Ononuju Silver from Nigeria wins the UN Exchange Learning Internship in Geneva

We are always excited to hear about your achievements and breakthroughs. Okwaraogoma Ononuju Silver is one of the people we are proud of - he has been following Opportunity Desk, applied severally and rejected severally but he never gave up and alas, got an early Christmas gift last year.

In 2014, Uju applied for the UN Exchange Learning Internship, sponsored by Irish Aid and got selected. He will also be attending the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Read the recount of his experience below and be inspired to #keeptrying!

I always thought traveling abroad was a big deal and the opportunities available to attend them were just limited to scholarships and letters of invitation. That perspective changed when I found Opportunity Desk.  It was new to me and I couldn't believe that there are so many opportunities for young people to attend conferences, get scholarships and many more on the same platform.  

I started applying... 

And I was turned down severally.... 

I was invited for a few others but they were not fully-funded. But I continued to improve on myself and my applications. Then in 2014, I applied  for the UN Exchange Learning Internship in Geneva. To my greatest surprise I got it.  

Yes I got it... 

And courtesy of OpportunityDesk.org, I have the opportunity to be a part of the program and also attend the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. 

What seemed far fetched and impossible is now a reality... 

I owe this trip to the entire Opportunity Desk team - you do not know the life transforming things you do. If only you knew. Sincerely I am open to working with your team to create more opportunities for other young people.

- Uju Silver

Congratulations and all the best, from all of us!

Have you been successful in any of your applications? Be an inspiration to others by sharing your story with us. Do keep us in the loop of activities as they unfold.