TIA!

This message is so touching for me and those who are in AIESEC Africa where we have to wait for a person to finish so that you can write a proposal that you have to drop tomorrow,its 8:00 pm,you skipped lunch to save transport for tomorrows marketing call and you have carfew at home!


Please read on below from Habib (African GN Director 2006/2007)

My dear Africanos,

I'm writing you from the riverside of the Wouri River, in my native Douala. I left Rotterdam 8 days ago. I'm now resting from the frenzy of my past seven years in AIESEC and preparing myself for other exciting challenges.

First of all I wish to apologize for not writing you before leaving office, or not replying all the emotional mails you sent me. I wanted to finish off my job and take some time to reflect on our common journey.

I believe it all started in Romania, at IPM 05, when I met some of you, newly elected MCP, disappointed by the picture Africanos were giving. There was the normal "strong" AIESEC Countries and GNs, the very ones that matter, and there was that bunch of people in the corner, singing "one Africano" at each sign of misfortune. After numerous years of underperformance, Africa was clearly an embarrassment for many generations of PAI.

The selection of a non African Director by Brodie was more like a "let's try something else", than a well thought through decision to get Africa finally back on track.

The seed of change could be perceptible in the new generation of MCPs, who had had enough of the disrespect. The years 0506 has been a breakthrough year, thanks to the energetic action of the GN board, with the introduction of the Empowering Africa program.

But Africanos were still the guys in the corner. It was not about the stereotypes-full perceptions of the others; it was about who Africans think they are. It was not about our brand, it was about our identity.

The year 0607 was about reconnection with what Africa truly is. Africa is cheerfulness, but also ambition and fighting spirit. It is commonly acknowledged that it take much more to be an AIESECer in Africa than in any other part of the world. All of us have had the stomach screaming for a meal while browsing, everyone has once gone to a business meeting with malaria symptoms, and everyone had directed scarce personal health or school-related funds to finance AIESEC. Everyone has waited hours to have access to a computer to type a proposal.

We all went through this, confident of the contribution we were making to the present and future generations of Africans. Matter of factly, there is no other chance like AIESEC for Africans. As MCPs, we have been the new Prometheus, fighting for a brighter Africa. The challenges we overcame, the tears we cried, were all part of the challenge of beating the odds.

Can I ever take out of my mind the sight of Akobe the Ivorian fighting in Dakar for Senegalese youth, Benis the Togolese in Cotonou for Beninese, Landry the Cameroonian for Gabonese, Christian the Ivorian in Freetown for Liberians, Kevin the Kenyan in Rwanda for Rwandese? No need to mention Moyo and his team, giving everything to rescue his Nigeria from the sink, Abey against all and everyone to lift South Africa up, jemimah and Phil making history for Kenya, Naoufel silently but relentlessly building a giant in Morocco, Paul growing AIESEC in a defunct country, Boi keeping Botswana beyond sea level, Gaspar raising Tanzania to greatness, Vincent cracking all records in Ghana, and Samy the team captain, brilliantly hosting the world in Egypt. What can I say about the wonderful AIESEC members there, team leaders, project directors, LCVPs, LCPs, MCEBs?

You guys are my heroes. The GN board and I did nothing but to share our passion and hunger for achievements. At the end the year, the legacy is impressive: 54% growth in a global organization that grew only 2%. In 2005, it was challenging to be an African, now it's good to be an African.

For all you that made me proud everyday of my term as Director, thank you. For all of you that ignored the challenges to make it happen, you can be proud of the pace you have set. As it takes darkness for the light to shine through, it took all these challenges for your leadership to filter through. Simply keep shining.

We all passed the torch to a team led by JC, another Africano, a team that is far more talented than ours, a team that also starts on a firmer footing. They have the ambition we had. They know the difference between the ambitious and the utopist is not how high the bar is, but how much drive is invested to reach out. They will match their ambition with the same culture of action and passion for achievement we had.

To all warriors of 0607, you can rest assured the GN is in good hands. You can proudly take the passenger seat and enjoy the show. Open your hands if asked, but your fight now is to use the light in you to brighten Africa. The time has come to make a difference outside AIESEC. For having been blasted by you this year, I have high expectations from you. Rock your future.

I will be permanently available for you on msn (ewanebane@hotmail.com), facebook, gmail (habibewane@gmail.com) or on my blog http://habibewane.myaiesec.net.

If by chance our winds blow in the same direction, I will be delighted to offer you a hug, a beer and a tap in the back.

Keep shining.

Habib