What is truth? Is truth subjective? Is it absolute? If truth is deemed dependent upon the person or culture holding the belief, anything can become "true," which is absurd.

All these questions were derived from the tour of the National Art Gallery we had on the weekend. A man by the name of Steven took us on a personal tour of American Art. Not knowing much about art myself, I had assumed that at most I would simply marvel at the brilliance of the artist and think nothing more of it. How wrong I was indeed.

Steven was a charismatic and exciting tour guide. Equipped with a cardboard cutout of a microphone and a laser pointer, he was able to allow us to get involved at each and every stop as together we tried to uncover the mysteries that lay beneath the paintings.Each collection of paintings, came with a slightly deeper and multi-layered meaning beyond what the human eye could see.
We came to learn of the various presidents that were all painted by Gilbert Stuart and how his perception of them influenced the final product. Each painting told a story and in order to reveal the artist's true meaning, we had to look at the more subtle parts of the painting that usually wouldn't be considered to be relevant. Everything from the way in which the brush strokes were made, to the lighting in the backdrop seemed to be an indication of something deeper beyond the painting.

After thinking deeply about these multi-layered stories, it dawned on me that this only represents the artists impression of society at that time. It is a subjective narrative and only gives the viewer one side of the coin. Many years down the line, it is a collection of subjective letters, paintings and books that we have to rely on to learn about the history of a certain era.

Our friends from the New Story Leadership said that they face a similar problem. There is a Palestine version of what happened in their Country and there is an Israel version which tend to contradict each other. As neutral bystanders it makes our lives that much harder to decipher what is truth and what is fiction.

I have come to realize that the only truth that exists lies with the people who lived in those times and experienced it themselves. To every other human being, it is open to interpretation. I have realized that much like the paintings we saw, each and every person that we see everyday has a story beyond what we see visually.
My SAWIP team is another great example of a bunch of people who have tremendous life stories and multi-layered lives but you would never get to know the truth unless you took the time to talk to them and uncover those layers one by one.

As Steven kept on saying, life is complicated, people are complicated and behind every story, there are hundreds more that remain untold.

For the past 4 weeks we have been living in the land of dreams. Where great men have turned their dreams into the reality we live in today. Last week we sat and watched the most phenomenal fireworks display I have ever seen from a place that is known for the biggest dreamers of our time.

I sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, on the exact spot where Martin Luther King Jnr. delivered his, "I have a dream" speech and tried to imagine the scene. The 100's of thousands of people who had poured in to witness the fireworks helped this process as I was able to visualize just how many people were packed side by side ready to take in those famous words and be inspired for a lifetime.

Upon returning home that evening, I stayed up considering the concept of dreams and how, as we get older, our dreams become more and more childish so we voluntarily give them up and settle for more "realistic"(mediocre?) dreams.

More and more frequently I have been meeting people who had dreamed to live a certain life yet the uncertainty and fear of not actually realizing their dream took over and they chose to follow a different path. They seem to claim that the doors to their dreams closed while others doors of opportunity simultaneously opened. In my mind that is not a reason to let go of your dreams but rather a challenge that will make your dreams all the more sweeter once you actually attain them.

Despite our inevitable pessimism as we age, I believe that our dreams were born out of a very real desire we once had in our hearts. Even though that desire is not as strong as it once was, I believe that is still exists and always will.

I then started thinking about what my dreams are for myself, for my future, for my nation and for my family. It then dawned on me that dreams are alive. They are living desires that guide and shape the contours of our life and they are often influenced by the people we spend the most of our time with.

My shift in focus over the past few months can be directly traced back to the fact that I have been spending the majority of my time with the most influential and inspiring people I have ever met in my life. Without my phenomenal team I would not have an interest in food-security or in the ways in which theatre can be used to alleviate psychological barriers. I would have assumed that politics and governance was better left to the politics majors and that I should stick to my own field. I would not know the power of getting 17 minds to tackle a single problem has in terms of providing an array of diverse solutions.

