An opportunity is only an opportunity if one recognizes it as such. This phrase has been swirling through my head since we started with the enke: Incubator pilot process. What a journey!
Young enke participants seized the opportunity to apply for seed funding in the hope to advance their CAPs. As only the top 7 CAPs were selected, applicants were required to think of alternative ways to raise funds even if their CAPs do not win the grant. Impressively, all the applicants who applied had thought of alternative ways to raise funds for their projects. This highlighted to us the passion and the drive that these young learners have to effect change in their communities. They will stop at nothing to see progress.
During the telephone interviews we conducted with applicants, we were overwhelmed by the level of impact, innovation, and resourcefulness displayed by the applicants.
After much deliberation, the final winners were chosen:
Shirley Mashiane from Mpumalanga: Shirley is running a Kwandebele Science Teen Zone where they raise awareness on teen/youth issues through relevant discussions, and other activities such as drama, singing, public speaking etc.
Lwazi Sobekwa from Gauteng: Lwazi wants to make people fall in love with education and literature. He hopes to refurbish the library at his school. He is also running a very successful group dynamics class for Physical Education for grade 11’s.
Katleho Modikeng from the Free State: The project is called Sisonke Entertainment. It tackles drug abuse, teen pregnancy and other youth issues by keeping kids in the community entertained through the under 15 soccer league, a board games club and extra lessons for Business Economics.
Tsholofelo Molefe from Gauteng: The Green Fundi Foundation is about environmental awareness, developing recycling habits within the community and raising funds from the recycling to buy sporting equipment for underprivileged children.
Meshack Mtshweni from Mpumalanga: Meshack is in the process of building a library at his school for the benefit of his school mates and the community at large. He has already found a class that will be converted to a library and has garnered up support from school management and his peers.
Claudia Penny from the Western Cape: B.Heard T-Shirts is about giving young people a voice to be heard through teaching them the principles of design and getting them to design T-shirts that represent a cause that they are passionate about. The T-shirts will be sold for profit.
Boitumelo Mokoena from Gauteng: Boitumelo is organising a conference for 244 grade 11 and grade 12 learners from her community in Alexandra. The conference will cover career guidance and life coaching. The aim of the conference is to encourage young people around Alex to dream beyond their circumstances.
None of this would have been possible without the Australian High Commission. We are really excited to see how the projects will go.
It’s time to say goodbye
I’m sorry to say this is my last day at the enke office. It is certainly not my last day as an enkling, however I cannot help but feel a little wave of sadness overcome me.
I still remember my first encounter with enke on June 20th earlier this year. Little did I know it then, that this would be an experience that would mark my heart for a long time. At the beginning I had to paddle like mad in order to keep afloat. The team was always there to cheer me on.
Over the months I’ve learnt a great deal about what goes behind the scenes to make enke what it is today. Hard-work, persistence, professionalism and a little bit of madness is what makes the enke team so successful. We all put in the hours and the effort, and as a team, we were able to brainstorm solutions to challenges that unfolded in day to day operations.
I have had the opportunity to work closely with the 2011 delegates. What an inspirational bunch! Many of them are working diligently on their community action projects and are going against the odds to ensure positive impact in their communities. These young leaders have taught me that age and circumstances should not be used as an excuse for apathy. I feel confident that with many more young leaders taking up action on issues they feel passionately about, South Africa’s future will indeed be a bright one.
Whoever said that change is the only constant in our lives was right. It will always happen, whether we cause it or not. It does not even matter whether or not we receive it with hostility or if we welcome it with open arms. Change is here to stay. So as I embrace this new chapter in my life, I would like to thank enke for grooming me to be able to step into this new opportunity with confidence. I am going to miss this place!