[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]By Ed Murphy
Our guest speaker at our regular lunch meeting on January 22nd was Nicholas Drushella, International Development Manager for “Imagine Scholar”, a non-profit organization which provides an after-school mentorship program for talented, disadvantaged youth across the Nkomazi region of South Africa. Imagine Scholar is an innovative educational model focused on enhancing each student’s character, developing their critical thinking abilities, improving their communication skills and building their leadership capabilities through active engagement in community service projects.
Nicholas was a U of O student in 2012, majoring in International Studies. After graduating, he connected with Imagine Scholar, loved the model of the program, and ended up on the staff, living in Nkonazi region of South Africa (east of Johannesburg). The municipality is strategically placed between Swaziland and Mozambique. Nicholas described the situation in South Africa, generally, stating that it is a nation that is rich in resources (diamonds, gold, platinum), with a great university system. But also a nation of rampant corruption, and some very poor regions, such as Nkonazi, a rural area with about 400,000 residents. He said the 47% of the population in this region are infected with the HIV virus, the unemployment rate is very high, and extreme poverty is the norm. He said the education system is also very poor, with students learning only to regurgitate facts for tests.
Into that situation, Imagine Scholar was introduced. It is an after school program founded in 2009 by a member of the Kirkland, Washington, Rotary Club. It selects only about 10 students each year, and works with them in four key areas: critical thinking, building character, communication and community building. Students come to school between 2:00 and 5:00 PM everyday except Monday, plus Saturdays and Sundays. Its students have had some pretty amazing successes over the last few years, including earning scholarships for college, wining science awards, and running an influential student newspaper. Nicholas said the goal is to establish several branches of the program, enrolling more students across the region, and eventually turning the administration of the schools over to some of its graduates. The program believes Africa will change over time only by the efforts of such well-educated students. With the tools they need to improve their own future, the students also become leaders and catalysts for change in their communities.
Nicholas said the cost of the program is about $100/student/month, or $1200/year. That covers food, water, supplies, and fees. To donate, get involved, or learn more, go towww.imaginescholar.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]