I have come to realize that no degree is better or worse than the next degree. We all have a pivotal role to play in society and it is through an entire community of bright and diverse minds that a Nation is able to build and flourish. Never again will I undermine the importance any individual plays in a team context.

I have realized that we each have a role to play and at the point where our roles align with our dreams, that is when true greatness is born. I am still seeking my dreams and trying to determine what the true desires of my heart are. Once I find it, rest assured that the world will never be the same again.

I was browsing through a few pictures on Google about dreaming and the pursuit of happiness. I attached the ones that I thought were the most relevant. Something to ponder.

TT

Today I spent a moment looking around the conference table at the faces of the individuals I have grown to love. The individual brilliance and glory had faded and in its place a real sense of togetherness and pride had emerged. It is as if we have merged into this monumental force of inspiration destined for greatness. Fueled by our individual desires to effect change but also our common purpose to serve our Country and contribute to the society that has given us so much.

In the interview stage this year, I was asked a question by Mrs. Naidoo. She asked, "What is your motto that you choose to live your life by?".

At the time, there was one quote by Albert Einstein that really inspired me each day which went as follows,

“From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of each other - above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.”
― Albert Einstein

As inspirational and appropriate as this quote was at the time, it has never seemed more relevant than right now in Washington D.C. I have realized that it is our desire to provide a better life for the future people of our land that unites us. The beauty about forward thinking is that you will never truly see the fruits of all the work that you do now, but it is the serving heart and the satisfaction of touching someone else's life that makes it all worth while.

For the first time in SAWIP history, two students from the University of Pretoria came with us on our trip. Their role was to observe how our program is run and learn as much as they can so that they can run a program parallel to SAWIP next year focused on developing emerging leaders in the Gauteng and Pretoria region. We were not briefed that much about it but from what I had heard I assumed that they would perform a very passive role and observe 90% of the time, spending 10% of the time asking questions or being involved.

To my pleasant surprise however, they are as active and as much a crucial part of our team as everyone else. Both Alwyn and Mmathapelo have made invaluable contributions thus far and have slotted into the team as if they had always been around. They both offer extremely fresh perspectives unlike any we could be exposed to in the Western Cape.

It speaks great volumes about the genuine interest both Brian and Sally Currin have in our personal development and in SAWIP as a whole. Brian and Sally had the daunting task of choosing two individuals from UP that would not compromise the existing team dynamics. I must say that even without meeting the other potential candidates, they made the right decision. They would not have been able to find such a perfect match if they hadn't taken the tremendous amount of time to do our interviews; camps; read our blogs; send us words of encouragement and most of all be the mother and father of wisdom to us all showing us that compassion and love can trump all things.

So far, Mario; Zizipho; Camille; Jess; Wiaan and myself have all spoken at events. My love for the team was reconfirmed on these occasions. It has reached a stage where when an individual does something extraordinary, my smile beams from ear to ear as if I have accomplished it myself. I genuinely feel proud when a brilliant speech is delivered or an inspiring story is told because I feel as if each person is an extension of myself.

At the Wilson Centre, Wiaan and Lwamba had the daunting task of sitting on a panel discussion with highly accomplished individuals. The sense of pride and love for them when they absolutely blew people's minds with their insight and meaningful contributions to the discussion was clearly evident throughout the team. This showed me importance of being part of a team where we can draw inspiration when our tanks are empty.

We are a team. We are a community. We are a family. We stick together and we've got each others backs. We are one.

There is no place like it. No place that comes close to its glory, pride, and exultancy. It captivated me from the moment we arrived until the moment we left.

The sheer height of the buildings were enough to both scare and bewilder my very being. The vast array of smells and substances that protruded from the urban jungle around us made me feel dirty and unhygienic. The people, all focused and walking at a frantic pace determined to achieve what they set out to do.

My fear is that these people, destined for greatness no doubt, are so focused on getting to the next tourist destination; catching the metro; checking the news; eating sleeping and drinking that they lose out on the sheer beauty that surrounds them.

