America.gov (Washington, DC)

A Namibian performing artist and director who uses music, dance and the stage to spread a message of hope and self-improvement to his nation's youth says he is proud to have been chosen to attend President Obama's Forum with Young African Leaders.

Isaak Amupolo, founder and director of the Ondangwa Drama Club, will join 120 Africans from 17 nations at the August 3-5 White House conference, which will feature a town hall-style meeting with President Obama.

Commenting on the town hall, Amupolo told America.gov: "It will be an honor to be in the same room with President Obama, not to mention having the opportunity to converse with him on issues of concern. This will be a highlight for me, and I hope to learn more about his vision for Africa and the role we as African youth can play in the future to better our societies."

Amupolo is doing his part through the Ondangwa Drama Club, which gave jobs to 15 unemployed youths who work with hundreds of young people to express themselves while imparting social messages, skills training and activities to keep them from pursuing destructive behaviors. The club has successfully partnered and worked with numerous nongovernmental organizations and recently received an HIV/AIDS grant from the American Cultural Center.

George Beukes, from the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia, told America.gov: "One of the great things about Isaak is that he returned to Ondangwa after his studies in Windhoek and worked in his community instead of seeking possibly greater rewards elsewhere. He has kept the group going even when previous youth organization funding dried up."

Amupolo said he thought he could gain much from the White House forum "because it will provide me with the opportunity to learn from other African delegates what their concerns are and perhaps what they think the solutions to these concerns should be. It will also provide us with the opportunity to establish a platform that we could utilize in future to debate African issues."

U.S. Ambassador to Namibia Dennise Mathieu told America.gov: "Clearly, up-and-coming young leaders have a great role to play in the future of the African continent. They are the future presidents, ministers, military commanders, academics, entrepreneurs; the list goes on and on. Their commitment to their countries' futures will have an impact on the success of governments, economies and societies."

Mathieu added: "After living in Namibia for almost three years, it is clear to me that young Namibians do have visions for their futures. I hear many of them saying that they want a strong system of education, the chance to attend university, the promise of good jobs upon graduation, and the ability to provide for their families. The President's Forum with Young African Leaders is about encouraging these ideas, this ambition, this energy."

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