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I’m part of a pretty awkward generation. With long hair, skinny jeans and ear piercings, you’ll be forgiven for mistaking the sex of a member of Generation Y. There’s no real “cool” anymore. The hipster (it kind of means cool, but it's different) trend has morphed from its established identity as anything that isn’t mainstream to pretty much anything goes. For example, a pair of Nikes won’t be cool if you got them at the Nike Factory Store but the same pair is the epitome of hipster if they were bought at the local thrift shop.

 

The generation seems to adore anything that is either extreme in its contrast or that is entirely comfortable in its plainness. Your hairstyle will be cool if you spent the better part of your Friday afternoon getting your product to produce and perfecting that Dapper Dan look or, perplexingly, if you put no effort into it at all.

 

Gen Y is in limbo between retro and recent. You’re cool if you drive a 1984 Volkswagen Beetle but also if you’re the owner of the latest GTI. By all means get an iPhone as long as you get a cover that makes it look like a cassette. The quintessence of technology is a MacBook, but please hide it in a case that makes it look like a 1970’s encyclopaedia. Live in a modern penthouse apartment but remember to have your walls adorned with images of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and James Dean.

 

It’s because of this identity crisis that the current generation is often written off as a bunch of tweeting twerps that haven’t read any pages outside of Facebook. A recent article in Time magazine went as far as describing the latest generation as narcissistic and lazy.

 

While I sometimes find it challenging not to share these sentiments, I do believe that, for all its oddities, it is this generation that will transform South Africa both economically and socially. You don’t have to look far to find stories of innovation and dedication that cannot but inspire – and this doesn’t even refer to the inspiring stories of SAWIP team members. All over South Africa young leaders are taking ownership of the social inequalities that they’ve inherited and are taking steps to address them.

 

A group of UCT students recently decided that they weren’t reaching enough students through their tutoring business. The solution? A programme that can be accessed online that presents learners with questions related to their respective subjects that are designed not only to test their knowledge, but also to give their schoolteachers insight into the areas of the subject that the learner doesn’t understand. The programme has been developed and financed by students and their business has sold around 50 licenses to schools in the Western Cape.

 

Some Stellenbosch students decided a few years ago to form an organisation known as The Dead Parrots. The organisation simply seeks to promote critical dialogue amongst students at Stellenbosch University. Their events on campus have compelled students to re-evaluate their position on various issues including race and gender equality. Most recently they hosted a book launch of radio personality Eusebius McKaiser.

 

The New Hope Summit, an initiative pushed by Stellenbosch students a few years ago, is currently running in Muizenberg. The Summit is a meeting of student leaders from Universities, Universities of Technology and FET Colleges in the Western Cape where topics such as transformation and expanding the reach of education are discussed and strategies formulated. This year the summit is focusing on a bill of student rights that will hopefully improve tertiary education in the Western Cape.

 

These initiatives have all been launched to serve a perceived need in society and all have been run in the spirit of making our country better for all who live in it. Most importantly all of these initiatives have sprung out of the minds of some exceptional members of Generation Y.

 

Somewhere between creating monotonous electronic music and deciding it’s OK for guys to wear pants two sizes too small, Generation Y has decided to take on some of the problems facing our country. The youth of South Africa have announced that they have accepted their role in rebuilding South Africa and shown that they are not just going along for the ride but leading the way. I have hope for my generation.

 

When you start to care, you can’t stop. But the more you care, the more it burdens you. And you start asking yourself: is it even worth it? These questions buoyantly come to surface when you see yourself as some one who was placed on this world to change it.The past few weeks have been filled with great discussions and critical thinking about current situations that face the global village, in most of these discussions one is usually left feeling hopeless about ever changing these crises.

Many people want to change the world and this is a noble cause, but rather unrealistic don’t get me wrong I am not oblivious of all the wrongs that the world is facing nor the change one person can make. But my problem with the approach is that it gives one an unhealthy identity about themselves and what they are capable of doing.

