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Africa is well and truly in the spotlight right now as football teams from around the globe battle to become the 2010 FIFA World Champions. But whilst we're enjoying the excitement of the tournament, Kajuju Laiboni and Women Aviators in Africa are preparing for the Nairobi International Trade Fair at which they hope to capture the imagination of Africa's young people and spur them on to pursue careers in the aviation industry.
Students from different schools were invited to meet with professionals in the aviation field, including a career day. All sorts of activities and lectures were held at the museum. As I sat on the podium with other aviatrixes from around the world, I came to realize how lucky the kids must be to get such exposure to something they are passionate about at such an early age. Looking back at my own country, I realized that if our students had early exposure as such, they would recognize and nurture their passion. This would lead to them investing their full potential in working towards achieving their goals, which in turn would lead to futuristic involvement in not only the professional aspect of the aviation industry but also in improvement of this industry locally, regionally and internationally. This exact reason led to the conception of the idea of taking students from the aviation clubs we have started in various schools, through WAFRIC, to visit their ‘future’ work places. Most of these students have never been to the capital city, Nairobi, let alone an aircraft. Therefore, next week, Wednesday, the students will have the opportunity to visit the Meteorological department and the Wilson Airport. Over a month ago, we started the mobile aviation library, where we lend aviation books and magazines to students in the aviation clubs. With the upcoming Fair in September, we had asked students to learn as much as they can from the magazines and prepare an aviation-related presentation using raw materials around their community to show case at the fair. This past weekend, when we visited the students to lend them a new supply of books, we found that they had created a toy aircraft, to be more specific a certain business jet. They had even found old batteries and its wheels could move. This made me appreciate the great impact a simple thing like a word of encouragement, a book or just exposure can change one’s perspective of self. One of my many favorite quotes is ‘The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own.’ This has been proven right by the little WAFRIC has given the students and how much they have done to steer their lives in the right direction towards pursuing and fulfilling their dreams and goals. WAFRIC needs help. It does not have sponsors from the industry. Whatever is done comes from the initiatives and dedication of a few people with virtually no resources. If you would like to assist in any way, please send an email to kajuju@blueskynews.aero Read Kajuju's previous articles: "Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu (a person is a person through other persons)" Women in Corporate Aviation is a networking and mentoring group that has grown out of Women in Aviation, International, (WAI) and encourages its members to use the resources of WAI to enhance their own career growth opportunities. Women in Corporate Aviation announces six forthcoming scholarships In continuing their sterling efforts to promote personal career development, Women in Corporate Aviation will be awarding six scholarships at the National Business Aviation Association Annual Convention being held in Atlanta GA in October. The scholarship offerings are varied, representing the diverse opportunities available within corporate aviation:
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