Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi - Junior School students visit the United Nations Office at Nairobi


07 February 2023

Students from the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi - Junior School, a part of the World Leaders Club at the school, had the opportunity to visit the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) on 31 January.

Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi - Junior School students visit the United Nations Office at Nairobi
As part of their visit, the students met with Director-General of UNON Ms Zainab Hawa Bangura for a mentorship session. During their time together, Ms Zainab shared her inspiring leadership journey with the students, who also presented their leadership dreams and goals as students. Grade 4 student Abigail Adongo shared the weekly activities of the World Leaders Club – an extracurricular activity at the school for Grades 1-5 students that helps students develop their public-speaking, debating and leadership skills and helps them become more knowledge about current affairs – which was greatly appreciated by the team at UNON. 
  
The students also had an opportunity to ask Ms Zainab questions that sparked a fruitful discussion. They enjoyed their time with her, with Grade 3 student Audrey Aluoch and Grade 5 student Hawi Mwaniki expressing their gratitude for Ms Zainab’s time and appreciating how much they learnt and how inspired they were. 
  
“Today, I had the distinguished honour to receive the World Leaders Club of the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi - Junior School to the United Nations complex in Gigiri,” Ms Zainab said. “During the Q&A, they asked me some great questions like, ‘What was my inspiration to be who I am?’, ‘What are some of the challenges I faced while getting to this position?’, ‘What do I think about people who claim to want to change the world?’. I have received many visitors as Director-General of UNON, many of them heads of state or government [but this] was one of my best days. These children, ranging in age from [Grades 1-5], inspired me greatly.” 
 
After their time with Ms Zainab, the students then toured the UNON complex.

Photos (top to bottom):
  • Students from the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi - Junior School with Director-General of UNON Ms Zainab
  • Director-General of UNON Ms Zainab speaking to the students during their mentorship session