The idea of wanting to carry the sins of the world and fix every wrong is wrong. We should not aspire to change the world but to make a difference, because making a difference is a process that leads to the changing of the world. When a person thinks that he can change the world this creates unrealistic supremacy identity, what I personally call the Messaih complex. The world is a complex structure it requires cooperation from diverse individuals working together for a common vision of making this world a better place for all.

Better than doing things with the propensity to change the world, we should start doing things with the intentions to make a difference, by doing that we subconsciously influence others to start doing things that make a difference too and the best way to convince other people is to lead by example.

We are not here to change the world, but to make a difference, and watch our difference changing the world. Every effort counts, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. Just do something, and do something good.

Personal growth is a process of learning, unlearning, and relearning. SAWIP promotes and facilitates personal growth (i.e. learning, unlearning, and relearning) through its curriculum, as well as through the interactions that take place during and between scheduled events. One of the many lessons I have learned (or more accurately, relearnt) over the last four weeks pertains to listening.

Listening is an underrated (and an essential leadership) skill. It is arguably the most valuable and the least understood skill of leadership. In my experiences (involving both myself and others), people often (ask questions and) listen with the intent to reply, to advise, to challenge, to ‘educate’, or to solve; they do not listen with the intent to (first) understand. The power of asking meaningful questions and then listening with the intent to understand is the power to influence hearts and minds. More consequentially, it is the power to meet a core desire – to be heard and understood. People want to be listened to, and they want people around who will listen.

A man who once met Sigmund Freud described Freud’s manner of listening as follows: “It struck me so forcibly that I shall never forget him. He had qualities, which I had never seen in any other man. Never had I seen such concentrated attention. There was none of that piercing ‘soul penetrating gaze’ business. His eyes were mild and genial. His voice was low and kind. His gestures were few. But the attention he gave me, his appreciation of what I said, even when I said it badly, was extraordinary. You have no idea what it meant to be listened to like that.”

I will never have the opportunity to interact with Sigmund Freud, but I can relate to the experience of the gentleman who met Freud and conveyed, in the quoted words above, what that experience was like. On a few occasions in 2012, I had the fortunate opportunity to interact with a prominent South African. What most struck me about this individual is his ability to listen with presence; to make you feel, simply by the manner in which he listens, like there is nothing more important to him in that moment than you. Even though I do not remember everything that he and I spoke about, I will never forget the way I felt when listened to with such authenticity, presence, and unreserved attention.

Listening imparts a great deal of respect. When one listens with authenticity, presence, and unreserved attention one makes an instant impression, and builds a solid bridge for lasting connection and potential collaboration. Who can resist being around someone who suspends his/her thoughts and judgement in order to value yours?

I end with a few quotes (that I have attempted, and hopefully have managed, to arrange ‘logically’) that, I think, better convey the thoughts that I have endeavoured to express in this blog post:

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” – Ralph Nichols

“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.” – Rachel Naomi Remen

“The saddest part about being human is not paying attention. Presence is the gift of life.” – Stephen Levine

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never do.” – Ernst Hemmingway

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” – Winston Churchill

“People love to talk but hate to listen. Listening is not merely not talking, though even that is beyond most of our powers; it means taking a vigorous, human interest in what is being told us. You can listen like a blank wall or like a splendid auditorium where every sound comes back fuller and richer.” – Alice Duer Miller

“He did it (listened) as the world's most charming and magnetic people do, always asking the right question at the right time, never fidgeting or taking his eyes from the speaker's face, making the other guy feel like the most knowledgeable, brilliant, and intellectually savvy person on the planet.” – Stephen King

“It is the province of knowledge to speak And it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

“The word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent'.” – Alfred Brendel

“Silence is a source of great strength.” – Lao Tzu

... But dreams are not merely an illusory symbol of a fanciful future. Like our names our dreams are bound up in history. They are of no time, and they are of all time. And they speak a truth...

