Looking at the increasing levels of instability in this country, which has gone on for a number of years now, I feel that our leaders should have done more. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to govern this country, considering all of the challenges, and all of the scars from our past which influence our present. Plenty of credit is due to the ANC and our post-Apartheid presidents who have brought about some fantastic successes for South Africa. However, there are some major failures which could have been avoided, surely. Perhaps the biggest failure is the failure of communication between government and its citizens: with our citizens not communicating their concerns constructively to government and our government not communicating their past successes and current plans to our citizens. There needs to be a shift in mind-set which does not set government apart from its citizens.

Of course, this blog included, there have been plenty of discussions and comments made about the “new generation of South African leaders” who will guide this country forward in the future, who will have a new mindset. I know there are many incredible young people who are a cause for optimism, however we have a crisis which is happening right now which our more senior leaders need to address. Again, I worry that this country is being kept afloat by powerful doses of positivity, optimism, and the promise of a better tomorrow. However, who is actually ensuring that this better tomorrow arrives? Significantly, will this better tomorrow be achieved by government and citizenship partnering one another or is it expected to be simply delivered?

The idealism which we have relied upon to guide this country through the circumstances of the 1990s needs to be replaced by more practical realism. A realism which understands that government and citizenship should not be running at parallels but rather intersecting their interests and communication at all times. It isn’t time yet for the “next generation” of leaders to take centre stage. Not yet. Rather, it is time for the current generation of leaders to alter their approach to ensure that their successors do not inherit a country that is little improved from the one they were tasked with governing in 1994. We may have come a long way, but we need to go much, much further.

Politics is complicated. Politics is confusing. Politics is often completely nonsensical. Nevertheless, I love studying politics; it is truly a never-ending story. However, politics is also a game, and it is one I do not see myself ever being particularly good at playing. I am not one to demonise politicians, many of whom are genuinely well-meaning individuals attempting to advance a common good, however the career paths they follow are truly unique. I recently watched a TED talk about how people are increasingly using non-governmental channels when attempting to bring about change. This idea resonates strongly with me, as I grow frustrated with the notion that the government is solely responsible for our communities and must always take the blame for any and all failures. However, I would love to see the full potential of government realised, as both a partner and a servant to its citizens.

However, my ambition is simply to become an expert in my field (education), and hopefully, if it is earned, have the opportunity to affect large-scale change – policy change. Helping to achieve the potential of government. This begs the question, is it possible to have a profound impact upon policy in this country without engaging in politics? How much influence can a teacher truly have beyond the classroom, when a politician has the final say?

At the end of the day, I am reluctant to put my plans and ambitions for this country in the hands of a political ideology and hope it succeeds.

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.

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.

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.

The youth are often spoken about as the future of our society; we discuss what we as “the youth” can do, how we hold so much promise, how we have so much potential. How we’re going to change everything. While this may be true, in South Africa I feel that, from a leadership perspective, the biggest consideration hanging over the youth is the size of the shoes we have to fill if we are to take our country to the next level of development and prosperity. We can talk about our potential all day, but what have we achieved so far, really? I’m talking about the glut of leadership we had in this country in recent decades, Mandela, Sisulu, Tutu, Sobukwe, Hani, Suzman, Biko, Mbeki (senior and also junior, depending on your politics). These incredible individuals were the youth of yesterday, and look what they achieved. What they managed to bring about in their time.

There are times when I look back at these individuals and wonder if the bar they have set is too high for us, that every time we stumble somebody will remind us “Oh what would Mandela think of you now?” or ask “Is this what Biko died for?” when we make mistakes along the rocky path we guide this country along. And they do. It makes every mistake we make as a country so much worse. Most of the time, my awe of these individuals is punctuated by an anger at the fact that this country had a generation of incredible leaders (many more beyond those I listed) which it may never see again. And it had them in a relatively short period of time. Will we ever see such quality leadership again? Or has the historical narrative been exaggerated and I simply am not seeing all of the new leaders who are more than capable of filling the shoes of those who have come and gone before?

