A journey to your authentic self

The TransGariep Inter-Institutional Student Leadership Programme kicked off recently, with a group of 20 eager young students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Rhodes University meeting for the start of a transformative journey of self-leadership.

The TransGariep programme is an inter-institutional and inter-provincial leadership programme, whose underlying philosophy is to use “self” as a starting point of true leadership. The approach encourages students to address the challenges in their life from the inside out. This year marks the third iteration of the programme, which is facilitated by UCT’s Department of Student Affairs (DSA).

A different approach

The programme takes a different approach to most other leadership programmes, explained Pura Mgolombane, UCT’s executive director of Student Affairs: “Our focus is mainly on the ‘self’ and the idea that for you to even attempt to lead others, you must lead yourself. Part of that is trying to heal ourselves, because all our personal journeys include hurt and pain. So, we focus on mindfulness and compassion and that is what makes this leadership programme very distinctive and impactful.”

As part of the collaboration between UCT and Rhodes University, students from both institutions were selected to participate in the programme in Cape Town from 10 to 20 July, immersing themselves in a captivating journey of self-reflection and growth. The programme included a day of travel through Cape Town, visiting sites such as the District Six Museum and the Slave Lodge, and a retreat to connect with nature and focus on meditation and reflection.

UCT student Njabulo Mthethwa said he hopes the programme will help him become a stronger leader in the future. “What drew me to the programme was the idea of getting to know yourself. It’s not something you get the opportunity to do in life and this programme encourages us to really reflect on who we are outside of external expectations.”

Hlumelo Witbooi, a postgraduate student from Rhodes University, said she was attracted to the idea of learning how to be a better leader. “I enjoy helping people and I love coming up with solutions, and this programme seemed like a good opportunity to grow and learn how to think of leadership differently.”

In the pursuit of healing

The students gathered for the third day of the programme at UCT’s middle campus for a day of collaborative discussions on topics such as ethical leadership, self-awareness and relational transparency. The programme covered a wide range of activities and ideas, which were divided into five themes:

• Healing through Dance
• Healing through Art
• Leadership Journeys and Transformative Human Encounters
• Dreaming backwards through Spaces and Places
• The Agenda of the Soul.

Mgolombane explained that the programme aligns with the DSA’s vision to liberate the soul for student wellbeing and academic success: “This programme is part of our commitment to student well-being. It takes a holistic view of students’ success. This year, we have focused on mindfulness and compassion a lot more, so that going forward the students who complete this course are able to bring some of those same values to their own communities.”

Students were invited to partake in a moment of mindfulness before each session, with the facilitators encouraging them to think of “stillness” as a pathway to the soul. “Students, and most people in fact, don’t often get the chance to pause and think about who they really are outside of the expectations of those around them,” Mgolombane said. “This programme is an invitation to embark on a life-long journey toward our authentic selves.”

Equipping future leaders

Reflecting on her experience , Witbooi said, “I’ve really loved learning about ethical leadership and the idea that we become more ethical when we know ourselves better; leadership that is internal rather than all external. I loved the point that you can be a silent leader. Leading isn’t always about solving problems and being loud – sometimes it’s just about being there and listening.”

Witbooi’s observation speaks to the goals of the programme, which are about creating compassionate future leaders. Mgolombane said that he hopes participants can better reflect and grapple with who they really are: “We want them to take the tools and practices we share with them and use them as part of their journey going forward, so that these ideas are spread wide and far.”

Further reflecting on why he chose to spend his university vacation participating in the programme, Mthethwa described his hopes for the future. “I’ve always wanted to be a leader and help my community, but I can be nervous sometimes. My hope for this programme is that I learn how to have the most confidence in myself, so that I can be the best version of myself for others around me.”