As the World focuses on South Africa, its Graduation time at CIDA!
DEF supporter, Kate Allan shares her experiences during her visit to both CIDA and ALA
CIDA Career Centre.
CIDA sets themselves apart as not only a university offering a Bachelor of Business Administration, but also enforces students are involved in community education on weekends and school holidays. This can be in their own community, or one closer to CIDA, where they teach or set up community events or activities, eg teaching financial literature, HIV education, or act as mentors to students in these areas.
In addition to specializing in Marketing, Finance and Investment, Human Resources, or Entrepreneurship, they have access to Schools of Excellence, in Information Technology and Investment, sponsored by businesses. They also spend 3 months in their Jobshop, where they actually work in a business, have resume-writing help, and interview practice.
The CIDA students are provided with accommodation, three meals a day, transport and textbooks. In return they are responsible for various aspects of running the campus, so they realize the importance of giving back and getting involved. Another highlight is their clothing library where people can donate clothes, and the students buy these for a minimal fee, which would alleviate costs to the students so they can solely focus on their education without worrying about financial aid.
Kate Allan in the middle with Jordan (left) and Molefi (right)
Currently there are 677 students, and their current capacity is 1500. Last year they had about 4,000 applications for about 300 positions. The building they are currently occupying will not be available for much longer, so they are in desperate need of a new location. It would be devastating for such an exciting initiative to be stalled, as it is creating such great hope and success in so many students who would never have had any sort of opportunity for tertiary education. South Africa has an unemployment rate about 25 %, so it is so beneficial for these students to obtain their degree to uplift themselves and their communities.
Visiting the African Leadership Academy was just as inspiring, on a different level. This school has students from all over Africa, and it is just so incredible to see people from so many different and diverse cultures working together with a common goal.. They attend ALA for 2 years where they are thoroughly prepared for the top universities around the world, and are on track to be the next leaders and entrepreneurs of Africa, and the rest of the world.
I, along with 4 other guests, were invited to participate in their African Studies class, where we were divided into groups and discussed the issues, and in the next class one student in each group would present a speech on the outcomes. In our group, there were students from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Morocco and Kenya!
I was taken on a tour of the beautiful school grounds, including the huge library, dining hall, science labs and hostel rooms. During their lunch break on this day, they all sat together in groups with their mentors. The teachers are assigned about 5 students who they mentor, and are their ALA “family”. The students have a great all-round education, including leadership classes and are taught excellent interpersonal skills.
African Leadership Academy
I was invited to have tea with Teboho Mabuka. She is an inspiration to all, as she comes from a historically disadvantaged background but is so mature and confident, eloquent and polite. She has incredible public speaking skills, and such determination and conviction that she will create change in her community, country and continent. She told us about the sports they can play competitively, or just socially, in the afternoons. She even enabled her netball team to play in the league against her previous school! They are also all involved in community development, as each student has some community project they dedicate time to every week.
They are all incredibly gifted students, and are all making a difference in some way. Its amazing to see the visions these teenagers have for their lives and the rest of the world. If these are the future leaders of Africa, it can only look promising!
Kate Allan and ALA student, Tebogo Mabuka
Thanks again for this opportunity!
I look forward to crossing paths with you again in the near future.
- Kate Allan
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I’ve been in the beautiful city of Hong Kong for almost a week now. I am here to raise money for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), my non-profit organization which is dedicated to supporting the empowerment of African youth.
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