I really wonder if we should even attempt to live up to the standard set by our predecessors. But at the end of the day, they weren’t thinking of past heroes to live up to, they weren’t trying to become great leaders. They fought against the injustices they saw, and their status as great South Africans came after. I suppose we should just get to work fighting the injustices we see in front of us daily. If we are able to do well enough in that regard, perhaps then we can fill the shoes of those who have gone before. Maybe I should just stop thinking about it.

Over the course of my studies and now, time in the United States, I have noticed the high regard South Africa is held internationally, in particular in the arena of human rights. I have also noticed how often the argument that “our” human rights values are in conflict with the “traditions” of other states is used as an excuse not to pursue a universal human rights agenda.

The idea that basic human rights norms, such as the rights of women, children, or the LGBT community, are inherently Western norms is not only repugnant but wholly inaccurate. Even in the industrialized West, certain fundamental rights were only accorded relatively recently (such as racial equality and universal suffrage) while the so-called developing nations were streets ahead in certain areas. The notion, espoused by some academics and politicians, that “our” (be it America’s, or South Africa’s) values may not apply to other countries and cultures forgets that many of the human rights violations that take place in these countries were introduced by the West in the first place.

I am not for one minute saying that we should impose our governmental practices, our culture, and most values, upon countries under the guise of human rights with no respect for tradition. There are sensitive matters that will always complicate the application of human rights norms in one country while the context may be more favourable for human rights in another. All too often, human rights norms are wielded like a weapon against developing nations, with the arrogance that “we” have all the answers. The pursuit of a universal human rights agenda should be done with humility, acknowledging that whatever country one is from, there are human rights challenges we are all facing domestically. For this reason, it is important that we as individuals embody and promote human rights values wherever we are, because as individuals we do not have any realist government agenda in attempting to change societies, including our own. Let us make a strong South African example of human rights.

South Africa is still held in high regard in this area, with a fantastic constitution and still basking in the reflected light of 1994 and President Mandela. However that light may be dimming. Ultimately, it’s not just our South Africa that’s at stake here, but the continued spread of human rights norms across the world may be influenced by our ability to be a leader in this area. And as I have always believed, leadership starts at the back, on the ground. Let us each be leaders in human rights in our own country, and be the example to hold up to the rest of the world. An African example which they are encouraged to follow.

Over the course of today’s discussion, we have touched upon the main challenges to growth and development in South Africa, along with some innovative means of working towards overcoming them. The importance of mobilising the youth in this process cannot be understated, and is a common thread throughout today’s discussion. How can we qualitatively build upon the quantitative progress we have made since our elections in 1994?

If we leave this generation behind, our country will become a country of ifs and if onlys. As a teacher in training, and a South African youth, I believe that education is the key mechanism with which to mobilize young South Africans. And central to this process is telling children that they have the agency to better themselves and others. As a country we must help our youth break away from the notion that they are helpless passengers being pushed through a system of social reproduction in order to enter a society they cannot, and must not, change. Indeed, at schools, children are often prepared to perpetuate the practices of society; instead of being given the tools and the freedom to write their own story. Additionally, we need to remind them that a failure to be accepted to, or afford, university does not constitute the end of their hopes to succeed. Life should not end after Matric. In my experience as a tutor and limited experience in teaching, I found many learners to be intelligent, capable, and driven, however they have lacked the little things in their environment which could see them fulfill their ambitions. Extra assistance, encouragement, guidance, or event a R150 university application fee. Seeing what a huge influence educators can have over these details has inspired me to pursue a career in this field to work with the youth.

Looking beyond the youth, let us not forget the generations of South Africans who never had the opportunity to access proper schooling, the former youth who sacrificed their own opportunities in order to give the youth of today the chance to access something better. Those who are still hungry, years on, for the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the South African job market and have a stake in South Africa’s future; having been denied their stake in its past. Adult education thus deserves more of our attention.

