I just looked at the headline of this post and wondered whatever happened to the young creative who loved writing poetry and short stories for children. I once heard you become the person the world needs you to be, maybe that’s what’s beginning to happen…

 

 

A few weeks ago we had an evening session with the wonderful Harry Culver, a former executive at a large corporation in South Africa, SAWIP board member and active citizen passionate about the future of South Africa. He introduced and facilitated a discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the South African context.  We outlined what the general idea behind these ideas meant. We explored some of the work being done by some of the large companies in the country. Things were going well…

 

It may be a result of hyper-critical minds, cynicism, or a general distrust of the ethics of large corporations and “boardroom philanthropy,” but the discussion quickly began to interrogate the motivations for some of these initiatives.  I think the work being done by these corporations is commendable: some corporations implement excellent welfare systems for their employees, ensuring there are support structures such as health care, child care and education subsidies available to them and their children. I also realise that a workforce that is holistically supported would have less quotidian “stresses”, thereby elevating Human Resource problems in the company and maximising productivity.  The support of entrepreneurial enterprises and the support of programmes to grow the middle class allows growth for the country as a whole and in so doing raises the amount of expendable household income, allowing for an increase in consumerism that benefits the future of a lot of the same corporations.

 

I’m sure I may come across as some theatre student who has no concept of the various initiatives being implemented that have no feasible benefits AT ALL to the companies that implement them. I do acknowledge that there are indeed true altruistic executives in the world. SAWIP alumni, ahem… None the less the motivations behind the work being done is not that important, the fact is CSR initiatives are being implemented regardless of reason.

 

 

‘It is much easier to have sympathy with suffering than it is to have sympathy with thought.”

Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism

 

To be honest, I don’t know if the way we’re bridging the stark economic differences in this world is the best or most efficient. That video is VERY interesting but it still doesn’t offer practical solutions of what the RIGHT thing is. What I am finding is that his final thoughts are EXCATLY some of the things we in the team have been talking about. Some of the CSR initiatives we have been exposed to in parts of this programme don’t have sustainability in mind or elements of self-actualisation ingrained in them. That, I fear is contributing to our society’s sentiments of entitlement post-Apartheid and its continued implementation is doing more harm than good.

 

“If you just operate the child then they live a little bit better but in the same situation which produced them.”

Oscar Wilde

 

 

This being my first blog of the SAWIP programme, I think it would be fitting to give a short introduction to myself for the benefit of those reading this that haven't met me yet. Perhaps I should start with a summary (thanks to my twitter bio) and elaborate: “Law student. Stellenbosch University SRC member. Ever learning, never learned. Full of Love for South Africa and her people” I come from the friendly Jacaranda-lined city of Pretoria. We don’t have a mountain like Cape Town, vineyards like Stellenbosch or a sea that you can surf in (although the artificial waves of SunCity are only three hours away) but we have kind and good-hearted people who work hard to contribute to building a beautiful South Africa – and, when he’s not in Nkandla, J-Z lives there too. I went to the school on the hill, Pretoria Boys High School, which has a unique tradition and a very important part to play in moving our country forward. Pay their website a visit: www.boyshigh.com. After matric, I had the audacious idea of moving 1500 kilometers away from home to study in Stellenbosch. I didn’t know much about the quaint little town, let alone its university; in fact, I had only been to the town once before – in December of my grade 12 year. It was only on 7 January 2009 – two weeks before the University’s year commenced – that it was confirmed that I would move to this strange province that has fynbos instead of acacia trees, and where it rains in the wrong season. The move turned out to be a great success; I have grown immensely and made some of my best friends in this town of oak trees and wine. The strong Afrikaans culture of Stellenbosch has made me better grasp my heritage and make sense of the powerful connection that Afrikaners have with South Africa. I say this because, although my family is Afrikaans and my upbringing was a traditional one in that regard, I attended exclusively English schools up until university with the effect of me identifying with a quasi-English culture for that period. My parents will tell you that the decision to send my brother and I to English schools was in our best interest and that it was taken to ensure we had a diverse upbringing; it promoted our interaction with many cultures that are perhaps not as well represented in exclusively Afrikaans schools. What they perhaps won’t tell you is that it was a difficult decision to make. With Afrikaners on defense just after the change in dispensation, their friends and family weren’t happy with this perceived betrayal of their heritage. Nonetheless, my experience in all my years of schooling was happy and inclusive in the sense that I never doubted that my identity as, first and foremost, a South African. I started studying a rather placid degree in commerce, although my interest perked when I chose to major in economics. After finishing that degree, I moved on to take on the field of law and am currently in my penultimate year of this post-graduate LLB course. I have been involved in many different structures within the University, most-recently as a member of the Students Representative Council. More than that, I’m excited and privileged to be part of the SAWIP 2013 team. There are some pretty amazing South Africans part of it. Some who have, at the drop of a hat, sacrificed a lot to be part of this experience simply because they believe in the value that the programme has in South Africa. I look forward to walking this road with them.