With our busy schedule on our quest to change the world, I too have fallen victim to this subtle disease. There is so much going on and so much to take in that it becomes a question of, "Do I try and see EVERYTHING very briefly, or do I try and see a few things but spend a lot of time there and really cherish the experience?".

For me, it turned out to be the former. The first day we arrived, we got the opportunity to go to Standard Bank for a lunch and discussion. For me, this was the best session we have had so far. The people we met were all incredible and what struck me was how they had all studied a large variety of things yet their paths all led to this point at Standard Bank. It made me consider the unpredictability of life and that as hard as we may try, the future is as uncertain to us now than it ever has been. Life happens. Opportunities open up. From the ashes of failure, emerge unexpected passions that light up a fire in the hearts of men and women across the world. I am on the verge of unlocking that passion.

When I left school, I really wanted to become a derivatives trader and trade on the stock markets, so to get an opportunity to tour the trading room and hear from all these phenomenal people was truly an unforgettable experience and it has shown me that anything is possible.

The rest of our trip included a session with the RSA permanent mission to the USA, a tour of the UN and a cocktail evening at the South African Consulate. These were all really informative and to be inside the UN buildings was definitely a huge highlight for me.

The rest of the time was free time and we decided to make the most of it. Our adventures include: walking across Brooklyn Bridge; visiting Wall street and the NYSE; having burgers at Planet Hollywood; Late night exploits at the Meat Packing District; Watching Chicago on Broadway;

In total, I had approximately 10 hours sleep in 3 days. In a conversation with Phillip I came to realize that the reason we did so much was because in our minds we knew we were only going to be in NY for a very short period of time. As a result, we decided to maximize every moment and constantly fill our hours with exciting things to do.

What I then realized was that I have been guilty of not making the most of every moment in Washington D.C. In my mind I had thought that 6 weeks was a really long time and that I will eventually get to all the stuff that I really want to do. But we are already half way through our time here and there is so much exploring to be done. As of today I made a pledge with myself that I will maximize my time, constantly make plans and ensure that this life changing experience is extended as far as possible. I can sleep when I'm dead after all.

Change is something that presses us out of our comfort zone. It is destiny-filtered, heart grown, faith built. Change is inequitable; not a respecter of persons. Change is for the better or for the worst, depending on where you view it. Change has an adjustment period which varies on the individual. It is uncomfortable, for changing from one state to the next upsets our control over outcomes. Change has a ripping effect on those who won’t let go. Flex is the key. Even a roller coaster ride can be fun if you know when to lean and create new balance within the change. Change is needed when all the props and practices of the past no longer work. Change is not comforted by the statement ‘just hang in there’ but with the statement ‘you can make it’.

We don’t grow in retreat, but through endurance. Change isn't fixed by crying, worrying, or mental tread milling. Change is won by victors not victims; and that choice is ours.Change is awkward - at first. Change is a muscle that develops to abundantly enjoy the dynamics of the life set before us. Change calls own strength beyond anyone of us. Change pushes you to do your personal best. Change draws out those poised for a new way. Change isn't for chickens. Change does have casualties of those defeated. Change will cause us to churn or to learn. Change changes the speed of time. Time is so slow for the reluctant, and yet it is a whirlwind for those who embrace it. Change is more fun to do than to be done to.

Change seeks a better place at the end and is complete when you realize you are different. Change is measured by its impact on all who are connected to it. Change is charged when you are dissatisfied with where you are. Change doesn't look for a resting-place; just the next launching point. Change is only a waste to those who don’t learn from it. Change happens in the heart before it is proclaimed by our works. Change chaps those moving slower than the change itself. If you can change before you have to change, there will be less pain. Change can flow or jerk, depending on our resistance to it. Change uses the power invested in the unseen to reinvent what is seen. Change is like driving in a fog – you can’t see very far, but you can make the whole trip that way.Change is here to stay.Change is Constant and we are all Change Agents.

SAWIP has put us on a path that will allow that change to flourish and has afforded us opportunities that will no doubt change us for the better. Although uncomfortable at times, we have been forced to adapt and a whole lot of responsibility has been thrust upon us to be the change we want to see in the world. I accept that responsibility.

