MRF Yearbook 2022

YEARBOOK | 2022

BUILDING EXCEPTIONAL MOROCCO LEADERSHIP CAPACITY WESTERN SAHARA IN AFRICA CABO MAURITANIA The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is one of Nelson VERDE Mandela’s three official legacy organisations, MALI founded in 2003 in partnership with the Rhodes SENEGAL BURKINA Trust. We offer young leaders from across the African continent a chance to become part of GAMBIA FASO Mr Mandela’s legacy of transformative impact. GUINEA-BISSAU We offer a life-changing opportunity for personal growth via a prestigious postgraduate scholarship GUINEA and Leadership Development Programme, for those who want to use their talents to serve Africa. SIERRA LEONE CÔTE We provide full tuition, a comprehensive allowance LIBERIA D’IVOIRE GHANA and up to two years of leadership development. TOGO Mandela Rhodes Scholars study Honours or Masters BENIN degrees in South Africa, in any field of study, while participating in our programme. To date we have selected 622 Mandela Rhodes Scholars f rom 33 African countries and across 35 disciplines. To find out more about our selection process, visit our website. 622 33 35 scholars Af rican disciplines countries 100 40 40 30 21 31 44 30 41 29 35 55 51 61 53 63 64 83 79 79 70 69 70 71 60 60 65 56 59 49 47 45 39 37 36 21 17 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 % Scholars from South Africa % Scholars elsewhere in Africa

TUNISIA 33 Countries where we have 15 awarded scholarships. ALGERIA LIBYA EGYPT 6 Countries where we have received applications but not awarded scholarships. Countries where we have not received applications. NIGER CHAD SUDAN ERITREA DJIBOUTI NIGERIA CENTRAL SOUTH ETHIOPIA AFRICAN SUDAN CAMEROON REPUBLIC EQUATORIAL DEMOCRATIC UGANDA SOMALIA GUINEA REPUBLIC OF KENYA SÃO TOMÉ GABON THE CONGO RWANDA AND PRÍNCIPE TANZANIA BURUNDI REPUBLIC SEYCHELLES OF CONGO COMOROS ANGOLA MALAWI ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE MADAGASCAR BOTSWANA MAURITIUS NAMIBIA MOZAMBIQUE ESWATINI LESOTHO SOUTH AFRICA

Editor: Abigail McDougall-Fisher Sub-editor: Julia Brown Features writer: Ayanda Radebe Editorial assistant: Joseph Maisels Proof-reader: Abigail Green Photographs: Verity Fitzgerald, Retang Sebeka Design & Layout: Deidre Wessels, Brenda Anita Milner & Company Pty (Ltd) Printed by: Viking Print

TABLE OF CONTENTS MRF Matters 1 Letters from the Chairman, CEO and the Rhodes Trust 2 Looking back at 2022 6 Africanising African leadership 8 Inside the programme 10 Leadership Development Programme at a glance 12 Scholar stories 14 Meet the Class of 2022 20 Second-year programme: Scholar projects 28 Research in focus 30 Alumni affairs 32 Alumni affairs at a glance 34 Alumni Symposium 2022: Connection, celebration and growth 36 Äänit Prize: Meet the finalists 38 Doctoral scholarship 42 Alumni contributors 44 Where are they now? 46 Governance 52 Governance structures 54 Financial highlights for the year ended 31 December 2022 58 Donors and supporters 62 How to donate 66 TABLE OF CONTENTS

MRF MATTERS



A MESSAGE FROM THE The Mandela Rhodes Foundation in preparing CHAIR OF THE BOARD such leaders feels timely and resonant. The OF TRUSTEES achievements contained in this annual report attest to the excellent work done by the As 2022 began, the hope of a less turbulent Foundation’s small team. year was disrupted by the outbreak of a major conflict between Russia and NATO over Ukraine, In closing we offer a special thank you and farewell leading to Russia’s invasion of that country. The to founding Trustee Dr Phumzile Mlambo- conflict caused food and fuel prices in Africa to Ngcuka, who has been with us since 2003, and Dr increase dramatically, and introduced a new air Mo Ibrahim, who is stepping down after 10 years of menace and instability into the global mood. of committed service. We greatly appreciate their contributions to the Foundation. I also extend Alongside this sudden threat of world war, internal my thanks to all our Trustees and the members conflicts have continued to disrupt the lives of of our sub-committees, whose contributions many Africans. We know that without peace, are invaluable. there cannot be prosperity, and we must therefore retain a focus on creating the conditions for peace Professor Njabulo S. Ndebele, Chair in the national and international spheres. The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Cape Town Against this backdrop, it is tremendously encouraging to see The Mandela Rhodes Foundation continue to expand its reach into Africa. It has always been a dream of the Foundation that our leaders will contribute to peace in Africa: that one day two heads of state, on the brink of war, will both be Mandela Rhodes Scholars and choose a different path, averting a deadly conflict. In 2022, the Foundation selected Luqman Abdukadir Jama and Ismail Michael Ombo from Somalia and South Sudan, two nations where peace is fragile and daily life remains a struggle for survival. The selection of the first Mandela Rhodes Scholars from these countries is significant. As we begin to witness slow but momentous tectonic shifts in the global balance of power, it is our hope that exceptional leaders from the African continent can make meaningful contributions to peace and development efforts on the global stage. In this sense the work of 2 LETTERS FROM THE CHAIRMAN, CEO AND THE RHODES TRUST

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO I first met Mr Mandela in 2007 as a Mandela I thank the MRF team who are so passionate Rhodes Scholar in residence. Fifteen years later, about our shared “why”, and the Trustees and I was invited to join the Trek4Mandela initiative members of our sub-committees who guide to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for the dignity of the us along our path. African girl child. Judy Sikuza, CEO As intimidated as I was by the adventure, I was The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Cape Town so grateful that I took it on as it taught me some of my greatest lessons as a leader, and human being. Madiba understood the power of the journey as a metaphor for leadership. He imagined his fight for freedom as a long walk, and climbing Kilimanjaro taught me the importance of understanding your core motivation: your why. When facing intractable challenges and feeling that you cannot take another step, connecting to your why can help you keep going. I also learnt in a very practical, embodied way, the truth of the saying that we are capable of more than we think despite the pain and challenges in our way. Looking at the Foundation, I feel proud of where we are today as we stand on the threshold of our 20th year, and all the hills we have climbed thus far. Our flagship programme continues to transform the leadership journeys of our Mandela Rhodes Scholars – hear from them directly on page 14 to 19. We are steadily growing our reach into Africa, each new country a small step towards Madiba’s vision of a truly Pan-African network of leaders. Our alumni community is increasingly interconnected, and a highlight of 2022 was being able to feel the catalytic magic of the collective of Mandela Rhodes Scholars at our first in-person alumni gathering since 2019 (see page 36). MRF MATTERS 3

A MESSAGE FROM THE As we prepare to mark two milestone anniversaries in 2023 – MRF’s 20th and the Trust’s 120th – I am RHODES TRUST immensely proud of all the ways you are fulfilling President Mandela’s dream of building exceptional Despite the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership capacity in Africa. I look forward to 2022 continued to bring turbulence to many celebrating together – and to the next chapter of parts of the world, including the Russian our partnership! invasion of Ukraine, record-breaking floods in Pakistan, Australia and South Africa, and three Dr Elizabeth Kiss, Warden and CEO UK Prime Ministers in just seven weeks. Rhodes Trust, Oxford So we are especially thankful that, for the Rhodes Trust, 2022 was a year of renewal, reconnection and new beginnings. The most visible sign of new beginnings was the expansion of Rhodes House, scheduled for completion in spring 2023, which will double our usable space while preserving the integrity of Herbert Baker’s original design. Key features include a conference centre in the basement with meeting space for up to 300, a glass pavilion nestled in the garden and 37 en-suite bedrooms. We look forward to welcoming many members of the Mandela Rhodes community to Rhodes House in the years to come! Our Scholars relished the renewal of Oxford traditions, from rowing and punting to pub nights, and we all enjoyed the return to in-person Character, Service and Leadership retreats and Coming Up and Going Down dinners, as well as the opportunity to host inspiring speakers, including former South African Constitutional Court Justice Catherine O’Regan (an MRF and Rhodes Trustee) on the legacy of South Africa’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission. The summer’s highlights included an in-person MRF Board meeting in Oxford, the inaugural global gathering of Rise winners in Cape Town, and a grand celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Rhodes Scholarships in Delhi. In the autumn, we were delighted to welcome the Rhodes Class of 2022, two of whom, Isatu Bokum and Claire McCann, are also Mandela Rhodes Scholars, bringing the total number of MRF-Rhodes Scholars to 21. 4 LETTERS FROM THE CHAIRMAN, CEO AND THE RHODES TRUST

Our world desperately needs ethical and public-spirited leaders committed to building thriving and inclusive societies, tackling humanity’s challenges and repairing historic wounds. The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is doing remarkable work finding and developing the leaders of tomorrow across the African continent. All of us at the Rhodes Trust are honoured to partner with you on this journey! Dr Elizabeth Kiss, Trustee MRF MATTERS 5