As a continent, Europe currently is the largest economy on Earth and the richest region as measured by assets. And as for Africa, with its 54 fully recognized sovereign states, it is one of the world’s most populous continents, with more than 1 billion people. The continents economy is forecasted to grow by more than 10% yearly for the next 10 years.

As we have seen over the past few years, the 2008 financial crisis in the U.S lead to an economic crisis within the European Union (EU). In December 2008, EU leaders met and agreed on a €200bn- stimulus plan to help boost European growth following the global financial crisis but this did not help since Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland and Greece could not reduce their budget deficits. After these countries reported a sovereign-debt crisis, and sending shock waves throughout the Eurozone, the continents leadership stood apart about best solution and a way forward. Looking at the European Union, what lessons can Africa learn from it about forming an economic union, building strong economies and forming unified leadership?

Having struggled to free itself from colonialism, Africa is seeking to create a new image: grow the African economy through global trade, and most importantly, through intra-Africa trade, with Africa’s trading blocs playing a key role.

The Eurozone debt crisis can teach Africa significant lessons about increasing trade with Africa itself. The European integration model can be used by Africa in establishing a one currency continent. Currently there are great speculations on formation within Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to allow access and usage of the same currency. The South African Rand in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia is an example of this type of slow currency integration.

Some of the significant things that have made the European integration a success are the treaties, laws and regulations that govern the economic union. For Africa to create laws and regulations that promote free trade between its countries, key trading blocs like the African Union, SADC, Community of West African States, Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa, and Southern African Customs Union will have to constructively collaborate with each other to review and establish new rules and regulations that will encourage increased trading within Africa. Cooperation between these trading blocs must also ensure that African countries minimizes raising household and government debt levels, trade imbalances, structural systems problem, and monetary policy inflexibility, which were the major causes of the current EU economic meltdown.

To ensure that intra-regional trade is beneficial, African countries will have to focus on exporting products that gives comparative advantage. For example, countries such as Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are principle exporters of copper and diamonds, and thus can increase the export of these goods to other countries.

Africa is still a large exporter of agricultural products and imports many of its manufactured products. The growth of the continent can be better achieved through diversified economic structures. Though it is in a recession, the European economy is still strong, diversified and have competitive industrial structures its manufacturing sector represents 1 out of every 4 private-sector jobs

To increase trade between African countries, for primarily economic and social development, regional economic integration of free trade must be established between the countries. The African Union, working with all the continents six key trading blocs, must spearhead Africa’s development and integration. Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa is playing a crucial role in interconnecting, integrating and transforming Africa’s infrastructure in transport, energy, ICT, and transboundary water networks. The programme will spend close to $80 billion by 2020 in developing Africa’s infrastructure. Just like within the Eurozone, African leaders are struggling with regional integration for supporting the continents economic development.

With great lessons that can be learnt from the success and mistakes of the EU, to unleash intra-African trade and for Africa to take its rightful place in the global arena, the continent needs strong political leadership and policies. Africa is the least integrated continent in the world, with low levels of intraregional economic exchanges and the smallest share of global trade. Africa’s governments and heads of state need to serve as champions. They must set the tone, keep the momentum alive and provide critical national leadership by working together and showing an unwavering commitment to integrated policies, projects and goals that will take Africa to the next level.

The eventual inclusion of socio – economic rights in our final constitution is one on the implausible features that grants the rationale behind our constitution being heralded by many as the best in the world.

The following socio – economic rights are entrenched in the Constitution:

• Everyone has the rights to a healthy environment
• All citizens (individuals and or communities) who in the past endured land related violations and or discrimination as a result of the past racially discriminatory laws or practices now have  the right of access to land, to tenure security, and to land restitution
• Everyone is afforded the right to access adequate housing and protection against arbitrary evictions and demolitions.
• No one may be refused emergency medical treatment as such everyone has the right to have access to:

1) health care services, including reproductive health care

2)sufficient food and water,

3) social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.

• Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services. The right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
• Everyone has the right to education.
• Everyone who is detained, including every sentenced prisoner is afforded the right to conditions of detention that respect human dignity, including the provision at State expense, of adequate accommodation, nutrition, reading material and medical treatment.

Social justice in the South African constitutional framework will thus be achieved through the constant progressive realisation in making resources available for South African citizens to enjoy their socio – economic rights.

The title of this blog is an acronym for my personal quote and philosophy in life. Before I say what the acronym stands for, let me tell a short story of how I started writing quotes.

Starting varsity in Cape Town in 2009, I made a commitment to start reading books more often than I did in matric (last year in high school).  So upon arriving in Western Cape, I took time and went to the local library to open a library card.  Once I had received the card, I was very excited and took books out immediately. Through reading many books, both fiction and non-fiction, I started to think of how I can get more value from the books I read, and that’s when I came up with an idea of writing quotes.

The above acronym OICLIMY (Oy-kli-me) stands for “Only I Can LImit MYself”. And in essence, it means that I am the only person that can set limits in my mind as to what I can achieve in life, both academic and personal. To remember this every day, I have put up the quote on the wall of my room.

 

Upon reading the above topic, you probably immediately asked yourself, how? How can healthy citizens contribute to their country’s economic growth? Well, in the next paragraphs, I will explain, in a snapshot, how having healthy citizens can lead to a country’s economic advancement.

Before discussing how having citizens with a healthy lifestyle can be an economic advantage to any country, let me first give you a short background on major health issues facing the world.  I will also briefly name some of the main health challenges facing South Africa.

Prevalent global diseases today are heart disease, HIV/AIDS and diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar). Heart diseases include stroke and other cerebrovascular disease. An estimated 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular disease (CVD’s) in 2008, Over 80% of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries and by 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from CVD’s. A more shocking fact is that 1.8 million people died of HIV/AIDS in the year 2008, that’s 15.5 million people less than CVD deaths. This fact should serve as a warning on the danger of CVD’s and their potential negative impact on a country’s economy.

Just like many other nations, South Africa (S.A) today is faced with HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases (NCD’s- i.e. a medical condition that is non-infectious and non-transmissible between persons).  NCD’S in South Africa include obesity, diabetes, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse and heart diseases. In a study done by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2010, it was found that 49% of South Africans do not exercise, 71% have never dieted and 17% of children under nine are overweight. Even though it might not seem as an issue to take seriously, but S.A. government, including governments of other nations who have similar health problems, should start to consider the direct and negative economic effects of such health issues as they can affect a nation’s productivity and economic performance.

The burden of disease attributed to NCD’s has been estimated at 85% in industrialized nations, 70% in middle income nations, and nearly 50% in countries with the lowest national incomes. Looking at the global population, nearly 80% of deaths due to chronic NCDs worldwide now occur in low and middle income countries. Due to significantly higher income, citizens in developed nations are able to access high quality health facilities, as compared to citizens in middle and low national income countries who have very little income to access high quality health facilities and are forced to use poor public health facilities, which results in middle and low income nations having more deaths from NCD’s compared to developed nations.

Economies worldwide are reportedly suffering huge losses because of premature deaths or inability to work resulting from heart disease, stroke and diabetes. For example, China is expected to lose roughly $558 billion in national income between 2005 and 2015 due to early deaths. In 2005, heart disease, stroke and diabetes caused an estimated loss in international dollars of national income of 9 billion in India and 3 billion in Brazil.

Mental health conditions is also felt in workplaces around the world, notably due to higher levels of absenteeism from work because of illness, and presenteeism, or productivity lost from staff coming to work and performing below normal standards due to poor health. For example, the United Kingdom experienced a loss of about 175 million days in 2006 to absence from illness among a working population of 37.7 million people. The estimated cost of absences due to illness was over 20 billion pounds in the same year.

There is hope though for a healthier world and nations. Consumers today are increasingly looking for foods to counter poor health caused by busy lifestyles, insufficient exercise and fast foods. Healthier meals, lighter snacks and exercise are what consumers are seeking to have healthier lifestyles and longer lives. One of the significant ways governments around the globe can contribute to the long term health and economic development of their nations is by establishing laws that regulate how food is marketed and prepared by fast-food stores and restaurants. For example, a regulation in New York City is that trans-fats are banned, and in 2008, the city began requiring fast-food restaurants to post calorie information on their menu. To ensure health of children, a government can have regulations for standards of food in schools and expect schools to comply with a range of nutritional regulations.