As a team, we are all on an upward trajectory growing at tremendous speeds. Relatively speaking however, we are all keeping up and it is hard to notice the changes on a daily basis. I am intrigued to see how my growth will be perceived by my friends and family once I return home to South Africa. I know that I have grown and changed but as to the extent of that growth I am not so sure. These are indeed exciting times and as we journey through this stage of self-discovery I am starting to enjoy some of the changes I am starting to experience.

How technology changed my life:

And how it will change Africa’s future

Timothy Taylor, 2013 Fellow,

South Africa Washington International Program

Presented: Wilson International Centre, Washington, DC USA

Date: 25^th June 2013

White. Male. Privileged. Jock. Educated. These are some of the characteristics, which may have led you to believe that you know my life story. What would you say if I told you that my start wasn't that promising? I was fortunate to be adopted at the age of 4 into a mixed race family by generous and compassionate parents who started an orphanage for children infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. My parents have afforded me amazing opportunities like climbing Mount. Kilimanjaro at the age of 15. They've also given back to the country, for example, by starting an orphanage for children infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. I am a student Majoring in Finance and Accounting with a passion for both sport and technology. I am a human being just like all of you, looking to make a small contribution to the Country I have grown to love.

In 2012, I had the honor of being selected as a Google student ambassador for the University of Cape Town. I was thus afforded an opportunity to attend a Google Summit in Nairobi, Kenya where I got to engage with other ambassadors from sub-Saharan Africa to try and discover technological solutions to the most challenging problems we face in Africa. One of the main focuses of the summit was how we can use Google products, and technology in general, to positively impact and support the educational sphere in Africa.

Upon returning to South Africa, I was inspired to make a tangible contribution and now could better see how technology will play a pivotal role in South Africa going forward. I realized that one reason that most South African’s don’t reach their true potential is that there is a chronic lack of opportunity for youth. Why is that? I believe it is because for far too many of our people it is a non-existent or strongly impaired education. The biggest tragedy in South Africa is not that kids don’t want to learn, it is that some kids do want to learn, but can’t.

There are global examples that I believe offer Africa a number of opportunities to learn from. Salman Khan has done great work Re-educating the education system, one video at a time.

In 2004, Salman Khan, a hedge fund analyst from Silicon Valley with a passion for math and science, started tutoring his 13-year-old cousin, in Bangladesh, remotely via phone and the web.

Today the Khan Academy has 2 million users monthly and provides a fantastic model for Africa.

Mr. Khan was the man who inspired me to take what I had learnt at the Summit and use technology to tackle the education shortfalls in South Africa.

It now seems inevitable, in my own life, that I would slowly gravitate towards this most fascinating and compelling challenge that we have in society, which is education.

Back in Cape Town, a friend saw the potential of Khan’s videos too and he started Numeric, a Cape Town based non-profit using technology to provide exciting and stimulating learning environments for the rural townships in the Western Cape. The Khan Academy is at the core of our program.

Technology provides us with exciting opportunities to build new businesses and adopt efficient ways to share information in our interconnected world. Our leaders and regulators can pave the way by making it easier for citizens to capitalize on new opportunities created by the Internet by doing all they can to make it affordable, fast and private.

Our SAWIP team is much like technology in the sense that we are all connected and are serving a common purpose. Constantly adapting and upgrading our personal selves in order to meet the needs of our nation. Our quest to become global citizens coupled with our desire to effect change has allowed us to create a safe place to think critically and debate a number of crucial issues. Much like cloud computing, we have discovered the power of collaboration and the importance of multi-platform, or in our case multi-racial integration. In our pursuit of gaining a deeper understanding of global leadership challenges, our network of change agents continues to grow, making crucial connections and meeting influential people along the way. Each one of us contributing to what has become the SAWIP family.

In his autobiography, a Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela wrote, “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mine worker can become the head of that mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. “

Last week, the SAWIP class of 2013 got to attend the annual Points of Light(POL) conference. The conference hosts more than 5,000 service leaders to learn and cultivate new ideas for service, discuss the challenges we all face and work together to create solutions through the power of people.