LOOKING BACK AT 2022 31 January 6 June 13 June and 1 February 17 May 2030 Reading panel MRF visits the USA University of MRF visits the UK Georgetown visit MRF Trustee, The Hon Dr Judy, Ernst and Abigail We hosted mid-career MRF leadership travelled Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, visited New York in May master's students from to London for stakeholder invited Professor Njabulo to attend the Global Georgetown University at meetings after completing S. Ndebele and Judy along Fellowships Forum (GFF). the MRF, for the first time the 19th meeting of the to join a panel of eminent They also travelled to in over two years. We Board of Trustees in Oxford South Africans to ensure all Washington to connect engaged deeply on the in early June. children read for meaning with friends of the Mandela legacy and its by age 10 by 2030. The Foundation, both old resonance today. panel’s goal is to review and new. whether or not South Africa is on track to reach the 2030 goal, and what needs to change to ensure we do get there. ◀ CEO Judy Sikuza at the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro 6 LOOKING BACK AT 2022

20 June 29 June 18 July 5 August MRF Chair speaks in KFC visits the MRF Mandela Day: MRF CEO Climbs Cambridge 67 food parcels Kilimanjaro MRF Board Chairman The KFC's Chief People Scholars in residence, Summiting Kilimanjaro on Professor Ndebele gave the Officers from around the alumni and staff packed Women’s Day with a group biennial Roskill Lecture world visited the MRF’s 67 food parcels for Mandela of amazing women was an at Churchill College offices. With a shared Day, and sent them to unforgettable experience in Cambridge, titled passion for developing The Cradle of Hope – for Judy. The Super Women ‘Prisons Without Walls: people, there were lots House of Restoration in climb was part of the Re-Imagining the Global of lessons and insights West Krugersdorp. annual Trek4Mandela Community in the Time exchanged. expedition which honours of Covid-19’. Madiba’s legacy and raises funds for Caring For Girls, an initiative that supports the dignity of the African girl child. 17 September 10 October 7 November 11 November Äänit Prize awards Selections season OUP visits Bishopscourt Class of 2023 announced evening for the Class of 2023 The Äänit Prize culminated Selections for the Mandela The MRF hosted a tea for We were pleased to with a special awards Rhodes Scholarships took Oxford University Vice- announce the Class of 2023 evening. The awards place at Mr Mandela’s Chancellor Professor Mandela Rhodes Scholars. were co-hosted in Cape home in Bishopscourt. Louise Richardson and The 38 outstanding young Town by Ayanda Radebe, Three selection committees the Oxford University leaders hail from 15 African Communications Officer met to interview and select Press SA leadership team countries, and we were at the MRF and Sina the 19th cohort of Mandela for a relaxed afternoon in especially delighted to Moyane, Trek4Mandela Rhodes Scholars. Bishopscourt. They enjoyed welcome our first-ever Project Manager at the exchanging ideas with scholar from Guinea, Imbumba Foundation. some scholars funded by Saa Michel Tolno. The ceremony was OUP SA, who were also streamed to a live audience in attendance. in several countries. MRF MATTERS 7

WHAT CAN AFRICA TEACH US ABOUT HOW TO LEAD? What does it mean to talk about uniquely African ways of leading? Does it mean a particular set of values? Or is it about practices and tools? At our 2022 Alumni Symposium we hosted a conversation to guide and inspire our community on African ways of leading. Here are some of the most thought-provoking insights. Dr Baba Buntu - Expert in Practical Decoloniality and Dr Shahieda Jansen - Clinical Psychologist, Expert on Personal Development African Personhood African leadership should be different to other African personhood is founded on two fundamental forms of leadership. Firstly, because of the collective principles or pillars: a pillar of relationality and a pillar worldview that African culture is based on, rather than of ethicality. In an African context, the self is regarded the glorification of individual persons. We talk about as fundamentally connected. So, the minute you African states through the name of whoever is the are relational, there are rules of engagement. And president or the prime minister. But we actually come the human being is not just the sister of every other from a tradition where what it really is about is systems. person, but I am also an extension of nature. Secondly, And I think that's what [leaders] need to be better at. at the core of each human being is uMoya, which is Secondly, we need to ask: does African leadership a social spirituality that is our essence. It is the same have the courage to really decolonise? Over the last social spirituality that is the foundation of the self in five to 10 years, we've had a much bolder conversation the old Hebrew, Jewish Christian understanding of in most parts of the world about what colonisation the self, and at the base of the Hindu, the Buddhist, is. But can we do that in spaces of leadership, where the Chinese, the Japanese, the Latina, the South, and decolonisation probably isn’t the job description? [If the East European understanding of the self. So the we don’t decolonise], you are saying “let's pretend that African self is in fact the universal self. these are not real issues that affect us deeply, every single day”. So we need a bolder African leadership. So now that we are grounded and reminded of who we are as Africans, there are implications of that. Thirdly, does African leadership empower African children? When we set up our homes, when we nurture The minute you are clear in terms of your our children, when I, as an African man, start the dance African personhood, your whole world and that is called marriage with another African woman? everything you do will be framed with your own And I would say it's dangerous for us as African people to understanding of reality. From that comes your go out in the workplace, into politics, into corporate and own values hierarchy, so you're not going to be claim leadership, when we are not maybe performing confused as to what the good life really is. so well within our houses, when our children are not looking at us as leaders, when our partners are not You have an understanding of what is good and bad looking at us as a place of safety. And that's the reality and what is right and wrong. And what is moral and that African leadership needs to confront, reclaim and immoral from your own perspective. resolve. I'm leaving you with that challenge. Who are you? When there's no camera? There's no WhatsApp, f Dr Shahieda Jansen, Gogo Aubrey Matshiqi, Dr Celi there's no stage, you're just you? Do you live up to what Stewart and Dr Baba Buntu discuss African Ways of you would call African leadership, and would your child Leading. This thought-provoking panel was facilitated or anyone's child come to you and say, I see you as an by Rachel Nyaradzo Adams (Zimbabwe & UCT, 2006), African leader? seated in the middle. 8 AFRICANISING AFRICAN LEADERSHIP

Gogo Aubrey Matshiqi - Political Analyst and Expert in Dr Celi Stewart aka Gogo Simenjalo - Indigenous African Spirituality Knowledge Expert If you accept that Africa is the cradle of humankind, then Leadership is about strategy, and strategy speaks to a there are 7 billion Africans on the planet. Of those, 6 billion long-term view. Research has shown that our ancestors’ of them are not on the African continent; they are in the long-term view had a spiritual focus. In ancient Africa, diaspora. African leadership has something unique [to everything was readily available in nature, which meant offer]. The challenge of ensuring that the world conceives that the material, economic struggle was not a primary of leadership in an African way is therefore the challenge concern. Paramount to their long-term [view] was of ensuring that the 6 billion Africans in the diaspora nature preservation, because nature was their provision come back home, not physically but spiritually. So that it is for everything they needed. They viewed nature as an invitation for the other 6 billion Africans to come back the manifestation of the gods, with the sun being the to who they are, by returning to their Africanness, that we ultimate god, the life giver and source. Thus the spiritual make when we talk about leading in the African way. focus was living a life of always trying to connect to God. Within this philosophy, it was recognised that every One of the things we do battle with is the ideas that individual was a leader, as per the individual’s natural came with the enlightenment. There's a darker side to abilities, in their own life purpose. Western morality and modernity, which is coloniality. Coloniality, amongst other things, says that to be African Ancient African civilisations created the world's is to be ontologically inferior. And that to be African is to first calendars, including the Inzalo Ye Langa in be epistemically inferior. To lead in an African way is to Mpumalanga, and the Dendera [Zodiac] in Egypt, of challenge those two things. ancient Kemet. These calendars are the foundations of all astrology and the study of all cosmology worldwide. Jai Krishnamurthi is an Indian philosopher who talks Kemet was an ancient African civilisation that governed about the need to free yourself from the known. He their communities based on these calendars: people’s talks about the dangers of attachment. Once something skills were nurtured based on the seasons that they becomes the known, for instance, Africa and being were born. African, the journey of freeing yourself from that known begins. You must not be attached to your wife, your The leadership focus was to ensure that every person is husband, to your car, to your country, to ideas, which aligned to the sun and its constellations, and to ensure also means we have no gurus. But detachment is not that every person understood the reason for their earthly the opposite of attachment. Freedom is the opposite manifestation: why they are here. If you understood your of attachment. So even this notion we're talking about, purpose in life, you'd be directed towards it and self- leading in an African way, once you know what that actualisation would be reached, which places you in line means, the journey of freeing yourself from that known for immortalisation. Astrology was the leadership tool begins. Because there may be something better to know used in ancient Africa. It is a self-awareness tool. And it about leading in an African way. And therefore freeing serves as your instruction manual. yourself from the known is an eternal task. MRF MATTERS 9

