I’m Away

No sounds, no lights
No sounds of the noisy cars
Gun sounds,
No barking dogs
Street lights and candles
Are away
I’m away

When nature calls
I call “dugalina” and dig
When I’m thinking about my mother
I smile to my imagination.

I’m away from my neighbours
It’s only stones and rivers
I’m far from electronic sounds
It is only the healing sounds of birds and animals.

It’s not a matter of what time it is
It’s a matter of how I survive
Beer and drinks are not good
As water from the fountain

I am not afraid of guns and knives
I’m afraid of mist and snow

Now pen and paper is not a measure of my success
It’s the length of the mountain
And the depth of the river
I’m away.

By: Anonymous
(participant on Educo Africa course)

The Leadership Project

When Educo Africa students step into South Africa’s wild places, they embark on a journey of discovery of themselves as leaders. There are many ways to learn about leadership—books, seminars, degree programmes—but how do you learn to be a leader? At Educo Africa, leadership isn’t just a concept to be studied; we bring out the leader in you!

Our approach, known as Transformational Leadership, requires leading from the inside out. It is based on personal responsibility, unlike Transactional Leadership, which focuses on the ability to move people in accomplishing tasks, using formal rewards and punishment. A vital element of Transformational Leadership is the fostering of a new sense of purpose: creating a deeply felt vision for your life, and the actions and feelings you see yourself experiencing within that vision.

The Project works with youth and adults from as young as 8 to as old as 80 years old, school groups and tertiary institutions, unemployed youth, and contracting agencies like government and other NGO’s.

The Leadership Project seeks to develop the following:

personal development and communication skills
judgment and decision making
tolerance in diversity
self awareness and personal vision
reflection for learning
environmental awareness

We design each course in consultation around the specific needs and desired outcomes of the delegate group, and may include the following:

Intra-personal Leadership – where the outcomes are focused on increased self-confidence, willingness to take risks, improved self concept, enhanced leadership skills relative to awareness of strengths and weaknesses (own and others), increased logical reasoning skills, greater reflective thinking skills, heightened sense of self esteem, new sense of purpose, increased environmental awareness, increased trust in self.
Inter-personal Leadership – where the outcomes are focused on enhanced co-operation, more effective communication skills, greater trust in others, increased sharing of decision making, new ways of resolving conflict, improved problem solving skills, enhanced management of others, promotion of gender equality and awareness.