In the afternoon there were over 100 different sessions on different areas of community service and we could choose to attend whichever one we wanted. A lot of the team went to a session on social entrepreneurship, but myself and Olwethu ended up attending a session on Community Development.

Having been involved in a number of community development projects I wasn't too sure what to expect but I was really excited to learn as much as I could and see how they chose to approach certain issues in their own communities.

The two ladies who spoke to us were both from Florida and they started a community project called B.E.S.T community which stands for Build. Engage. Sustain and Transform. All the community projects in the are go through them and they have managed to get over 14 000 volunteers in the last years.

There was one project in particular that really inspired me which I thought would be relevant to us back in South Africa.

The initiative was called "Top Dogs". Kids from a rural community would spend +- 2 hours travelling to and from school every single day. One of the teachers saw this idle time as a great opportunity for kids to do some extra learning. Top Dogs is a bus tutoring program whereby the older kids on the bus tutor and mentor the younger kids whilst they are all on the way to school. They give each child a set of flashcards to learn and if they get a certain number right each time then they receive a star. Upon receiving 25 stars they are awarded with some sort of prize.

This has been hugely successful in their community and is easily adaptable to South Africa. There are bound to be hundreds of children around South Africa who take public transport to and from school and with enough man power this is definitely a potential initiative that is cost effective and easy to track and implement.

Lanyard- A cord passed around the neck, shoulder, or wrist for holding a knife, whistle, or similar object.

The "similar object" in our context happens to be a small tag that we wear around our necks that lists our name, where we work, as well as the position we hold at our company.

Until now, I had assumed that the tag was where the most crucial information lied. Our name representative of who we are and often where we come from. Our company representing what we do and how we spend most of our time. And finally our position held, indicating our superiority or status where we actually work.

What I had never considered was the significance of the lanyard itself. The more events I have attended while in Washington D.C. the more I have realized that every event has a specific lanyard and each lanyard has a certain amount of power and status attached to it. Equally as interesting was that people wear lanyards from other events which are perceived as superior to all events that they attend.

Last week I was at an event where the General Manager of Eskom international was doing a talk on the power sector in Africa. Before the event started I noticed to men in front of me scanning each other and looking for a possible opportunity to begin networking.

The man on the left was wearing a dark green lanyard with the words "U.S. Open Championship" written in gold all across the lanyard. The man on the right was drawn to this and they had a 15 minute discussion about golf and who they think is the favorite to win the golf major this year. After a lot of jousting and promoting of each other's champions, the two men exchanged cards and said they would love to do lunch in the week.

The significance for me was that this lanyard acted as a means of communicating a common ground for the two men completely outside of the event they were both at and outside of the work that they both were involved with. It is clear that lanyards are very effective networking tools and if you are able to get your hands on the right ones then you will be a natural social magnetic force at a networking event.

I think it is time that we, as the SAWIP team, get some lanyards and use this tool as a means of spreading the news about our program and the awesome things we do.

Life generally involves effort and goals where you need structure, focus and discipline to get the most out of it and to succeed in achieving your aims. Competitive sport is exactly the same, but is condensed into a bandwidth of minutes, hours or even days in the case of games like cricket.

Sport is a universal language. At its best it can bring people together, no matter what their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status. And when young people participate in sports or have access to physical education, they can experience real exhilaration even as they learn the ideals of teamwork and tolerance.

If you can succeed in life and emulate that approach in sport you will be a champion. Conversely, if you can succeed in sport and emulate it in life you will be a success in whatever way you choose to measure it. Some use money as their yardstick, some professional or personal achievement, some contentment, some to make the world a better place and some aspire to support others. Your mode of measurement is down to you, but whatever it is - if you get the game of life right - you'll win.

Whilst in DC I have learnt that whether in sport, work or your personal life there are always ways to up your game. Whether it means following up on that extra business card or helping another person towards one of their goals; learning to listen with intent and pausing to formulate a response only after someone has finished their entire statement; or even something as simple as improving on/sharpening the way we speak and articulate our words.

