About the Author: Sharon Hudson-Dean serves as Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Our official Independence Day reception hosted over 500 Zimbabwean leaders, dignitaries and diplomats at the Ambassador’s residence. It featured a Marine Guard presentation of the colors and great words about the promise of U.S.-Zimbabwean relations. But the true essence of our Declaration of Independence and the nation it built was captured earlier in the week at the graduation ceremony for 31 young Zimbabweans from disadvantaged backgrounds who will start university on full scholarships next month in the United States.

The students come from all over this country and, thanks to the U.S. Student Achievers Program (USAP) run by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section, they all have 4-year scholarships at top American institutions of higher learning. Among the 2011 USAP group, three students are physically disabled, several are the heads of their households, having lost… more »