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Monash students are facilitators at Enke Youth Forum

21 July 2010

Monash students are facilitators at Enke Youth Forum
At the Enke Forum, from the left: Letitia Taimo, Monash student facilitator; Albert Dove, a learner from Soweto; Wendy Luhabe, Chancellor of University of Johannesburg; Jonathan Doubell, Westville Boys High; Phillipa Wheaton, co-founder, Enke.

Last week a group of 125 Grade 11 Learners, representing the diverse potential of South African youth, came together from across the country to take part in the annual week-long Enke: 'Make your mark' Forum held in Honeydew, Johannesburg.

Phillipa Wheaton, co-founder of Enke in South Africa, and a host at the forum said: "By attending this workshop delegates embarked on a journey which saw them develop as individuals, so that they could return to their communities inspired to take action on the issues they feel most passionate about." Phillipa is an Australian Honours graduate from the University of Sydney, who currently lives in South Africa.

Throughout the forum 25 student volunteers from Monash South Africa acted as facilitators for small groups of delegates, each of whom designed a Community Action Project to work on for the next 18 months.

There are real challenges to overcome, as Kingsley (19), a 2009 and 2010 facilitator, noted: “When you are in high school, being socially conscious is not always the cool thing to do. But by taking learners from different schools and bringing them together helps to build new networks, generate ideas and participants realise that they are not alone. To see such social consciousness among the delegates was inspiring.”

In addition to working through the core leadership modules, delegates were exposed to key thought leaders in the fields of academia, business and development as well as individuals with inspiring journeys of personal growth.

Clem Sunter, author Mind of a Fox and former Chair of the Anglo-American Chairman’s Fund, a speaker at the 2009 and 2010 Forums, comments, "I have to say that it is one of the highlights of my speaking career to have addressed this inspiring group. It was made up of young South Africans from all walks of life and from completely different schools and they shared a community of spirit which I found truly inspiring." Other speakers included Wendy Luhabe, Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, social entrepreneur and author of Defining Moments, and Keith Coates, of TommorrowToday.biz, this year.

Phillipa added that: "Already, delegates from the 2009 Forum are making a difference in their communities. One particularly successful Community Action Project that was implemented at Dendron Senior Secondary School in Limpopo in which learners master a certain subject and then "adopt" and tutor those who are struggling. This has significantly increased the pass rate in their year group. With the support of their school, they are looking to replicate the project in other schools in their community."

Dendron principal, Mr Moloko Matsapola said: “These students have revolutionised our whole school.” Other successful projects implemented last year included a recycling competition in Daveyton, Gauteng; a women’s empowerment and HIV/AIDS awareness project in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal; and networking with other youth to fight apathy in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.