Having a healthy lifestyle is not only beneficial to the individual but also to the nation. Healthy citizens contribute to economic growth because they live and work longer, have higher energy levels and are more present at work, which contributes to increased productivity. A healthy lifestyle is preventative healthcare and disease prevention that help prevent heart diseases and save both citizen and government money on healthcare expenditure. Having a healthy population can be a great competitive advantage for economic advancement over other nations, for both developed and developing countries.

It has been almost 4 weeks to the day that I stood on the exact spot that Dr. Martin Lurther King Jnr. stood when he delivered his speech of "I have a dream". I have spent much time reflecting on this moment and today when the SAWIP team met Congressman John Lewis, I had a sudden urge to go read this famous speech again. Its about the fourth time that I have read it and it is something that inspires me more each time I read it. It is something that I encourage everyone to read so here it is:

 

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

 

*This is a poem primarily for self reflection. I first read this poem when I was 16 years of age. To this day the words continue to echo in my subconscious. I hope it will have a similar affect on you.

 

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Who’s judgment upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

 

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

A multinational touring party embarked on a tour of a rural village in the heart of the Transkei. On route of their tour the group was appalled by the fact that the village had no running water, thus they all decided to provide the village with running water. The installation of running water was achieved and naturally this left the group as a whole with a sense of pride and fulfillment as a result of having positively contributed to the betterment and well being of the rural community.

Six months after the installation of the taps the women of the community unanimously decided to break the taps as they had observed that through the installation of the taps they did not spend as much time together. They no longer took the long journeys together down to the river to fetch water and in turn they no longer shared their stories, worries, happiness, grievances’, complaints, suggestions etc. with each other. This ultimately led to a breakdown in the spirits and unity of the women within the community.

A further six months after the damage to the taps the women of the community went about their lives in the manner that they best knew and which they were not willing to compromise now more than ever.

Food for thought:

How does the impact of the installation of the taps in the village relate to the traditional and or general approaches currently used in rural development?

“You won’t change the whole world, but you can make a difference, in your lifetime” ~ Thamsanqa

 

HIV/AIDS

 

ALCOHOLISM

 

UNEMPLOYMENT

 

MUD SCHOOL

 

CRIME AND GANGSTERISM

 

HOMELESS

 

POVERTY

 

ABUSE

 

CHILD-RAPE

 

CORRECTIVE RAPE

 

INEQUALITY

 

“You won’t change the whole world, but you can make a difference, in your lifetime” ~ Thamsanqa

I had the honour of making the opening and closing remarks during our (SAWIP) inaugural public conference on 26 June 2012 in Washington, DC. This is how the evening session unfolded.

 

Good evening

... to greet you with merely a “good evening” now seems as an anti-climax after an afternoon that inspired me to want to greet you all with a traditional ululation.

[The audience ardently joined me with the ululation]

I am Makhosazana Sika. I was raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, in Soweto to be more specific, in an area called Zola. I am a member of the SAWIP Class of 2012 and feel honoured to be here this evening.

Opening remarks

We had wonderful speakers this afternoon - a great big thank you to all of them. On behalf of SAWIP, I would like to in particular thank South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, for his participation earlier this afternoon, and for spending the evening with us as well.

For tonight’s proceedings, our discussion will be a focus on the life and legacy of our former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The most significant inspiration about the life and legacy that uTata Mandela has for me is about hope and dreaming. In his autobiography entitled Long Walk to Freedom (Little, Brown and Company), Nelson Mandela writes:

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward.

There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

Those words speak volumes to me. There have been a few times in my life that had I given up, that would have resulted in me feeling disempowered and insecure about my own future. As a message to us all, and in particular to the youth, I believe that uTata Mandela’s words are those of being hopeful and having the ability to dream about an improved nation with empowered people.

At this point, I would like to share a brief story about myself. In 2006, I left home at the age of 17 to go and further my education at the University of Stellenbosch. I grew up in a township, so the notion of going all the way to what you may refer to as the “country-side” in Stellenbosch to pursue a degree in the agricultural industry was not a popular one. However, I was adamant about it.

 

During my first year, I soon learned that perhaps studying at a university closer to home and closer to what I knew and understood of the world would have been easier. I recall being intimidated when we were told as first years that 60% of us would not make it to the second year of university. Still, I stayed, because I knew why I had come to university. I had and still do have great future hopes.

I believe that education is an investment; it is a gift that keeps on giving.

