The Ripple Effect ( FAREWELL SPEECH)

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!!