Something that caught my attention during our amazing leadership dinner earlier this week, it was a short discussion on how lucky South-Africa was to have great leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Walter Sisulu and many alike being alive at the same time in the same country. We accredit South-Africa’s liberation from apartheid primarily to the striking coincidence of these great men being alive and in South-Africa at a crucial time. Of course one can dispute this by arguing these great leaders came up because of the apartheid system rather than in spite of it, however this raises the question of whether or not leaders are made or born. Whatever your thoughts on this may be, the fact remains South-Africa had a power house of great leaders all alive and in one country at the same time. This was in a time of change for South-Africa and South-Africa had the arsenal, the leadership arsenal, to make change happen and change a nation forever.

 

So I wondered if we have the same leadership arsenal in the world today. Looking at the state of the world, it is certainly clear we need the likes of Nelson Mandela in conflict resolution in places such as the Middle East. Many people question the ability of today’s leaders to bring positive change in the world and rightly so, because there hasn’t been a leadership parallel to that of Nelson Mandela or Martin Luthur King, Jr. There haven’t been colossal efforts to eradicate many of the world’s problems such as poverty, racial and gender inequality, water scarcity and many more. It seems that solving global problems is a seasonal process; there is a season where each problem comes up in the U.N or A.U and other organizations, while people affected by these problems die on a daily basis. This is largely due to the institutionalization of leadership through organizations like the U.N. But this is not the only factor hindering positive change. Gone are the days when great men did not only live for something, but were willing to die for it. Maybe we don’t need such drastic measures of leadership, but we certainly need something to inspire change.

 

In pondering the idea of great leaders being alive at the same time and influencing a nation to change I turned my thoughts to myself and SAWIP. Am I not alive in an age of great leaders? Will the world ever have the caliber of Nelson Mandela again? I am tempted to say no, but in reflecting upon SAWIP and what it entails, I realize I live in an age where potential great leaders are not just alive, but brought together and supported to collaborate in such a way that transcends anything ever done in the past. The organized effort to bring together young emerging leaders in a cooperative network that creates a bond and platform, which will last a life time for these leaders to interact and collaborate their efforts to solve and address global issues, is an unprecedented truth. This could be the greatest time to be alive in the history of our country and the world. I believe I am more fortunate to be alive in this day and age where not just a few great are alive at the same time, but a network of potential great leaders are alive, active and being equipped to solve the world’s problems. The only thing we need to do, the only thing the SAWIP students should do, is live up the potential and faith that is entrusted in them. If we all do that, history will tell a story of a network of great leaders being alive at the same time and inspired colossal efforts which changed the world.

We often hear of the notion of how people have “made it.” This view of having “made it” refers to that of success. However, we seldom hear of how, when and why people do not succeed (or rather, why they fail) in their endeavours. During a leadership dinner hosted by SAWIP board member Karin Strydom, we addressed this issue.

 

Harvey Floyd, from the Center for Creative Leadership, raised the concern on how industry leaders are openly willing to share in their success stories, yet seldom candidly admit their failures. In response to this issue, Renosi Mokate, an executive board director of the World Bank, shared a story in which she acknowledged a letdown. After matriculating top of her class, her parents encouraged her to complete her A-levels because they felt that she was too young to immediately begin her university career. Since she did not particularly want to do her A-levels, this resulted in her not performing very well in her A-level studies. Based on this admitted failure, she had a different mindset and approach when she started her university career. Moreover, in a way of claiming back her potential, she graduated top of her class with her undergraduate degree.

 

Sharing life experiences and lessons of successes and failures can be an effective tool of mentoring. Whether the outcome of an endeavour results in success or failure depends on the sequence of events following the first step. Often times, this initial step involves a measure of risk. Similarly to the board game of Monopoly that I grew up playing, taking chances may cause uncertainty driven by fear. However, the fear of failure should not be a limitation for taking steps to fulfilling our dreams. Instead, when we recognize our shortfalls, we should take steps to counter them by admitting our imperfections, re-assessing the situation and taking steps to make improvements, and thereby learning through the changes.

 

Ask any frustrated mother: the youth loves to question everything. We still have the vigour and arrogance not to accept reactions or circumstances at face value. We love to challenge outcomes and roadmap responsibility for these conclusions.

