Morafe Programme for South Africa and US Students Launches

This July, I Am, We Are (IAWA) launched a new, cross-cultural, immersive virtual experience for youth in South Africa and the US. The Morafe Leadership Development Programme is an abbreviated version of IAWA’s core curriculum, and the program focuses on developing life skills, leadership abilities, and strong cross-cultural relationships to help young students achieve their goals and become global leaders.

IAWA recruited 10th graders in the Royal Bafokeng Nation, South Africa and Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States to join the Morafe programme. The program takes place over six months, during which youth participants will meet two Saturdays a month for two-hour sessions. Morafe, a Setswana word that translates into English as community, aspires to instill self-awareness in the students, stretch their vision of what they can become, and teach them how to apply entrepreneurial principles to create the future they envision for themselves.

Recognizing the impact of intergenerational trauma experienced by Black people in South Africa and the US and the recent collective trauma experienced globally from COVID quarantines, Morafe provides one-on-one trauma-informed wellbeing counselling to every participant.  Parents are also invited to attend wellbeing workshops.  “Participants’ parents and guardians are an integral part of our programming success. We provide home visits to support family needs and provide some similar workshops. Parents also get a ‘taste’ of our programming through interactive newsletters that include exercises they can do with their family,” said South African Program Manager Mmabatho Seremane.

The Morafe programme recruits and trains recent university graduates as fellows to lead the workshops. “Our fellows are from South Africa and the US, and with our staff supervision, they provide the twice-monthly leadership development workshops to the ambassadors. The fellows expand our students’ knowledge and leadership to make them competitive applicants for future job opportunities and future entrepreneurs,” said Meisha Lerato Robinson, IAWA Founder and Chief Executive of Hope.

“The ambassadors have already demonstrated so much energy, grace, openness, and desire to develop new relationships. IAWA’s youth facilitators stepped into their roles with authenticity and courage. It has been everything we could have asked for, and we are excited to see how Morafe continues to grow,” added Sharon Nicol, US Youth Program Manager.

The Morafe program will expand over the next three years.  This cohort will be invited to return next year to participate in a learnership role where they will apply their learnings by developing a community service project for new participants. The three year program culminates in a trip to meet in person and use the trust they have built with each other to broaden their worldviews and explore a new city together.