St George's to take part in leadership initiative

ST GEORGE'S College is among 22 schools from around the country that will benefit through an initiative made available by Kingswood College in Grahamstown with the roll out of a "By Youth For Youth" (BY4Y) initiative.

This forms part of a five-day workshop, starting in Grahamstown on December 5, where 50 pupil leaders from 22 schools will be offered training in peer-to-peer leadership issues involving cross cultural, inter-generational and moral dilemmas that they will face in their school leadership positions and in life beyond school.

St George's College headmaster Wayne Joubert said the workshop was a perfect opportunity to not only empower pupils but build leadership skills.

"Student leadership is so important and through this initiative pupils will be given a voice and an opportunity to be involved with peers around the country," he said. "We always encourage leadership at the school so they will definitely benefit."

The workshop will see expert speakers such as founding director of the newly formed Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics, Pedro Tabensky, head of the department of management at Rhodes University, Dr Trevor Amos, and associate professor in the Rhodes Business School, Dr Noel Pearse, as well as speakers from the British High Commission and the DG Murray Trust.

The project will continue with a forum where participating schools will cascade the awareness gained to their school leadership bodies while the ensuing changes and roll-out will be recorded and assessed in an online process which can be shared.

Kingswood leadership co-ordinator and organiser of the workshop Ian Knott-Craig said young people needed to be principle-centred champions providing leadership for a new generation South African citizenry.

"We want this event to bring youngsters from all levels of our society together to forge new paths," he said.  -  Chanice Koopman