Program Overview

SAWIP selects a diverse team each year for a seven month program which is aimed at inspiring, developing and supporting them to be servant leaders and active citizens as they deliver quality, sustainable community development within poor and marginalized communities, thereby, contributing towards social and economic justice as well as the deepening of democracy in South Africa.

 

SAWIP currently recruits annually 20 high potential South African citizens and permanent residents with a significant record of service from the Universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, the Western Cape and Pretoria into its team. Students are eligible starting in their second year of academic study to the age of 25 years.

Curriculum

The curriculum follows themes aligned to South Africa’s National Development Plan; enables nation building through community projects and promotes personal development for servant leadership, thought leadership and the deepening of democracy.

Its curriculum is designed to achieve the following outcomes:

  • The implementation of community development projects to benefit and empower the poor and marginalized;
  • Capable, young servant leaders with professionalism and global understandings who are equipped for and active in community development to achieve social and economic justice;
  • Young leaders who are thought leaders and active citizens.

It is structured and organized in the following way:

  • Selection Camp
  • Orientation Camp
  • Bi-weekly development sessions and experiences
  • Individual community service projects
  • Fundraising by students
  • Team members living with American host families
  • Development sessions building on the curriculum begun in South Africa and providing global perspectives and experience
  • Work exposure at various government, NGO and private organizations
  • Site visits to cultural landmarks around Washington, DC
  • A visit to New York City which exposes students to both the political and financial sectors, including a meeting with the South African UN Delegation.
  • High level events and receptions both in Washington DC and New York City
  • Interaction with young leaders from the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Israel, Palestine and the United States of America
  • Weekly development sessions and experiences
  • Team Community Engagement Project
  • Individual written evaluative program reports submitted
  • Feedback and Reflection discussion with SAWIP Board (SA)
  • Graduation and induction into the Alumni Network

Current Curriculum Themes:

  1. Community Engagement for Development
  2. Education
  3. Health
  4. The Economy and Work
  5. Democracy
  6. Nation Formation
  7. Servant Leadership
  8. Skills for Servant Leaders

Community Engagement

SAWIP believes that all people have a duty to be active in community development activities and that community engagement in poor neighbourhoods is an essential part of developing compassionate and ethically responsible leaders and productive members of society.

A determining selection criterion for the SAWIP program is the applicants’ record of service. SAWIP team members are required to contribute through individual service projects from March - October and complete a joint project from July – September.

While in Washington DC, students commit to community service projects that match the students’ interests and benefit the wider DC community.

Diversity, Cultural and Global Exposure

An important aspect of the program is the exposure to and appreciation of the strength of diversity in both nation formation and nation building. This element is provided by:

  • the selection of a diverse team
  • the activities and projects of the team
  • the opportunity to work together and apply new understandings and perspectives in discussion, debate, service and other roles
  • global and cultural exposure and in Washington DC

Professionalism

The team, through their high level work exposure placements in Washington DC, are challenged to produce excellent work and to rise to the demands of professional work environments. Insights and Skills learned in these workplaces are invaluable for their future contributions in South Africa.