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Primrose Chibharo-Harare High School student
From May 1-3, 2024, I had the privilege of being among the five Harare High learners, along with pupils from other schools, to attend the Dream Big Conference hosted by the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The conference was held at the Harare Girls High School.
We met various speakers who encouraged us to wake up, work hard and make our dreams a reality.
Pastor Yang Kyeong Chan, the IYF country director, started his presentation by asking us, “What is your dream?”
This made everyone wonder what their dream was. He encouraged us by using the story of the Wright Brothers, who had a dream to see a flying machine. They didn’t just dream about it; they invented one.
They made their dream a reality, which is why we are talking about them today.
From this story, I learned that unless you work hard, you will never attain what you want in life.
He concluded his presentation by giving us the recipe for success: capital (money), good people, and a good market or environment.
Miriam Jani, an executive producer at ZBC, encouraged us to work hands-on to gain experience in what we want to accomplish in life.
For example, when you want to work in a medical field, a student can consider going to a nearby clinic and volunteer their services to gain experience.
She encouraged us to research more on what we want to be, so as to gain clarity on what we will become in the future.
Local actor cum producer Zolile Makeleni talked about how we should cherish education as it is a privilege, not a right.
He said it was a privilege because not everyone could afford education.
He mentioned that failing to dream is a disease, and every leaner should have a dream, at least to have a good life or something beyond that.
He said that the reason why most students failed was because they felt entitled to everything life offers, thereby killing their dreams.
During his presentation, he played a song by Winky D titled “Daddy.”
The song talks about a child who asks his parents what they are doing while other fathers are buying houses and companies and waking up early in the morning for work.
From that song, I was motivated to work hard so that my children will not ask me such thought-provoking questions.
He concluded his presentation by giving us the power of association, which encouraged us to always reflect on who we spend our time with, adding that our dreams are nurtured by those around us.
The guest speaker of the conference was Dr Prof Choi Jong Eun, a mind education specialist (IMEI) from South Korea, who spoke about value.
He presented a picture of a key and said, “No matter how old the key gets, it always has value.”
“If there is a lock, the key holds great value.”
From this, I learned that everyone has great value, and students should have a key to their discovery.
He also told us a story of a child who was autistic whose parents treated him like a disabled person. They would actually tell everyone that their child was disabled.
One day, the parents met a prophet who convinced them that their child was just like every other child, and he also made them promise to never treat him like he was disabled.
From this example, he made us aware that different thinking produces different outcomes, meaning that if one thinks negatively, negativity is produced; therefore, we should always be positive.
He concluded by saying that the people, environment, and mindset determine the outcomes of our lives.
The biggest lesson I would love to tell everyone is to dream big, aim high, and strive for success, and above all, to never give up.
Special thanks to Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerayi Moyo, pastor Yang Kyeong Chan and Prof Jae Yun Shim, IYF chairman for Southern Africa, and all stakeholders for making this event a success and ensuring that every learner does not give up on their dreams.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter