The last visit of the 2014 team Community Engagement project was focused on departing practical skills to the learners taking part in the project. One of the sessions that I was involved in as a lead facilitator, was a session on Constitutional literacy.…Read more
Reintegration has definitely been a bit of a challenge. I was starting to get accustomed to the usual (read ‘incredibly fast-paced’) D.C. day but then it was quickly back to South Africa for all of us SAWIPers. After working 09:00 – 17:00 at the RFK Center for four and a half odd weeks,…Read more
The fact that SAWIP is even able to take place is largely attributable to the several willing host families who agree to host one (or more) SAWIP students for the duration of the SAWIP D.C program. Li’tsoanelo (Dee) and myself were placed with Catherine and David Tardiff-Douglin.…Read more
It was an unbelievable experience to be a part of the American Independence Day celebrations. The week of the 4th of July was filled with a heightened sense of patriotism. The fact that, at the beginning of the week, the USA football (‘soccer’) team was battling for a place in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals might have been a contributing factor!…Read more
One of the bigger events that the SAWIP team attends while in DC is the Woodrow Wilson event. This year, the SAWIP 2014 team was able to listen to three different panel discussions with topics including “South Africa the next 20 years (the role of technology,…Read more
One of the sessions the SAWIP 2014 team attended this week (and coincidentally our first session with the NSL and WIP teams) was focused on the necessity of leaders to tackle difficult issues or ‘wicked issues’ as Paddy, our presenter,…Read more
First week in Washington D.C. what can I say?
Well it’s hot… the humidity is on another level - I don’t think Durban even compares. It is very honestly the exact opposite weather experienced in Cape Town before we all left.…Read more
Women can’t have it all. Or so this is what society has told me (and I’m sure many other women) over the years. You can either be a successful career woman or a successful homemaker. You can never have both.…Read more
15 members of the SAWIP 2014 team arrived in Washington, D.C. on June 16 which is a South African public holiday commemorating the youth of South Africa who stood against an unjust regime and took part in the Soweto Uprising.…Read more
After what seemed like a long period of waiting my anticipation was finally broken when the SAWIP 2014 Team members were informed of their work placements. I had been looking forward to that announcement ever since the Orientation Weekend.…Read more