INSIDE THE PROGRAMME



LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE FIRST-YEAR PROGRAMME SECOND-YEAR PROGRAMME 24 February – 4 March 28 – 31 March Intro workshop Module one The Class of 2022 was the first cohort since 2020 The Programme was run in collaboration with the to have a full in-person, in-residence experience. Sustainability Institute. Scholars chose their teams for the year and each team explored sustainability Scholars were introduced to the Enneagram through their own lenses. We spent several days leadership tool, and learnt about the South African at the institute learning about sustainability and exploring how to build effective teams. context by watching the film A New Country. 25 June 2 & 9 April Peer feedback circle Pods The scholars met at the Norval Foundation to report Day-long pod workshops were held in Cape Town on where they were in the process of creating their and Johannesburg. Pod groups were revealed, and interventions and to get feedback from their cohort members as well as the facilitators and visiting alumni. scholars spent time aligning on expectations for their groups for the year. Pods offered a space to July & September unpack colonial legacies by exploring the book, Peer feedback presentations The trial of Cecil John Rhodes in conversation This touchpoint allowed scholars an opportunity to with alumni. get feedback on progress made on their projects and to use other teams as sounding boards in further 27 June – 1 July iterating their ideas and thinking. Mid-year workshop 31 October – 3 November The workshop started off with storytelling, allowing Module two scholars to connect on a deeper level and build The focus was on celebrating the scholars’ leadership trust. Later, scholars were joined by alumni for a journey. Scholars showcased their projects through a conversation on their experiences and where they creative interactive exhibition curated by 2020 scholar are in their journeys of reconciling with self. The Gideon Basson. There was opportunity for connecting workshop included further Enneagram work and a with their agency, understanding the power of visit to Solms Delta wine farm to explore themes of developing a flourishing network and hearing from social entrepreneurs in the impact space. structural power and inequality. 26-30 September Completion workshop Focused on entrepreneurship, this workshop was engaging and inspiring. It included a visit to the Robben Island Museum and a networking evening with scholars from the Mastercard & Allan Gray Orbis Foundations. Professor Adeke Adabajo joined us for a thought-provoking conversation on Pan-Africanism and his book, The trial of Cecil John Rhodes. We ended on a note of celebration with the graduation ceremony. 12 L E A D E R S H I P D E V E L O P M E N T P R O G R A M M E A T A G L A N C E

GOING SLOW TO GO FURTHER: REFLECTING ON 2022 “Every once in a while, put down your life and rest.” Naayirah Waheed In 2022, we gathered for four in-person workshops for the first time since lockdown happened in 2020. The Class of 2022 was a deeply caring bunch. In the words of Communications Officer, Ayanda: “One thing about the Class of 2022 is that they will hug!” In addition to hugging, this class was good at naming their needs. One need that stood out was the need to rest. While it was incredible to be able to meet with everyone in person, it was also deeply exhausting. It was necessary to slow down in order to do the deep inner work that was asked of them. An often-repeated phrase in trauma- informed facilitation practice is “Go slow, to go faster.” For the programme (and the title of this piece), this adapts to “Go slow to go further.” As we venture back outside, may we never make the mistake of trying to do things the way we used to. Instead, may we always remember that rest is productive and may we all go a little slower in order to go a little further. Building sustainable partnerships For the fourth iteration of the second-year programme, we partnered with the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch. We are walking the talk and practising iteration in this programme as it grows year on year; and drawing on our own creativity in designing the programme. It required collaboration across organisations in addition to stretching the scholars to work collaboratively on their projects for the year. The SI partnership is one that we will be nurturing for a second year in the hope of deeper learning and more meaningful knowledge and skills exchange. We look forward to growing from strength to strength and continuing to build sustainable partnerships. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 13

BORN IN SA BUT DENIED CITIZENSHIP Meet the young lawyer fighting for the rights Her family life was at times tumultuous. Christy of stateless people. found solace in reading and escaped through the aid of afterschool programmes. At 13, Christy Chitengu was born in Joburg, South Christy had an opportunity to write and publish Africa, to Zimbabwean parents. In a world articles in mainstream media through an unencumbered with politics and bureaucracy, organisation called the Children's News Agency. this would just be a fact of geography. However, She describes an incident where she and her her mother was and still is an undocumented friends, fueled with a new understanding migrant, which automatically made Christy of injustice but not yet grasping the social a stateless person, as she is neither legally tensions of the world they inhabited, published recognised as Zimbabwean or South African. an article titled ‘Class war looms because of This fact has caused a life-long insecurity and racism in schools’ in the Saturday Star. Their has ultimately influenced her career trajectory: excitement and moment of accomplishment today Christy is an attorney with a special was cut short when the teenagers were called interest in immigration and refugee law. into the principal’s office. They were pressured to reveal their sources and write an apology for Growing up, she says she felt like she had to insinuating that the teachers were racist, to be watch over her shoulder and try and fit in displayed in the staff room. Not appreciating with her friends because on paper she was the irony of the situation, the school’s leadership not South African. Her childhood coincided asked the Children’s News Agency to retract with a moment when widespread xenophobic the statement. They retracted it, but put all violence reared its head in South Africa for the the parties involved in touch with Section first time. “I was in primary school, and I found 27, an advocacy group that could mediate myself always disputing my Zimbabwean the relationship between the school and the heritage.” Today she no longer distances herself budding young writers. from her contentious national identity, and she is passionate about migrant rights. “My research Section 27 helped the students broker an for my master's is around statelessness or agreement with the school to rewrite the people who are not recognised as citizens of Code of Conduct with consultation from all the any country by the law.\" learners. The story ended triumphantly, and this interaction with the law opened Christy’s eyes \"I feel like I will have made it in my career to a career prospect she hadn’t considered. if the thousands of people who are born When asked what excites her about the law, she in South Africa to foreign parents could says it is the influence lawyers have in shaping get South African citizenship.” a country and indirectly controlling national narratives. “The government can have an Christy’s mother arrived in South Africa prior agenda and a policy document that they take to its democracy in 1994. She worked as a through parliament, but if it’s unconstitutional waitress, and both Christy and her sister’s or lacking, or not properly enforced, lawyers education were mostly funded by the tips she then have the skills to approach the courts to earned. Her mother was adamant that they force governments and parliamentarians to do attend the best schools; a decision which came certain things.” at a great cost. Christy recalls an outstanding school fee bill of over R200,000 for her sister, Migration and solving the crisis of statelessness even before Christy was due to enroll in high is a top priority for Christy. In 2013, a new law school two years later. They persevered as her was passed in the citizenship act. It said that mother believed it was the only way to secure children born to foreign parents and who could success: an education cannot be taken away prove that they've lived in South Africa their and is therefore worth the investment. 14 S C H O L A R S T O R I E S

SCHOLAR STORIES whole lives are entitled to citizenship. However, Home Affairs has been slow to enforce this law, despite court orders pressuring them to do so. There are currently only eight people born in South Africa to foreign parents who qualify for South African citizenship. These eight people have been able to access that right because they took up their fight directly with the courts. Seeing that number rise, she says, is what will make her feel she has achieved success. As a leader, Christy is inspired by the late Steve Biko for his unconventional yet impactful approach to addressing a human rights crisis. In apartheid South Africa, where the laws actively suppressed black people in every aspect of life, he made famous the phrase Black is beautiful. “Biko felt the need to do the work of challenging people's thinking, and how black people perceive themselves. Even in my advocacy about migrant children born in South Africa, a big aspect is psychological citizenship, where you feel like you belong in your mind without a paper dictating who you are.” Christy reiterates that while she may require the validation of the right documentation for admin purposes, she feels she is South African and believes that she is deserving of citizenship. The existing bureaucratic structures that are external do not undermine her claim, and her psychological birthright. This is the self-reflective leadership style she wants to embody, in the tradition of Steve Biko’s work with the black consciousness movement. As a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, Christy says she has regained her confidence and her belief in her ability to lead. “I was always uncomfortable with being placed in a position to lead others,” she says. She is overcoming her fear of not knowing enough or that people can see through her. Being recognised by the MRF and having the opportunity to identify her strengths and capabilities has reignited her determination to become an intentional and conscious leader. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 15

I'm grateful to the leadership programme for giving me space to understand myself, my ability and what I can achieve. Luqman Abdukadir Jama (Somalia & UCT, 2022) 16 S C H O L A R S T O R I E S