I managed to find a group of Ultimate Frisbee players in my area and on Sunday I joined them all for a social game at Meridian Hill Park. It was incredibly interesting to see that Frisbee players genuinely have their own “Frisbee culture”. All the people I played with were very similar to my team back home and they seemed to have many interests similar to my own.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a pick-up game at the local park, or the Fifa World Cup final -sport is a beautiful thing. And so are the people who play them as are the people who watch.

Sport can help overcome ignorance and discrimination and sow the seeds of integration and equality. I am hugely grateful that I live in such a huge sporting Nation like South Africa and have now seen that sport has immense power all over the world.

It is often said that the majority of what we learn, is learnt outside of the classroom.

I experienced this last weekend in the most refreshing of ways.

Allow me to set the scene:

It was Saturday night and I was running late for one of my really good friend's 21st birthday party. I parked my car and started walking briskly towards the party venue when I was stopped by a man looking quite startled and shell-shocked. He proceeded to tell me the story of how he reached this state.

The moment he started speaking it was evident that he was not from this country, he was American by birth and was on holiday backpacking through South Africa. Himself and the three students he was in charge of had spent the day climbing Table Mountain and upon returning to Rondebosch, had been robbed of their passports; money and backpacks. George(the name of the man) went on to describe how he really needed to get to the American consulate and asked if I could possibly give him a quick ride to Baxter where he could get onto a MyCiti bus.

I decided that this man genuinely needed my help and that the party could wait so I turned around, jumped in my car and drove George to Baxter.

Upon arriving at Baxter, George further explained to me that all they need to do was get to the American Consulate and if they can do that, they will be able to sort out new passports and money etc. George informed me that it costs R98 return per person to where they needed to be. This equals roughly R400.

George had no money whatsoever since he got robbed and he pleaded with me to please lend him R400. He went on to take my phone number and give him his and ensured me that as soon as they arrive back from the consulate that he will get in touch with me and repay me.

It is worthwhile to bare in mind that this is the first time I had ever met this man, I had no clue who he was nor any indication as to the soundness of his story.

It was at this moment when I was faced with a choice that could affect both my life and George's life for many years to come.

My options were:

1) Lend George R400 and have faith that humans are inherently good and honest people.

2) Deny George any amount of hope, in a foreign country, purely based on my pessimistic view of the human nature.

There were countless reasons why I shouldn't have helped George out and why I shouldn't have gone down that road, but then I took a step back and tried to put myself in his shoes.

I considered how I would want to be treated if I was overseas in a foreign country and had just lost all my possessions as well as any sense of hope.

I did not trust him, as I do not trust easily, but for that brief moment I saw a glimpse of what the world could be like. If I could not show love to this one man in a moment of need then I could not hope to understand the love that the likes of Nelson Mandela showed towards people who hated them and ridiculed them publicly.

I chose the former option. 24 hours later, George called me up and we met for a coffee in Rondebosch. We got chatting about SAWIP and the fact that I am going to Washington DC in June and he gave me $100 to say thank you for everything I did and for all the trouble I went through.

I believe that people are inherently good and that we need to give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove us wrong. I also believe in the power that acts of random kindness have on the world and that a lot of global issues can be mitigated through sharing a bit of love.

I have included a link to a fantastic(albeit very idealistic) concept of looking out for your neighbor and spreading the love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_JAlTxc1k4

As part of our SAWIP curriculum we are required to do 30 hours of community service before we leave for Washington DC. I chose to do mine through a non-profit organization called "Each one Teach one".

Each week we go to Lavender Hills and teach young and energetic children maths and English at a very fundamental level. We collaborate with another organization called "Mother Aid" who provide after care services to all the surrounding schools in Lavender Hills.

This has been a positively enriching experience for me and it reminds me on a daily basis how blessed I truly am. One student who has caused me to profoundly change the way in which I see the education system in South Africa, is a 15 year old girl by the name of Ashleigh Ndlovu*.

