The Impact of Empowered By Vee on EarlyBird256’s Commitment to Learning Resources

The EarlyBird256 community is deeply committed to empowering students in rural areas with resources that enable them to shape their own lives and futures. Beyond financial support for workshops, we seek meaningful connections with like-minded individuals and organizations—especially those founded by people of African descent. This year, we connected with Empowered By Vee, a Zimbabwean-led charity led by Vee Kativhu focused on widening access to higher education and boosting academic confidence in students from underrepresented or low-income backgrounds. The organization’s virtual conference was a valuable learning experience for our team, particularly for Squadmember Isaac Jr., preparing to enter university to study Aerospace Engineering.

Isaac Jr. giving a presentation at Busoga High School, Kamuli 

Dear EarlyBird256 Community,

I would like to bring to your attention my experience at Empowered by Vee's (EBV) annual Back to School conference, which took place virtually in September. 

I  found clarity in the fact that it is never too late. I related a lot to the Story of Okpara Aghogho, a writer, speaker, and medical student at the University of Dublin who uses her story to motivate and grow hope in the hearts of students who go through similar setbacks—losing parents, going back to school at a later age, and not being accepted into medical school until she was 22, among other things. I saw myself on the same path she took 8, 10, and 12 years ago.

Like Aghogho, I am not about to let myself stay comfortable in my current status quo. She didn't let rejection dictate her capability; however, she showed up at 17 to 22. I was forced to exclaim, "Eh," in the chat room because I could relate, and I knew how heavy it gets to have dreams that scare you so much that you don't have any option but to pursue them and prove yourself right.

I also continued to learn from the story and advice of another speaker, Courtney, who encouraged us to surround ourselves with the right people and follow our hearts.

 Deep inside my heart, I know I am capable of designing Aerospace systems. I love aircraft and space crafts, and it would give me total satisfaction to see myself, at 50, owning a research center in Uganda that works on teaching and providing affordable knowledge in Aerospace and Space Technology after taking part in many diverse programs at NASA or SpaceX. 

The industry is growing, and Africa deserves a chance.

Courtney encouraged us to start growing our LinkedIn because the brand you set will determine your life out of college, and it also develops the spirit of accountability; she talked about the Gates and Rhodes scholarships. However, she said proper accountability about nine months before is required to stand a probable chance of getting a scholarship. 

This doesn't dictate my ability to join school, though. Even at the last minute, it can happen. If God did it for Aghogho, it would happen for me, too.

The last speaker was Dr. Frater, a public health officer now from Harvard. He has a reputation with Harvard, MIT, and other reputable companies like Google. He came in to emphasize branding and how to network both online and offline. Most importantly, he said, "Reach out in 24 hours."

I thank the EarlyBird256 Community for creating awareness of opportunities. I promise to implement the takeaways and numerous other insights from the conference in my pursuit of the aerospace engineering dream. I am rewriting my resume and personal statement using the knowledge from the conference to properly reflect my understanding of my future aspirations and communicate my determination and resilience towards my Aerospace Engineering dream. 

Among other opportunities, links to volunteering opportunities from EBV will be sent to us later so we can get a platform to share our stories and inspire fellow students in our position.

I look forward to doing my best so this dream doesn't die.

Isaac’s enthusiasm for his future has strengthened our resolve to continue investing in technology and equipping EarlyBird256 with essential informational resources. Initiatives like Empowered By Vee, are vital in bridging knowledge gaps and inspiring young people to pursue ambitious goals. Through these partnerships, we are motivated to expand access to resources and educational opportunities, empowering more students like Isaac to reach their potential.