“Nyoko” Grace Muvangua's Bio

My YES! Jams
2003 World Jam

Location: Northampton
Website

Bio:

A native of Namibia, Nyoko has dedicated her life to the service of Africa and its people. As Fundraising Coordinator for the Namibian-UWC Selection Committee, she develops fundraising initiatives that enable selected Namibians to attend the United World Colleges. The United World College movement (www.uwc.org) empowers youth to become responsible citizens, politically and environmentally aware, and committed to the ideals of peace and justice, understanding and cooperation, and the implementation of these ideals through action and personal example. Nyoko also serves on the steering committee of the International African Students Association (www.iasaonline.org). IASA strives to create a medium through which African young adults can network and collaborate on projects based on the common desire to reshape the future of Africa. Among projects that IASA has worked on are the Mozambique Relief Fund, the Scholarship Initiative, and the Africa Internship/Fellowship Program (initiated in response to the problem of the African brain-drain). Also a college student and activist on campus, Nyoko has received several honors and awards.

"I left India with so much energy and determination to take my work further, and to be more in service for my people. Above all, what touched me is the genuine love and compassion that we all had for one another. We were global strangers who virtually fell in love the moment we met. At first that whole notion did not make much sense to me, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that what we all have in common is what enabled such a deep love. We all love to serve humanity."