Following ongoing debates on educational challenges in South Africa and the world, I am struck by the diminished role teachers seem to play in these discussions. We can, and should, pursue educational reform, but how can we change educational policies without consulting those tasked with implementing them on a daily basis? The marginalization of teachers from this process is not only unwise, from a policy perspective, but it is indicative of the lack of respect many educators appear to receive from society as a whole. Present company excluded.

When I tell people I am becoming a teacher, I am met with near universal derision. “Those who can’t, teach.” is the mantra often rattled off by many people. People who are nonetheless somehow happy to essentially transfer the responsibility for raising their children to teachers. In a world where teachers are increasingly being tasked with duties which lie beyond classroom instruction, this dismissive view of their role is extremely problematic. This pattern of transferring responsibility is visible throughout society; however this pattern needs to be broken. And this leads me to my final point.

It is high time we stopped making excuses for our lack of agency as if we are waiting for permission to force a change in our surroundings. Did Steve Biko accept the injustices of his South Africa and university campus? Did Medgar Evers sit back and wait for his America to change? Their heroic causes ultimately cost them their lives, but the victories these two men helped win reverberate for centuries. We do not face the same risks but the injustices we witness daily are almost as appalling. The social injustice of our South Africa requires our immediate action in our communities. This responsibility for our communities is derived from our humanity and is equally shared; there is simply no shifting it any longer. Although the circumstances of many young South Africans may make it so much harder for them to exercise this responsibility, those of us who can, must.

Let us mobilize the incredible resource of our youth by actually telling them that they can, rather than reminding them of their failings. And let us inspire the people tasked with inspiring South Africa’s youth. Our teachers. As young South Africans, we are ready to take up our responsibility, to play our different parts proudly as actors on the great and ever-expanding South African stage. Even if there are flaws in the script.

As our departure date rushes closer, I find myself awash with emotions, most of which end up as “excitement!”. After passing by a poster in my faculty and thinking “That looks like a good idea.” and rushing home to fill out an online application, the process which began a few months ago is now reaching its most exciting point. I never for a minute thought I’d be about to board a flight to Washington D.C. to gain exposure to a field of my own interest, to be a part of an incredible team of individuals whose different strengths can only help to build upon my own, to have the opportunity to meet some truly incredible game-changers in the South African as well as global context. From completing the online application for SAWIP, to attending the interview, to the final selection camp, at no point did I fully comprehend what I was getting myself into, or expect to be where I am now. What started out as an impulse has now become central in my life at the moment, an interesting case study in how little ripples can have massive consequences.

I’ve listened to our very helpful alumni, I’ve read up on what I’ll be doing, I’ve even studied abroad in the United States before, and yet I still feel like I am about to plunge over a waterfall into the completely unknown. Honestly, I have no idea what to expect from the whole experience, although I am certain everything is going to fly by even faster than it has thusfar.

With this in mind, all I can do is create expectations of myself, and how I hope I will respond to what I will be exposed to. First and foremost, I plan to always bear in mind that I am representing South Africa wherever I go, professionally or informally. This needn’t be a constricting factor, but rather something which gives me confidence in what we as a team have to offer the world as South Africans. I hope to always have an open mind, to always be ready to take on new perspectives and experiences. I hope to be acutely aware of how little time I will actually have in the United States and to make the most of it while I am there. I hope to be able to give back as much as possible to my hosts, my supervisors, and whoever I meet there. And above all, I want whatever I learn over the course of this experience to make me a more effective active South African citizen upon my return. There is just so much work to be done, and I want this experience to make me better prepared for the work that needs to be done.

