Building a foundation of leadership

Today, we met with a group of students who had received the Desmond Tutu Award, which is awarded to students in Cape Town who were outstanding leaders, giving back to their community. We started out with basic introductions of ourselves. This group of people seemed a lot more at ease with each other and us than the last group of youth. As they introduced themselves, we learned they were a lot closer to our age, many out just out of high school, all very involved in their communities.

We dove in with an abbreviated history of South Africa by a professor who was participating, focusing on apartheid and its effects. Throughout the lecture, the South African students would chime in with their own takes and opinions on apartheid and the results. What was nice was that it wasn’t just a dry recitation, but sprinkled with commentary and insights, which were especially interesting coming from someone who had experienced it herself.

Then we went down to the office, where we had a small snack. Not only was this a time to relax, but we also had the chance to get to know people from the other group. I entered into a discussion with Nicole and Mandla about what types of things they did and about foreign accents.

We returned and the main facilitator, Brendan, who is studying in college currently, surprised us and made us recite something we’d learned about a person from the other group. Then, he gave us a presentation on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of goals created by the U.N in 2000 to try to cut poverty in half 2015 (so far, we haven’t really been succeeding). The information about the PowerPoint I’d seen before, but it was the commentary and discussion from the group, both South African and American, that was the most insightful. We focused especially on areas like gender equality and creating a global partnership for development. After, we also did a small workshop activity where we created an outline about how we could create impact on certain MDGs, writing it on a large piece of paper. Actually, this activity made me have a higher appreciation for groups creating poster presentation in small, fifteen minute brainstorms. Previously, my only experience with them has been in school, where it has been a compulsory chore. In fact, if the right energy and mindset is put into the activity by all, new ideas can be created.

Later, we had lunch then did a lesson on Scenario Planning, which is thinking up possible future outcomes and then deciding what course of action is needed to reach the one you want. This was a change from the other leadership lessons we’ve received. The activity not only stressed the importance of leadership, but gave us a tool to possibly implement. It was a well thought activity which I felt was very productive. After, we exchanged contact information with everyone, did a few interviews, took a group photo, and said goodbye.

We’d gotten to know them pretty well for just a day, and I was disappointed that we had to leave. They had a lot more of a relaxed and cheerful energy than the last group, for, in my opinion, a few reasons. Firstly, they were all awarded for their achievement in giving back to the community, and that requires a good deal of self-confidence in the first place. Secondly, the majority of them grew up in Cape Town, which contains a mass of different cultures they’d been exposed to, which leads into the third point that they were not intimidated of us at all. This was a huge help in facilitating discussion between our groups and made the entire experience quite enjoyable.

Our experience in Cape Town has been at a bit of a contrast with the other experiences we’ve had in South Africa and Zambia. Cape Town seems a lot more developed than most of the other places we’ve visited, barring perhaps Johannesburg. Previously, we’ve been involved in a lot of the poorer and more rural areas, meeting mostly either very young children or youth who have grown up faced with financial hardships. While I’m not sure of what these Cape Town students faced growing up, they seemed like some of the brightest, most involved, and educated students in South Africa. If you guys are reading this, then cheers for the free compliments. I was very glad to meet you all, and plan to keep in touch with you! Thank you so much!

Oom-soh-bohm-voo and its yacs

Despite our jetlag, we’ve been pushing through days full-throttle. Yesterday, we met with the leaders of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. Yes, we had major difficulties pronouncing Umsobomvu. In fact, before meeting them, we practiced our butchered pronunciation and ended up asking them about it anyways. After our stumbling awkwardness, we were told it means “rising sun”.

The Umsobomvu Youth Fund is a program funded by the South African government that gives training, opportunities, loans, and business vouchers to youth (18-35 year olds) in South Africa. This is to combat the high unemployment rate, which is currently about 25% of the population, 70% of which is youth. We spent a few hours meeting with the Umsobomvu leaders, and we were immersed in information about microfinance, South Africa, and Umsobomvu itself.

When the meeting was finished, they swept us off to one of their YACs (Youth Advisory Centers) in Pretoria. They had a very nice office (yes, even by U.S. standards) and a training center there, and we were introduced to each person who worked there individually. After, we traveled to another part of the city where we actually saw the fruit of microfinance. We visited a mother/daughter owned spa that had taken out a loan and vouchers. They had opened their enterprise the previous Monday, using the loan for rent and equipment. By Wednesday, they had gotten over a hundred customers. The two seemed extremely excited and happy about their new business and our interest in it. It was a tiring day, though. We returned around 5 o’clock, and I completely crashed in my room, and Nick couldn’t wake me up. (I missed bowling, PS3, and food in the process.)

Everybody I’ve met so far in South Africa has been unfailingly polite and kind. Whether that has been a product of circumstance or a national trend, I have yet to see. It goes back to how I described my purpose for this trip during the Umsobomvu meeting. I’m here to expand my view of the world. But, as the lady remarked, (I’m even more terrible with names here than in the U.S.) it’s too early to characterize the whole. But, without a doubt, I am learning an incredible amount in such a small amount of time.

One opportunity and possibility this has opened up is a full-time job in a non-profit. It’s one of many options, but I have been introduced to many people who work with one full-time and enjoy it immensely. Whether or not I choose to follow their path, it is definitely a fulfilling and good job.

Hitting the culture shock

It’s bizarre to think we’re actually in Africa. I think it has to do with a lot of stereotypes about Africa, like that it’s all desert, hot, tribal, and impoverished. I have yet to see any of these characteristics since arriving, though we are, admittedly, in one of the safer and more upscale parts of Johannesburg. We’re sleeping at a hotel, the weather is cool and overcast, the attire is generally similar to America’s, a great deal of people—all of those we’ve encountered so far—speak English, and we’re next to a mall. I’ve already seen the ultra-monster globalized businesses, McDonalds and KFC, on the street.

However, I have the feeling that this is the exception rather than the rule. We are in an area concentrated with tourists and this looks to be a more affluent area. But right now, I’m just relieved to be here and ready to go. I’m not even as tired as I thought I’d be. We’re staying in the Courtyard Hotel, in the Rosebank. I should sleep soon, since tomorrow we’ll be visiting the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, which trains youth in business skills.

(Picture: A few of us decided to go over to get food after we arrived. Great food, amazing service!)