• YES Winner/Sponsor: 2006 (NOKIA)
• Name/First Name: MWIKALI MUSUVA Paula
• Age: 27
• Country of Origin: Kenya
• Country of Study: United Kingdom
• Present Country: Kenya
• Highest degree obtained: Master of Science in Computer Systems and
Networking, University of Sunderland



My contact with the ITU began while I was an undergraduate student at the Jomo Kenyatta University in Kenya while pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. There was an essay competition in 2003 where we assumed the role of head of state and outline the ways we would involve the youth in development using ICTs. I remember submitting my essay and application without much thought of whether I could win the competition or what impact it could have on my life.

Now six years down the road, I think of the impact that submission has had on my life and I find it unthinkable. It not only gave me the opportunity for my first time to fly on a plane and meet fellow youth from all over the world; it opened the doors to a foreign continent that I would find myself studying and living in a few years later.

I got to know of the YES scholarships during a plenary session while attending the ITU Telecom World 2003 in Geneva. Communication that went on after the event kept me informed of the developments regarding the awards and I made my application in 2006 after graduating. I was elated to receive news that I had been awarded the scholarship sponsored by Nokia and knew my dream of studying for my Masters degree in the UK could be reality.

I studied at the University of Sunderland in the north-east of England for a Master of Science in Network Systems starting February 2007 and graduated in July 2008 with a distinction. It was a great life experience where I got to interact with people from all over the world and grow not only academically, as would be the case, but also as an individual. I got the opportunity to work at the university on a part time basis as a student ambassador and residential assistant; which gave me that international exposure with fellow students. For my master’s project, I was attached at the Dairy Farmers of Britain where I successfully implemented a network management system that earned me a good evaluation.

After graduation I stayed on for 3 months working for BT as a customer advisor and then decided to return to Kenya to put to use my qualifications professionally for the development of my home country. I came back in September 2008 and got a job two months later with Seven Seas Technologies, an IT consulting and systems integration firm. I am now the Team Leader responsible for the Service Management center. I also will be doing part time teaching from the coming month at a local college to share my knowledge and skills to the upcoming generation of ICT professionals - and hopefully influence them to achieve even greater heights.

The YES scheme is truly a life changing opportunity that those given the privilege should count themselves lucky among thousands and make the most of it. It gave me a chance to get quality education abroad; something I would not have afforded on my own. Now I intend to use my achievements for the benefit of others by handling my responsibilities with integrity and volunteering my time and knowledge to them.