SCHOLAR STORIES THE SOMALI SCHOLAR SEEKING A PATH FROM POVERTY TO PEACE FOR HIS NATION Luqman Abdukadir Jama is the first Mandela Development with a focus on poverty reduction. Rhodes Scholar from Somalia, a country on the During this time, marked by the COVID-19 horn of Africa known as the nation of poets. pandemic, he decided to teach himself English. Fighting for poverty reduction as well as This reputation is perhaps unsurprising: in championing education led him to pursue a Somalia, children are required to attend Madrasa master’s degree in applied economics. “I believe to learn and memorise all 600 pages of the Holy that the only thing we can do to move from Quran before they can start attending school at poverty is to enhance our economic system,” he age eight, thus equipping them with a rich poetic says. “We have a lot of resources and Somalia vocabulary. Luqman was the top student in his has the longest coastline in Africa. We also have Madrasa and the only one to have fully memorised a lot of suitable land for farming.” Luqman is the Holy Quran in eight months. determined to return to his home country and help the efforts to rebuild, even though ongoing He maintained this standard of excellence when conflict undermines this potential. At the time of he reached primary school, which eased some of writing, he had just received the tragic news that his family’s financial pressure. The top five learners his uncle had been one of the casualties in the in each class were exempted from paying school November 2022 bombing of a hotel in Mogadishu. fees, and Luqman placed second in his class from the beginning. To this day, Luqman has been Moving to South Africa was an adjustment. unflinching in the face of hard work, which has Luqman comes from a big family; his 14 siblings ensured him back-to-back full-ride scholarships. are, in effect, a built-in community. Before studying Born in 1996, his early life took place against the in South Africa, the most time he spent away backdrop of a country still recovering from civil from home would be a week at a time. It was war. His mother was the only person in his family also his first time living in a country experiencing who had managed to receive an education prior peace. He says the student wellness centre at to the war. She was able to support him and his UCT and the community of Mandela Rhodes siblings by teaching Arabic in local schools. This Scholars really helped him adapt and overcome wasn’t without difficulty: Somalia’s situation was his homesickness. He also was able to start facing still fragile and she’d be away from home without some of the trauma of growing up in a place of means to communicate for half the day. constant conflict. By 2014, when he graduated from secondary Becoming Somalia’s first Mandela Rhodes Scholar school, Somalia had established a National is a huge source of pride for Luqman, and it has University. Armed with an aggregate of 96%, motivated him to help others in his home country Luqman met and surpassed the criteria for a do the same. “I'm grateful to the leadership scholarship. Being the steadfast but gentle- programme for giving me space to understand natured person he is, leadership soon came myself, my ability and what I can achieve,” he knocking. In his first year at university, his peers says. In his lifetime, he would like people to see elected him as Vice President of the student Somalia as the beautiful country it is, full of talent association. While serving in his role as Vice that he knows it to be, and not one that is only President, Luqman rounded up a group of his characterised by conflict. colleagues to volunteer two to three hours of their day to teach young children how to read and write. Luqman is an avid reader and loves learning about Somalia has an adult literacy rate of only 40% and the history of Islam and Islamic civilisations of only 30% of children are enrolled in school. old. He is most inspired by the leadership of the prophet Muhammad: “Brother Muhammad was In the two years prior to taking up the Mandela a kind person, serving with humanity and he also Rhodes Scholarship, Luqman worked in the believed in equality of the people.” This is the kind Ministry of Planning Investment and Economic of leader Luqman aspires to become. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 17

NEW SKILLS FOR A NEW NATION: MEET ISMAIL FROM SOUTH SUDAN Ismail Michael Ombo is the first Mandela we were not sure if the new country’s exam Rhodes Scholar from South Sudan, the world’s system would be recognised elsewhere. After most recent sovereign state. Here he shares completing, my dad told me about the United what it was like growing up during the recent World Colleges programme, which brings civil war, and his hope for his country. young people from all over the world together. I studied with students from 90 countries. I left You grew up in Sudan during a very turbulent South Sudan to study in Oklahoma in August time. Tell us a little bit about your upbringing. 2013, and in December 2013 the conflicts started in South Sudan. This destroyed the My dad joined a rebel movement called the Red economy and drove up inflation. Since the Army that fought against the government of conflict, our monthly household income is now Sudan when he was 14 or 15 years old. When he worth less than $10. If I had not left, I would not was 20, he met my mom. In a rebel movement have continued beyond high school as there you don't have holidays, so he was away from wouldn't have been money to study. home most of the time during my upbringing. When I was around four years old, in 1998, my What are you studying and when did you dad decided to leave the movement and we decide on this path? moved to his hometown in Yambio. We stayed on the farm, and as my dad had a large plot I'm studying a master’s degree in programme of land we didn't have to worry about what to evaluation. It happened through continuous eat. My maternal grandfather's home was in soul searching and trying to find what my a rural area, and I fell in love with taking care calling was, why I am here, and what I need of cattle. I started school in 2001 and I loved it to contribute. My background was chemical immediately. engineering. [When I was] growing up we used to make toy cars out of sorghum straws, and Those are the things that made me happy: the make spoons and plates by melting scraps of animals at my grandparents’ house and going aluminium. In school, when we started doing to school. In terms of quality of education, in chemistry, biology and physics, I could relate to my area it was good. Both my primary and it. Chemistry in particular was appealing to me secondary were Adventist schools, which are because everything we do has chemistry in it. better quality than government schools. I did well, especially in high school. I'd say those So why programme evaluation? years were my happiest. My dad was very supportive. This was after the 2005 Peace After graduation, I was employed as a quality Agreement, and army employees were now control technician for a bio-technology salaried workers, unlike in the rebel movement company. I found that working in the lab was where they worked for free. He took good care not for me. I then worked as a research analyst of us. The years I spent in boarding school were for an investment company who advised big defining; that's when I started taking leadership institutional investors. This was a lot more responsibilities; I was the head boy, for example. stimulating. Their work was holding companies accountable to their shareholders. In July 2020, Can you think back to a moment where your I moved back to South Sudan where I stayed life changed? home for a year without work. I eventually started working for Water for South Sudan who My cohort was the first to graduate high school is responsible for drilling wells, construction of in the newly formed South Sudan, in 2012. I had sanitation facilities and the water towers that to sit for the Sudan final exams as well because distribute water to communities. During that 18 S C H O L A R S T O R I E S

SCHOLAR STORIES time, we worked on a project for UNICEF to drill wells and rehabilitate old wells to make them functional again, and construct hand washing facilities and latrines. I was heading that project as the engineer. I noticed that communities were more interested in people who drilled wells than those who constructed sanitation facilities and latrines. I realised that we were trying to change people's behaviour by asking them to use sanitation facilities, and this was foreign to them and went against some of their cultural beliefs. A lot of money was being spent, but not a lot of it was being effective. It made me think of how one can hold organisations accountable for the money they're spending, and this is where the idea of monitoring and evaluation came from. What would make you feel like you have achieved success? For me two things come to mind; my family, and my career. Success to me would be if all my siblings were able to attain at least an undergraduate qualification. In terms of my career, what would make me happy is if what we do for our communities helped uplift them. From 2013 to now, many organisations have worked in South Sudan and spent millions with little to show for it. People's conditions have not changed. There is still hunger and children are still not getting quality education, and the health facilities are still bad. The designs of these projects are not taking our communities' needs and desires into account; and for me that needs to change. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 19

MEET THE CLASS OF 2022 THE 18TH CLASS OF MANDELA RHODES SCHOLARS In October 2021 we announced the Class of 2022. This cohort of 26 exceptional young leaders was selected from 16 African countries and includes students from a diverse selection of academic disciplines. The Class of 2022 brings the total number of Mandela Rhodes Scholars to 584. We are pleased to welcome our very first scholars from Somalia and South Sudan. The names of all Mandela Rhodes Scholars from 2005 to present are listed on our website. Visit https://www. mandelarhodes.org/scholarship/scholars/ to meet more members of our extraordinary community. Nicola Chidyaonga, Malawi University of Cape Town, Master of Landscape Architecture Nicola is an interdisciplinary designer who is passionate about sustainability, social justice and community-driven design and development. She volunteered for the International Conservation Clean-up Management (ICCM) in Malawi. Prior to the scholarship she was production manager at Khala, a Malawian-German apparel company that produces contemporary African-inspired streetwear. Christy Chitengu, Zimbabwe University of the Witwatersrand, MA in Migration and Displacement Christy has worked at Section 27 and Lawyers for Human Rights, focusing on access to education, healthcare as well as migrant and refugee rights. Christy has advocated for the realisation of citizenship rights for children born in South Africa to foreign parents and promoted the realisation of the fundamental freedoms of migrants and refugees. Gugulethu Violet Dube, Zimbabwe University of the Witwatersrand, MA in Development Sociology Gugulethu is a School of Wildlife Conservation scholar. She co-founded a sustainable waste management initiative that won the Hult Prize and was a Top 6 Finalist at the Hult Prize Abuja Regionals. Gugulethu is a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) alumna and a fellow of the Jim Leech Mastercard Fellowship on Entrepreneurship. Ismail Ombo Michael Dumutu, South Sudan University of Cape Town, MPhil in Programme Evaluation Ismail is a passionate chemical engineer and an alumnus of the United World Colleges (UWC) Programme as well as a former Davis Scholar at the University of Oklahoma, USA. Ismail was delivering safe water, hygiene and sanitation services to communities in South Sudan before the scholarship. 20 M E E T T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2

