When World’s Collide

So what do you do at that moment when worlds collide? When what you believe in is challenged, criticized and found to be empty and lethargic? What do you do when the ideology that you supposedly stand for is backed against the wall and facing insurmountable odds?

It’s a strange world we live in. A world in which your belief in an idea can end up labelling you as a hero or a fiend. When the collision forces you to face the proverbial fork in the road; do you stay strong to your cause? Your beliefs? Or do you flounder under the pressure and meander with the current flow of thought?

I would never speak on behalf or everyone but I feel that we as people obtain more from a collision then from avoiding it. I embrace these worldly collisions because it allows me to grow into the multi-faceted individual I hope I can one day be. I embrace these collisions because of the outcomes that prevail and ideas that form from them. When worlds collide the change from ignorance to enlightenment, from cold and callous to warm and loving is not solely based in the realm of opinions, but rather in the realm in which the voice that speaks truer and louder is able to reverberate from one person to the other.

It is when we are willing to collide our world and challenge the thought of another while consolidating your own that we truly begin to learn. It’s when we accept that another person’s voice speaks louder and truer than your own then we surmise that ideaological collisions don’t destroy but rather create.

I feel like I am philosophising and I feel like many people may disagree with me. But I know I’m clear when I say I am not guided by an ideology. I am free to think and free to be who I want to be. I am free to live how I want to live and be inspired by who I want to be inspired by. I am neither dictated to by rhetoric nor have I cast it away. We are all free to criticise and learn from our engagements. Seeking for an answer within the collision of worlds is to seek to form your own world.

It’s confusing at first. In fact it’s frustrating. But as long as I endeavour to speak truth to word I remain optimistic in my in approach to collisions so that in the end I grow, I learn, I build, I share and I embrace what I’ve been given.

Whenever my worlds collide I can help but embrace the moment. I thrive under it and I learn from it. It helps me to better to understand the world I live in. It forces me to be critical of all I see. So I ask you now . . . are you willing to let your world collide?

I grew up in Soweto, a township in the big city of gold - Johannesburg, and yet I have found another home in being in the countryside. I have spent the past few years studying in Stellenbosch, the heart of the South African wine lands. It is this environment and many encounters in Stellenbosch and the Western Cape Province (as I have experienced them) that have grown me in great devotion towards farming, and in particular agriculture.

While in Washington D.C., I had the opportunity to visit two family-owned farms in Montgomery County, Maryland. Thamsanqa, Tembanin, my SAWIP teammate, invited me to join him and Michele Rivard, his internship supervisor from the United States African Development Foundation (USADF).

We first visited Homestead Farm, a pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farm owned by the Allnutt family who have been farming on the land since 1763. Although we arrived unannounced, we were warmly received by the family. Ben Allnutt, the farm manager, took us on a tour of the farm. I felt at home enquiring about the soils, irrigation systems and general agricultural practices. On the day of our visit, we handpicked blackberries and yellow and white peaches as they were in season.

Our welcome into Homestead Farm on a scorching Saturday morning

Listening to Ben explain his irrigation system

Fresh from the cob. Definitely the sweetest sweet corn I had ever tasted

Blackberries for sale

The second farm we visited was a dairy farm called South Mountain Creamery. It is owned by the Sowers' family and they have been on the farm since 1981. In addition to the eventful day-to-day dairy farming activities, the farm prides itself in producing, processing and distributing operations. Since 2001, their farming business has grown into South Mountain Creamery being Maryland's first on-site milk processing plant. Today, they not only rear dairy cows, process and bottle milk, but they also deliver milk (and other dairy products) directly to homes in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Concerning the future of the farm, the Sowers' believe in being a self-sustainable company. Among the many projects, they are working on installing a bio-diesel (conversion of soybeans to bio-fuel) plant.

A South Mountain Creamery delivery truck

Karen showing us the cowshed

Thamsanqa getting ready to feed the calves

Most of the calves were tyrants when we fed them. Thankfully, this little fellow was pleasant

I found both farm visits refreshing. I think that Homestead Farm's business model is a novel way of getting people to appreciate the source of their food. Although I understand that our South African agricultural is different, the idea of visiting a farm to pick my own fruit and vegetables is delightful. I was also inspired by the story of how the Sowers' started, grew, keep learning and sharing. I am impressed to see their tireless efforts also being harnessed into green energy. I believe that there is a promising future in adopting modern technologies in agriculture.

Thamsanqa and I with Ben Allnutt at Homestead Farm

Michele, Karen Sowers, Thamsanqa and I at South Mountain Creamery

I give thanks to Ben Allnut of Homestead Farm and Karen Sowers of South Mountain Creamery for allowing Michele, Thamsanqa and I to feel and be at home on their farms. It was a great pleasure.

I have always thought that consensus was a bad thing. In almost all cases. Almost.

To me, consensus implies that a group of people have stopped thinking, and this is of course quite dangerous. My thinking about this has arisen from my reading about stories in the South African media, political discussions, and meetings I have attended over the past three years, where everybody seems determined to achieve consensus as an end in itself. Of course, it is better if we are not in perpetual conflict, but if we all agree on a course of action, on a viewpoint on a particular issue, then we risk missing out on improving our plan of action or critically reassessing our viewpoints. As a personal aside, there are few things I find more disturbing than a room full of people discussing an issue of the day (South African politics seems to generate a few of these issues) and agreeing with one another and reinforcing each others' position on the topic. It really seems unhealthy, and it makes it so much harder to approach one’s views from another angle in the future.

For this reason I have always, annoyingly, played the role of devil’s advocate whenever it seems necessary to avoid a cycle of mutual reinforcement. Doing this has often led to misunderstandings about my views on a given topic as I am often eager to argue strongly for a viewpoint which I do not agree with at all, personally. Still, better to play devil’s advocate even if one doesn’t agree with oneself than have a room full of people nodding comfortably in agreement.

