8/26/2010
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Bay teen gets ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ 2010/08/26 Khanyi Ndabeni
A NELSON Mandela Bay teenager who has landed the opportunity of a lifetime to be honed into an effective leader, has dreams of his own. For him it’s all about making a difference on the continent by following in the footsteps of struggle icons like Nelson Mandela and Raymond Mhlaba. Siyabulela Rhoshinamba, 18, of KwaDwesi, is among a select group to be chosen for the Afric an Leadership Academy (ALA) – a Johannesburg-based institute whic h trains youngsters aged between 15 and 18 from all over Africa to be future leaders. Rhoshinamba will start his two-year training next month in Johannesburg and after that he will have the golden opportunity to study at one of several top universities in the world.
FUTURE LEADER ... Siyabulela Rhoshinamba’s future is looking bright after he has won a scholarship to study at the African Leadership Ac ademy. Pic ture: SAM MAJELA
After completing the programme, Rhoshinamba will have the option of selecting between the University of Cape Town or Oxford, Hail, Howard or Stanford university to do any course. The academy will pay for his studies. “I was over the moon when I got the call c onfirming that I was ac cepted at ALA. My family is proud. My teac hers, as well as staff at Ubuntu Education Fund in Zwide, also supported me.”
Siyabulela heard about the ALA scholarship through Ubuntu Education Fund – an NGO which also helps matric pupils with their schoolwork. He has been a member of the fund for two years. “I first heard about ALA early this year. My mentor, Pappy Mkobizi, encouraged me to apply and write an essay on why I want to be there. Ubuntu even sponsored my flight to Johannesburg for the final interviews,” he said. His essay, which talks about African leaders which have played a role in his life and Afric a as a whole, won him the scholarship. “I wrote about how Nelson Mandela made it easier for me to have a decent education. “I also added an extract from his book Long Walk to Freedom where he talks about his journey to freedom and the mountains that he had to c limb.” Siyabulela, who is in Grade12 at Lungisa High School in KwaDwesi, will not be able to write his matric final exams as he has to start at the ac ademy next month. “I do not mind because this is an opportunity of a lifetime and if I don’t grab it now, I might not have another chanc e,” he said. weekendpost.co.za/PrintArticle.aspx?ID…
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8/26/2010
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The ambitious teenager wants to study political science abroad after finishing the two-year training with ALA. “Great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Raymond Mhlaba, to mention but a few, were able to create a path for our generation to venture on. “I still feel like there is a lot to be done for not only South Africa, but Africa as whole. There are a lot of opportunities (here), but (I want to work) with less skilled people,” he said. Ubuntu external relations director Qondakele Sompondo said: “Siyabulela has got natural leadership qualities which he shown from a very young age. “Those skills need to be nurtured. He has an eye on what is happening around him.”
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