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Scholars Explain Why Giving Back Is Important

From Beirut to Berkeley, Cape Town to Costa Rica, MasterCard Foundation Scholars are preparing for the second annual International Day of Service on Saturday, November 7th, a day when Scholars around the globe take the time to give back to their communities.

Although there are over 11,000 Scholars from over two dozen different countries studying at the secondary or university level, their commitment to service unites this community of talented young leaders.  For MasterCard Foundation Scholars, giving back is deeply personal and rooted in their journey as change-makers.

“We rise by lifting others,” writes Norman Mugisha, a Scholar studying at EARTH University in Costa Rica. “Giving back builds hope — and when there is hope there is always a future.”

This year, Michigan State University Scholars will build that better future by building homes for local families in need, while also volunteering their time at a homeless shelter. Scholars at the American University of Beirut’s Faculty of Health Sciences will be putting their medical knowledge to good use by setting up a blood drive for the local hospital, while Scholars at EARTH University have committed to planting 300 trees in Silencio, a local community near the university grounds.

Hear from Scholars as they explain why paying it forward is so important to them.

Constancia Mavodza

In Africa, it takes a village to raise a child. My community laid the foundation on which I am solidly built. Giving back is my offering, my thank you.
Constancia Mavodza – Zimbabwe
University of Cape Town

 

Shanen Ganapathee

I came into world as a mere vulnerable baby and I am lucky to have a community that nurtured me for all these years into the adult I became. I give back because I have been given so much.
Shanen Ganapathee – Mauritius
Duke University

 

Maame Kwamah Otsieku Baah

I am giving back to my community because it substantiates my purpose on earth.  It is imperative that every man fulfills his purpose in our global community – only when this is done will the earth remain livable.
Maame Kwamah Otsieku Baah – Ghana
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

 

Dissan Sselugo

There is one thing I believe that it should be the community first, my family second then myself last. So helping the community, giving back, it would give me happiness.
Dissan Sselugo – Uganda
BRAC

 

Narmeen Shehadeh

I am giving back to all the refugee children in the world, to enable them to have the same chances in life that I have had and empower them to later be the ones transforming lives of their communities.
Narmeen Shehadeh – Lebanon
American University of Beirut – Faculty of Health Sciences

 

Norman Mugisha

I’m giving back to my community because I want to live a life of service which is the essence of life. It’s so clear that lending a hand is what causes the tremendous meaningful positive changes that we want in our communities, just like planting a single tree every day creates a forest.
Norman Mugisha – Rwanda
EARTH University

 

Arhin Acheampong

Giving back to my community is my responsibility.  And even beyond that, is a great privilege to serve the amazing people who make my life beautiful each day.
Arhin Acheampong – Ghana
Michigan State University

 

Soji Adeshina

In the eternal words of Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” We give back because it teaches us find compassion within ourselves and to stay attached to values that are linked to the common good.
Soji Adeshina – Nigeria
UC Berkeley

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