It is no different for the youth leaders of South Africa. When the team of fifteen students from the South Africa Washington International Program met with a representative of the UN for a briefing, we heard that our country “bowed to no one”. We heard tales of implied International power, of a symbolic significance that gave South Africa a special influence among nations.

Yet the supposed disregard of the African Union and South Africa’s efforts in Libya by the UN was burning at the back of several of our students’ minds. It is with this ambiguity of opinions that we met with three delegates of South Africa’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

Our panel consisted of Dr. Jongi Klaas, first secretary and representative on terrorism issues for the Security Council; Mr. Tshimangadzo Jeremiah Murongwana, first secretary and a member of the Third Committee, specialising in children and armed conflicts and Dr. Dire David Tladi, legal adviser to the Mission and member of the Sixth Committee.

For a youth starved for answers, this panel represented some of the best resources and leaders the country had to offer us. To the credit of the panel, they opened by telling us they would answer all our questions to the extent of what is in their power. Throughout the conversation the panel allowed us liberties in our robust and sometimes critical conversation, never once patronizing us based on our youth.

Dr. Tladi opened the session with a description of the finer structural machinery of the UN. The discussion on the veto power structure in the Security Council naturally led to questions regarding Security Council reform and the division of world powers regarding the issue. The validity of an African claim for a permanent seat was debated, focussing on the disproportionate and non-permanent representation of a continent that houses an alleged 70 percent of all conflicts put before the Security Council. Dr. Tladi also spoke on the differentiation between the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal court, followed by a discussion on the seemingly selective prosecution of Africans in the ICC.

Issues regarding international conflicts were addressed to Dr. Klaas, who spoke very eloquently on the unrest in the Maghreb region, as well as the application of Palestine to become an UN member state. He also addressed a very interesting question posed by a student, inquiring if he observes South Africa’s influence growing in the international community, but dwindling in Africa. The status of LGBT rights in Africa was discussed by Mr. Murongwana, who spoke of the patterns of violence and policy reform briefly.

The session was ended by a frank discussion on the ambiguity of South Africa’s undersigning of Resolution 1973 for Libya, only to criticise the UN and western powers for interfering in a regional conflict. The students posed questions on the undermining of the AU by these actions.

This panel discussion was about more than just literal questions and answers. It was about leaders investing time in the next generation to inform our global perspectives. They acknowledged our need for a platform where we could engage with institutions like the UN to understand the structural delicacies that result in the conclusions we live with everyday, as well as  having our leaders authoritatively answer our questions and hear our voices.

The South Africa Washington International Program would like to thank our panel members, for setting such a hopeful precedent for youth engagement by our leaders.

 

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, to this, the graduation dinner of the SAWIP class of 2011. We are privileged to have you in our company. I wish to thank our parents who are present this evening. Thank you especially to my mother and sister who remain my strongest support structure. I extend my gratitude to my grandparents, who were unable to be here this evening for their unhindered encouragement and motivation. I wish also to thank, my host family, Carol, Tom, Max, Maria, Nicole, Melvin and Scrappy the dog, for their warm hospitality, and continued dedication to the program.

This evening, I have been entrusted with the responsibility to speak on youth development. For the sake of clarity and limited time, I will root my speech in South African soil.

Dempers has meticulously painted the canvas which was our collective SAWIP experience. We have undoubtedly learnt a great deal about leadership, community and service, and how it all intertwines in our vision for South Africa.

Our vision for South Africa.

These past few days, I have thought deeply about the collective vision for SA. Admit tingly, my vision for my native land has been mired by years of privilege, of living behind a glass menagerie, looking onto the SA landscape and ‘itspeople’ as an observer. My vision has been tilted and skewed to emphasize the need for economic development and looser economic markets; of freer-barriers of trade and a laissez-faire government approach. I envisaged the southern tip of Africa as a trading hub, with multinational conglomerates vying for the people’s rands and cents. This, I envisaged with the sinister knowledge that I would inherently benefit from this capitalist society.