At the end of the day, let’s celebrate not only our right to disagree with one another, but how valuable it is that we do so. Complete consensus can lead us down dangerous paths without critical reflection. Plurality really is key.

I have always prided myself on being a flexible person mentally. As an inquiring and analytical mind, I have always sought justification for behaviours and opinions. As a scientist, I sought cause for reaction. I believed this made me tolerant (and I still do) of other’s perceptions and angles of thought.

I am a great devotee of the Sherlock Holmes school of thought: observation and deduction. Though I am very much an extrovert at first sight, I love to sit central or at the fringes of a conversation and map out personalities and mindsets. I observe and then I put on my deerstalker thinking cap and deduce the motivations behind what was said or implied.

Two years ago I made a very conscious decision to “broaden my horizons”, as the clichéd adage encourages. I chose to veer of the road more travelled. I chose to find the strangest and most foreign conversations and platforms I could to assimilate from. I went on a quest to understand, not only myself but people.

An abstract and ambitious journey, one would think.

I do believe I’m very much the product of nurture, not nature (I do however subscribe to the wonderful world of epigenetics). I was raised in a wonderful, loving home where I was encouraged and supported to better myself through education and experience. As I entered high school, I realised that the people surrounding me were not representative of our country alone. I felt like I needed new influences in my life; I wanted to learn more about mindsets and cultures and individuals.

My education at the University of the Western Cape did a lot to make me fall in love with my quest for expanding my reference base. I met new people; people whom I normally would not have crossed paths with. I got to work with them, learn from them, laugh with them and appreciate how what they taught me unknowingly shaped my views.

I applied to SAWIP because I fell in love with my fellow South Africans. I wanted to be equipped to empower my community and the society. It was in this incredible time in my life that I met my colleagues and friends, the SAWIP team of 2012, and was privileged enough to journey through four months of the SAWIP experience by their sides.

I quickly learnt I was not as flexible as I thought. I would sit at a table, while fourteen different people reached fourteen different conclusions on a matter with fourteen different trains of thought. I reached my own, following my own process of thought. I could argue from a moral point of view, but legal and economical implications never jumped into my mind. Also, I would not always consider every culture or individual’s objection to the matter based on beliefs, purely because I did not know.

One of the team members gave me one the greatest compliments I have ever received after our three months together: he told me he could no longer push my buttons, though I still have one or two left.

Because in the three months of the SAWIP journey, I have been exposed and educated on so many subjects and methods of thought that I no longer believe my views are supreme. I no longer stubbornly defend my beliefs, without considering the opposition’s motivation. I am a feminist and believe every woman should be the equal of a man, but I now understand the cultural implications of trying to impose this view on others. I still stand by my beliefs, if I find them truthful; I just understand the opposition and can make allowances in my actions for this difference of motivation or mindset. And this openness of mind has also led me to challenge every belief I had, and change a great deal of them.

SAWIP has been mental yoga to me. I have stretched my mind to consider all implications in an argument: legal, economical, moral, historical, social and political. Having a team of bright minds in each sector to peer-educate me and to guide our problem solving minds has truly allowed me to become flexible mentally. The rich diversity of the team and their friendship and support has also guided me to understand that tolerance should not be the objective, but acceptance; Acceptance based on an informed understanding of what justifies behaviour and opinions.

I hope to continue the legacy of my SAWIP journey, by always valuing curiosity to overcome ignorance, exposure to diversity to shape opinions and acceptance, encompassing tolerance, to guide my choices and behaviour. If I honour this, I may one day truly have no more buttons to push.

The first meeting of the SAWIP, WIP and NSL classes of 2012 on the Washington DC National Mall

Today a few of the SAWIP class of 2012 and I had the pleasure of attending the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in the Cape Town City Hall. This years lecture was given by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and member of The Elders.

The purpose of this blog is not to write about what Robinson lectured on (I will have to attempt to cover her outstanding message in a subsequent post), but I should note that I was impressed by her willingness to address some serious issues head on in this honorable forum.

I was sitting next to Kwadwo when Robinson took the stand. The moment she started her lecture, and we heard her accent, I could tell that both of us were filled with nostalgia and "verlange" (I tried to find an English word, but there doesn't seem to be one that says it quite right) for our friends from the Washington Ireland Program team.

I have often been surprised to find how many people, even people who know SAWIP intimately, are unaware of our two sister programs from Ireland and the Middle East.

The Washington Ireland Program (WIP) was the first of the three programs, and was established 17 years ago to support the peace and reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland and Ireland. The second is New Story Leadership (NSL), a program which seeks to inspire a new story of possibility for the Middle East by bringing outstanding Israeli and Palestinian students to Washington DC.

We first met the students of the WIP and NSL teams about a week into our stay in DC. On a scorching Saturday morning (thinking back, I suspect this was the morning after one of our first "free nights") we met on the Washington mall for a "sports day" of which I was, admittedly, a bit skeptic at first. Within 15 minutes of our arrival, however, the Irish (being their usual jolly self) had everyone involved in an array of crazy games ranging form "Irish Baseball" (I can't remember the name - but by the looks of the bat it seems a lot more violent than the US version) to Charades (which the Irish are upsettingly good at).

This morning marked the start of what I have come to appreciate as one of the most valuable elements of our entire stay in Washington. Over the 5 weeks that followed we had several "formal" encounters with the WIP and NSL teams, all of which I enjoyed. It was in "happy hours", lunches, late nights out and the discussions on the Middle Eastern conflict at Lior's house, however, that I got to know some of the best and most valued friends I have ever had the privileged meeting.

