Rise as easy as ABC
Rise is a program that finds brilliant young people who need opportunity and supports them as they work to serve others for life. I got the privilege to be selected as one of the 100 Rise Global Winners in its inaugural cohort, and among other benefits, I got to attend a Residential Summit in Cape Town, South Africa.
This is a log of my experience.
The summit took place from July 17th, through August 10th, 2022. My experience however began a little later than the 17th (Pan-African visa issues), but it definitely felt like I had never missed a beat. The numerous experiences I got to have: from workshops, to guest speaker events, dinners, to leisure days, and much more, enabled an immersion in more learning, growth, and honestly, fun, than I had the entire year. It is my pleasure to walk you through a couple of my highlights with the unofficial Rise alphabet. Don’t worry, it’s as easy as ABC.
Are you ready? Let’s sing:
A
Among other organizations that got to host workshops and give presentations, the Africa Matters session on the colonial matrix was the first I attended.
I had just arrived at the summit venue a couple of minutes into the session, and it was not long until I got a real special and warm welcome from all the Rise Winners and program staff present, exchanging real hugs with the lovely community I had only known virtually up until that point. As Ife, (Rise Global Winner ’21) says, “Everyone on the internet is a bot until proven otherwise”. Great life advice right there.
Having just come to the assurance of the fact that Rise was actually for real, I knew I was going to be on a rollercoaster of experiences and surprises. And it was so. I had really intellectually stimulating conversations on issues like Climate Change, Education, Complexity Theory, Policy Entrepreneurship, and Systems Thinking to name a few, with some of the most amazing people from all walks of life. Among others, Professor George Ellis FRS, who is Professor Emeritus of complex systems in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Ndaba Mandela, NBA player Festus Ezeli, and Rugby’s very own the Beast, Tendai Mtawarira.
B
Bridge the Music
“Music is a bridge, it connects folks on a higher level, saying what words can’t say.” – Emily Murdoch
Bridges for music is a South African organization with the mission of providing safe, inspiring and technologically prepared schools and holistic programs centered around music, creativity, well-being, and work readiness to help youths become creative change makers!
Their work is literally putting the creative in education, and I got to witness that firsthand, during a visit to one of their schools in the township of Langa. With state of the art equipment and facilities, and super motivated students, they are not just uplifting their students, but also the community that surrounds them. I had an amazing time jamming, learning and attempting to play the unique sounds and rhythms native to some of South Africa’s rich and diverse cultures. I would like to go on, but first, let us take a music break.
“Tsamina mina eh eh,
Waka Waka eh eh,
Tsamina mina zangalewa,
This time for Africa!”
If you recognized this tune just by reading its lyrics, we probably had the same childhood. So you would be as excited as I was getting to meet, and create a song with the one and only Zolani! She is a world renowned South African singer, actress and storyteller, who along with her music group, Freshlyground, and Colombian singer, Shakira, made this anthem possible for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Together with a couple other Rise Winners, our studio sessions with Zolani culminated in the creation of a Rise Song, “We Rise” which was performed during the summit’s closing ceremony. This is one of the experiences for which I am most grateful for.
C
Cycle with Fun
Because lots of the elements of the summit were grounded in the science of learning, and meticulously designed from a human centered perspective; which was made possible by our super amazing directors, program facilitators, and residential assistants, we also had lots of opportunities for fun and leisure.
I got to cycle through Stellenbosch, hike and abseil Paarl rock, an iconic landmark of Cape Town’s history. In addition, I got to spend lots of time getting to know other Rise Winners, their journeys and their projects over ping pong duels, foosball tournaments, field games, and late night snacks.
Overall, these opportunities afforded me the time to bond with other winners, and truly build a foundation for lifelong friendships as we headed back on our separate journeys to serve the world.
Now you know my ABC’s, next time won’t you sing with me?
Rhymes aside, if you are 15-17 years old, and you are committed to helping those around you, and serving your gifts to the world, then Rise is for you! And this is your call to rise. So answer it.
John Njende Jr
Alumnus, Open Dreams Cameroon
2021 Rise Global Winner
Message from HALI: Applications for the 2023 Rise cohort closed on January 25th, 2023. Stay updated about Rise, upcoming events and applications here!
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Identify the next generation of global talent – Join a robust network of individuals from across the world who have helped identify and nurture talented young people by becoming Rise selectors. Rise selectors volunteer to review projects through a new innovative model and assess those who make it to the final application stage. Anyone over the age of 21 and with a passion for youth and community development is welcome to sign up.