JCI Zimbabwe National Executive Vice President Nomalanga Chipare recently shined in Japan graduating alongside 300 other enterprising leaders who had gathered for the organisation’s annual international learning academy which was recently held in the city of Shizuoka.
JCI is an abbreviation for Junior Chamber International–which is one of the world’s largest global network of young active citizens whose mission is to develop opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.
Chipare is a diplomatic secretary and administrator by profession and currently studying Applied Law. She speaks and teaches Germany and is a budding entrepreneur who owns and runs Zwilinger Au-pair Agentur which is a Cultural Exchange Agency.
She is also a past president of JCI Capital–an affiliate of JCI Zimbabwe.
Chipare described her JCI Academy experience as “nothing short of amazing” and as the best 10 days of her JCI life and career combined.
“I had the opportunity to fully grasp the JCI Mission, Vision and Values, I had the honour of first-hand experience with other promising 300 enterprising JCI leaders from all over the world and Japan. From this, I believe we are going to positively give back to our respective organisations and communities not forgetting bettering our existing lives and future endeavours” she said.
Chipare stated that at the Academy, they learnt how to navigate themselves and lead, manage and effectively tackle any sort of challenges in the "VUCA" world with agility, acceptance and openness in their leadership journeys.
She added that the fundamentals and beauty of collaborating to meet their end goals, internally and externally and the power of teamwork regardless of colour, background or philosophy also took centre stage at the leadership academy.
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“We also had the honour of being mentored by the 2023 JCI world President on having a deeper understanding of serving with "Purpose", another great presentation from the JCI Secretary-General on "Keys to success for your national and local organisations in 2024" were on the agenda," Chipare said.
Ironically this year's academy theme "Raise Your Flag", spoke volumes to me as an individual and as a citizen of Zimbabwe. As it is the first line of my national anthem, So I could relate a great deal and it felt so good to proudly raise my flag in a foreign land with other nationals from more than 68 countries. It was such an honour to represent JCI Zimbabwe.
“It was of course not always work and no play. The JCI Shizuoka team and the COC made it their goal to let us fully maximise our Japanese experience to the brim. The Japanese family weekend homestay, the excursions, the night sessions and after parties and of course the relations and networking made. I believe every delegate made lifelong friends and acquaintances that I expect will see themselves venturing into various projects in life, be it in JCI initiatives or externally,” Chipare said.
From this experience, I learnt that language is not a barrier at all, for I was able to communicate and freely express myself with the students despite my little to nothing at all knowledge of the Japanese language and vice versa. I must say children have the biggest hearts ever. Their hospitality was over the top."
In 2022 the then JCI Zimbabwe National Executive Vice President and now JCI Zimbabwe President Samuel Nehumba represented JCI Zimbabwe at the 2022 JCI Academy which during that year was held in the country’s city of Odawara.
Officially endorsed as a JCI event at the 1987 JCI World Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, more than 2,500 global networkers have graduated from the JCI Academy. The JCI Academy empowers the future leaders of the organisation who take ownership of the change they want to see in a global society. As these dedicated members embark on their leadership year, they learn about strength, cooperation and cultural understanding. JCI Academy delegates immerse themselves in the culture of the Japanese host city and learn from a series of training, seminars and workshops on how to be inspiring global leaders for a changing world.
- Fungayi Antony Sox works at TisuMazwi – a public relations and communication-centred social enterprise specialising in books, brands, education and storytelling projects. He writes in his personal capacity. For feedback contact him on 0776 030 949, connect with him on LinkedIn on Fungayi Antony Sox, or follow him on Twitter @AntonySox.