In spending time with these new friends from Ireland, Israel and Palestine, I not only gained a new appreciation for how special our own country is - but also a sincere appreciation for the unique stories of the Irish and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, attempts at reconciliation, friendships and ongoing troubles. I truly believe that our three stories compliment each other in ways too numerous for us (SAWIP) not too make a more conscious effort of formally (and informally) engaging with the students from these two programs.

There has been speak of having more organized events between the three programs while in DC, but I would also like to see our relationships post-DC realize into more than just Facebook friendships. I we could find a way to continue dialogue between our groups, and ideally, find ways to host each other in our own countries - that would be a truly fantastic (and, in my mind, meaningful) endeavor.

All of our programs have the future of our respective countries (or regions) at heart. At least in the case of South Africa I feel that the time for looking inward for solutions to our domestic problems has come and gone. In the WIP and NSL programs I see an opportunity to build meaningful relationships further and wider - relationships that reflect a shared future in an increasingly global arena.

More pressingly, however, I just really miss deciding to skip the last 12am train for the sake of talking for a bit longer (and having another drink) with my friends from NSL and WIP.

Last night I came across the TED video that I have embedded bellow "Eric Sanderson pictures New York -- before the City".

Watching it made me think back to the 5 days our SAWIP 2012 team spent in the Big Apple - and also the very different reactions that our team members had to the city.

Depending on where you go, New York can present very different experiences. Whether it be the Upper West side, Mid Town, China Town, SoHo, Little Senegal in Harlem or Central Park - no two neighborhoods of Manhattan are alike, and then there are the other 4 boroughs. And them, as I have commented on before, our team is rather diverse in itself. These different sides to the city, and our very different team, inevitably produced post NYC opinions ranging from "greatest place on earth" to "hell-hole".

Without being too philosophical about this - I feel that New York City, to an extent, reminds me of just how different peoples perceptions of the same thing can be. For yet another, completely different, view on NYC have a look at this video:

Back home now, I have thought a lot about how I feel about South Africa at present. On the one hand, I am filled with pride, joy, and optimism about our country. Reflecting on Hashim Amla’s triple century, our successful hosting of the World Cup(s), the beautiful scenery, the great example of Nelson Mandela...it is sometimes easy for me to drive out the negativity of the day-to-day and meditate in a warm glow of positivity about our country. All of this inspiration, “I am an African”, a Mandela quote here, a Tutu quote there, waving my flag, thinking positive. It all makes for a very cathartic escape from the headlines I end up reading daily. Everything is going to be alright, surely? And I should pat myself on the back, because I am “a part of the solution”. Reminding myself regularly that there truly is “a solution” and the country is on the right track towards reaching it.

And then there’s the other side. There are horrific injustices we witness daily, violent crime, pervasive poverty, inequality, a health-care crisis, corruption, racism, and a colossal education budget which still fails to produce learners prepared for South African society. All of this leaves me feeling very uncomfortable. At this point, I can step back and listen to an inspirational quote, a happy Johnny Clegg song, anything to remind me that “it’s all going to be fine” and that our country is going to fulfil its incredible potential.

I fear that living in the “warm glow” might lead to a self-congratulatory sense of contentment and comfort. I often feel this way, before being jarred again by the harsh realities of this country. Ultimately, I need my doses of positivity and inspiration, to remind me of what we can do as a country and maintain a healthy state of mind. However, we need to remain uncomfortable because in the end, it really is not going to be alright unless we make a colossal effort. I cannot keep riding the wave of positivity from the previous generation of leaders; a wave that is slowly weakening as time passes. There is a lot to be proud of, to build on, but nothing can be achieved from a position of satisfaction and comfort. I need to keep shifting in my seat.

It always seems impossible ‘till it’s done- Nelson Mandela

Trying to reflect and select highlights of the entire DC experience has been one of the greatest challenges I have been tasked with yet on SAWIP, and at the same time, it’s a privilege to be sharing my SAWIP journey with you. I may be bidding farewell to DC tonight, but not to the valuable lessons and growth she has provide me.

Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed guests of honor, SAWIP board, management and Class of 2012, I greet with the universal greeting of peace unto all, Asalamua’laykum. Good evening, Molweni, Sawbona, Namaste, Shalom.

My roots lie in India, and I am the second generation proudly born in South Africa. I come from a large family where many of us find ourselves in business, but I am the only one in my paternal family pursuing a university degree. I am currently completing post graduate studies in Education, majoring in English and Economics at the University of the Western Cape. This is where I heard about SAWIP.

I recall starting my SAWIP journey on a Friday afternoon, the due date for all applications. It took approximately seven hours to complete my application form, and I was able to submit it just minutes before the midnight deadline. After a brain-picking interview, I was selected to attend the selection camp with twenty nine other students. Selection camp weekend was nerve wrecking, exhausting and frightening to say the least. It tested boundaries, patience and leadership skills to the core. I came home and immediately told my parents that I was not going to be making it this time round, the competition was far too tough. But when Claire told me SAWIP would like to offer me a position on the program, I thought it was too good to be true.

I have always been fascinated by America, where everything is perceived “bigger and better”. I was curious to see why she is labeled a “super-power” of the world. And today, I stand before you and have had my curiosity turned into a living reality.

I had always wondered why Google maps were invented. Coming here and commuting via Metro, I now know why. I’ve finally learned how to read maps and I bet many of our geography teachers would be so proud of all of us today. Our weekend in the Big Apple was probably my favorite memory. The New York Stock Exchange was an adrenaline-pumping experience for a young, thriving businesswoman like me and the other entrepreneurs on the SAWIP team. Caught between my drive for business and passion for education, my time in the US allowed me to explore both these avenues. Meeting young, successful professionals has been a huge source of encouragement and motivation, and I am starting to believe that I have the power to make my dreams a reality. I recall a conversation with Nondu’s host mom Gwen who said, “as youth we think we can change the world, and we are right.” Amandla- awethu (power to the people).