Sharna Fester, South Africa University of Cape Town, Master of Justice and Transformation Sharna is an alumna of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Programme. She has an honours degree in African Studies. Sharna launched the pilot version of a workshop project called Converse, which serves as a transformative space for communal knowledge production. She is driven by the desire to create community and connection. Luqman Abdukadir Jama, Somalia University of Cape Town, MCom Economic Development Luqman holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Somali National University. He believes that education is key to the growth and success of every individual. Prior to the scholarship, he worked with the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, coordinating the process of drafting and implementing the National Development Plan. Milly Khainza, Uganda University of Cape Town, LLM in Human Rights Law Milly is a lawyer and was the founding director of Send A Girl (S.A.G), a community- based organisation that improves the livelihood of girls and young women through advocacy for gender equality, economic empowerment, sexual reproductive health and human rights. She was also a peer educator volunteer at International Community of Women Living with HIV East Africa (ICWEA) eastern region. Emmanuel Kiwewa, Uganda University of Johannesburg, BA Hons Politics and International Relations Emmanuel holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Psychology and Mental Health from Makerere University. Prior to receiving the scholarship he worked with Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation [TPO] on a project funded by UN WOMEN in the Rhino refugee camp, assisting with the mental health of persons who were affected by war in South Sudan. Sagel Kundieko, Congo (DRC) University of Cape Town, MSc Neuroscience Sagel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics from UCT. She received a service award as academic chairperson of the science student council and her Golden Key executive team won the Golden Key Chapter award. Her company, Elle Zeka, serves entrepreneurs and companies with her creativity and drive for innovation. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 21

2022: THE YEAR 2022 pushed me out of my comfort zone and OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Through embracing uncomfortable The afternoon before the first workshop, I conversations and incredible moments of joy, anxiously scribbled a draft of my background and I experienced friendship and love in a unique and achievements. I was preparing for the introductory altering way. I am grateful for the opportunity session that I imagined would happen. But on the and the experiences I have had as a scholar. day, I was never asked to justify my presence in It is amazing how much can change in a year. that room full of brilliant minds. In a world where As unnatural and scary as it has always been for young people are constantly forced to prove their me, I feel that now I can dream. worth, I felt valued not as an asset or investment but as a multi-faceted, nuanced person. I was - L eina Meoli (Kenya & UCT, 2022) surprised. The seed was planted for my journey Software Engineer & Entrepreneur of growth. 2022 was a year of immense growth in ways I never expected. It was a year of acceptance; recalibrating the lens with which I have viewed myself and my capability for a long time. I continuously had to let go of the fear of everything I could be, the burden of all the potential that people pointed out in me. It is remarkable just how much my relationships, academic work and music have flourished, as well as the joy and peace that this perspective has brought me. Through the initial pain of thrusting myself into new and unfamiliar research areas of artificial intelligence and design, I have learnt that we can continually stretch our capacity to meet the challenges we take on. I found great comfort and encouragement in that, just like me, these young men and women had already achieved so much, carried the same fears and doubts I did, but also held far greater dreams and aspirations. Brenda Berriliy Lukong, Cameroon University of Cape Town, BSocSc Hons Gender and Transformation Brenda is a gender and youth advocate promoting women’s economic empowerment, girls’ education, peace and arms control, child protection, justice and strong institutions, human rights, sustainable development, humanitarian issues and quality education. She co-founded a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Intergenerational Peace- Leadership (CIP-L). Brenda is also a UNICEF peace ambassador. 22 M E E T T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2

MEET THE CLASS OF 2022 Susan Mwihaki Maina, Kenya University of the Witwatersrand, Master of Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Susan holds a degree in Marketing from Chuka University, Kenya. She co-founded the Africa Young Entrepreneur Support Centre that focuses on identifying, training and investing in young entrepreneurial talent. She also co-founded an entrepreneurial initiative called SEEBIG, that provides financial support to underprivileged students, for which she received the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellowship. Karabo Malahleha, South Africa University of Cape Town, PG Diploma in Accounting Karabo holds a Bachelor of Business Science specialising in Finance with Accounting from UCT. He is an Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellow and recipient of the Investec CSI Bursary. He founded an NPO called Asikhulumeni to combat the growing rate of gender-based violence in South Africa. Leina Meoli, Kenya University of Cape Town, MSc Computer Science Leina is a software engineer and entrepreneur. He co-founded AfyaPress Africa, a health innovation start-up. The aim is to help build research capacity and translate the underutilised knowledge and skills of young Africans into products that improve quality of life. His most recent work has been designing, developing and rolling out Nistue©, a disease surveillance chatbot. Thobeka Mnisi, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand, MA Development Studies Thobeka studied at Oberlin College (OC) where she majored in Politics with an International Studies Concentration and a Rhetoric and Composition minor. She is an aspiring public policy maker focusing on education. Her honours thesis explored the foundational symptoms of poverty that militate against educational access and progress in public. Mwansa Mwansa, Zambia University of Pretoria, MSc Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) Mwansa holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Zambia and a postgraduate diploma in M&E from Cavendish University, Zambia. She has experience in agricultural research and development and previously worked in monitoring and evaluation with the World Food Programme (WFP) and in research with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). She is a fellow of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) and a recipient of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship grant. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 23

IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING A at me every time I showed up with my full energy. Self- HERO: HOW MY IDEA OF awareness helped me accept and embrace myself and LEADERSHIP HAS SHIFTED show up exactly how I am needed in different spaces. It is said that our environments have a profound The MRF allowed me to show up as my authentic influence on us, and my upbringing impacted my self without judgment. I was also privileged to be personality in many ways. My mother raised me to mentored by a former scholar through the mentorship be strong and independent after my father's passing programme. I have received invaluable career and 24 years ago. Her lessons prepared me to face life’s personal life guidance, and help in defining my goals. challenges head-on, and I have borrowed my mother’s personality in shaping my view on life. I have always I am exiting my first year in residence empowered by strived to be independent, resilient and strong. Being all the inner work I have done. I want to end by echoing vulnerable was not an option because it translated to Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that weakness, and I associated leadership with people we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are with strong personalities like mine. powerful beyond measure.\" When I applied for the scholarship, I was drawn to the - M wansa Mwansa (Zambia & UP, 2022) Leadership Development Programme. I imagined that Agricultural Policy Researcher I would meet people like me. The scholarship strives to build exceptional leadership in Africa, and I was geared to learn how to be a real-life superhero. Contrary to my expectations, the focus of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation leadership programme was completely different. The programme is not designed to build heroic leaders but to set participants on a path of continuous learning and growth to better leadership through self- awareness. My mind was opened, particularly through the Enneagram tool. My Enneagram type accurately described my personality and unearthed things I was not aware of, which I did not want to acknowledge. I eventually realised that it was an opportunity to grow and unlearn some unhealthy patterns. Reflecting on the past year, I understand that I am a work in progress. A deep dive into my personality type has enhanced my self-awareness. Before the MRF, I was holding back a lot because of the ridicule thrown Thokozani Mwase, Malawi Stellenbosch University, Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine Thokozani is a medical doctor and she intends to become a specialist in internal medicine. She aims to lead outreach programmes so that every Malawian has access to timely specialist care. She volunteered to help alleviate pressure on public healthcare at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and went on to lead the establishment of a COVID-19 unit at one of Malawi’s biggest hospitals. 24 M E E T T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2

MEET THE CLASS OF 2022 Telma Bobim-Who Njuh, Cameroon University of Johannesburg, BA Hons Politics and International Relations Telma holds a BS.c in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea, Cameroon. Prior to the scholarship she was the CEO/Founder of Telma Agric Hub, an agro-technology hotspot that trains and strengthens women to gain financial freedom. She also founded Community Advocacy, a women's empowerment centre. Blair Michael Ntambi, Uganda University of Cape Town, LLM Dispute Resolution Blair holds an honours degree in Law from Islamic University in Uganda. He is an alumnus of the Young Leaders’ Forum by Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). He served as the president of the National Rule of Law Youth Council under the Uganda Law Society. Emmanuel Okello, Uganda Rhodes University, Master of Commerce in Integrative Thinking Emmanuel is a small business consultant and a freelance business coach. He founded OFCED-Uganda, a school nutrition intervention programme in northern Uganda. Emmanuel has a passion for climate action and has been involved in manufacturing of biodegradable paper bags. He believes that modern organic farming is a viable solution to environmental problems. Samantha Akinyi Osanjo, Kenya University of Cape Town, MPhil in Human Rights Law Samantha has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Global Challenges. She recognises the necessity of education to end the culture of silence surrounding LGBTQ+ refugees. Through her platform, The Asylum Project, she combined education and advocacy to increase visibility and reimagine of mobility. She served as a YOUNGA delegate and YouthxPolicyMakers Ambassador. Tshegofatso Phatshwane, Botswana University of the Witwatersrand, BA Hons Anthropology Tshegofatso is a feminist human rights defender and aspiring anthropology academic with an interest in decolonisation and development for education reform and social evolution. She is the former information and publicity chair for Young Women’s Leadership Club (YWLC-UB). She is also an alumna of the Study of the US Institute (SUSI) on Civic Engagement for Student Leaders. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 25