I really don’t know what to expect, I just hope I am able to make the very most of it. Looking at the makeup of the team I will be surrounded by, I have to say I’m feeling pretty confident. Kwadwo will be a voice of reason and pure classy presence wherever we go. Edyth will always be the voice of integrity, and good humour. Jason is someone who is able to look beyond a situation and provide a fresh and honest perspective. Makhosazana is someone I can count on to keep a level head, to be reasonable, and to know how to respond to any given situation. Thamsanqua, always so well prepared, if I’m ever being lazy I know Thammy will know everything there is to know. Saif, my international relations counterpart, I am confident will make an incredible impression in the Senate with his insight and knowledge. Alli likewise in Congress, is one whose integrity and belief will shine through for us. Parveen’s innovative thinking and directness is certain to get us out of a tight spot. Carel’s wealth of knowledge and experience is likewise going to be a valuable resource we will all be calling upon over our time in Washington D.C. (and New York!). Nondu’s warmth of soul, swag, and lovely supportive good nature is something I am sure we will also be in need of when the stresses of our day to day activities get to us. Kgotsi is another genius in our group (there appear to be many) whose critical insight, good humour, and confidence is something I can see myself rallying behind. Speaking of geniuses, we have Shannon, another person I can rely on to not only present incredible knowledge in his field but also someone who everyone is able to warm to within minutes. Phiwe also, a brother to us all who will not only provide alternative perspectives to any debate but will also light up the room (or know where to go) when most of us are turning into stress-balls. And Zola, another team-member whose integrity and warmth of spirit will be invaluable when we all become overwhelmed, here is someone I have complete confidence in. Together, we make a team I am extremely honoured to be a part of. Viva SAWIP 2012!

Having recently had the benefit of visiting the most amazing centre in Paarl, Butterfly House, and witnessing all the work that has been done there, I was left reflecting on the words of Elizabeth Scrimgeour who runs the centre which provides Palliative care for children in that community. Elizabeth spoke about the need to take positive action in our society in the pursuit of justice, which was a view I strongly agreed with.

A lot of good work in community service is done out of a well-intentioned desire to do good, while other work is done in the pursuit of building one’s CV. However, as Elizabeth put it so well (I paraphrase), taking positive action is simply responding to a practical need to achieve justice in an unjust society. As a teacher in training, a lot of time has been spent in my course on why we need to impart a sense of justice to the children in our classrooms; however I am yet to see many examples of this being achieved. Our curriculum may also prescribe the need to create forward-thinking democratically minded citizens, however the reality in many schools is to simply push the children through the system as efficiently as possible; with little time for imparting such values. With this being the status quo, I can see a major obstacle in improving our society. If children can leave schools with practical qualifications, that is of course the primary objective (and not nearly enough learners are even managing to reach this objective), however we need to encourage them to use their qualifications and abilities to help pursue justice in this country at every opportunity. If we can do this, I believe our troubled education system will itself improve (and fulfill its practical objectives), which will in turn be to the benefit of our society.

Democratic education has been established in most countries as a key element of supporting and maintaining democracy, with a strong policy emphasis on “justice for all individuals” on a local as well as international level. However, we need teachers who are willing to take firm steps in implementing this in their classrooms, so that the learners are made aware of their responsibilities as citizens and human beings. I hope that, when I begin teaching full-time, I will find a way to communicate to my learners the importance of pursuing justice in our country, and how they can go about contributing to this cause. I hope that I will be able to get them to understand that doing so is not about altruism, not about “doing your good deed for the day”, or about any other positivist motivations for working for justice. It is simply a practical need to ensure that the roof of your own house isn’t leaking. In a country with so many challenges being so visible, I believe that educating future citizens of their role in overcoming these is critical.

Having enjoyed a very informative presentation from Brand South Africa, I have been reflecting on how we all represent something. In this particular case, getting to go overseas I have been reminded of how we will all be representing South Africa in everything we do while in Washington D.C. This is a great responsibility, to be nothing but the best we can in order to further our country’s image abroad. I for one hope to take what I have heard from BrandSA to heart and show the world what South Africans are capable of. Of course I may not always be successful in this regard, but I will always bear it in mind when I leave my room and enter the public domain.