I believe this experience through these past few weeks not only exposed us to the work ethics of Americans, but also helped to develop our leadership skills. From our internships, we have gained valuable skills, relationships, networks and learned to transform our challenges into opportunities. Personally, I have been inspired to work as hard as Americans do and keep racing ahead. I feel we are ready to use these skills and invest in our future and the future of South Africa.

This summer I was privileged to intern at The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA). My boss, Ambassador Robert Perry, has tested and challenged my knowledge on both Africa and South Africa. His global knowledge on politics and business has made me a keen researcher, and I hope to continue to pursue this when I return home. Working with interns from both the US and China as well as staff from across Africa and the United States has made my daily work day something I always looked forward to. Basic things such as sharing diction, pronunciation and cultural exchanges over lunch time have given me insight into American, Asian and African cultures. My list of friends and colleagues has vastly grown and the lively office atmosphere will truly be missed. CCA became home for me over the past five weeks. Ambassador Perry, allow me to express my heartfelt appreciation to you and CCA for opening your doors and affording me this enriching opportunity. Your keen passion in transforming and gaining investment in Africa has made me ask what are we, as young South Africans, doing to invest in and enrich Africa?

On behalf of the SAWIP family, I also wish to thank all our host families for their hospitality and active participation throughout our journey. To my caring host mom, Catherine O’Brien, I thank you for welcoming me with open arms and taking great interest in my religion, culture and this entire program. Our discussions about history, politics and heritage until the early hours of the morning over bowls of gelato and dark chocolate will surely be missed. Living with Kay, who works for the rights of people with disabilities, has opened my world to new possibilities and I now look forward to heading home and trying to enforce the same accommodation for South Africans.

To the SAWIP board members the SAWIP team of 2012 wish to thank you for your kind support throughout our journey in DC and back home. Your support, motivation and belief in our abilities have ignited so much hope in us that we believe we can now achieve anything we put our minds to. We thank you for walking this walk of transformation with us and our beloved country South Africa. Claire, Kim, Dinika, Thuli, and team of SAWIP interns we’ve come a long way, your hard work, efforts, attempts in keeping us fired-up and ready for action is dearly appreciated. You’ve left us with unforgettable memories and tools we look forward to using in transforming South Africa into a developed country. We salute you all for your passionate commitment to serving South Africa as loyally as you do, thank you.

While strolling through Dupont Circle (a place the SAWIP team frequently visited), I came across a statue of Mahatma Ghandi and below it read “my life, my message.” I pondered about this quote throughout my journey in the United States, and now at the end of the SAWIP experience in the United States I leave you with my message: “let your life be your message and let that message be your service.” I thank you.

So I am definately not one to skip out on a blog post by just posting a video *smiles to self*. But this is something else. This speech is really something else. Written in the 1920's for the movie The Great Dictator starring Charlie Chaplin this speech is literally far beyond its time. This is a speech that from then until forever will remain timeless.

Heres the video link if you don't want to read it. I think the video adds that extra bit of drama and visual effect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsgaFKwUA6g

Here is the Transcript:

The Jewish Barber (Charlie Chaplin's character): Hope... I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business - I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that.

We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.

But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; more than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The airplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish...

Soldiers - don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate - only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers - don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.

In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written “the kingdom of God is within man” - not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you, the people.

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfill their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers - in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting - the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.

The soul of man has been given wings - and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow - into the light of hope - into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up.

Since returning to South Africa, almost all my friends and family members asked me one question: How does it feel to return home?

On a superficial level, I could go on and on about having to adjust to sleeping patterns, cold weather, food etc. But those things are just that - superficial. Of course, I'll miss the people I met in DC, such as my host family, colleagues and friends. But given the way the world has shrinked, they are a click away. Given the nature of globalisation, they could easily find themselves in South Africa in the near future.

So what has changed? What, if anything, has changed fundamentally? I would say it's my way of looking at the world.

We arrived in Cape Town on Sunday night, and went to university the following morning. I was actually looking forward to attending class, especially a course called Third World Politics. Quite surprisingly, I couldn't pay much attention in class. It's not that I was tired or the course wasn't interesting. In fact, the course content was incredibly interesting. But I kept asking myself the following questions: When will I go out there and DO things? When will I stop reading about the Third World, and go out there to engage the issues facing the Third World? When will I stop patting myself on the back for writing essays on South Africa's socio-political reallity, and go out there to tackle it for positive change?

It almost feels like my mind has graduated out of university. Of course, I'll still study with dedication until I complete my Master's degree. But I also realise that as things stand right now, I don't belong to academia. There's no doubt that academics play a fundamentally progressive role in society. Education is of vital importance for a nation's success. For change to occur, our actions often need to be guided by some kind of theoretical understanding. But if there's one thing the 'Washington, DC' chapter of the SAWIP journey taught me, it's following my gut and doing things while I'm young.

Truth be told, I always had a sense of purpose. But the DC experience added a stronger sense of urgency than ever before. I actually don't want to readjust to the old ways, when my mind used to resolve things by saying 'our future will be bright'. I still believe that... but this belief is now secondary to another belief: the present is far more important than the past or the future. The time to act, in order to build a better South Africa, is now.

This sense of urgency is not unique. I sense it among my SAWIP colleagues and other young people too. It's time to translate that energy into intelligent, organised action. I'll touch on that on another blog post.

Saif

Now that the ‘Washington, DC’ chapter of our SAWIP journey came to an end - consisting of an intense five and half weeks - it is time to take a moment and thank those who made this possible. As clichéd as it may sound, it was by far the best five weeks of my life. I have met many inspirational people, visited several extraordinary places, and came across some really brilliant ideas…

Thank you to the Almighty, for everything that ever happened to me, good or bad.

