AIM:
To give South African students with demonstrated leadership qualities who are from very diverse backgrounds and holding very different world views, the opportunity to engage with one another and explore together the meaning of ethical leadership and to build their leadership abilities as they prepare to serve both local and global communities.

MARCH - MAY
OBJECTIVES:
To acquaint students with SAWIP and its values; to deepen their appreciation for human diversity - its strengths and challenges; to build on their leadership potential; to assist with their community service projects if needed; to prepare them for their intense development experience in Washington DC.

STUDENT LEARNIG GOALS, METHODS AND OUTCOMES:

Goal One:
Help students to make their values explicit and examine them in relation to SAWIP values.
Values identification and clarification process done during the Selection Camp.
Outcomes: Students have identified and clarified their own values, have examined SAWIP’s values and drawn up a list of values that they can live by.

Goal Two:
Build students’ awareness of and appreciation for diversity and the strength inherent therein.
Narrative therapy methods are used to achieve this objective.
Outcomes: Students have developed a deep understanding of and respect for one another’s differences and appreciate the value in each member of the group.

Goal Three:
Ensure students understand how a team forms and functions effectively and help each one to gain insight into their own team behaviours.
Team development games played and debriefed.
Psychometric testing and feedback.
Outcomes: Students understand team development and functioning and how their different styles contribute to a successful team.

Goal Four:
Build on students’ understanding of leadership - with a particular focus on values-based/responsible/servant leadership - and further develop their own leadership skills.
This is achieved through:

• A three session engagement with Gateways Management Consultancy and their model of ‘Resonant Leadership’.
• Students carrying out the SAWIP challenge to them to raise R6000 each towards the costs of their SAWIP experience.
• A session on leadership in international peace mediation given by Brian Currin.

Outcomes: Students have some knowledge of leadership theory; understand and appreciate the role of values-based/responsible/servant leadersip; are building their own personal leadership attributes; have raised their R6000 contribution towards SAWIP; understood the principles and processes involved in international peace mediation.

Goal Five:
Give students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and engage with contemporary issues facing SA and its region.
(eg refugees/ xenophobia; water and environmental issues; health: HIV/AIDS & malaria; skills & employment; education; poverty & food security; housing; human trafficking; war and H.R. courts, child soldiers; SADC region/security/human rights; racism; Ethics/role models; Crime/Security; good governance…) This is provided through:

• Selected presentations by recognized people with knowledge, expertise and experience.
• Research-based presentations by students.
• Selected readings.

Outcomes: Students have basic, informed knowledge and understanding of selected local and global issues and what challenges these present to leaders.

Goal Six:
Ensure that students are familiar with SA’s public policy and have considered different positions thereon.

• Selected readings.
• Formal debating.
• Meetings with selected, relevant South Africans.

Outcomes: Students have knowledge of selected SA public policies and have considered different perspectives on each.

Goal Seven:
Introduce students to the history, socio - economic – political conditions and challenges facing SA, USA, NI & Republic of Ireland and identify similarities and differences from their own context.

• Discussions with the Ambassador or staff of the Irish Embassy, British Embassy, US Embassy.

Outcomes: Students have a basic knowledge and understanding of the histories and pertinent issues and challenges which affect the lives of the students from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the USA and can relate those to the South African context.

Goal Eight: Further develop students’ social and professional networking and communication skills.

• Workshop on networking by Ian Mann of Gateways Management Consultancy.
• Opportunities for social engagement in a variety of environments with a range of challenges.

Outcomes: Students understand how to network successfully and have had the opportunities to both network and socialize in safe situations in order to practice these skills.

Goal Nine:
Build students’ abilities for strategic thinking.

• Workshop by Ian Mann of Gateways Management Consultancy.

Outcomes: Students understand what it means to think strategically and have strengthened their strategic thinking skills.

Goal Ten:
Prepare students for their stay in DC.
Appropriate personal presence and what is expected by host families & internship organizations as well as SAWIP management both in SA and DC.
Outcomes: Students have suitable clothing; know what behaviours are culturally appropriate in both offices and homes in DC; know what is expected of them by both SA and DC management and boards.

Goal Eleven:
30 hrs individual community service
Students select their own community project and spend at least 30 hours working in that project. The project leader and the SAWIP student submit reports on what was achieved, what problems were faced and how they were overcome.
Outcomes: Students have completed their 30 hrs in their selected community service projects and have submitted both a report by their project leader and themselves to SAWIP management.

SOUTH AFRICA: AUGUST – OCTOBER

OBJECTIVES:
To assist students with their team community project if required; deepen their critical reflection and evaluation skills; induct them into the SAWIP alumni network.

Goal One:
A minimum of 30 hrs spent on a SAWIP Team community service project.
Students together identify a community need, draw up a project business plan and then implement their project. They compile an implementation, outcomes and impact report on its completion.
Outcomes: Students have completed their team project and submitted a report which includes a needs assessment, a business plan, a description of implementation and identified what outcomes there were. If possible, impact of the project should be included in the report.

Goal Two:
Build students’ reflection and evaluation skills.
Students write evaluative reports on their SAWIP experience.
They participate in a full day feedback session with the SAWIP Board during which they share their experiences of each element of the programme, what they have learned and what suggestions they have for strengthening the programme.
Outcomes: Students have submitted their written evaluation reports and they have participated in the SAWIP annual reflection and evaluation session.

Goal Three:
Induct students’ into the SAWIP Alumni Network.
A formal graduation ceremony and celebration is held.
Board members who are senior alumni of SAWIP have this portfolio.
Outcomes: Students have attended the graduation ceremony and have been inducted by board members into the SAWIP alumni group.