Building Communities – Bridging Continents
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| President Ray |
Every step of the way I am realizing more and more that coming to South Africa was the best decision possible. As mentioned previously, I could have landed in Cairo last week among the unrest. Although it would be a wonderful experience to witness history, it is unlikely that I would have been able to complete the Rotary Scholar year. Furthermore, this year is the 50th anniversary of current Rotary International (RI) President Ray Klinginsmith’s Ambassadorial Scholarship to South Africa, also at UCT. Small world! Ray is the first RI President to have also been an Ambassadorial Scholar. (The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Program was started in 1947 and has funded over 40,000 ambassadors of goodwill!) As an Ambassadorial Scholar who has just arrived it was wonderful for me to meet Bud Kreh who was also here 60 years ago in 1951! Bud said the freighter trip from NJ to South Africa took three weeks; clearly I can’t complain about my 23 hours of plane travel! The purpose of Ray’s Reunion was to facilitate international service projects in Africa, particularly the ROTA (Reach Out of Africa) Initiative of Rotary International. What a perfect time to be a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Cape Town!! J
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| Bud Kreh |
At the 3-day reunion event I was fortunate to hear from former South Africa President and Noble Peace Prize winner F.W. de Klerk, current Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith, World Bank Consultant (and DC residentJ) Peter Kyle, former South African Constitutional Court Judge Catherine O’Regan, South African Diplomat Francis Moloi, and former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel! Just some brief discussion of the speakers and topics:
- South Africa, like many other emerging markets, is concerned with attracting and retaining the educated younger generations. Rotary International is concerned with the need for greater ethnic diversity and engagement of the next generation of Rotarians.
- Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar (former Rotary International President) emphasizes ‘civilian peace’ and believes that if every 17 year old in the world could do an exchange program then there would be no war in the world
Judge O’Regan see today’s greatest challenge as the need for networks and connections for reliable international regulation and a commitment to problem solving. As a former Ambassadorial Scholar herself she highlighted three purposes of the program:
o Intellectual pursuits
o Personal growth and confidence
o Contribution to knowledge of the world and peace between nations
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| F.W. de Klerk |
- Former President de Klerk believes that the ability to manage relationships between ethnic, cultural, and religious communities is one of the world’s greatest challenges. Accordingly, he emphasizes the importance of the facilitation of migration of people while questioning whether the social-democracy model of the US will hold above that of economically driven entities like China and India
Francis Moloi, an Ambassadorial Scholar to Harvard and current South African Diplomat, discussed being armed with weapons to declare war on ignorance and violence. This is similar Carl Wilkens, the only American remaining in Rwanda during the genocide, who told a story of a man who made a difference in the lives of others with his personal ‘weapons’: his smile and his relationships. Mr. Moloi quoted St. Francis Assis ““Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis Moloi, an Ambassadorial Scholar to Harvard and current South African Diplomat, discussed being armed with weapons to declare war on ignorance and violence. This is similar Carl Wilkens, the only American remaining in Rwanda during the genocide, who told a story of a man who made a difference in the lives of others with his personal ‘weapons’: his smile and his relationships. Mr. Moloi quoted St. Francis Assis ““Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Trevor Manuel, former Minister of Finance, discussed five challenges (both risks and opportunities) in today’s world: food (security), world economy, employment (particularly among youth), technological change, and climate change. He stressed the risk of uncoordinated policy at a global level and stated that part of wanting to make a difference is in understanding how and where you can make the largest difference.
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