My name is Kutemwa Elizabeth Malichyi am 10years old, upon joining the spelling bee, a mix of jubilation, petrification, and anxiety enveloped me. Excitement surged as I realized I was chosen to represent my country, offering the chance to delve into intriguing words, enhance language skills, and foster a global perspective. Petrification gripped me, standing before a large crowd, competing with those more experienced. Anxiety loomed, questioning my ability to succeed. To aspiring spelling bee participants, I emphasize that the journey transcends victory, focusing on embracing the learning process. Eager to intensify my efforts for this year's competition, I aim for a top-three placement. The 2023 spelling bee significantly enriched my vocabulary, and I extend heartfelt gratitude for unwavering support from family, friends, and my country. Thank you.

My name is Rita Natasha Khondowe. I am 12 years of age and have competed in Zambia Spelling Bee since 2022. I had gone to Malawi in 2022 to compete in the African Spelling Bee. Sadly, I did not win but what's most important is that I did my best and had fun doing it. In 2023, I competed in the the Zambia nationals speling bee in livingstone and i qualified to go to African Spelling Bee in Uganda. Sadly, I did not win again but that's alright because I tried my best and my coach says that he appreciates my efforts more than my results. Spelling Bee has been very educational and fun. It has taught me to be strong, confident, hardworking and to never give up. It has given me an opportunity to travel to different countries and meet kids of different cultures in Africa. Spelling Bee has enhanced my vocabulary and I have come to know different words I had never come across through my training and the competitions. If I had to tell you one thing, it's that it's okay to try and error in life. You have to pick yourself up and carry on. Don't tell yourself that you are not good enough. Instead, tell yourself that you can do it. Have faith in yourself.