Online Reporter
Latwell Nyangu
A Zimbabwean student says representing his country on a global stage was a milestone after he participated in the World Youth Forum–Future Economics Leadership Summit (WYF–FELS) in Hong Kong.
The 18-year-old learner from Millerite International School in Belvedere travelled to Hong Kong from August 9–13, where he represented Zimbabwe and interacted with students from different countries.
“Travelling by myself really set me off, especially because I was going alone.
“You know you are leaving the norms of your country and have to adjust to life in a foreign country.
“During my journey to Hong Kong, I often found myself thinking about what I could bring back home too, and how I could share a bit of Africa,” he said.
When he arrived in Hong Kong, he faced his first challenge: communication.
“It was difficult asking for directions or help, mostly because many people spoke either Mandarin or Cantonese.
“I was assisted by a facilitator who stayed close to me, Keshav Saini from South Korea, and he helped me understand how I could travel to the hosting venue.”
Once at the venue, he prepared for the opening ceremony, where he was selected as the flag bearer for Zimbabwe.
“It was a moment of immense pressure. I knew I wasn’t only carrying the flag, but also the weight of an entire continent.
“The stereotypes that people had about Africans, I was the one who was either going to break them or prove them accurate,” he added.
At the end of the ceremony, he finally met his teammates in person.
“They were from India and attended Scottish High School. It was different from how we had met virtually, and now we could discuss our game plan face to face with Harshvardan Tripathy, Anvita Chakrabarty, and our team captain, Rishika Abrol.
“I felt anxious because I was going to be examined, but I calmed myself and reminded myself that whatever was meant to happen would happen.
“I went in bold, but composed, trusting the process.”
One of the key activities was the U20-Merge, where teams had to combine with another group.
“We managed to merge with a Chinese team for the U20 category, and our research focused on Communal Economics,” he said.
He also took part in the World Fusion Event, a large gathering where teams showcased their heritage and shared life experiences from their respective countries.
“It opened my eyes to appreciate how small our world really is. We have similar beliefs and interests, while also facing similar problems, especially my generation, which is often perceived negatively and labelled Gen Z or Ama2K. It was also funny because some of my friends thought we still use the Zimbabwean dollar.
“I was able to show them our new currency, and they were shocked not only that it is stabilising, but also that there are no longer trillion-dollar figures like those they had been taught about.”
On August 11, he took part in the Immersion Lab, visiting different sites and conducting field research to apply their findings to the U20 topics they had selected.
“He also went to Tai Kwun, where they explored the prison sites and the prison cells where Ho Chi Minh was reportedly held,” he added.
However, he said the experience also brought moments of homesickness and alienation.
“It affected me significantly, especially during the next event, the Business Competitive Event. My friends took me on a trip around town to cheer me up.
“It felt heartwarming to see how willing some people were to include me and engage with me.
“It was also exciting seeing the city and how differently places operate day to day.”
He enjoyed exploring local food options and learning from the experiences of his hosts and peers.
“There were so many Asian-themed restaurants, so I tried some of the foods my friends encouraged me to taste, like momo and sashimi.”
On August 12, the day began with an Expert Call, and some students were also interviewed.
The interviews gave him an opportunity to share his views on how African children could be guided toward creating stronger results for the African economy.
“I spoke about how appreciating our heritage can contribute to building the economy, because people can correct the misinterpretation of our history, something that still enslaves our minds and taints our brilliance.
“The Expert Call also gave me the chance to receive advice from people working in major global firms and universities such as JPMorgan and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
“I also bonded with my peers over how our different cultures appreciate tea, prepared using different methods and ingredients,” he said.
The final day brought the unified teams together for presentations of the research from their respective topics.
“My team’s research was based on an economic theory called the Akerlof and Kranton Identity Economics theory.
“This framework expands on the traditional idea of consumers by exploring why people may prefer to buy certain products based on factors like social class, interests, and cultural influences.”
Although he said their team did not qualify for the final round, he still left the summit with major recognition.
“Unfortunately, my team didn’t make it to the final round. However, I was fortunate enough to be a panel speaker at the closing ceremony.
“A key highlight was receiving honours in the U20 Youth Voice Cross-Cultural Excellence Award, and also achieving a Top 5 (Silver Honour) position in the Open Events.”
He said the experience filled him with pride.
“That moment filled me with immense pride because I felt that I had represented the brilliance, resilience, and potential that Zimbabwe has to offer.”
