September 2024 Stakeholder Update

Dear stakeholder

Warm greetings from The Mandela Rhodes Foundation! The third quarter of 2024 saw graduation celebrations, scholars’ leadership projects completed, and illuminating alumni engagements. Madiba’s legacy and spirit as always, was especially with us in all the initiatives that our scholars and team members engaged in over these past three months.

Stakeholder relations

In July, MRF CEO Judy Sikuza hosted a stakeholder engagement in London. Guests included UK-based Mandela Rhodes alumni, Rhodes Trust Warden and CEO Dr Elizabeth Kiss, MRF Chair, Justice Kate O’Regan and Fathima Dada Managing Director: Education Division, Oxford University Press.

Maintaining relationships with stakeholders beyond our borders is crucial for reinforcing our shared commitment to fostering global collaborations, and for amplifying the impact of our work on the global stage.

In August, Judy participated once again in the 2030 Reading Panel, chairing a session that asked what steps are necessary to develop high quality teachers in the tertiary education system to ensure all 10-year-old South Africans can read for meaning by 2030.

Judy’s involvement at the 2030 Reading Panel brings the lens of the MRF’s commitment to exceptional leadership in Africa, and the importance of values-based leadership that has the competence, innovation and courage to make decisions that have lasting systemic impact, especially for the most marginalised populations.

2030 Reading Panel Chaired by Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, with keynote guest speaker Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education of South Africa

Alumni impact

As part of Mandela Month celebrations in July, alumni regional gatherings were held in Johannesburg and Nairobi. Organised by the alumni working group, the events offered attending alumni an opportunity to connect, network and commune on regionally significant issues.

Both events were themed around Sustainability Dialogues and attended by 40+ attendees each. Proceedings included robust panel discussions with esteemed guests and keynote speakers, all of which echoed true Mandela Rhodes magic and insights towards advancing the transformative impact of our alumni and the communities they serve.

Caption 1: The Johannesburg alumni regional gathering, July 2024.

The Nairobi alumni regional gathering, July 2024.

Alumni thought leadership

Our alumni are the backbone of the Mandela Rhodes community through the courageous work they do, as leaders on the African continent. Our alumni thought leadership series aims to celebrate alumni achievements by creating a platform to showcase their exceptional work, stimulate dialogue, and inspire hopeful future Mandela Rhodes Scholars. 

Our first alumni thought leadership webinar was held in July. Alumnus and epidemiologist Dr Alex de Voux (South Africa & University of Cape Town, 2005) hosted 35 guests in an engaging session about some of Africa's public health deficiencies and imbalances, and how she plans to disrupt the medical arena in South Africa. She also shared her unique journey as a Mandela Rhodes scholar, how it influenced her career path and helped achieve her goals.

Please keep an eye on our socials for our second alumni thought leadership webinar (on tech in education) which will be held in October.

Dr Alex de Voux (South Africa & University of Cape Town, 2005).

Winners of the 2024 Äänit Prize

The Äänit Prize offers up to $80,000 in funding for one to four Mandela Rhodes and Rhodes alumni seeking to deliver positive social impact for Africa’s most marginalised populations. Projects must demonstrate impact, feasibility, and sustainability; and be run by people with the capability to succeed.

In September the 2024 Äänit Prize was awarded to two Mandela Rhodes Scholars. Chido Dzinotyiwei (Zimbabwe & University of Cape Town, 2018) was recognised for her tech venture Vambo AI and Ismail Dumutu (South Sudan & University of Cape Town, 2022) for his agricultural venture Asili. Rhodes Scholar Cephas Svosve won the audience choice award for receiving the most public votes for his energy venture EcoWealth.

At the Prize awards ceremony, we were joined in person by the outgoing founding chair of the Äänit Prize, Elliot Gerson, to whom we are grateful for his invaluable service since inception in 2021. We were also joined in person by incoming chair Dr Sangu Delle, a Ghanaian entrepreneur who has been a judge on the Prize since inception. We look forward to Dr Delle’s vital contribution as we continue to develop the Prize in its next phase.

Read here for more about the 2024 Äänit Prize winners.

Left to right: Incoming Chair Dr Sangu Delle, Cephas Svosve, Chido Dzinotyiwei, MRF CEO Judy Sikuza, Jordan du Toit, Ismail Dumutu, and outgoing Chair Elliot Gerson.

Programme news

In July, the Class of 2024 participated in self-organised Regional Pods, offering space for reflection after the June workshop. The final workshop in September focused on entrepreneurship, defined by MRF as using innovation, creativity, and a purpose-driven mindset to make a meaningful impact on the word.

Workshop highlights included a Playback Theatre session with GroundSpring Theatre Company, the annual Living the Legacy Alumni panel featuring Iris Nxumalo-de Smit (South Africa & University of Pretoria, 2014), Pinky Mokwena (South Africa & Tshwane University of Technology, 2019), and Gideon Basson (South Africa & Stellenbosch University, 2020), and the graduation ceremony, which included a conversation on Courageous Leadership and Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship with MRF CEO, Judy Sikuza.

The MRF Class of 2024 graduation. Cape Town, September 2024

In the Second Year Programme, July marked the beginning of the implementation phase, where teams launched their projects in their respective communities. The final in-person module in August featured a creative exhibition where scholars presented their project journeys to the broader MRF community. Team Ilima developed a solar-powered hydroponic greenhouse to boost agricultural productivity for small-scale farmers, while Team Food collaborated with Cape Town restaurateurs to explore African migrants' stories through food. Team Mbegu promoted sustainable farming by improving access to indigenous seeds and markets, and Team Storytellers produced Roots of Change, a documentary on indigenous knowledge and sustainability in Africa.

The workshop also enabled scholars to reflect on key learnings from the year such as working in transdisciplinary teams, co-designing with communities, and balancing personal wellbeing and societal impact. The workshop concluded with an awards evening celebrating the second-year scholars' hard work as they prepare to join the MRF alumni community.

The MRF second-year Scholars awards ceremony. Cape Town, August 2024

Welcome to Kristal Duncan-Williams

After a highly competitive external recruitment process, The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is delighted to announce that, on 1 November 2024, MRF alum Kristal Duncan-Williams (South Africa & University of Cape Town, 2014) will join the organisation as Chief Executive Assistant. In this role, she will serve as strategic advisor and right hand to the CEO, while managing the Foundation's operational and strategic initiatives.

Kristal previously led Youth Capital, a campaign advocating for key policy changes to address youth unemployment. She holds an Honours degree in Human Genetics and a Master’s in Public Health in Health Economics, both from the University of Cape Town.

Read more about Kristal here.

Kristal Duncan-Williams

Warm regards

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation