Community Center Construction, Politics and Lessons
By Sarah Whitney I had an extensive update of the progress on the community center (DevCentre) on Thursday from both the chairwoman and the secretary of the Project Steering Committee. They held their biweekly meeting on Wednesday afternoon and had only one unexcused absence from committee members (quite amazing attendance). They discussed four topics and … Read more
Hidden Moments of Beauty in SA Village
By Chelsea Coalwell “I don’t want to be cliché and say that this summer was “life changing” but it was pretty extraordinary. I not only learned what poverty is really like and the role of non-profits, I learned a lot about myself. I wouldn’t change this summer for the world. I strongly recommend that anyone … Read more
Scholarship Realized!
Posted by David Lamb and Julie Walz, Fellows When we began creating a scholarship project, we hoped for this day: when the first official recipient would be selected to attend a private high school and then move on to university, fully funded. When we could tangibly see the life that we had changed. But this … Read more
South African Student Awarded Scholarship for College Scholarship Foundation Created by Global Development Fellows
Washington, DC – In an effort to fund and support higher education opportunities for disadvantaged youth in an African community, one South African high school student was awarded a full scholarship for high school and college, announced ThinkImpact today. Ncane Mabuza, currently in Grade 10 at Manyangana High School in Manyeleti, South Africa, was awarded … Read more
The bakery is cooking…
Posted by Kaitlin Walter, Fellow The Uta Bakery is in full swing as the season is changing from spring to summer in South Africa. We are baking 200-300 loaves of bread per day, and as the recent Think Impact Global Development Ambassadors can confirm, the bread is delicious! Everyday, the bakery staff, Cedrick, Thomas, Nature, … Read more
Peer teaching for Grade 8 begins
Peer teaching for Grade 8 begins We have been working with several outstanding Grade 10 and 11 students: Tumelo, Ethel, Samson, and Thulani to create a curriculum based on the Resource booklet for the Grade 8 and 9 learners. After looking through the booklet, they decided that it was essential to work with some of … Read more
Grade 10 Scholarship Candidates Nominated by Selection Committee
By David Lamb and Julie Walz, Fellows The prospect of creating a community based selection committee for a scholarship is to be honest, a bit scary. We’re placing a lot of money and a life changing decision in the hands of a community dominated by family ties and hidden politics. Is it possible to create … Read more
Condoms for all in Manyeleti
Posted by Saul Garlick, Executive Director In 2007, SMRC hosted its first Global Development Internship. After the life changing and deeply rewarding summer of working with youth in Manyeleti, South Africa, the US students that had joined us had made close friendships across the globe. Among the biggest issues that the GDIs (then known as … Read more
What Dan’s Doing Post-South Africa
Posted by Daniel Armanios, Former Global Development Intern I found that South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape, suffers from water scarcity, which inadequate infrastructure has exacerbated. My goal is now to help rural communities self-develop infrastructures they can locally manage to ensure a sustainable water supply. This goal directly emanated from what I saw … Read more
GDA meets Office Intern
Postedy by Jessica Schwartz, Intern The GDA to South Africa was an amazing way to spend my last spring break in college. SMRC provided the GDA participants with the ability to fully immerse in the culture and life style of rural South Africa. While on the GDA we experienced more in a week then most … Read more