I struggled to think of a collective vision for SA, because I had reduced the collective (essentially the African majority) to statistics. Numerical figures obtained by a regression model. At a comfortable distance I quoted the findings.

My crooked vision for SA was adjusted this past weekend in Stellenbosch, at the Lead Young seminar. There, before us, were 24 enthusiastic high school students, eager to soak up valuable lessons of leadership, service and community. And learn they did. The comprehensive SAWIP curriculum offered a fresh perspective on the above mentioned concepts in a SA context. But, in truth, the interaction with the Young Leaders left me feeling hopeful as I relearnt the definition of community and redefined the meaning of servant leadership.

The numbers had come to life. As they impassionedly spoke boldly of their dreams and future aspirations, the numerical figures were replaced by sets of shiny eyes. As this realization dawned on me, I looked around the room and thought “this is the 60% which makes up SA. We ARE the youth!” This seemingly obvious epiphany had found its place, purpose and time at a youth development conference, organized and led by the youth itself. We are they whom, without a vision, a decent education and a stroke of luck, would solemnly join the winding unemployment line. At that moment, the once foreign phrase “youth development” manifested in the flesh.

Seldom had it occurred to me until my interaction with the Young Leaders that the phrase “youth development” has been used too loosely. Now the term chokes me, it blocks my windpipe refusing to be sung nonchalantly as an ice-breaker at corporate dinner parties, as we discuss the woes and woos of South Africa.

In my personal experience, the reason I have used the term loosely is two-fold. Firstly, I had not personalized the statistics. I had not allowed them their God-given space to dream. I had divorced my bourgeoisie-self from the pool of the seemingly hopeless souls, destined to repeat the cycle of generational poverty.

Secondly, I had not recognized the NEED for youth empowerment. I had read about it in the appendixes of economic policies and Corporate Social Responsibility programs, granted. But the flaw was in my understanding. I understood it as a means of compliance with the legislature, not as a progressive means to achieving economic and social freedom in our lifetime.

And now I realize that we, as South Africans, simply don’t have the privilege of pleading ignorance. We are not at liberty to decide whether or not to invest in skills training for the youth. We can’t choose to remain cocooned and oblivious to the SA reality, for it is OUR reality. It has to be intrinsic in our nature. It must be fluid to our thoughts. Ladies and gentlemen, if we are truly committed to the vision of a democratic society, in which all its citizens realize economic and social freedom, we ought to be committed to developing SA’s youth. Our failure to do so will result in potential leaders, chemical engineers, entrepreneurs, business analysts, medical practitioners, and advocates entrapped in the caveats of poverty, not realizing their full potential.

This evening, I am encouraging a partnership between all stakeholders (government, citizens, business) to invest in our most precious and valuable commodity; our youth, this, for the sake our nation and its entire people. The time of tiptoeing around South Africa’s dire inequalities has since past. No longer can we quote the Gini coefficient at 0.68 the highest in the world, and not become restless by the status quo.For as long as we procrastinate actual change, and continue to shift the responsibility to some other body, the wider the gap between the haves and have not’s will multiply. Let it be known, that the development of all South Africans is not a charitable offer, it is our responsibility.

Let US be the answer to our beloved national prayer. As we ask God to bless Africa, to raise high its glory, and to hear our prayers. As we plead He blesses and keeps us, to protect our nation and intervene and end all conflicts. Let us answer our own prayer, not with a habitual “Amen”, but in thought and deed.

Nkosi sikelela iAfrika.

Enkosi

 

May I begin by saying JazakAllah khair to the Ambassador for agreeing to host us this evening. May we

as the SAWIP class of 2011 also thank the Deputy Minister for agreeing to attend this event.

 

We are here today to talk about economic freedom in our lifetime. Any discussion on this issue should answer three questions: What is economic freedom? What is a lifetime? And how can young

people contribute to this freedom today?

 

What is a lifetime? The average life expectancy in South Africa is 55 years old. That means that for most

of the people in this room, they have 35 years left. With some rounding off, this leaves us at the year

2050: this is the time period we are talking about.