 

Vote of thanks

I would like to thank all of our forum participants for their thought-provoking and action-inspiring discourse. Your words have again reminded us of the magnitude that the life and legacy of uTata Mandela embodies.

A big thank you to the Woodrow Wilson Centre for partnering with us [SAWIP] to make this event happen. In particular, a very special thank you to Steve McDonald, Mame Khady Diouf, Derek Langford and Sheila Sengupta. Also, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the SAWIP team that worked diligently in making this fundraiser event a great success. In particular, thank you to our SAWIP executive director Claire Shoolin; Kim Williams, our SAWIP program manager; and the SAWIP interns: Dinika Govender, Thuli Montana, Molly Sandza, Afua Sarpong and Skye Kussman.

On behalf of the SAWIP Class of 2012, I invite you all to our reception where you will be treated to South African food and wine, as well as a live performance by Washington, DC’s extraordinary jazz vocalist, Akua Allrich. Please join us across the hall and enjoy the rest of the evening!

Thank you

 

 

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is an independent federal government agency that provides grants to marginalized individuals and groups in Africa. The organization operates in 21 Sub-Saharan Africa countries, and gives grants to develop and grow cooperatives at grassroot level. USADF’s primary aim is economic development that will create livelihood in African communities. Marginalized individuals or groups refers to people that are excluded or have very little access to economic advancement opportunities in their country. USADF particularly places strong focus on conflict and post-conflict communities, and especially women, youth and the disabled people within these communities.

USADF primarily works with marginalized grassroot communities in Africa, who own and run registered cooperatives. The organization has key stakeholders which it works with to create relevant growth and development structures for businesses. The stakeholders are partner organizations and Country Programme Coordinators (CPC’s). The partner organizations include governments, auditing and business consulting firms, and other non-governmental organizations. Country Programme Coordinators (CPC’s) are employees located at the 21 countries USADF operates in, and their main responsibilities are to assess the performance of grantees cooperatives, report performance to program directors, and to continuously monitor internal and external changes in local business environment.

There are many organizations offering development opportunities to African countries, but what make USADF unique is that it grows, develops and empowers the communities it operates in. To empower marginalized individuals and groups, USADF implements a pioneered participatory development model which fosters leadership and solutions made by Africans for their own businesses. This directly results in the grantees learning skills and obtaining knowledge to operate and manage their own cooperatives.

 

 

During grant development, projection targets are made and must be met by the organization awarded a grant. To measure results and performance, USADF requires that grantees report their business operations and performance quarterly. To help grantees with their performance report, USADF provides access to assistants who help compile this report. USADF also holds biannual meetings and also has Annual Performance Index (API) to monitor cooperatives ability in meeting projected targets.

 

 

Even though the USADF has a unique model which has contributed to its success, there are some key challenges of funding, bureaucracy, and performance measurement, it faces. The organization receives its funding from U.S Government, and in the past years USADF has been experiencing budget constraints, which is fueled by the global economic crises facing America and other countries. A probable solution to this challenge is that the organization could start to consider diversifying its funding sources, have a combination of public and private sector organization funders. Dealing with marginalized individuals and groups in remote areas, USADF still experiences challenges in measuring the socio-economic impact of the cooperatives it assists with grants. Performance measurement is important to know whether USADF is accomplishing its sets objectives. Improving the organizations performance analysis and measurement tools can result in better extraction of information and the USADF can be able to better measure its success in each country and in its overall African operations.

 

USADF’s biggest success is the empowerment and capacity building of the African people, through working with strategic partners. The model of capacity building and empowerment focuses on effectively engaging more grassroot level development of African cooperatives, and leaves a legacy of business development in Africa.

 

TIME

Time has never felt so minute

Every second counts and hours brisk by

Oh, how I wish I was not losing grip

Until now, I have always been spoilt with time

It has always been mine

But now, the time sun does not seem to shine

And I wonder if I will pass the line

Whenever I speak to mother, she says I will be fine

Until now, I have always been sure

Things have never felt so obscure

If time was money, I would be poor

After all I endure

At the end I hope to mature

Oh, Mother Africa

Won't you please come to my rescue

Your son is running out of time

If you can't though, I will understand

For time is also not on your side

Time and again, they have torn you apart

But now you are at the start

You may not top the chart

But one thing we know, is that you are smart

And no longer will they say you can't

Even though we do not have time

And the hardship felt straight down our spine

I know that we will be fine

And soon, we will shine.

