Students from all over the world enjoy symposium
Throughout the challenges, the young delegates impressed with their wisdom and tenacity.
Uplands College hosted a very successful international student leadership symposium (ISLS) last week.
“Uplands’ access to a network, intent on gathering pupils from all over the world so that they may synergise and begin to think about and affect change in the world, is precious,” said organiser, Sharon van Reenen.
Altogether 56 delegates from South Africa, Oman, Belgium, the USA and China met for a week on the Uplands campus to learn about leadership within the theme of “Illegal trade”.
The speaker line-up read like an A-list, and included the likes of WWFSA, Quinton Coetzee “Wildside Wisdom”, Hilton Walker “Rhinos Without Borders”, Trang Nguyen – Vietnamese conservationist and undercover agent specialising in illegal trade, Peter Rogers of Provet Wildlife Services, and Bonne de Bod and Susan Scott – producer and director of the film STROOP.
Internationally acclaimed speaker and Uplands parent, Quinton Coetzee shared his “wildside wisdom”. He illustrated how the principles of true leadership mirror natural animal behavior. Chris Engelbrecht, also an Uplands parent, then detailed the situational complexities facing the survival of our rhinos.
When the delegates were not learning about the language of leadership, being agents of change and making their voices heard, they were writing letters to government officials, went on safari seeing the Big 5 and experiencing biltong and big swings. The enormous impact made on these youngsters has been tangible, and they are expected to pay their knowledge forward.
In the words of the Chinese particpants, “The land of South Africa and its hospitable people have helped both students and teachers better understand the meaning of life, and will have a profound influence on the future.”
The ISLS ended on a high as the delegates sent letters to South African ministers to make their voices heard. The previous night De Bod and Susan Scott, global award-winning film-makers, presented STROOP to delegates.
One day they went on safari in the Kruger National Park to see their lessons in action. They were lucky to see the Big 5, and all before lunch. The guests were enthralled, as were the hosts, with the beautiful environment which they call home.
A day spent learning about the language to be used to affect change and to have voices heard, culminated in their drafting of a letter to the respective governments. Nguyen then taught them that they were never too young to make a difference.
Throughout the challenges, the young delegates impressed with their wisdom and tenacity.
One day was set aside to explore the Lowveld and on another, Walker, Mike Ogg (founder of RMI which enables agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa) and Rogers encouraged them to be passionate about what they choose to do; to undertake all tasks with vigour and boldness; to empower others, and to “hurry up and save our rhinos.”
Delegates were also hosted by Uplands Outreach at the new Japhet Outreach Centre.
