Developing leaders for tomorrow in Port Elizabeth

In 2006 and 2007 I have been invited to develop and teach a youth leadership program in Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape. It is called "Ukuzimisela" (= self determination) and is based on a 2 year program for high school students with modules coinciding with the shool terms.

The invitation was extended by Stephen Tobias Leadership Development Initiatives (STLDI), the brainchild of Sister Bernice Alexander, a South Afrikan who lived most of her life in exile and now wants to give something back to the community she originally came from. The schools involved were Chapman, Cowan, Newell and Paterson high schools, from which 20 students in each school were selected to take part in the program. My task was to design the program, train the four facilitators and provide support for the roll-out.

The program addresses leadership from a different angle than most leadership programs. It rests on the belief that, in order to be a good leader, you must start with yourself, know your community and understand the challenges facing it. Included in this process is dealing with self, family, identity, culture and history. This was quite a new approach for both facilitators and students, but they really immersed themselves in the tasks and exercises in the program. The training and roll-out was masterfully managed by the project coordinator, Sister Estelle Fraser.

I was impressed with facilitators who, in addition to full time employment, worked so hard to roll out the program, and students who showed such enthusiasm and eagerness to learn new things.