief of Party/Center Director himself.

On this day, all 83 of us received a blank canvas. A chance to reroute the stream of our lives. I came to learn that there were 1697 applications for our Cohort, 83 of us made it in; at the end of the day, what would matter is what each individual did with the opportunity right before them.

The next three weeks were akin to a roller coaster ride. I felt like I walked into the Center that Monday morning with a whole cookie of an idea of what I wanted to do with my life and walked out that Friday after the Commencement Ceremony with nothing of it. The cookie had crumbled along with age-old mindsets I held about this lovely continent, its people, the purpose for business in the society, and leadership. I was definitely better for it, I made my commitment to the Center and I am well on the way to fulfilling it.

The curriculum couldn’t have come at a better time. My class sat under the tutelage of teams from Empire International, KNOD Foundation, CCL, Bluesky Innovations, YALI RLC EA, Empatico, Dickey Center – Dartmouth College and DALI – Dartmouth College who were inspirational, resourceful, patient with us :), mind-blowing and awesome.

Classes like This Is Africa are partly responsible for the strong bonds we formed cutting across tribal, country, regional and even racial lines. We got to speak out our stereotypes, had a chance to complain deeply about how the rest of the world sees us and most importantly we got a chance to DREAM for Africa.

Design Thinking and Design Driven Entrepreneurship pretty much debunked business and the need for human-centered design for me. In twelve weeks, coming up with business ideas, doing business plans, preparing for pitches and pitching became something I can do effortlessly, not to mention the support we still have after completion of the program. I have probably drawn more stick figures between week one and now as compared to the all of my life before then. Sticky notes and flip board charts have since become my good friends.

Away from class and serious stuff was the people who made Cohort 3! 83 individuals from 12 Countries in East and Central Africa. The essence of the entire experience if you ask me.

It is said that it takes 21 days to change or acquire a habit. When you live with such a dynamic group of people for three weeks, you learn a thing or two and unlearn a whole lot. Like Mark said, you become family. It was the first time I met people for the first time whose second question after my name was not ‘what do you do?’.

Most of us knew everyone by at least one name by the end of week one. These were genuine interactions where I got to learn a whole lot about our neighbours next door. We have been known to give foreigners who know little about Africa grief while we ourselves know little to nothing about our fellow Africans.

I gained friends for life and like someone so rightly put, a home in 12 African countries. I could go on and on about this but I believe I have captured most of what I wanted to with this post.

A big thank you to YALI RLC EA and the key partners: USAID, The Mastercard Foundation, Deloitte and Kenyatta University for the opportunity! My life is different because of it.

I would not do this post justice if I forgot to mention that Cohort 8 and Cohort 9 applications are currently on going. If you are between 18 and 35 years of age and are a Citizen and resident of any of the following 14 East and Central African countries: Burundi, Central African Republic. Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda; head on over www.yalieastafrica.org and apply. You will not regret it! Applications for these two cohorts close on the 21st of March, 2016. Cohort 8 will run from May 30th, 2016 – August 19th, 2016 and Cohort 9 will run from July 4th, 2016 – September 23rd, 2016.

Originally posted here.