 

What kind of economic freedom can we see in this period? Here, it is important that we are

realistic. By 2050 we will not reach nirvana, heaven or janah. Yet similarly, we cannot simply aim to stay

in the same place that we are at. Economic freedom would therefore be some intermediary location

between these two places. To me, economic freedom therefore, means the ability to meet all of our

people's needs. Economic needs, educational needs, needs in healthcare and needs for meaningful employment

 

opportunities.

 

What position then do we find ourselves in today? A friend of mine often describes South Africa as a

cappuccino economy, one with a vast black base which supports a thin layer of white

foam at the top completed recently by a few black sprinkles at the surface. Our mission therefore can be

stated as an attempt to stir the cappuccino and turn it from short skinny into grande (applause).

 

Yet we face two great challenges as we sit here this Youth Day. First, the new diagnostic report

produced by the National Planning Commission makes the point that our economy remains resource

dependent both in the sense that we still rely on the exportation of mineral resources as a source of

growth but also to the extent that we rely heavily on the extraction of natural resources to fuel our

economy.

 

A second defective feature of our economy is the extent to which it remains structured to service only a

small fraction of the population. Our townships continue to expand around a few major cities that

provide for only the most privileged South Africans.

 

In this light, I would like to share some very brief thoughts on the role that young people should be

playing in this battle.

 

First, all young peole should stay in South Africa, at least for some time, ensuring that the skills that

South Africa has created remain here.

 

 

Second, the youth voice has disappeared from view. I believe there is a need for a youth voice which

makes use of the newfound communications tools to harness a unified movement. While not every

South African has access to the internet via a desktop or a laptop, nearly every South African has a

cellular phone.

 

Moreover, I think it is critical that we use this voice in promoting advocacy and inspiring accountability.

Shouting louder when our leaders falter and congratulating when they advance our nation.

 

Finally, I would call on older South Africa who hold the reins of power to use the young South Africans

who are willing to serve. We are young and we are here. Waiting fifteen years for us to come of age

may be too long. We need to be out to work in South Africa now.

 

I believe these are some ways that we can stir the cappuccino economy.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

A vexing question: What does it or should it mean to be a young leader in South Africa today?

 

 

 

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

So there I was, standing in the middle of a United Nations tour, staring at a picture hanging against the wall. The photograph was of young African women, sitting on a chair, leg and arm amputated, scars on her face and burn marks on her body. At first was completely saddened by their physical appearance. However the part of the image that drew me to this photograph from all the others was that the young African girl was smiling. Still sadden by the scars and pain I can only imagine she had been through, i asked a fellow sawipean, mpumi- why is she smiling- mpumi looks at me and says that’s the ‘’African way’’

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guest ,loving Host families, work supervisors and the sawip class of 2011, I am Ilke Bosman, I am a proud 4th year law student at the University Of the Western Cape. I am also the eldest of three, and I am extremely family orientated. Hailing from the beautiful city of Cape Town, I live in a small town of Kuils River and I am an extreme social justice ambassador. As an enthusiastic young South African I value the ideals of shaping South Africa and our social justice system. One of my proudest moments in life was being afforded the ability to go to university, and I am extremely grateful that my parents worked and studied to afford me this. I come from a long linage where people achieved so many with so little, and taken into account the political situation of their time, I aspire to do the same and more. They laid the foundations for me to be a leader and shaped my mind into being a strong South African woman. Thus in deciding my career path I chose to use my mind by applying the law.  South African civil society has an illustrious past with a strong tradition of advocacy and lobbying in the context of the struggle against apartheid.

My South African story started 14years ago. I attended a predominately white school at the age of 8, after my parents relocated our family from a predominantly coloured area. I had to adapt to the new environment and for the first time I was race aware.

When my family and I moved there, we were the only coloured family in our street, and this was a very apparent issue, as our neighbours made it very clear we were not welcome, by throwing stones on our roof, and unwelcoming comments. The only family, who welcomed us, was a white family up the road, who had a young girl my age. We became friends, and have been ever since then. This was the first time I had a friend of a different race and experienced a different culture from mine.

