[Humans of ISC67] Participant Edition: Wapozga Munyenyembe

#1 Please introduce yourself!

My name is Wapozga, I am currently studying at the European University of Lefke based in Cyprus. Even though I have been here for close to 2 years, I am originally from Malawi. Malawi is a country in East Africa bordering Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. My program of study is Architecture.

#2 What is your favorite thing about your country/city? Why?

I was born and raised in Blantyre City so really for me there is a lot to like. Since most of my childhood memories were made here, it holds a special place in my heart. What I like the most about it is it's diverse and kind people. You may find people of different ages and cultures working together in a society and for me that is priceless. I also like taking long walks in the central city area where the roads are flanked with Jacaranda trees. It looks especially beautiful when the purple flowers bloom and fall on the roads. I just like to take it all in and enjoy the moments.

#3 What made you want to join ISC67 and your table? What would you like to achieve through the conference?

In spite of all that I like about Blantyre city, like many others it, has its own problems. The population of slum dwellers is extremely high and this number continues to rise. We all know the disadvantages that come with living in a slum, and how bad environments inherently affect the way we think and act. As I studied Architecture, I got introduced to the idea of Social architecture or in simple terms, building design that aims to positively impact the less privileged in the community. With some research in the area, my interest has grown and when I saw the application call for ISC67 on the youth opportunities website, I knew I had to apply. My aim in all of this is to learn and gain insight on how fellow youth from different places have addressed these issues. I believe that lasting solutions begin with discussion and that is what I aim to do.