Thank you to my parents, for always supporting me, in good and bad times!

Thank you to the SAWIP board (SA and USA) and the entire management team of seven committed people. I really cannot stress just how much I appreciate everything you have done to make this experience unforgettable. We may not always say it out loud, but we’re always grateful about the way this program invests in young people. Sometimes I ask myself, “Do I deserve any of this?”

Thank you to my host family. When I first found out that I’ll be staying in Virginia, I was a bit concerned about the long travel time. But Lee (my host mom), Mark (host dad) and Ashley’s (host sister) love, care and generosity always made me feel at home. Traveling to work and back didn’t even seem that long, because Alli (my SAWIP sister) and I always ended up chatting about just how much our host family spoiled us!

Thank you to Senator Johnny Isakson and his staff for welcoming me to your office with open arms. It has been inspirational, every single day. If I come to the United States again, you know very well that I’ll first land in Atlanta, Georgia!

Thank you to the people of the United States of America… you were the most friendly, most kind!

We are back home safely in South Africa. My experiences in Washington D.C., were beyond amazing. I cannot think of a single appropriate adjective in my dictionary that I would not use to describe my DC experiences. It was that fantastic, and more! Now that we are back on home ground, I will be able to reflect in depth about the past few weeks. This post-DC reflection is a re-telling of the last night in DC. I almost thought that I was lost, again...

We had our farewell reception on Friday evening. Shortly after midnight while at a place called My Brother’s Place for our farewell after party, I decided that I had to go home since I wanted to be up early to pack and run a few errands on Saturday morning. My host sister, Molly, and I checked the bus times on her cell phone, I said goodbye and left with a few people going to the Metro (train) Station, although we were all going to different directions.

I got off at Dupont Circle Metro Station, and must have waited at the bus stop for over half an hour. Just as I was about to return to the subway, a group of youth walked my way to join me in waiting for the bus. I asked if they could please check at what time we could expect the next bus. The web results returned with the news that there were “no [bus time] predictions” until 6am. I immediately thanked them and went back on the Metro Station to the Tenleytown AU stop. Upon arrival, I found it pouring with rain. I boarded a shuttle, homeward bound. As soon as I spotted Nebraska Ave and Ward Circle through the misty glass windows, I got off the bus at the next stop. I must have really been deep in thought because I got off at the wrong bus stop, although, I did not realise this immediately. It was only after walking a few, brief steps that I saw, read, and heard (as if I could hear the Metro Bus voice saying) Westover Place. I was thoroughly irritated with myself, although I managed a slight giggle. This time round, I wasn’t lost, entirely. I knew at least two routes to get me home. I kept walking while trying to text and holding up my umbrella to prevent the rain from making me feel damper. I tried hailing down two taxi’s, but neither stopped.

I had $ 0.59 remaining credit on my cell phone. This meant that I could send text messages, but not make outgoing phone calls. In-between texting Molly to inform her that I was still not home, almost 2 hours after leaving our farewell party, and asking her to call me back, I learnt that Molly could not get through to me because of the low credit on my phone. This meant that I could only send and receive text messages. However, I could not make nor receive phone calls. I felt so embarrassed. Fortunately, I made friends along the way. I introduced myself to Travis and Shatavari who were walking a few feet behind me. I was honest about my situation and asked if I could use one of their phones to call a taxi. They kindly agreed. During my call to the taxi operating centre, the operator asked me for my name. Now, on any other day, I would have slowly said Makhosazana and if the need arose, repeated my name by clearly enunciating my name in its five syllables as Ma-kho-sa-za-na. However, considering the time of day, and the fact that it was not my cell phone bill I was running up, I told the lady on the line that I am Khosi, a shortened version of my name. Within 5 minutes, a taxi came to pick me up.

A man named Adam from Ethiopia drove me home. After exchanging greetings and deciding on a route home, he gave me a word of caution. He had tried reaching me on my cell phone before he found me at my said location. Since I was unable to receive incoming calls, he was unable to reach me. I know that I was at fault. I apologised. I was happy when we turned into my DC home street.

I have retold this story several times. I have been laughed at and even called a moemish (moomish/mumish – subject to spelling preferences) by my dear SAWIPers. There are plentiful DC experiences that we will share on and reflect on for years to come. Ironically, this feeling of being lost, is one that I am currently carrying with me. I am back to what has been familiar to me for the greatest part of my life. And yet, I cannot help but feel somewhat displaced, somewhat lost. It’s uneasy for me to say exactly what this lost feeling is about right now. I am certain that with time, thought and work, I’ll figure it out. I will feel re-positioned and ready to steer on. Although, I may need to change direction and that may lead to me getting lost, again. Still, I am hopeful that this journey forth will find me and bring me back home, home to serve and to serve well.

Ngiyanibingelela nonke zihlobo ezihloniphekileyo (I greet you all, honorable guests).

My name is Nondumiso Phenyane and I would like to start off by saying it is a true honor to stand before you this evening. My presence in this in this program and in this room speaking before you is in fact not just an honor, but a true miracle to me. Who would have thought that a girl like me- raised with pension money and profits made from selling cabbages - would be standing here delivering a speech in such a prestigious venue in the midst of such greatness. I will have you know that I am indisputably taken aback.

I am standing before you today because I made it into SAWIP. Goint into SAWIP, my intentions were very clear; I was aware of the challenges that we were facing as South Africans- I grew up in a township and was bread under the shadow of crime. As a matter of fact, in my SAWIP application I mentioned that crime was so prominent in my community that my younger sisters and I would often make jokes about how “we lived with hardcore criminals.” Just a block away from our house lived the guy who murdered his own mother; just two houses away was the one whose core specialty was stealing cars. We would make these jokes, not because we thought that what was happening was ok, but because we needed to find a sense of humor in a somewhat hopeless situation.

