The prestigious Mandela Rhodes scholarships aim to help building leadership excellence in Africa. The Mandela Rhodes Foundation offers young Africans who exhibit academic prowess as well as broader leadership potential an educational opportunity unique on the continent. While pursuing their chosen post-graduate degree, each Scholar benefits from access to leadership development programmes, rooted in the principles underpinning the Foundation. In addition to the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of fellow-Scholars that spans the continent and academic disciplines, they become part of a wide-ranging network of young Africans of excellence who are expected to play leadership roles in their fields and societies in the years following their time 'in residence'. Since the selection of the first cohort of eight Scholars in 2005, a total of 173 Mandela Rhodes Scholarships have been awarded.
Thokozile expresses her feelings, "I feel so blessed and humbled to have been awarded this prestigious scholarship and am so grateful to TSiBA. Without the excellent training in Entrepreneurship and Leadership and having been exposed to the high calibre of lecturers, students and staff at TSiBA, this would never have been possible for me. And of course, it is a huge blessing from God!" TSiBA CEO, Adri Marais, explains, "Thokozile epitomises the TSiBA graduate, someone with the perfect blend of skills, knowledge and most importantly, the right attitude, which will make her go far in life. Well done Thokozile - we couldn't be more proud of you."
TSiBA is an innovative business school that is based in the Western Cape. TSiBA was founded in 2004 as a not for profit company and is registered and fully accredited with the Department of Higher Education as a private higher education institution. TSiBA's mission is to be an innovative learning community that graduates entrepreneurial leaders who ignites opportunity and social change. Students are not required to pay for their education monetarily, but rather to "Pay it Forward" by transferring the knowledge, skills and resources that they gain at TSiBA into their communities. In this way, TSiBA's vision of "Igniting Opportunity" is realised.
Thokozile strongly believes in the TSiBA of principle of Paying it Forward, "I Pay it Forward by making sure I contribute wherever and whenever I can. I know the best gift I can give to others is by living out my name and bringing joy unto others and allowing others to do the same. Nothing makes me happier than to see other people overflowing with joy."
Wishing you all of the very, very best in your future endeavours, Thokozile.