Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter

Determined to prove that the sky is the limit even for the rural born, Mr Bongani Runya (32) won the outstanding negotiation and leadership skills award at the World Youth Model United Nations 2022 that was held in Thailand.

The World Youth Model United Nations (WYMUN) is a United Nations Simulation Conference which serves as a platform for young leaders and change makers to exchange ideas and resolve the most challenging global issues.

Mr Runya was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the conference held in Bangkok, Thailand from November 4 to November 10.
A total of 180 youths from different countries attended.

Born in Silobela under Chief Malalisa, Mr Runya who attended a local school, Melusi Primary School before proceeding to Lower Gwelo Adventist High School, now lives in Bulawayo working and attending university.

A Masters in Development Studies student at the Zimbabwe Open University, the award winner said his award should be an inspiration to other youths from rural areas that the sky is the limit.

Mr Runya said he applied to participate at the conference through the website and answered some questions.

He was then shortlisted for the final tests which led him to being chosen as one of the conference delegates in Thailand.
Mr Runya said when he got the admission letter, he was very happy and he will be forever be grateful for the chance that he was given.

“A lot of people see growing up in the rural areas as an excuse for not excelling but I am convinced that youths from rural areas can reach the same milestones as their urban counterparts as long as they work hard,” said Mr Runya.

His family and ZOU helped him to raise funds for the plane ticket.
Mr Runya said growing up in Silobela was not easy but he managed to soldier on.

He said he used to sell homemade buns and freezits after school as a way of raising his school fees.
“At high school I used to work in the school orchard and gardens during school holidays when the others were resting so that I could get money for my fees. Looking back now that is what sharpened my negotiating skills and I was always negotiating for a better price,” he said.

 

Mr Runya said when they arrived in Thailand each country was given topics which they were supposed to academically debate and give solutions to problems from the topic.

“Our topic was based on the human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and what should be done. I gave my solutions on what should be done. That is how I earned my outstanding negotiator award,” said Mr Runya. He said among others he suggested that Israeli must lift its blockade on Gaza and recommended that all nations must work together.

He said delivering the speech was not really a problem for him because he has always loved being a problem solver.
“The conference helped me to meet youths from diverse backgrounds and as such I have learnt a lot of important things,” he said.

Mr Runya said he wanted to work on programmes to empower rural youths.–@flora_sibanda

Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter

Determined to prove that the sky is the limit even for the rural born, Mr Bongani Runya (32) won the outstanding negotiation and leadership skills award at the World Youth Model United Nations 2022 that was held in Thailand.

The World Youth Model United Nations (WYMUN) is a United Nations Simulation Conference which serves as a platform for young leaders and change makers to exchange ideas and resolve the most challenging global issues.

Mr Runya was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the conference held in Bangkok, Thailand from November 4 to November 10.
A total of 180 youths from different countries attended.

Born in Silobela under Chief Malalisa, Mr Runya who attended a local school, Melusi Primary School before proceeding to Lower Gwelo Adventist High School, now lives in Bulawayo working and attending university.

A Masters in Development Studies student at the Zimbabwe Open University, the award winner said his award should be an inspiration to other youths from rural areas that the sky is the limit.

Mr Runya said he applied to participate at the conference through the website and answered some questions.

He was then shortlisted for the final tests which led him to being chosen as one of the conference delegates in Thailand.
Mr Runya said when he got the admission letter, he was very happy and he will be forever be grateful for the chance that he was given.

“A lot of people see growing up in the rural areas as an excuse for not excelling but I am convinced that youths from rural areas can reach the same milestones as their urban counterparts as long as they work hard,” said Mr Runya.

His family and ZOU helped him to raise funds for the plane ticket.
Mr Runya said growing up in Silobela was not easy but he managed to soldier on.

He said he used to sell homemade buns and freezits after school as a way of raising his school fees.
“At high school I used to work in the school orchard and gardens during school holidays when the others were resting so that I could get money for my fees. Looking back now that is what sharpened my negotiating skills and I was always negotiating for a better price,” he said.

 

Mr Runya said when they arrived in Thailand each country was given topics which they were supposed to academically debate and give solutions to problems from the topic.

“Our topic was based on the human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and what should be done. I gave my solutions on what should be done. That is how I earned my outstanding negotiator award,” said Mr Runya. He said among others he suggested that Israeli must lift its blockade on Gaza and recommended that all nations must work together.

He said delivering the speech was not really a problem for him because he has always loved being a problem solver.
“The conference helped me to meet youths from diverse backgrounds and as such I have learnt a lot of important things,” he said.

Mr Runya said he wanted to work on programmes to empower rural youths.–@flora_sibanda

Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter

Determined to prove that the sky is the limit even for the rural born, Mr Bongani Runya (32) won the outstanding negotiation and leadership skills award at the World Youth Model United Nations 2022 that was held in Thailand.

The World Youth Model United Nations (WYMUN) is a United Nations Simulation Conference which serves as a platform for young leaders and change makers to exchange ideas and resolve the most challenging global issues.

Mr Runya was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the conference held in Bangkok, Thailand from November 4 to November 10.
A total of 180 youths from different countries attended.

Born in Silobela under Chief Malalisa, Mr Runya who attended a local school, Melusi Primary School before proceeding to Lower Gwelo Adventist High School, now lives in Bulawayo working and attending university.

A Masters in Development Studies student at the Zimbabwe Open University, the award winner said his award should be an inspiration to other youths from rural areas that the sky is the limit.

Mr Runya said he applied to participate at the conference through the website and answered some questions.

He was then shortlisted for the final tests which led him to being chosen as one of the conference delegates in Thailand.
Mr Runya said when he got the admission letter, he was very happy and he will be forever be grateful for the chance that he was given.

“A lot of people see growing up in the rural areas as an excuse for not excelling but I am convinced that youths from rural areas can reach the same milestones as their urban counterparts as long as they work hard,” said Mr Runya.

His family and ZOU helped him to raise funds for the plane ticket.
Mr Runya said growing up in Silobela was not easy but he managed to soldier on.

He said he used to sell homemade buns and freezits after school as a way of raising his school fees.
“At high school I used to work in the school orchard and gardens during school holidays when the others were resting so that I could get money for my fees. Looking back now that is what sharpened my negotiating skills and I was always negotiating for a better price,” he said.

 

Mr Runya said when they arrived in Thailand each country was given topics which they were supposed to academically debate and give solutions to problems from the topic.

“Our topic was based on the human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and what should be done. I gave my solutions on what should be done. That is how I earned my outstanding negotiator award,” said Mr Runya. He said among others he suggested that Israeli must lift its blockade on Gaza and recommended that all nations must work together.

He said delivering the speech was not really a problem for him because he has always loved being a problem solver.
“The conference helped me to meet youths from diverse backgrounds and as such I have learnt a lot of important things,” he said.

Mr Runya said he wanted to work on programmes to empower rural youths.–@flora_sibanda