My mother died of AIDs when I was 13. Having watched her closely, I know the cruelty of HIV & AIDS when unmanaged- how it can strip you of your very soul and leave you without a life at all. Last year, my two younger sisters literally watched our older sister also die of AIDS. As you can imagine, dealing with this incident was not very easy for my family. I tell you these things to show you that South African struggles for me were not a phenomenon that I watched from a distance, they were very close to my heart. And so coming into SAWIP was not merely about having great discussions, coming to DC or meeting all of these incredible people. It was about discovering how these problems could be addressed. I did not go into the program seeking a better reality for myself, but rather with one key question in my mind: HOW can we address these challenges?

I needed to start the journey towards finding out how I was going to light the candles of the many young men I left back home with blood-shot eyes because of the drugs they were consuming. I needed to know how my contribution would help young girls realize that their sole happiness did not lie in a man; that just because they had babies on their laps did not mean that the world had come to an end. I needed to see change but most importantly, I needed to see where I could fit into that change.

It must have been two months into the program, while in South Africa, that I began to feel I was slowly unlocking the intangible doors to this unrequited question, and it was me realizing my own strengths. I realised that I could be the most talented, most powerful, most reputable person in the world; the whole world could hail my greatness. But if I, myself, didn’t discover it for myself, if I did not believe it for myself, than it would all be in vain. I found myself experiencing an uplifting because of this like most young people in South Africa, I did not grow up in an invironment that nurtured my strengths. SAWIP showed me that sure, I needed a lot of work but more important than this, it showed me that I was good enough! It showed me that I AM capable and that I possess something that could potentially change the world. I have discovered that when we know our strength we become invincible; we become fearless, and because of this, we are better able to change the world. I truly believe that anyone who becomes anything less than great does so because they have not discovered who they truly are.

Beyond the mighty legends who believed that the unrealistic was realistic during a time when the impossible was a way of life, I am also inspired by the ‘ordinary’ individuals who work untiringly to ensure peace and stability in our communities. The mothers who single-handedly raise sons and daughters, the grandmothers who raise grandchildren, the teachers who educate future generations. They prove to us that ‘ordinary’ people are capable of doing extraordinary things. And it is because of them that I believe that we can achieve greater peace, stability, and equality. We can achieve a better Africa.

I know the strength of the African people; I saw it in my grandmother’s eyes as she picked up the hoe and made her way to the fields everyday so that we could have food every evening. I saw it on her brittle hands as she picked up the axe to sever the wood so we could keep warm. It lay somewhere in between her neck and her chest as she cried “thula, thula, kuzolunga’ when life had thrown its bricks at us.

It lies somewhere between the Cape Agulhas and Ras ben Sakka, trickles down to the Horn of Africa and stretches out into the streets of Dakar, the capital of Senegal. It is indeed a marvellous energy, and it moves right across the land, unhindered.

It is my hope that my presence here will mean change in somebody’s life in my country. As our DC journey comes to an end, I hope that everyone who has contributed to our experience, will realize just how much of an impact they have had in our lives.

Ngiyabonga

Hello Board Members, Host families, Intern Supervisors, Friends of SAWIP, Management and SAWIP team of 2012.

My name is Jason Pentz it and is such an honour to be standing in front of all you great people, people who have all assisted in changing the lives of 15 students from South Africa over the course of just five and a half weeks

As this is our last full day in DC and is a farewell, I find it fitting that I base my speech on the idea that everything in life has a beginning and an end.

Allow me to tell you more about myself by going back to the beginning of my life. Slightly more than 24 years ago, my beginning was in Cape Town and is where I have spent most of my life. At the end of my school career I like many South African Students had a decision to make, the decision to use the previous 12 years of my education as the start of tertiary education or to end it there and make a new beginning. If it was up to me alone, I would have made a new beginning and become a full time cyclist. Like most caring and protective parents do, I was encouraged to cycle for fun and go get an education. What a monumental fail that was. That idea of getting a tertiary education stared and ended all in one year. With much effort, I convinced my caring parents that I was going to cycle professionally. After a successful beginning to a cycling career, I found myself traveling all around the world, racing against the greats of the sport and competing in World Championship events. I was living a childhood dream, getting paid to ride a bicycle.

About two years into the “dream”, I seemed to come to a cross roads with my life, I was living everywhere but at home, I was meeting all the greats of my sports but never spending time with the people that matter in my life and most concerning to me was that I was doing all of this for myself, no one but Jason seemed to matter. This challenged everything that my parents had taught me while growing up. After a long and hard look at the young man in the mirror, I decided to call an end to my professional cycling career and make yet another new beginning.

This new beginning was as a student at the University of the Western Cape. Three years into my Industrial Psychology degree I know I have finally found a beginning that makes sense to me. Having gone through two very different life learning beginnings and ends and having the opportunity to study again, I knew that I needed to make the most of this second opportunity at education that most young South Africans don’t even get one chance at. Along with the realization of my fortune I also knew that I need to give back in any and every way possible.

By getting involved at university as a Peer Mentor and student leader, I came across the opportunity of SAWIP for which I applied and was fortunate enough to be allowed another opportunity to create a new beginning. Everything along this SAWIP journey has been a new beginning.

Going back to what I said earlier about everything in life having a beginning and an end, I need to quickly revisit and correct, most things – not everything in life have a beginning and an end.

Allow me to explain my correction which I am sure my fellow team mates will agree with.

Firstly, at our first event as a team which was the orientation camp we all began real friendships. These friendships have turned out to be more than just friendships; they have grown into relationships which I cannot foresee an end to.

