Good evening, today I am here to share my personal story, and why I think SAWIP is such a special program.
I grew up in rural Swaziland on a farm with no electricity or running water. My grandfather didn’t believe in education, so getting through school was a struggle for my father. Somehow, my grandmother made it work. Because of the exposure my grandmother had to missionaries, she knew that an education would become more and more valuable in society. This revelation made my parents push hard to ensure that I get the best possible education in Swaziland.
After apartheid had ended, my parents and I moved to South Africa. For us, it was a land abundant in opportunities, where the colour of your skin no longer determined how successful you could become.
However, it soon dawned on me that apartheid’s legacies were not just felt through legislation. They could be seen and felt in almost all aspects of society. Poverty, inequality, poor education systems, poor healthcare were all issues that I could see would haunt the country for many years to come. It was especially tough seeing family members suffering as a result of South Africa’s dark history. I knew I wanted to be part of the change. However, to me, it was a situation that almost seemed hopeless. Over the next few years, I would come across more and more individuals who shared the same desire, to see change. Together, we would start small projects and initiatives that were aimed at making an impact. However, deep down inside, I still felt as though the problems facing our society were too difficult to overcome.
It wasn’t until I was at the SAWIP selection camp that I saw what a group of highly determined individuals from different backgrounds could achieve. Although our ideas were conceptual, I could feel the incredible energy and synergies that became apparent once we began to engage each other. These individuals were running projects and initiatives that expressed their desire to make an impact. Once we opened up, revealing our ideas, backgrounds and struggles to each other, it soon became apparent that our potential as a team was unlimited.
The next few months with these individuals would be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life, shaping many of the decisions I would make in future.
Over the next few months, our class would debate America’s foreign policy towards Africa in the White House; intern at some of the world’s most influential organisations and use our unique backgrounds to add perspective. We would come back to South Africa after 5 weeks in Washington and assist an old age home improve their operations.
When I look at what the class of 2012 is doing all over the world today, I am even more convinced that SAWIP is truly a program designed to shape the next generation of South Africans leaders.