TRANSFORM YOURSELF TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD The MRF year in residence represented a beautiful, education, leadership and entrepreneurship, the particularly intense series of steps in my leadership four pillars of the scholarship. We travelled to sites journey. I entered the programme hopeful, which deepened and expanded our understanding but intimidated and anxious about meeting of those concepts. My mindset shifted in multiple expectations. I exit with a profoundly transformed ways throughout those journeys. Many of those understanding of myself, and an expanded shifts can be attributed to how my peers’ understanding of what it means to be a leader perspectives challenged me, allowing my own and a Mandela Rhodes Scholar. viewpoints to transform or be clarified. I realise too that those shifts would not have been possible The workshops proceeded from the idea that had we not collectively built a community in which the best and truest impact we can make in the it felt safe to speak and explore. world needs to emerge from a place of deep self- knowledge, authenticity and inner transformation. Our community of scholars consists of peers who This idea is perfectly encapsulated by Grace Lee seemed so superhuman and intimidating in their Boggs, in a quote I saw as a lodestar: “Transform biographies. Yet despite our achievements and yourself to transform the world.” differences in backgrounds and perspectives, the programme demonstrated how to engage Through the Enneagram we received a language with one another as human beings first. Those and set of tools for thinking about who we are, lessons in connection are particularly powerful our inherent value and the elements of ourselves in the polarised society through which we move, – the ‘armour’ we have developed – that holds us characterised as it is by problems so complex that back from living authentically and reaching our they require cooperation to solve. potential. From that starting point, strategies to develop ourselves in our full humanity followed, as In addition, the programme has left me with a did strategies for staying connected to our evolving stronger belief in myself. This belief has been made selves and, crucially, to our sense of purpose. As we possible by the guidance and licence I received to grappled with the meanings of leadership and the face my light and my shadow rather than running kinds of leaders we wanted to become, it became away from them. But even more importantly, it is clear that a strong connection with self necessarily made possible by knowing that I am not alone. forms part of the foundation for principled, Not only is my purpose greater than I am, but I purpose-driven, and thus courageous leadership. am part of a community of individuals who share The workshops also allowed us to practise the similar values and commitments, upon whom I qualities needed for principled leadership, such can draw for inspiration and accountability as my as courage and vulnerability – inescapable aspects journey continues. of introspecting and sharing – as well as the open-mindedness involved in listening generously - Mikhaila Steenkamp to one another, even and especially when (South Africa & UCT, 2022) differences in opinion came to the fore. Educationalist As revelatory for me were the relationships created and fostered and experiencing the role of community in transformative learning. We engaged in conversations around reconciliation, 26 M E E T T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2

MEET THE CLASS OF 2022 Desire Runganga, Zimbabwe University of Cape Town, MPhil in Law of Mining & Petrol Extract Desire holds a B. Eng. in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering from the Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. He was a student advocate for youth sexual and reproductive health and rights and the green movement. He has volunteered with SAYWHAT, National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe and was assistant lecturer in the Mining Engineering Department of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences. Elim Shanko, Ethiopia University of Pretoria, Master of Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa Elim received the CEO award at a leading Fortune 500 company for founding an anti-racism programme. In Peru, she was a student researcher and legal aid assessing the effectiveness of the domestic violence prevention laws for vulnerable women and children. Her research has been published and her findings were presented at the 2019 International Conference of Gender and Women’s Studies. Mikhaila Steenkamp, South Africa University of Cape Town, MEd Education Policy, Leadership and Change Mikhaila holds a Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Development Studies from UCT, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University. She is an educationalist and has worked as a teacher. She is interested in how teachers can be supported to empower their students. Nadia van der Merwe, South Africa University of Cape Town, Honours in Medical Anthropology Nadia holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Psychology and Anthropology from North-West University. She is passionate about making mental health interventions more accessible and applicable in South Africa. She was chairperson of North-West University (Potchefstroom) Pride society to uplift and create a better experience for LGBTQI+ individuals on campus through information campaigns and support groups. Andre Yvan Zolo Ossou, Cameroon University of Cape Town, Master of Medicine Global Surgery Zolo is a Global Surgery Fellow at the University of Cape Town. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Buea. He is passionate about neurosurgery, medical education, research and improving the provision of surgical care. He is an Association of Future African Neurosurgeons (AFAN) research fellow. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 27

LEADING FOR AGENDER SUSTAINABILITY ▲ Savannah Steyn, Ntokozo Mbokazi, Zayithwa The Second-Year Programme aims Fabiano, Gadeeja Abbas to provide scholars with the space and tools to embed learnings Agender is an educational tool that takes the from their first year in residence. form of a podcast. The topics discussed are issues Scholars work together in multi- of gender, violence and injustice. Vignettes disciplinary teams tasked with linked to these themes are used to catalyse creating an intervention designed conversation. Scenes were extracted from the to have a positive social impact. She box, a play by scholar Savannah Steyn. The purpose is to build scholars’ This offers a segway into deeper discussion, creative problem-solving and generating interest and conversation about teaming muscles. normalised behaviours which may contribute to misconceptions around gender. By working with a values aligned partner, we hope to increase the visibility of the work and the possibility for impact. In 2022, we partnered with the Sustainability Institute. Founded in 1999, the Institute is an international living and learning centre, teaching, exploring and practising ways of being that are restorative. The Institute is recognised as a leading expert in navigating the transition towards social justice and change in complex futures in Africa. The theme for the year was leading for sustainability. We asked the question, “What is the intersection between leadership and sustain- ability?” The programme consisted of two in-person gatherings and six virtual touch points to provide ongoing support for the emerging projects. The year culminated in an interactive exhibition showcasing scholars’ work. 28 S E C O N D - Y E A R P R O G R A M M E S C H O L A R P R O J E C T S

SECOND-YEAR PROGRAMME SCHOLAR PROJECTS FENC A4E ▲ Mbanefo Chibuike, Francis Mayebe, Elijah ▲ Amos Amanubo, Edward Keenan Jacobs, Mumba and Nuvika Pillay (absent) Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo, Maureen Etuket, Maurine Chepkoech FENC Recycling presents the experiences of scholar-students who wish to be sustainable Often human health is falsely seen as separate and care about recycling but are time-pressed, from or competing with environmental health, overwhelmed and don’t know how best to go when in reality 26% of the global health burden about it. They asked “how do we make the is attributable to the environment. Team Action sustainable choice the easy choice?”. Their 4 Environment (A4E) presents a podcast project output is a recycling map, an evolving series that explores novel ways to initiate and tool for students to find local recycling centres strengthen advocacy mechanisms through and drop-off facilities in Cape Town. These adequate education about the inextricable link centres are colour-coded for the various between environmental and human health. materials, editable for new spots to be added: a roadmap towards making sustainable choices. INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 29

RESEARCH IN FOCUS BRIGHT MINDS AT WORK During their year in residence, scholars pursue honours or masters degrees in any field of study. We asked four scholars to explain their fascinating projects in plain English. PUBLIC-PRIVATE ENGAGEMENT AND ORAL HISTORIES OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS RESILIENCE IN TIMES DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONDITIONS OF HEALTH WORKER STRIKES OF CALAMITY Health worker strikes threaten the fundamental In a people’s history of war, the stories of how human right to the highest attainable standard of the survivors live on are often sacrificed in the health. Despite the controversial ethical discussion quest to document incalculable human suffering surrounding health worker strikes and the efforts instead. This form of documenting history has of many governments to outlaw them, health inadvertently resulted in the erasure of the lived worker strikes continue to occur globally. In low- narratives of people who live at the intersection and middle-income countries, where worker of many identities. By prioritising the life strikes are severe, it has been observed that private histories of people with liminal identities, such providers, especially non-profit private providers, as the Mozambican-South African, or diasporic are crucial to maintaining service continuity. citizen, or local migrant, I am hopeful that we can successfully expand visions of what it means This was the first study to investigate the interaction to be South African, to be African, in a rapidly between the public and private sector during globalising world. health worker strikes and how this interaction can contribute to the resilience of the health system. I To conceptualise the emergence of life following examined a case study of the interaction between moments of disaster, I am researching the life the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) histories of diasporic Mozambicans living in South and the Government of Ghana. Most CHAG health Africa to understand how they built community workers are paid by the government but managed upon arrival and emerged strong and resilient. by CHAG. Hence, strikes have a direct influence on More specifically, I am considering a context CHAG personnel. However, because of its Christian- where migrants have historically gone backwards inspired beliefs, CHAG adheres to a rigorous non- and forwards across the Mozambican border striking convention. from the 1980s up to the present day, and how they have been able to construct a community The study discovered that CHAG played a that does not neatly fit into national identities or significant role in maintaining service continuity state citizenship. during strikes. We also found that Ghana and many other low- and middle-income countries – Thobeka Mnisi are ill-prepared for the advent of future strikes. Master of Development Studies Though government’s primary aim should be to (South Africa & WITS, 2020) prevent strikes from occurring altogether, nations need to be prepared for strikes to ensure that the health system can continue providing emergency and essential services. – Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo Master of Public Health (Ghana & UCT, 2021) 30 R E S E A R C H I N F O C U S

IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND OF TELEHAPTICS OVER LONG-TERM THE TENSIONS BETWEEN SOCIAL, EVOLUTION (4G) – TOWARDS 5G ENVIRONMENTAL AND BUSINESS POWERED TELESURGERY GOALS. (A CASE OF UGANDA) The current ratio of surgeons to population stands The climate crisis facing the planet has brought at 0.5:100,000 in Africa, compared to high-income about an unprecedented decline in forested countries where the ratio is 56.9:100,000. Telesurgery areas, increased plastics entering oceans and is the remote provision of surgical services to patients deteriorating soil quality. Mitigating this threat using information communication technologies requires collaborative global efforts from citizens, and, can help bridge this gap; yet only 6% of the corporations and governments. Recently, many of total global telesurgeries undertaken yearly occur the corporations that were previously responsible in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). for generating environmental damage have Telesurgery has great potential to ultimately made strides in reducing the damage they cause. contribute towards achieving the third United However, environmental problems at the system Nations' sustainable development goal (UN SDG level continue to worsen, with corporations playing 3) of good health for all by 2030. a significant role. Environmental social enterprises have been commended as viable alternatives to However, the realisation of reliable telesurgery conventional businesses, as their primary or shared systems is hampered by a lack of appropriate objective is to create environmental value. However, supporting technologies, unreliable communication environmental social enterprises may encounter networks, costly surgical equipment and the goal-related tensions due to their simultaneous shortage of qualified surgical experts. Therefore, pursuit of financial, social and environmental advanced communication networks, low-cost value, preventing them from accomplishing their robotics and integrating haptic technologies are intended goals. among the key solutions for realising efficient and reliable telesurgery systems. The sense of presence Most of the previous scholarship on this topic focuses and realism during an operation is still lacking but on social enterprises that pursue two forms of value: can be achieved by integrating the human sense social and economic; there is limited literature of touch, i.e., haptic feedback. exploring tensions in social enterprises that strive to create three types of value: environmental, economic Therefore, my work implements a prototype haptic- and social. Of these studies, most come from North enabled teleoperation system and evaluates it over American and European perspectives, with few an open-source-based 4G and 5G mobile network exploring tensions from an African and Ugandan to assess its delay and reliability performance. By context. Uganda differs culturally, geographically adopting open-source software stacks and readily and politically and it is therefore likely that Ugandan available commercial off-the-shelf equipment, my environmental social enterprises may experience, work achieves real-world, low-cost and flexible 4G manage and be affected by tensions differently. and 5G mobile network deployment that can be This study addresses this gap by investigating the used in LMICs. tensions experienced by Ugandan environmental social enterprises when trying to balance multiple – Maurine Chepkoech goals, and the approaches used to manage these Master of Engineering in Telecommunications tensions. This study contributes to the literature on (Kenya & UCT, 2021) tension management, business sustainability and environmental social enterprise. – Emmanuel Okello Master of Commerce in Integrative Thinking (Uganda & Rhodes University, 2022) INSIDE THE PROGRAMME 31

ALUMNI AFFAIRS



ALUMNI AFFAIRS AT A GLANCE SPARKING CONNECTIONS The alumni relations team looks back on a year that brought them closer together. 2022 was a big year for alumni relations at the Mandela Rhodes Connect is slowly gaining MRF: after 2.5 years, the alumni community traction: we gained 50 more users in 2022, and was finally able to gather in person, in July 2022. over 72% of alumni registered on the platform For the team this was the highlight of the year, have indicated that they are willing to help. and it was absolutely wonderful to be together In late 2022, we launched a mobile app, to and experience the unique atmosphere that give alumni easier access to the platform and arises when Mandela Rhodes Alumni are in encourage networking, collaboration and the a room together. We are looking forward to sharing of opportunities. implementing some of the ideas generated at the symposium. Catch up on the highlights Many members of our community contributed on page 36. their energy and time back into the Foundation in 2022. We thank all mentors, reviewers, The Äänit Prize entered its second year of speakers in workshops and those who joined existence in 2022. As a new initiative still in its us to help put the prospective Class of 2023 pilot phase, we are enjoying seeing how it takes Mandela Rhodes Scholars at ease during their shape. We acknowledge the effort and time it interviews in October. We look forward to takes to apply and introduced a $1,000 prize continuing to nurture the bonds that connect for all unsuccessful finalists, as well as a $1,000 our community in 2023. audience choice award. These changes were introduced in response to input from previous T Class of 2018 scholars enjoying being back together at finalists and alumni, and are reflective of the the 2022 Alumni Symposium. open dialogue we aim to create in relation to all our iniatives. 34 A L U M N I A F F A I R S A T A G L A N C E

26 April 30 April 15 to 18 July 17 September 2 December SJMS winners Virtual social Alumni symposium Äänit prize awards Virtual year-end announced ceremony social Gideon Basson Alumni gathered Alumni enjoyed a The Äänit prize Alumni closed off (South Africa online from different wonderful weekend culminated its the year with a & Stellenbosch locations and cohorts of connection second year with relaxed afternoon University, 2020) to catch up and in Johannesburg. a special awards of reflecting and and Roné McFarlane build connections The programme ceremony. Alumni checking in. Newly (South Africa & to enable future included several had an opportunity graduated alumni University of Cape collaboration. sessions on leadership, to network online were welcomed into Town, 2014) were including a highlight with the judges the larger community awarded doctoral panel on Africanising and finalists, before and all attendees left scholarships for our ways of leading. the ceremony was feeling connected UK study. Alumni showcased live-streamed to and refreshed. their ideas and the public. The ventures, networked hosts surprised and shared their vision the audience by for the future of the announcing a alumni community. $1000 prize for each unsuccessful finalist. 71% 105 OF ALUMNI ALUMNI ARE ON JOINED EVENTS MRC IN 2022 ALUMNI AFFAIRS 35

ALUMNI SYMPOSIUM 2022: CONNECTION, CELEBRATION AND GROWTH 61 Mandela Rhodes Alumni gathered for four days in Johannesburg in July. The symposium was a resounding success: alumni rated the sessions on average at 4.5 out of 5, and the majority who gave feedback said that it exceeded expectations. There was a wonderful atmosphere of warmth, and the feedback indicated that alumni left feeling energised, having made valuable connections. The programme centred around leadership development and community building, and offered activities that ranged from meaningful conversations to soulful entertainment. One of the best sessions was the Pecha Kucha, where alumni presented their passion projects, ideas and ventures in just six minutes. Alumni also took part in leadership development sessions that were tailored to their stage of career development. Ultimately, the gathering offered alumni a refreshing space to immerse themselves in the MRF magic, connect to their individual and shared purpose, and fill their leadership cups. Here are a few of the highlights. 36 A L U M N I S Y M P O S I U M 2 0 2 2

A BC A. Settling in, connecting and D re-connecting, alumni arrive and kick E off the weekend with a fun ice-breaker and quiz night. B. Mandela Rhodes Alumni conversations are renowned for being robust and rigorous; the energy in the room was palpable. C. “Build institutions not initiatives,” keynote speaker Chinezi Chijioke offered insights gleaned from his own leadership journey as CEO of Nova Pioneer Schools. D. Keenan Meyer (South Africa & UCT, 2018) delivered soulful renditions from his 2021 album, The Alchemy of Living. E. Alumni connected with student leaders from local universities. The aim was for students and alumni from different African countries to connect, and to give 67 minutes back on Mandela Day. Together, we packed 67 boxes of food for Cradle of Hope, an NGO sheltering vulnerable women in Krugersdorp. ALUMNI AFFAIRS 37

ÄÄNIT PRIZE: MEET THE FINALISTS 21 4 APPLICATIONS WINNERS 5 FINALISTS (18 MANDELA RHODES AND 3 RHODES) The Äänit Prize was launched in 2021 ATHERTON MUTOMBWERA: as a vehicle to enable social impact HUTANO DIAGNOSTICS, “SAVING in Africa. The prize offers financial LIVES THROUGH BETTER AND FASTER support to ideas, organisations and DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.” [WINNER] interventions that are led by Mandela Rhodes and Rhodes Scholar Alumni. In Every year sepsis kills over 3.5 million people in 2022 we introduced a $1000 audience Africa alone. Sepsis happens when the body’s choice award, which went to the immune system overreacts to an infection. In venture with the most votes, and a many cases it is preventable if diagnosed early $1000 award to unsuccessful finalists, enough. Hutano aims to change this outlook by to acknowledge the high standard of improving the tools for diagnosis, particularly in all the entries and the effort that goes low-resource settings and developing countries, into entering the competition. through an innovative way of testing for sepsis. ABOUT THE PRIZE: “I am inspired and grateful for the Foundation’s • It is open to for-profit and non-profit support. The Äänit Prize helps us bring our tests closer to the community,” he said. ventures. Entrants can be established or idea-stage ventures. – Founder and CEO Atherton Mutombwera • It supports 10 areas of social impact is a Zimbabwean Class of 2014 Mandela that we have identified as key to Rhodes Scholar Africa’s development. • The main entrant must be a Mandela Rhodes Scholar or Rhodes Scholar and serve as a founder, co-founder or member of the venture’s senior leadership team. 38 Ä Ä N I T P R I Z E : M E E T T H E F I N A L I S T S