Secondly, throughout the program in South Africa and continuing in DC, we have been gifted so many opportunities of meeting amazing and inspiring people, we were given the opportunity to develop a deeper and stronger passion to help others, to help our fellow youth of South Africa and to help grow our beloved country. This re-inspired awakening given to this amazing team is something I cannot foresee an end to either.

And finally, the learning of new insights that has taken place by each and every member of this team both in South Africa as well as in DC has allowed for the realization that we never know enough. Being aware that there is more to learn forces us to never think that we know it all and that we can end our pursuit on learning.

To everyone here today, I would like to conclude by speaking on behalf of the SAWIP team. Four months ago we were given the opportunity to meet each other and in so doing we were given the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest student leaders in our country. If that alone wasn’t enough, we were given another opportunity to met some of the most amazing people in the form host families, intern supervisors and SAWIP friends, all who have made this summer a truly unforgettable one. This journey of DC may be at an end, and the journey of the SAWIP 2012 may be coming to steady close but I would like to leave you with a thought of how Winston Churchill would see it.

………this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. It is, perhaps, the end of the beginning - Winston Churchill

Thank you.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Shannon Lambrechts and I am a proud South African citizen and Member of the SAWIP Class of 2012. First of all let me thank each and every one of you present tonight for sending us off at this wonderful farewell.

Allow me to share a little about my past with you. I was born and raised in poverty, into a family and circumstances of drugs and gangsterism. I never saw myself being anything other than a gangster or garbage man. A gangster because that was the highest standard set in the area I lived in, and a garbage man because of a cheerful uncle of mine who worked on the garbage truck all his life and would bring home food, gifts and the latest gadgets. When asked where he got them, he always said “at work” and I said: “Wow! I want to do what you do.” At that point working on a garbage truck seemed like a very illustrious career. Me and my friends would even volunteer and help clean up trash in the hopes of making it in this sought-after career.

In my family, my father is the breadwinner and my mother is unemployable due to a mental disorder that makes it hard for her to concentrate. Poverty entered our home through my father’s drug and alcohol abuse habits. When I think of my father I can only picture him in a state under the influence of drugs or alcohol, for that is how I saw him most of my childhood. I have an older brother who bravely tried to finish high school, but was unable to get past the 11^th grade. He was told to quit school and find a job. He has been unemployed for the last five years and also lives under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

My dreams of becoming a garbage man were shattered when my family moved out of our incredibly dangerous area to a place that was mildly better called Kuils River. In my early school days I still had the mentality of the environment I grew up in. So naturally I resented education for it did not fit into the life I saw for myself. I spent the early years of high school being somewhat of a rebel. My schooling became increasingly difficult during the last few years and no one expected us to make it through the 12^th grade. This was primarily due to the lack of teachers at our school. But here is where my life would change forever. I decided to become my own teacher and took it upon myself to do whatever it took to make it into University. This is where my mind-set shifted and I set my eyes on becoming a scientist. As for my classmates, we made it with a 97% pass rate and most of us managed to find jobs or get into college.

Six years later and here I stand, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the end of this year. It was quite difficult for my parents to understand why their ambitious little garbage man had pursued a career in such a “strange” field. I had been told all my life I would never achieve much, that I was branded to become a labourer working for minimum wage stuck in a dead-end job. Well, I would like to hear what those critics have to say now.

I told myself that if I am going to break the circle of poverty, I am going to set the bar high, so that those after me may know what is possible for them. Therefore I have set out to attain nothing less than a Ph.D. in my field of study, Microbiology or Biotechnology, so that my family will never be looked down upon again.

My SAWIP experience has been indescribably amazing. I have grown immensely on this program and will continue to do so long after we are done with the curriculum. During my time in DC I had the pleasure of living with the most fun, generous, and incredible family, Tom, Carol and Max Wheeler. Thank you for not just opening your home, but your heart to me. I truly enjoyed every moment with you. I would also like to acknowledge Sharon Watkins from N Street Village where I completed my work exposure. Thank you Sharon for all you have taught me and for a great opportunity at N Street. And thank you to SAWIP. All of the board members, team management and especially Kim and Claire for making this a memorable experience.

I believe this to be a turning point in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the way I was. If I had not embarked on this phenomenal SAWIP journey I fear I would have completed my studies and eventually shipped myself off to Europe or the USA with my Ph.D. as so many have done before, because of the threat of being over-qualified. But I am now more motivated than ever before to complete my studies and stay in South Africa to put my education to use and to inspire and work with other young people. SAWIP has returned to me a long gone pride in South-Africa and renewed sense of responsibility for my country and people.

In closing, when we speak about SAWIP and investing in South Africa’s youth, it is often mistakenly assumed that this investment is limited to the individuals on each SAWIP team. What I have come to learn is that investment in a SAWIP student is an investment in a nation. We come from diverse backgrounds and thus when we’re supported, it is not just an investment in one individual, but an investment in the impact each of us will have on communities throughout South-Africa. How will we measure the returns on this investment? It will not be in our own individual accomplishments, it will not be how much money we will one day earn, but it will be in the eyes and spirit of a generation that has found hope and faith in their country like I have. It will be in the hearts and minds of our youth, who will take South Africa to heights it is capable of.

Thank you all for making this investment. Thank you for believing in us and helping us to believe in ourselves and our country. Thank you.

I have had the pleasure of being a summer associate at the International Finance Corporation Head Quarters (IFC-HQ) over the past month. I worked as part of a young, dynamic team part of the private sector window of the Global Agriculture & Food Security Program (GAFSP).

During my stay, I attended the IFC summer internship program welcoming and orientation workshop. And it is here that I began to receive a greater understanding of the IFC and it’s role as part of the World Bank Group. The IFC’s values are fittingly found in and lived through the word excited, whereby, EXCITED is an acronym for:

EX – Excellence C – Commitment I – Integrity TE – TEamwork and D – Diversity

Although the time I spent learning with and from the GAFSP team was short, I loved it. A great big thank you to Laura, Alex, Juan and Yoshi for their invaluable time and. I feel enriched having known you. And yes, also very excited about this journey forward.

