The Weekend Post 26 August 2010
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FUTURE LEADER ... Siyabulela Rhoshinamba’s future is looking bright after he has won a scholarship to study at the African Leadership Academy. Picture: SAM MAJELA Close 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 African Leadership Academy (ALA) – a Johannesburg-based institute which 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. 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 confirming that I was accepted at ALA. My family is proud. My teachers, 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 Africa 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 climb.” 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 academy 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 chance,” he said. 8/26/2010 Print this Article weekendpost.co.za/PrintArticle.aspx?ID… 1/2
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“I wrote about how Nelson Mandela made it easier for me to have a decent education. The academy will pay for his studies. “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. 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. Close
Transcript of The Weekend Post 26 August 2010
FUTURE LEADER ... SiyabulelaRhoshinamba’s future is looking bright afterhe has won a scholarship to study at theAfrican Leadership Academy. Picture: SAMMAJELA
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Bay teen gets ‘opportunity of a lifetime’2010/08/26 Khanyi Ndabeni
A NELSON Mandela Bay teenager who has landed theopportunity of a lifetime to be honed into an effectiveleader, has dreams of his own.For him it’s all about making a difference on thecontinent by following in the footsteps of struggleicons like Nelson Mandela and Raymond Mhlaba.Siyabulela Rhoshinamba, 18, of KwaDwesi, is among aselect group to be chosen for the African LeadershipAcademy (ALA) – a Johannesburg-based institutewhich trains youngsters aged between 15 and 18 fromall over Africa to be future leaders. Rhoshinamba willstart his two-year training next month inJohannesburg and after that he will have the goldenopportunity to study at one of several top universitiesin the world.After completing the programme, Rhoshinamba willhave the option of selecting between the Universityof Cape Town or Oxford, Hail, Howard or Stanforduniversity to do any course.The academy will pay for his studies.“I was over the moon when I got the call confirmingthat I was accepted at ALA. My family is proud. Myteachers, as well as staff at Ubuntu Education Fund inZwide, also supported me.”
Siyabulela heard about the ALA scholarship through Ubuntu Education Fund – an NGO which alsohelps 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 andwrite an essay on why I want to be there. Ubuntu even sponsored my flight to Johannesburg forthe final interviews,” he said.His essay, which talks about African leaders which have played a role in his life and Africa as awhole, 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 tofreedom and the mountains that he had to climb.”Siyabulela, who is in Grade12 at Lungisa High School in KwaDwesi, will not be able to write hismatric final exams as he has to start at the academy next month.“I do not mind because this is an opportunity of a lifetime and if I don’t grab it now, I might nothave another chance,” he said.
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The ambitious teenager wants to study political science abroad after finishing the two-year trainingwith ALA.“Great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Raymond Mhlaba, to mention but a few, were able to createa 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 alot 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 leadershipqualities 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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