Tshepo Namane Reflects | Coordinating the Cultural Immersion Trip

I would like to begin with a quote by Simon Sinek: “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” I completely agree with this statement. When I was first assigned the role of Tour Coordinator, I felt very nervous and even questioned whether I was the right person for the job. However, my manager reassured me that I was capable and provided the necessary resources to ensure the success of my trip invitation. These included tools for making international calls, guidance on professional communication, and a practice call with the IAWA staff. This support greatly boosted my confidence and helped me perform my duties effectively. I am deeply grateful to my manager and the IAWA team for their encouragement and assistance, which enabled me to overcome my fears and succeed in my role.

Since it was my first time in this role, it was very much a process of learning on the go — from planning to coordination. One key lesson I learned is that no matter how much you plan, things don’t always go exactly as expected when working with people. Humans are emotional beings, and circumstances can change quickly, so it’s important to stay flexible and adaptable to keep things moving forward.

This experience was a major part of my learning curve, especially as it was my first time working with Americans on such a large scale. I had to be mindful of cultural differences — their communication style is more direct and assertive, while mine is not — and I quickly learned to meet them at their level of understanding. Getting to know them one-on-one was fascinating; it gave me a chance to see the world from their perspective.

My favorite part of the experience was during the tour itself, when I got to explain how things work on our side. Each time we visited a historical site, I loved seeing their faces light up with curiosity and interest. It gave me great satisfaction to know they were learning the real facts, beyond the misconceptions they may have heard before.

We aligned the tour with the Youth Symposium to give our participants the opportunity to volunteer and witness IAWA’s work as it celebrated its 10th anniversary. I must say, the participants were truly hands-on — you could hardly tell who was a participant and who was an IAWA staff member. We all worked together in perfect harmony, as if we had been doing this for years. The dedication everyone showed, going above and beyond their assigned roles, was truly inspiring. It was all driven by our shared passion for youth empowerment and the spirit of Ubuntu.

The initial purpose of the tour was to share the story of South Africa and IAWA, but looking back, it became so much more than that. It turned into a beacon of hope — a ray of sunlight that left a lasting imprint and helped build a sense of community across two continents. On a personal level, I gained what feels like more family members. Echoing the sentiments of many participants, moving to South Africa, owning a home here, or making it a regular holiday destination is now definitely on the list of possibilities. I truly enjoyed every moment of the experience and would gladly do it all over again.