The thread running through the first three official SAWIP events – dialogue on active citizenship, township visits, and a talk on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) – is stronger than I initially thought, and this needs to be explored further. Firstly, the dialogue on active citizenship raised a number of issues that demanded in-depth engagement, but we did not have enough time to deal with all of them. More importantly, those issues really made us reflect deeply about our roles in society.

In the dialogue, we asked each other a number of interesting questions: How do we define citizenship or ‘active’ citizenship? How do we fill the intergenerational gap? Should we try to be global citizens or resolve local issues first? But in my view, the main contestation was between two concepts: agency and structure. Several participants argued that active citizenship requires an individual to become inspired, and then use that ‘burning fire’ to put him or herself in the service of others. In other words, citizens should use their agency, and try to resolve their own problems without relying on government unless it's absolutely necessary. The opposite view stressed the importance of structures and institutions, and how they can empower individuals to tackle societal problems. The two following SAWIP events – township visits and a talk on BEE – made me think that perhaps the debate between agency and structure is counterproductive. 

During the township visits, which involved going to impoverished areas in Cape Town such as Khayelitsha, Langa and Gugulethu, we met a number of inspirational individuals. We visited the Iliso Care Society, an organisation that runs a soup kitchen, orphanage and other youth projects in Khayelitsha. What was most inspiring was the story of its founder, Vivian Zilo. Against all odds, she not only completed her university education but also committed herself to help children and young people by setting up Illiso Care Society. She used her agency to the fullest, and today her organisation is growing from strength to strength.       

The talk on BEE by Graeme Dorrington, a BEE consultant, informed us about the government’s policy to increase black (by 'black' I mean South Africans who would not have been classified as ‘white’ under apartheid) participation in white-dominated corporate South Africa. Although the majority of those who suffered under apartheid have not benefitted from BEE, policies of this nature are necessary to deal with historic injustices. In a country where socio-economic inequalities are so widespread, structures or institutions (such as government or big business-backed BEE or broader transformation policies) can play an important role in tackling societal challenges.

That is why, in our context, the debate between agency and structure is not very useful. Rather, we need to find synergies between the two. On one hand, the likes of Vivian Zilo are using their agency to help others, but she needs more support to expand her services/projects to those who desperately need them. On the other hand, despite the empowerment potential of a policy such as BEE, it doesn’t ensure that wealth trickles down to the grassroots level where Vivian Zilo needs resources to help her community.

Agency or structure? I would say it is the combination of the two that will take us a lot closer towards realising the South African Dream articulated by none other than former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela:

"We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the millions of our people. We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.” (May 10, 1994)

 

We’re not so different after all. We’re not so strange.

SAWIP. Those four obscure letters on a simple poster which I passed a few times on campus could prove to make all difference. I perused the website a little and downloaded the application from which then sat on my desktop open and quietly calling me to complete it. Thank goodness I did. The 15 page was document somewhat intimidating so I took to it in little bouts of inspiration and energy. Eventually it was done. I was amazed . The closing question was about the experience of filling it out, and I answered with the following:

Meeting yet another group of impressive young South Africans has lead me to a deep realization about our country: the post apartheid generation, now in their early twenties, possesses all the beneficial historical conscience that the end of apartheid created but also possesses less of the harmful baggage that hindered the generations before it.

The Sawip experience is of course a unique experience. The patriotism is refreshing, and it is incredible to see such a diverse group of young people, across race, class and gender, united by a single desire. The building of Africa, and the realisation of the aspiration that South Africa should indeed belong to all who call it home, and all who live in it, free to enjoy the freedoms of association and movement yes but also the right to realistically be able to have access to the resources and support, necessary to realise their aspiration of a better life.

Having never heard these words until selection camp when Papa John kept saying them as theme for the weekend (i believe). I guess this being my first blog I should follow the chronological order of the events. Well let’s skip the application, interview and head straight to the beginning with the end in mind weekend. Well selection camp day arrived and group of 6 of the most wonderful and inspiring leaders I have ever had the privilege of know got into the taxi provided to us by the school. I believe that once the excitement settled down we realised that we were quite privileged to have been honoured with this opportunity but not yet apprehending the life altering that was soon to follow.

When history took brush strokes at the future it made sure that every colour was used. South Africa is a canvas on its own that is yet to be finished, and gazed upon in admirable wonder by the very world that has taken strokes that have changed the tints that history has provided. It is being that chosen colour that makes one to desire to always illuminate the canvas from a minute corner, to let the eyes of the world see the what the future strokes will do to the finale portrait.