The HALI Indaba 2024 marked the 9th annual HALI Access Network gathering held in Rwanda from 9th to 12th September 2024. Bringing together 75 advocates of higher education access, the Indaba focused on the theme "Global Learners, Local Leaders.” The theme emphasized empowering students to leverage their global experiences to impact their local communities. The HALI Access Network continues to grow, with 39 access organizations from 16 African countries and 22 universities attending this year’s Indaba alongside HALI partners Duolingo and the College Board.
The first day of the Indaba began with friends of HALI hosting a University Fair at Green Hills Academy. The Fair attracted school counselors and over 400 students from schools across Rwanda, providing them with an opportunity to explore different academic pathways. Students engaged with university representatives attending the Indaba, gaining insights into the various programs and opportunities available at the institutions to help them achieve their career aspirations.
A key highlight from the Indaba was a panel discussion where four HALI alumni shared their journeys and how they are using their global experiences to make a difference in their local communities. The alumni are engaged in groundbreaking work in areas such as health and AI, contributing at the community, policy, and resource levels. Their stories reminded us of the important role counselors and access organizations play in bridging the gap between students and the opportunities they need to pursue higher education and reach their potential. The session also prompted us to reflect on the difficult decision our students face, whether to study locally or abroad, and, after studying abroad, whether to return home or stay abroad to further their careers.
“A counselor encouraged me to take a medical anthropology class, which was the turning point for me to discover the world of global health and public health.” Constancia Mavodza, a USAP alumni, commented about the impact of access work and counselors. Today, Constancia is the Program Lead- Health Initiatives at the MasterCard Foundation.
The alumni plenary session was so inspiring. Learning about the work done by alumni and the impact they are having back home reminded me of why I do what I do.
Norris Kayitare
Bridge2Rwanda
The conversations at this year’s Indaba were a powerful reminder that getting students to university is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in helping them navigate the highs and lows of university life. As educators, mentors, and supporters, we must be adaptable, innovative, and prepared to offer not only academic guidance but also emotional support. University is a journey of growth, and every student deserves the chance to flourish.
Vivian Deus
School of St. Jude
I appreciated the smaller group size learning groups, which made it easier to engage in deeper conversations with like-minded individuals. Learning groups were very useful as I learned various ways of addressing contentious issues. Discussions triggered my mindset to look at my role from various perspectives.
Ketevan Maghlakelidze
Enko Education
The movie screening was so inspiring; seeing the impact of our daily work manifest on screen. The Birds Eye view that the movie made possible showed access in action and the impact it has on the livelihood of whole families
Abraham Barry
Meto
My highlight from the Indaba was watching the film Brief Tender Light and meeting Philip. He espouses the Global Learner, Local Leader theme and helped us to see how our students can lead locally while simultaneously accessing resources from other countries.
Helen Leale-Green
Our Moon
Fulfilling work among like-minded individuals, a hub of respect, various cultures, and for the first time in my life, I feel I understood UBUNTU
Farai Gilbert
a first-time attendee representing Makomborero Zimbabwe
It's an amazing network with the ability to meet many organizations/institutions in one centralized location that all have a common goal of supporting high-achieving low-income students. I appreciated the Indaba meeting counselors from various schools or organizations. I would describe it as "life-changing". I hope to attend again in the future.
Shari Wilson
A first-time attendee representing Stanford University
We are very grateful to our sponsors this year not only for enabling us to bring counselors to the Indaba but also for the intentional work they do to open doors for HALI students. We have a long-standing history with each of our sponsors this year. We have supported thousands of students across sub-Saharan Africa through the Rise global talent identification process and partnered with ALU in their recruitment across the continent. Duolingo offers our students free access to their English Testing platform through their access initiative, and we've also benefited from learning from their refugee university access program with the UNHCR. We highly recommend that more universities accept the DET in their admission process, as it is so much more accessible, affordable, and contextualized to the needs of low-income students.
Misco Mungai
HALI Program Director
As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited about how these discussions will translate into action and growth in our access programs, with Kenya set to host the 2025 Indaba!
Get a glimpse of the Indaba here.
Murakoze!
