Oumou’s 1^st Christmas morning. Pictured: Alecia (left, host sister), Dilesha (center, host mother), and Oumou (right).

We are pleased to announce the March YES Student of the Month, Oumou Nabe from Mali. She is placed by Program of Academic Exchange (PAX) and hosted in Hope, AR.

Oumou is an exceptional young adult who has been a leader since the day she arrived and is well respected in her community. Her local coordinator, teachers, fellow students, and especially her host family appreciate her positive attitude and consideration for others. 

Oumou’s host family said, “It's a blessing to host such a wonderful person!” and they have been impressed at how easily Oumou has adapted to a life with a special needs child.  Oumou’s host brother has autism and limited verbal communication. Oumou bonded with him immediately and enjoys being a caring and helpful sister.  She greets him with a smile and a kind voice each day, helps with his meal prep, reminds him of his daily duties, plays with him, and always looks out for him.

Oumou has been a model student, earning all As so far.  Oumou shared her culture and experience during International Education Week and beyond and has taught her teammates and coaches words in her native languages of French and Bambara.

Oumou has made a great impact by giving back to her host community, and with such kindness and positivity. To date, she has over 40 community service hours and counting. She's picked up trash along the streets with Civitan - a local service club. She helped her host parents babysit the children of a family making funeral arrangements for a lost loved one. She even used her money to buy a meal for a person in need. Oumou has presented about her culture and exchange experience to local service clubs, one of which was highlighted by a local newspaper. Oumou was also featured in the newspaper with her local coordinator and two other PAX exchange students at a recruitment event for host families.

Oumou is always eager to step outside her comfort zone and try new things - from tasting new foods and learning how to cook American food, to joining the basketball and track teams, to traveling and learning more about a culture so different from her own. She stated: “As a participant in this program, I feel like I have grown in knowledge.  I learned more about myself personally and now my mindset on the world around me is much larger than it was before.  I am so thankful for this program and grateful for the opportunity.” Oumou’s host mother commented, “To travel alone and make it to your destination, speak another language you're not familiar with, and to live in a home with a family you've never met in person, from another country with none of your immediate family members present speaks volumes.”

Oumou has embraced her exchange experience with grace, enthusiasm, and compassion. She is an excellent ambassador of Mali and the YES program.