Eight students represented the College of Humanities at the Model Y20 South Africa Conference – a yearly initiative aimed at encouraging young South Africans to contribute to policy recommendations.
The Conference took place at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology on 25 and 26 June, 2014 under the theme: “Growth and Jobs Creation; Global citizenship; and Sustainable Development”.
The delegation, supported by the DVC and Head of the College of Humanities, Professor Cheryl Potgieter, has a diverse mix of students who are currently studying at masters and PhD level and boast leadership achievements and academic prowess.
The students were identified as among the best crop of students the College of Humanities has to offer. They are academics in the making and are leaders in the student community and beyond.
The opportunity to take them to this Conference was created as a means to recognise their achievements thus far but also to motivate them into pursuing academic scholarship in future, while still raising the flag for UKZN.
The Model Y20 Conference also discussed the position paper that will be tabled by the South African youth delegation at the upcoming Youth 20 (Y20) Conference to be hosted in Sydney, Australia, this month.
In addition to Training on Diplomacy, the event was used to identify potential Y20 Youth delegates to represent South Africa at the Turkey Summit in 2015.
Speaking on the Conference, Ms Abongile Nyokana said the event was a wonderful opportunity for the students. ‘It’s great to know that somehow we’re making a difference.’
Students selected were:
- Ms Kathlyn Kannapathi, a member of Golden Key International Honour Society and a PhD candidate in Education focusing on empowering parents through education. Kannapathi participates in community upliftment and development.
- Ms Abongile Nyokana, Deputy President of the Howard College chapter of Golden Key International Honour Society, who is a Tutor and takes interest in running and free hand sketching.
- Mr Sokfa Francis John, currently doing a PhD in the Sociology of Religion, is involved in the academic mentoring programme at UKZN as a mentor. John initiated a writing club and student magazine at the University of Jos in Nigeria. His areas of interest include religion and politics / society, masculinity, as well as conflict and peacebuilding.
- Mr Thembani Khumalo, former UKZN Central SRC President.
- Mr Mnikeni Phakathi, a current Deputy Chairperson of UNASA, former HSRC President and Deputy Chairperson of SASCO.
- Ms Samantha Rouche, a candidate Architect, was once an academic undergraduate tutor. Currently a Programme co-ordinator for the UIA 2014 student programme.
- Mr Siyabonga Khumalo, who has been in leadership in House Committees. He was a Residence Liaison Officer in Howard College SRC and is currently the SASCO Chairperson of the Howard College branch.
- Mr Lukhona Mnguni, UKZN Masters student in Conflict Transformation and winner of the Commonwealth Scholarship. Mnguni, who is a lifetime member of the prestigious Golden Key Honours Society, remains committed to academic and research rigour; with special interest in education, sociopolitical and socio-economic development issues.
Article issued by UKZN. To view their profile on SAstudy, click here.