Is this programme for you? PDF Print E-mail
Now that you know that you are eligible, please read the following to determine whether this programme is for you. Please read the following carefully. Our mission statement will give you some clues as to what kind of candidate we are looking for.

“The mission of the South Africa-Washington Internship Programme is to prepare, inspire and support a new generation of leaders in South Africa to address post-conflict challenges in the process of building a sustainable democratic society”

SAWIP achieves this by:

  • Selecting promising, motivated, senior University level students from South Africa and training them to lead in their respective fields with a strong social awareness and conscience
  • Building a trust between them that transcends racial, socio-economic and religious boundaries
  • Celebrating the group’s identity in diversity
  • Challenging them to achieve personal and professional excellence; and
  • Initiating them as graduates into a wider alumni network that continues to lead through service.
Look at some of the key words in this statement:

LEADERSHIP
Are you a leader? What type of leader? How do you lead? From the front or from behind the scenes? Can you also follow?

PROMISING
Do you have unfulfilled ambitions to lead and serve which the programme can help you identify and support?

TEAM
Can you prove you work well with other people? Can you listen to others points of view? Can you bring a group together around a common purpose?

PROFESSIONAL
Can you work in a demanding professional office and uphold the highest standards of work and conduct?

TRUST
Are you reliable, a person of your word, someone others instinctively trust? Are you ready to build a trust that contributes to reconciliation in South Africa between all races and communities.

EXCELLENCE
Are you motivated by the consistent desire to do your very best?

SERVICE
Are you willing to research your own public service internship and commit 30 hours to complete it? Are you prepared to commit 5 days to the team in the service of a community in need of your time and talents?

CELEBRATE
Do you have a sense of fun and adventure and a good sense of humour? Can you laugh at yourself?

WORK
Are you ready to work harder than you ever have before,-early starts, late finishes-as you enter the world of work in Washington, USA's Workaholic capital?

CHALLENGE
Are you willing to risk failure to achieve success? Can you deal with setbacks and frustrations? Do you want to test yourself in situations of pressure and potential conflict?

TRANSCEND BOUNDARIES
Are you ready to tackle the issues about division, injustice and racism that still remain obstacles to progress in South Africa ?

Are you willing to stretch the boundaries of your experience? Walk outside your comfort zones? Take risks?

DIVERSITY
Do you have an unusual talent, life experience, expertise, background or outlook that would enhance team diversity and enrich the learning pool of the team's life experience?

PEACE
Do you care about creating a more just society in South Africa ? In the world? Are you willing to do more than just talk about it?

PROGRESS
Are you personally invested in making your country more prosperous and just for all?


This is not a programme for everyone.

You need to convince us that you are ready for the challenge of a lifetime.

If you feel SAWIP is for you, proceed to the application process - step 3.