This post is going to be fairly incoherent, and in truth, that is a fair reflection of my mindset at present. As I get ready to leave the United States, which is altogether very sad because I have truly come to love Washington D.C. and with its dreadful weather, Metro, and curious mix of capital importance and efficiency with Southern hospitality, I am reflecting more and more on what I have learned here that I can take home with me to South Africa. I have found that:

1.) If you want to force some sort of change, you should do it yourself. There is no reason why you should not be able to bring about what it is you’re pursuing.

2.) There is no need to wait to enter leadership or politics; DC is a city in which young people can take up tremendous responsibilities –politics and leadership need not be an old man’s game”, so why wait?

3.) And of course, because it's now, because it's DC, "politics is important". The individuals themselves, who come and go so quickly, are not important (nor is the hot air they send into the atmosphere on a daily basis), but their legacies are; should they work hard enough to leave one. And that is by far the most important thing, not just making noise to be noticed in the present, but leaving the lasting impression to be remembered in the future.

Although there are many more lessons I have taken from this experience, these are the ones that are sticking with me right now, that I look forward to taking into consideration when I get back to South Africa. The knowledge and experience I have gained in my time here is quite incredible, but I am desperate to test out the "improved" me back in the South African context, where I belong. I am confident this whole experience has made me better equipped to be a servant in South Africa.

So thank you Washington D.C., thank you America with all your wonderful warm and larger-than-life personalities, thank you SAWIP (and SAWIP’s tireless management crew), thank you to my amazing hosts, my delightful co-workers, and of course, thank you to the rest of the SAWIP team. Our time together certainly isn’t over, our project still needs to be implemented. And after we graduate SAWIP (fingers crossed), the longest part of our South African story still needs to be written. As it is in DC where young people seize their opportunities, it is up to us to seize ours to create the country we all want. I’m sad to be leaving, but on the other hand, I can’t wait to turn the page.

This day turns out more emotional that I had anticipated. I’ve finally become comfortable at my work station and have built amazing relationships with my colleagues, the NSL and WIP teams too. I am now familiar commuting via metro; I can find my way home without much reference to that metro map in back-pack. And now it’s time to sadly bid farewell to DC and today to my internship. The cultural exchange at The Corporate Council on Africa was not just only a learning experience but included an element of humorous daily conversations too. The friendly office and lively atmosphere is one that made me feel welcome since day one. The internship challenged my computer, research and communication skills. Today, I walk away with not just having met a team of fantastic, interesting individuals from the USA, Africa and China, but I walk away with knowledge and skill too.

The journey back home at this point is not one I look forward to. It is tough leaving once a bond has been formed. DC really feels like home to me now. I guess the real challenge lies as we journey back home. We have to keep our networks open and use what we have learned and experience in DC to help develop our leadership skills and South Africa- we need now to become active change-makers.

I believe this experience has harnessed us as the SAWIP team to become change makers and I believe the effect of this journey in DC will unfold as South Africa goes from a developing country to a developed one with young dedicated leaders like the SAWIP team.

Staring at the final page of our SAWIP DC curriculum, I can’t believe this life-changing experience is coming to a close. To conclude our topic for the week (Peace and Conflict Resolution) the SAWIP team will engage with the WIP and NSL teams tonight where we will be discussing international conflicts. Tomorrow we the SAWIP team of 2012 shall conclude our program with a discussion on Education of peace and conflict resolution by Daniel, Kgotsi and Saif as our facilators. Friday the 20the July will end with a farewell reception. The sad departure for many will be on Saturday 21^st July 5pm.

I TOO HAVE A DREAM……..

I dream that one day I will carry the strength to lead my nation out of the valley of darkness into the glimmering sunlight of true democracy.

I dream that one day the people of South Africa will no longer be kicked about by the brutal feet of poverty.

I dream of a day where the image of Africa will no longer be portrayed negatively as a jungle of poverty, a symbol of indecency with nothing civilized.

I dream of a united Africa that works together to come up with African solutions for African problems. A Africa that no longer feels inferior, inadequate or helpless.

I too have a dream

I dream that we no longer perceive our past as a chain that is holding us backwards, our history as a prison keeping us confined, but as a lesson that should never be repeated and as a blessing that ought to be embraced..

I dream that one day we will courageously overcome the inner divisions that still separate our beautiful nation.

I dream of a Africa that appreciates and respects our most precious resource, a women. A Africa that champions education amongs the young and acknowledges education as the fundamental tool to call upone positive change in a nation so in need.

I dream of an African youth that realizes the vaults of opportunities that lay await on the African soil and walk together towards the sunlit path of the Promised Land.

I dream that we no longer feel paralyzed and crippled by the legacy of the Apartheid, but united and healed by the realization of the beauty of our diversity.

I dream of a day where the beautiful colors of the rainbow nation shines so bright as do the stars on the sky of a beautiful African summer night….

Oh!! I too have a dream.

I dream that one day when I walk down the streets of Cape Town I no longer here the echoing sounds of cries of hungry homeless children and the hymns of unemployed protesters.

I dream of an African leadership structure that realizes that there is no duty that weighs more heavily on us than to provide all people with a reasonable life.

I dream of a nation where citizens are not constantly cast away of their dignity but granted serenity.

I dream that one day South Africa will stand on top of the mountain, collectively and echo the beautiful sound of “Ubuntu”. Humanity.

I dream of society that wastes not its energy on the maintenance of the barriers of hatred and terror. But on the architecture of rooms of love, hope and and positive dreams.

I too have a dream.....it is an African dream rooted in the core of the African values of love, respect, integrity and Ubuntu.