Buke’s September 2009 visit to CIDA and ALA, South Africa.

Buke Dube is a Diamond Empowerment Fund volunteer and member of the Dallas Rocks 2009 host committee, working tirelessly to raise awareness and support for DEF’s mission in the Dallas community. Buke was born and raised in Zimbabwe, before moving with her family to Texas in 2000. She is a graduate of University of Texas at Dallas. In Fall of 2009 traveled to Africa, and visited DEF’s beneficiary programs, CIDA City Campus and African Leadership Academy. She writes here of her experiences.

September 2009 visit to CIDA and ALA, South Africa.

I arrived at CIDA city campus right in the midst of downtown Johannesburg in the morning of September 16th, 2009. I immediately noticed that the city was a lot cleaner since my last visit in December of 2006 which I’m sure can be partly attributed to the World Cup 2010 preparations. I was super excited to visit CIDA after meeting on the previous day with one of its founders, Taddy Blecher, who has founded a new higher educational institution for South African youth, the Maharishi Institute.

Buke Dube meeting with Taddy Blecher, Founder of Maharishi Institute.

I walked into CIDA’s building which immediately reminded me of the office building it once was before; it had a very executive feel to it. I met with Nesan Chetty and Nana Kelly who are part of CIDA’s public relations team who gave me a quick overview of the mission of CIDA, how it was founded and its goals for the future as one of South Africa’s leading educational institution providing a fully funded higher education degree to disadvantaged youth. I also had the opportunity of meeting a young student by the name of Nompumelelo who’s from Orange farm just out of Jo’burg and lives with her grandmother and siblings. Both her parents are deceased. Nompumelelo found out about how she, a poor student from Orange farm with aspirations of becoming an economic analyst could earn herself a full scholarship to study business from her high school teacher.

As I continued with my tour and learnt more about the students and culture at CIDA, I was impressed by the schools vision and ability to incorporate skills that the students will need once in the work force through the different schools of excellence or specialization offered in their Bachelor in Business Administration curriculum. I think this training in information technology, investment or entrepreneurship is invaluable to any student as it prepares them for the “real world”. Currently CIDA has about 964 students enrolled; I certainly look forward to watching them grow to their optimal goal of 1,500 students at their Johannesburg City Campus.

The following day I visited the African Leadership Academy in Honey Dew, a suburb north of Johannesburg. I must say this is one of the most beautiful campuses of any secondary school that I have visited with plenty of tress and vegetation, a scene that almost looks like a story book scene. Ashleigh Nel who handles external relations for the school was kind enough to take me on a student led tour of the campus. African Leadership Academy offers a 2 year program for students who at the end sit for Advanced/ “A-level” Cambridge University administered examinations in their selected subjects of study. I had the opportunity to sit in two of the students’ classes; one was an English literature class and the other an African studies class as well as enjoy lunch with the students and a member of faculty. I was fascinated by the style of teaching in both these classes which encouraged interaction and engagement at every level, both from the teacher to the students. I particularly liked how much at ease the students had during what seemed to me as a sharing of ideas and thoughts in this modern classroom set up where the students’ desks are placed in a circle rather than rows allowing for easier interaction.

Buke Dube pictured with William Kamkwamba, author of The Boy who Harnessed the Wind.

I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with several ALA students and faculty members, including second year student William Kwamkambwa, who is popularly known as William Windmill. After meeting with several of Africa’s brightest students at ALA, there’s one that is constantly on my mind. Edmund, a second year student at ALA, who has clearly overcome his physical challenges in many ways and stands as one of the most articulate people I have ever met. I was particularly inspired by his dream to study public policy at a top U.S. university so he can come back South Africa and be an advocate for individuals that are experiencing any form of discrimination. Like all ALA’s students that I met, Edmund displayed such intellect yet still posses a mature and calm demeanor which I saw in the students that I met at ALA.

My experience at ALA was phenomenal and it was evident to me that this school is a leader in providing a top class education for Africa’s brightest making it model one that is unparalleled and definitely needs to be duplicated as it is the future of the African people and nation.

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