And as I stand here today, I have my second culture- exchange experience. An exchange very different from our post-apartheid policy, an exchange where I am able to understand the working of society and its people, and exchange that lead to growing and experience D.C to its full extent.

This program allows us to grow and learn in so many aspects that the effects of what we learnt should still be uncovered. Our work placements and networking opportunities have left with a hunger to learn and experience even more!

Furthermore the program allows us to rest our heads and fill our tummies in some of the best places in town. Thinking back on my pre D.C trip, I went back to my VERY LENGTHY and in DEPTH application and I wanted to see if the board members and management team used our applications of if they just wanted to see our level of endurance when we were in applying for the program.

My letter prior to even making it on the program was as follow:

I am a young south African student, with an enormous sense of humor and a hunger to learn and experience life. I love laughing and have the habit of telling jokes, who some might find lame, and corny!

 

I am very family orientated and thus I feel I am comfortable around all kinds of people! I have never been over-seas and never lived with any other family except my own. I am therefor very excited with the idea of experiencing this and all the lessons which come with it.

 

I love music; I am a shopaholic, and a big book worm. I have a weakness for food, and I will never pass up the opportunity to sing... (Not very good at it) but that a good mood will show you in no time. I’m an easy going girl, who doesn’t need many frills; I’m very down to earth and can’t wait to be part of a true life adventure!

 

Being part of your household would not only be an honour but would also be a stepping stone to my true life adventure.

Now let’s forward this process about three months, HOST FAMILY! Right off the bat, my host mom, Mrs Jennifer Love, put her surname to good use, and just showered me with LOVE. We arrived at their home, which is perfectly shaped and moulded to raise and grow as a family. I was introduced to Mr Dion Love, who made me feel welcomed and comfortable from the minute I walk through the door. It was the most natural, and unpretentious environment I could wish for. I was welcomed to my room, and given a helpful and tasty goodie bag. A special note should go to the Love residence, as they host the most attractive little boys this side of D.C could ever dream of! Mr Jordan Love , is the smartest, funniest and I’m convinced; tallest 6 year old I have ever seen, he is followed by a sweet, angelic 3 year old, Mr Jaime Love who walks around with Jen’s phone and sings the whole day. The last Love child is Mr Evan Love, who is only 5 months old; I think they had so much love in their house that the excess of ‘Love’ over flowed into his cute and adorable essence and created a baby capturing the true heart and soul of the Love family! As stated in my application, my host mom has introduced me to great literature to keep me company on the long rides on the metro, gone shopping with me to the outlets, and AS Jamie loves to sing, we both pretend we in a music video and he doesn’t make me feel bad for my..erm lack of backup vocals! This 5 weeks, have indeed been a true life adventure! I would like to commend them and all the host families for opening their homes without anything in return. Allowing us to eat, sleep, and come in a ungodly hour. In giving us lifts to the metro, directions, and aiding in our daily needs. And when the yearning for home and our Loved ones is too much, asking us how you could help by allowing us to make calls to SA, or in my case allowing me to just talk about them and memories of home.  The foundations of my D.C experience are found in the support my Host family gave me, they were truly my home away from home moment!

 

So there I was…in the middle of a UN tour, starring at this picture and it reminded me of a poem by Maya Angelou- I know why the caged bird sings-

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

South Africa, is the land where we learnt to grow play and dance to the tune of freedom. We are the generation that will mould and create a country that we hope will open the gate way to Africa, and when we look back at the path way that lead to us creating  the dream we have for south Africa, we will remember the faith and belief SAWIP, work supervisors and Host families had in us in D.C and here after!

We have experienced, learned and grew and we have yet to uncover the effects of journey on our lives, but I know we will continue to cause ripples, and that is why i found this quote so fitting.

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. ”Robert F. Kennedy Cape town, June 6th 1966-

Be the ripple guys!!

 

"This world demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease." As it were, Robert Kennedy stated this in a speech delivered at the University of Cape Town, 1966.

 

Doing community service was in no sense a new thing to me, in fact I don’t think it’s new for any SAWIP intern.