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22/01/2024 - 04/02/2024

12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Our Moon is excited to announce that we are launching the application for our 2024-25 Young Leaders programme! You can register your interest in becoming a Young Leader from 22 January until 4 February at 23:59. 

We are inviting applications from recent Grade 12 leavers (either 2022 or 2023) who have between 6 and 8 points in their best six ECZ exams, come from vulnerable households and want to make a difference in society. We want students with varied academic interests. Mostly, we want students who yearn to learn, have an open mind and are passionate about making a difference in the world.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY. A LINK TO THE REGISTRATION OF INTEREST FORM IS AT THE END

Our Moon opened doors for me that I never dreamed existed. Thando Lungu

Our Moon is an education NGO, registered as an international NGO in Zambia by the Ministry of Community Development. We unleash the potential in Zambia’s young people so they leave with the skills, knowledge and dispositions to thrive in university and can contribute to positive social change in their communities, country and continent. 

ABOUT OUR PROGRAMME 
 
We run a full time, partly residential programme. While on our programme, you will
  • Learn basic and more advanced IT skills
  • Discover yourself through your Identity and Expression course
  • Research your academic passions and write a 4000-word essay on a glocal issue
  • Develop your critical reading and writing skills
  • Improve your English grammar and punctuation
  • Prepare for SATs and Duolingo English Test
  • Apply to universities and for scholarships
  • Gain employability skills through projects, internships or entrepreneurship opportunities
  • Learn how to look after your physical health
  • Take part in community service.

CHANGES FOR 2024

To reach many more students, we are changing the way we select students and deliver our programme.

SELECTION: Subject to meeting our criteria above, students will be involved in a level of self-selection. We will ask you to complete some tasks prior to us making final selection. Your commitment to delivering these tasks will facilitate your progression to subsequent stages.

 

DELIVERY: Unlike previous years, our programme will be delivered partly to you at home with blocks of time on site, in Chibombo. We are looking for the most motivated students to participate.

For those students who narrowly fail to meet our requirements, we will be offering places on our online Identity and Expression Programme. Enthusiastic participants may have a chance to move to our Young Leaders Programme.

ABOUT OUR SITE
 
Our Moon acquired some land from the Chief in 2019. It is in a beautiful area of Chibombo, in Zambia’s Central Province, and is blessed with wonderful large skies. All the students who have visited us on both long-term and short-term programmes say that it is very conducive to study here.
 
We have built numerous structures and started developing the land. Building work is still ongoing when funding allows.
 
We have installed a few solar panels and have a borehole with a solar pump. We are, therefore, self-sufficient in terms of water and electricity, but at the same time, a little restricted as supply can depend on the weather.
 
The site is basic but comfortable. We have a house parent who is responsible for the welfare of the students when on site.
TIMETABLE FOR 2024-25
 
     First year
  • January 2024 – Register your interest using this form
  • 4 February 2024 – Registrations close at midnight in Zambia (23:59:59 CAT)
  • February and March – Tasks phase – part of the selection process is to set you a range of tasks to test your strengths, your ability to understand and comply with instructions, your ability to deliver assignments on time and your enthusiasm
  • March and April – Bootcamp 1: Outstanding students will be invited to Our Moon in Chibombo for final selection and to start the programme, including Reflective Writing for Public Speaking, IT skills, English skills (language and literature)
  • May-July – Start research essay from home, take part in online programmes. Full time study required
  • August – September – Bootcamp 2: Return to Chibombo for university guidance programme, and to continue Our Moon courses and SAT prep
  • October – SATs, completion of research essay and continuation with courses from home
  • November – Bootcamp 3: Return to Chibombo to complete all courses and course work and work on university applications
  • December – Return home to complete university applications
  • Christmas and New Year’s – Break while still progressing university application.Second year
  • January/February – May – Internships and/or projects and/or entrepreneurship opportunities, while progressing university applications and continuing online learning
  • April 1 – Most university decisions are out
  • June/July – At home preparing for university
  • July – Graduation in Chibombo and becoming an Our Moon Alum!
  • August – Depart university**.
 
*The duration of the bootcamps will highly dependent on the number of qualifying finalists.
**University places are not guaranteed and departure times can vary depending on country.
***All timings subject to change
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

All applicants are expected to have achieved a high academic standard and must have completed high school in Zambia. We would typically expect students to have gained between 6-8 points from six, out of eight, subjects in their Grade 12 ECZ exams. 

We expect all students to be from low-income families who cannot afford our programme, or to go to university within Zambia, without full financial support. We strongly attempt to run an ethical programme; therefore, any student found to be lying about their financial situation will be immediately dismissed.
 
All accepted students will be expected to withdraw from any other university preparation programmes and make themselves available for full time study whether at home or in Chibombo. All accepted students will be expected to attend all bootcamps.
 
If a students narrowly fails to get onto our programme, we will offer them the chance to participate in our Identity and Expression Programme. This will include developing your basic IT skills as well as helping you develop your identity, the way you express yourselves and communicate both in writing and orally, and help you set goals for your future.
 
When participating in bootcamps, Our Moon will provide transport, tuition fees, food, accommodation, internet and learning materials. We have a house parent who looks after the safety of the students and night watch people who patrol our grounds at night. Once admitted to the programme, when studying from home, Our Moon will provide data to ensure you can get online. When we know where our students are located, we will organise either learning hubs if there are groups of students or spaces in internet cafes for short periods. 
For more information, on how to complete the application form, please watch this video. If you want to feel even more inspired to apply, watch Tamali in this brief video describe how she has benefited from Our Moon’s support. Tamali is now studying Pharmacy at USIU-Africa in Kenya.

THE REGISTRATION OF INTEREST FORM CAN BE FOUND HERE

 

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