DR JESSICA RONAASEN: THE DO KOAILE MONAHENG: KHANTŠA ENERGY; MORE FOUNDATION; “IMPROVING “BRINGING AFFORDABLE, RENEWABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT ENERGY TO IMPOVERISHED AREAS.” (ECD) THROUGH MULTI-SECTOR [WINNER] COLLABORATION.” [WINNER] In Lesotho there are currently 1.2 million Basotho About 75% of South Africa’s children are missing a people living without grid supplied electricity. critical part of their development. ECD is a critical 80% of the rural population has no access to stage of growth requiring adequate nutrition, electricity, leaving many people behind, and secure attachment and early stimulation. The due to the mountainous terrain of Lesotho, rural Do More Foundation has initiated a collective access is likely to remain low. Khantša Energy impact initiative with stakeholders from the supplies affordable and accessible renewable public, private and non-profit sectors to improve energy solutions for rural households. early childhood development outcomes. “I have witnessed the spirit of collective “As a Mandela Rhodes Scholar and now Äänit responsibility… the prize will allow us to begin Prize winner, I wave my flag high while standing to deliver our vision to ‘light up the future’.” for young children and excellent leadership in Africa.” – Director Koaile Monaheng is a Basotho Class of 2020 Mandela Rhodes Scholar – National Programmes Lead Jessica Ronaasen is a South African Class of 2013 Mandela Rhodes Scholar ALUMNI AFFAIRS 39

SHANTEL MAREKERA: LITTLE ODWOUR MIDIGO: NDALO HERITAGE DREAMERS; “AFFORDABLE PRE- TRUST; “ALLEVIATION OF HUNGER, SCHOOL TO UNDER-SERVICED DISEASE AND POVERTY THROUGH COMMUNITIES.” [WINNER] NUTRITION.” [FINALIST] Little Dreamers is a pre-school in Budiriro Ndalo Heritage Trust is a grassroots non-profit Cabs, Harare, that supplies access to quality organisation in Kenya, addressing the sustainable and affordable foundational education for development goals of zero hunger, health and children between the ages of 4 and 7 from low- wellness and climate action, in marginalised income families. Students receive access to communities. Their mission is working towards age-appropriate equipment, learning materials the alleviation of hunger, disease, poverty and infrastructure. Through the gender equality and human suffering with a focus on the first division, they champion women’s rights as well 1000 days of life. They work with marginalised as spearhead core and programmatic support families through hands-on training, based on to advance women’s economic empowerment. UN frameworks for integrating agriculture and nutrition education, and the WHO’s nurturing “I am filled with gratitude… [We] will use the care frameworks for improved health outcomes funds to purchase land to build a junior school, and human development. Ndalo Heritage Trust [providing] students [with] access to affordable won the audience choice award and received and high-standard educational resources.” the $1000 for unsuccessful finalists. – Founder Shantel Marekera is a – Founder and director Odwour Midigo is Zimbabwean Class of 2019 Rhodes Scholar a Kenyan Class of 2018 Mandela Rhodes Scholar 40 Ä Ä N I T P R I Z E : M E E T T H E F I N A L I S T S

ÄÄNIT PRIZE: MEET THE FINALISTS Although the ventures are very different in their theories of change, stage of development and capitalisation, they share approaches that are deeply imaginative and animated by a tenacious and resourceful spirit. Across different geographies and contexts, we were deeply moved by a shared passion to advance the interests of those most in need. Elliot Gerson, on behalf of the panel of judges for the Äänit Prize ALUMNI AFFAIRS 41

DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP THE 2021 SHAUN JOHNSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARS The Shaun Johnson Memorial Scholarships support doctoral study in the United Kingdom. They are exclusively available to Mandela Rhodes Alumni and are offered through a partnership between The Leverhulme Trust and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation. Each scholarship covers up to £100,000 per candidate towards fees, maintenance and research expenses for up to three years. The 2022 recipients were 2020 Scholar Gideon Basson and 2014 Scholar Roné McFarlane. Gideon Basson, South Africa Roné McFarlane, South Africa Degree of study as MRS: Degree of study as MRS: Master of Laws Postgraduate Diploma in Education Proposed field of PhD study: Proposed field of PhD study: Poverty as a prohibited ground of discrimination Contestations of power in South Africa’s schools under international human rights law Roné’s study investigates whether and how contested Gideon aims to investigate the extent to which poverty \"social imaginaries\" (ideas and values) about public is recognised as a prohibited ground of discrimination schooling and justice are useful in explaining how under international and regional human rights treaties. school governance arrangements developed during The study will explore the potential for developing the transition and to make sense of continued a coherent, integrated approach to poverty-based power struggles. Since the South African Schools Act discrimination under international human rights (1996), there have been a striking number of court law. It aims to develop a framework of substantive cases around its provisions on the powers of school equality that can be used by international human governing bodies (SGBs). These power struggles rights monitoring bodies to interpret the prohibition featured prominently during the transition to of discrimination on the grounds of poverty. This is democracy and have continued since, as the state has an area of study that has received little academic sought to remedy historical inequalities, and SGBs at attention, since international anti-discrimination laws formerly white schools have sought to retain powers. have historically focused on defined status grounds such as race, gender and disability. 42 D O C T O R A L S C H O L A R S H I P

MORE ABOUT THE SJMS This prestigious opportunity is only available to our alumni, making it a very compelling supplementary offering to the Mandela Rhodes experience. We appreciate The Leverhulme Trust’s ongoing support, which enables our exceptionally talented young academics to take the next steps on their leadership and academic journeys. Cambridge attracts world-class academics as guest lecturers. It is thrilling to be able to talk to some of the leading researchers in African Archaeology. I am very grateful to be in an environment that focuses on developing one's leadership ability in academia – I have been selected to organise the Computational Archaeology seminar series. Alexes Mes, 2021 Shaun Johnson Memorial Scholar ALUMNI AFFAIRS 43

ALUMNI CONTRIBUTORS THANK YOU TO OUR ALUMNI The vision for the MRF has always been for alumni to play an active role in the life of the Foundation. Every year our exceptional alumni give back in droves, playing key roles and acting as collective custodians of our work. Mentors Thank you to alumni who mentored and guided scholars in residence. Binyam Alemayehu (Ethiopia & UP, 2016) Bhekumuzi Bhebhe (Zimbabwe & WITS, 2018) Gideon Basson (South Africa & SU, 2020) Kyla Hazell (South Africa & UCT, 2015) Tiaan Meiring (South Africa & SU, 2018) Nosipho Mngomezulu (South Africa & RU, 2011) Jolynne Mokaya (Kenya & SU, 2016) Sidney Muhangi (Uganda & RU, 2016) Shorok Sebaa (Egypt & UCT, 2018) Tessa Ware (South Africa & WITS, 2016) Selection Reviewers 10 Thank you to alumni who volunteered to review applications for the class of 2023, helping select the next generation of leaders. mentors Ajibola Adigun (Nigeria & UKZN, 2016) 23 Nereah Obimbo Aluoch (Kenya & AFDA, 2017) Nancy Judith Awori (Kenya & UWC, 2021) selection Heather Dixon (South Africa & RU, 2018) reviewers Jordan du Toit (South Africa & WITS, 2018) Kira Düsterwald (South Africa & UCT, 2017) Chido Dzinotyiwei (Zimbabwe & UCT, 2018) Kirra Evans (South Africa & UCT, 2018) Sicelo Christopher Gama (Kingdom of eSwatini & UJ, 2019) Sendibitiyosi Gandidzanwa (Zimbabwe & NMU, 2015) Inga Macingwane (South Africa & UCT, 2018) Sharon Manoah (Kenya & UCT, 2018) Thokozile Mcopele (South Africa & UJ, 2013) Alexes Mes (South Africa & UCT, 2019) Kennedy Mulwa (Kenya & UCT, 2020) Kagiso Nko (South Africa & UJ, 2017) Sunday Ochai (Nigeria & UP, 2019) Moses Ogutu (Kenya & UCT, 2017) N'goran Nogues Ollier (Côte d’Ivoire & SU, 2018) Shorok Sebaa (Egypt & UCT, 2018) Daniel Lifuka Sichinga (Zambia & UCT, 2020) Mary Silolezya Simujayangombe (Zambia & Monash, 2017) Lewis Waswa (Kenya & SU, 2018) 44 A L U M N I C O N T R I B U T O R S