However, although this may be of particular importance when we are abroad, the same applies to how we conduct ourselves at home. For better or worse, we all represent something. The fourteen other (wonderful) people I have had the pleasure of knowing all come from different parts of South Africa; and together we make up a very diverse group; and, in a sense, we are all representatives of different parts of the South African story. By showing our shared vision, we have the ability to present a united front both in South Africa and abroad. Here is a diverse group of South Africans, and together we are all stakeholders in our country’s future. As individuals we can all flourish, but as a team we can be a powerful force in South Africa and abroad. I am very excited to see what kind of roles we all fulfil along the way in this adventure!

Ultimately, representing one’s country in any fashion is a great responsibility, however at the end of the day representing our humanity is all the more important. We have all been given this fantastic opportunity to prove ourselves as individuals and as a team, and I am confident this group of young people will exceed all expectations.

I am struggling to condense my thoughts on this into a coherent piece, so here they are as they are...Today is the day we celebrate how far this country has come in the last 18 years. Unfortunately, we must also acknowledge how much further this country needs to go in order for the past 18 years to be considered a true success and not be remembered for what we didn’t do. What we have done is worthy of praise, however. Houses have been built, the economy has grown, the country has been opened to international business and tourism, and the process of nation-building has been advanced. And yet, we still need more houses, the economic growth has been marred by inequality and unemployment, and crime, HIV/AIDS, and crippling poverty continue to hold this country back. With this in mind, I’d like to reflect on what we managed to achieve as a result of the negotiated settlement.

On a day when the international press flocked to our country in the expectation of violence from the far-right, this country defied expectations. When we successfully negotiated a new constitution, this country defied expectations. When thousands of visitors and the eyes of the world were upon us in 2010, we defied expectations. Why shouldn’t we continue to do so, no matter how difficult?

As the challenges, and, let’s be honest, failures begin to be stacked against us, let us remember how we defied expectations and put a divided nation back on its feet. If our leaders and our citizens can guide this country through the 1980s and the turmoil of that time, then surely we are capable of guiding it through the next 18 years.

No more self-doubt, no more apathy, let’s get to work.

Much public discourse in South Africa is dedicated to criticising the short-comings of our politicians and leaders; making the fair argument that as our leaders, they have a greater responsibility to serve this country and set an example for the rest of us to follow. Indeed, a great deal of active citizenship in this country is justifiably directed at holding our government accountable for any acts of corruption, mismanagement, or potential infringement of our rights. Unfortunately, due to our history, active citizenship carried out in opposition to the government has been commonplace; as for decades South Africans have had to work against a system which oppressed them.

However, I would like to see a different kind of active citizen making more headlines in South Africa. I recently had the pleasure of visiting an inspirational project being carried out in Khayelitsha called the Iliso Care Society. This project has grown immensely over the years, however it was started by a brave woman named Vivian Zilo who, despite her own challenges, identified a simple need in her community and began addressing it with her own resources. Instead of being discouraged by the challenges faced by her community, the past injustices which contributed to them, and the failure of the government to deliver on its promises, Mama Vivian took action in her own capacity as a South African citizen. As she began her work, others in her community were drawn to the project; with the project now being supported by a number of local volunteers who simply followed her example in service as an active citizen. Here I saw a fantastic example of an active citizen leading from the back; taking simple yet effective steps on a local level with far-reaching consequences. If Mama Vivian can affect change in her community, then so can all of us.

We can bemoan the state of our leadership with justification, however we must also understand that our leaders are citizens and so are we – the responsibility to serve this country does not rest with the politicians alone. South Africa may miss the leadership examples of the giants like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Jan Smuts, and A.B. Xuma; however I would contend that South Africa needs example-driven leadership from its citizens even more. We need more Vivian Zilos.

Our politicians have been given the enormous task of guiding this country into a better future. Let us, as active citizens, show them how it is done.