Ashleigh is a Grade 9 girl who I have been working with for the past few weeks, trying to improve her maths skills and equip her to tackle any problems that she may come across.

As I VERBALLY went through factorisation, simplification, converting fractions into percentages and a number of other fairly well known concepts in her syllabus; it dawned on me that she was a bit of a maths whizz kid. I assumed that the only reason she came for tutoring was to solidify her fundamentals and perhaps get that elusive “A”.

Upon further investigation however, I came to learn that she is currently failing maths at school and has been scraping through for a number of years. This perplexed me and saddened me deeply. It was only when we started working through exercises from the text book that the underlying problem presented itself.

Ashleigh’s knowledge and understanding of individual topics was far above the average, but when it came to figuring out what was actually being asked in a test situation, she didn’t have a clue where to start. Ashleigh’s home language was Xhosa, her 2^nd language being Afrikaans and finally her 3^rd language being English. Ashleigh attends an English school where she is taught and examined in English only.

In effect, she is being severely penalised by a factor that is out of her control and not her fault in any way. She has tremendous potential and knows all the concepts she needs to know, but based on the current examination process, she will (potentially) simply end up in the “Failure” pile and as another statistic.

Ashleigh’s story saddened me deeply and it made me wonder if she is preparing herself for a battle that she simply has no chance of winning. It made me wonder how many more Ashleighs there are in our country and what we can do to perhaps address this very sad situation. The time to act is now and I am determined to find a solution to this educational barrier to entry.

I encourage comments and potential thoughts on this pressing issue.

In the meantime, I will continue to do all I can to make sure Ashleigh has a future and can overcome the difficulties she has been faced with. Our future does depend on it after all.

*Name has been changed for privacy purposes.

The society in which we live has trained us to be solution-finders. At school we are assessed based on the quality of our solutions to the relevant questions posed to us. In a working environment, we are required to present potential solutions to management based on problems that they have identified. Where we fall short however, is our ability to ask the right questions. We have become incredibly efficient at solving problems, even if they are the wrong ones to solve.

It was at the SAWIP orientation camp this year, where I witnessed the power and importance of asking the right questions. We got the opportunity to meet Sally and Brian, engage with our newly formed team as well as meet and interact with some of the alumni. Conversation was flowing and people were excited to get to know more about the future prospects of our country in terms of leadership potential. Generic questions such as “What do you study? Do you have siblings? Who was your host family? Where do you want to receive professional exposure whilst you are in DC?” were expected and we eagerly revealed more and more about our personal selves as we looked to establish a “base level of knowledge” about the family we are now a part of.

The generic course of the conversation changed dramatically when Erik de Ridder (Alumnus 2011) posed the question, “What is collective leadership and how did Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela differ in their approach to this style of leadership?”. This question not only caught me off guard but it had a lasting effect long after it had been asked. It forced me to think hard about exactly what I did (and didn’t) know about the topic. It made me realize that we, as the SAWIP team of 2013, are ambassadors of South African and should prepare ourselves to answer questions such as this with confidence, backed by knowledge and research.

This simple question lead to a one and a half hour discussion where people who were in the know gave shared their stance and people who weren’t got the opportunity to learn and increase their knowledge on the topic. Furthermore, Brian joined the conversation and gave us his perspective of collective leadership in an African context based on theory as well as his personal experiences.

The divergent and expansive nature of the question that Erik posed framed the entire conversation as an inquiry in which both sides came together to learn and uncover the best solution. As a result, we were lead on a path of self-discovery and self-reflection.

Effective questions are questions that are powerful and thought provoking. Effective questions are open-ended and not leading questions. They are not "why" questions, but rather "what" or "how" questions.

The final thing that Erik taught me was that once the question has been asked, the ability to listen to the answer and suspend judgment is key to gaining the most from the question. It is crucial that we are intent on understanding what the person who is talking is really saying.

Detailed questions are not as exciting as brilliant answers. They seldom get quoted or boasted about. But without the direction and framework that the right questions create, we would be lost at sea spending all our time and resources finding solutions to the wrong problems.

I end with a quote by Og Mandino, "

Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new."