Ahmed Kazadi Kabuya

Ahmed grew up in the Maheba Refugee Camp in Zambia with parents who were refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Established in the 1970s, it is a large, longstanding camp of low-income families who have little to no opportunities for advancing education and career aspirations. Despite being from a place with many social and economic hardships, his community played a significant role in shaping him into a dedicated and hardworking leader. Outside of academics, he enjoys soccer, biking and knitting. He likes knitting because it presents him with an opportunity to reflect on his day and set intentions on what he hopes to achieve.

Ahmed is passionate about community change and development and wants to strengthen his ethical leadership skills so he can make a long-lasting impact. Ahmed started a project that still operates within his refugee community called “Young Pioneers of Change” that empowers youth through helping them identify and grow their talents and skills with a focus on creating an inclusive environment that accepts everyone regardless of their differences. As a Scholar, he is really excited about, "the leadership experience I will gain and the strong networks I will build from this program."