“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. ~Nelson Mandela
Walking through the Pine-Sol scented rooms of Esikhisini’s administrative offices, I glanced a paper sign above the door frame with a photo of Mandela smiling face and the exhortation to MAKE EVERY DAY A MANDELA DAY. It was my first full day in South Africa – I was woozy with jet lag and with reading about Mandela’s inspirational life. The sign was a sign, literally and figuratively. I was in the country to learn and practice inclusive education. I was in an under resourced school that overflowed with an abundance of energy, love and spirit. The first day we listened to Esikhisini’s educators concerns about promoting a reading culture. Thinking of the times that I had gone to read to my own kid’s classrooms, I offered up that we should read stories to the kids the following day. The second day at Esikhisini, we worked directly with 6th and 7th grade students and helped them fill out a Culturally Responsive Student Transition Project (CRSTP) form. Grade 6 learners in my group were open and enthusiastic about sharing their goals and interacting. One learner said he wished to be a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Another, an aspiring artist, asked me if I had ever been to New York City. The 7th graders were a bit more closed off and required much more prodding to elicit conversations. One learner, Maggie eventually shared that she enjoyed Telemundo soapies and she asked me if there were black people in Mexico. These students were my first direct connection with the South African spirit and culture. My whole being expanded and was captivated from that moment on. While reading to learners in grades 1-3, I gained the first of many of my South African nicknames – Jakalas! The children were happy to read and sing along with us. During recess, they swarmed around us and we played and took photos with these students. In a closing tribute, the entire student body collectively sang and dance for the USD contingent. I had to push back tears. The barriers to education were very visible at Esikhisini – multiple languages, lack of parental involvement, lack of resources. Through our class lectures and readings, I was prepared to encounter these obstacles. What caught off me off guard was the overwhelming spirit and energy that these learners radiated.
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CPDoctoral Student - Leadership Studies at University of San Diego Archives
January 2019
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