Afraid you are losing touch? - Discover who you are becoming.

Our identity is tied to our roots, our beginnings, our genesis story.

Antetokounmpo became Giannis’ surname after it was spelled that way on his Greek passport instead of his last name Adetokunbo. Adetokunbo translated means "the crown has returned from across the seas."
In the Greek alphabet, the letters "NT" make a "D" sound while "MP" make a "B" sound, meaning the spelling of "Antetokounmpo" carries a pronunciation that closely comes out to "Adetokunbo."

Born to an Igbo mother and Yoruba father both from Nigeria, Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo grew up in Greek culture learning the language, going to school and eventually starting to play basketball at age 7. However, when he was home with his family, his mother spoke to him in Igbo. Giannis understands a little bit but is not fluent.

There were a lot of times when I was in Greece where people said, ‘You’re not Greek. You’re Nigerian because you’re black.’ But then there have been a lot of times where it’s been the opposite, where people say, ‘You’re not African. You’re Greek. You’re ‘The Greek Freak.’ ’ But I don’t really care about that. Deep down, I know who I am and where I am from.
That’s all that matters to me. - Giannis Antetokounmpo

Are there moments when you take stock of where you have been, where you are and what the future holds and that nagging feeling, gradually begins to creep up and suddenly your heart seems to be beating faster than normal?
You wonder if you have made the right choices or missed out on the full experience of community. One of the consequences of living in the diaspora is the gamut of emotions one experiences. There is the nagging, unsettling feeling of disconnectedness and sometimes isolation both adults and children may feel from their roots. On the bright side, thanks to technology with only a few clicks on a keyboard, the information is at your fingertips. Even more exciting is what the future holds and the plethora of available opportunities for discovery. It is this sentiment that has led many students and young professionals to the African continent.

What better way to embark on this journey of self-discovery than to learn about and stay connected by immersing yourself in the culture. Immersion could be through learning a language, traveling to a new place or engaging in enlightening conversations.

Opportunities that enrich minds and expand a person’s world view are worthwhile.

Here are 7 exchange programs to the continent of Africa to consider for the high schoolers, undergraduates, graduate students and young professionals.

🛫 The Global study Abroad hosted by UT Austin program to Dakar, Senegal explores the industries of the city and the impact of the economy on the region. Participants explore the formal and informal economic activity that keeps the city abuzz and get an appreciation of the economy at large.

🛫 Council On International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program to Morocco and many other destinations. The program partners with many institutions of higher learning and allows you to choose up to 3 locations to feature in your summer travels.

🛫 The Stanford Bing Overseas Studies Program to Cape Town, South Africa has been running for many years and attracts many who are interested in social impact that takes stakeholders into account.

"If you travel far enough, you will eventually find yourself"

🛫 Global Scholars Program, led by the African Leadership Academy in South Africa for high school and early university students hoping to learn more about international leadership, impactful entrepreneurship and community engagement from an African perspective.

🛫 The Student Exchange Africa (SEA) student programs that are unrelated to university programs and integrate People, Planet, and Profit. Try it out to Kigali, Rwanda

🛫 Morehouse's study abroad program in Nigeria exploring the Nigerian entertainment industry, an industry that has offered the world so much. This immersive experience is unlike any other.

🛫 Birthright AFRICA, headquartered in New York has an impact that stretches as far as the African continent. The program attracts youth and young adults aged 13-30 of African descent who are keen to explore their heritage, cultural roots and the impact of their people’s creativity and innovation.

Leading institutions and organizations on and off the continent continue to craft programs that aim to impart knowledge and spread awareness about the history, innovation and joys on the continent 🏆

Whether as a student, curious young adult, or volunteer…these and other such programs are bound to elevate your perspective on the African continent.

For other ways to connect with a larger community in the diaspora, have you checked this out by clicking HERE?