……The group that represented Mbabane City in the virtual International Leadership Academy.
MBABANE – Mbabane students have completed the month-long participation in the International Leadership Academy.
The excited group of 16 students represented Mbabane city didn’t get the chance to travel to the United States of America due to Covid-19 travel restrictions but they still represented Mbabane very well in the programme.
The International Leadership Academy is one of Council’s flagship programmes and has over the years seen groups of students from Mbabane city being sent to the USA for participation in ILA in Fort Worth. The virtual hosting of the programme has only been brought about by Covid-19.
Read below what the participating students had to say about their experience of participating in the programme.
Siwakhile Dlamini – Sifundzani High School
My experience at the ILA was a really amazing one that I shall never forget, not only did I learn how to dance but I also made a lot of friends nationally and internationally. The International Leadership Academy has taught me the importance of mental health and not neglecting that, it has taught me that what I face mentally is important and I’m not alone. It has educated me on mindfulness and taking care of myself mentally and emotionally. During the duration of the academy, I got the opportunity to interact with different people and also learnt about their beautiful cultures and beliefs which helped me to be open minded towards each and every single one of them. Lastly the most valuable thing that the ILA has not only taught me but helped me with is being comfortable and unapologetic with being myself, being proud and happy with who I am and who I was created to be. I really enjoyed each and every single moment of the programme and I thank God and the Municipal Council of Mbabane for blessing me with such a beautiful opportunity.
Tandzile Zwane – Woodlands High
The International Leadership Academy has been one of the most beautiful experiences in my 16 years of living. It has taught me many things that I wish to share with everyone. With the leadership skills I have learnt, I want to help in bringing change in the world. Not just that, sharing ideas and thoughts with people from different parts of the world with different cultures has been amazing and getting to know how they see the world today. This program also helped me to make international friendships which I intend to keep forever. I wish more people can get this opportunity and have a awesome experience as I did.
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Tebenguni Simelane – Fonteyn High
The International Leadership Academy has been a life-changing experience for me in many ways than one as it has helped me metamorphosize mentally and otherwise. It has also played a significant role in re-identifying myself, and not only acknowledge the magic, power and greatness within me, but also how to utilize it in the most positive way so as to make the world a happier place. Moreover, it made me realize the importance of human interaction, cultural exchange, mental health and the need for such activities to be encouraged.
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Phetsile Khumalo – Fonteyn High
Well for me joining this academy was a life changing experience because I got an opportunity to rediscover who I really am. It changed my perspective and outlook of things in terms of how I view the world and how I can bring about positive changes to the world. I even developed myself a motto which keeps me going : I am a lioness ,the universe is my jungle and nature hails my presence.
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Sincobangaye Msibi – SOS High School
It was a great pleasure participating in the Virtual International Academy 2021. Even though we didn’t get the chance to go to Fort Worth, I felt the bond and the love from each and everyone. The program itself was a bomb because it was around a crucial topic that everyone needs to be aware of. It’s funny how we always here about some of the practices but don’t take them seriously because we are ignorant. So that’s a huge lesson I got, “Be mindful about health, emotions and connection to loved ones and ourselves.
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Zinhle Dlamini – Mbabane Central High School
I really enjoyed this year’s Virtual International Leadership Academy as it really improved my leadership skills. I also learnt about ways of dealing with stress and how to get inner peace. Our facilitators went on to teach us about the negative and positive things about social media. Lastly, it really helped me to network and make new friends.
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Xoliswa Masuku – Woodlands High
It was my first time to attend any academy at all. I had a lot of fun as I had to communicate with other people from overseas. I leant that there are many ways to manage stress and also in those ways there are positive ways and negative ways. I also learnt information on how to have a positive, healthy relationship with other human beings.
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Msimisi Matse – ILA Facilitator
The Virtual International Leadership Academy (VILA) 2021 has again been a fruitful program to all the participants and to those who they share their newly discovered skills and information. It has brought together students from around the world with the theme, “Global Connections for Inner Peace” in which we explored aspects of mental wellness and how some cultures interpret, manage, and integrate it into their overall health. What I would consider a highlight of the program for me would be the cross-cultural activities done during the program which includes the learning and sharing of art, music and language studies to mention a few. With no doubt, such activities greatly stretched our communication , leadership and problem solving skills as each participant had to overcome language barrier, cultural and beliefs differences. I cannot leave out the lifelong friendships we made with the students from the Forth Worth sister cities that participated .
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Muziwakhe Khumalo – ILA Facilitator First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for being chosen to be a facilitator in this year’s program. This year’s program was a bit challenging as it was my first time being a facilitator and having my leadership skills being challenged but I managed to pull through not only by myself but also with the help of my other co-facilitators. I plan to carry those lessons with me in the everyday struggle of life. I also had the privilege of making international friends and connections once more as they say, “relationships are the currency of life”. All in all, it was an exhilarating and educational experience as it always is, ILA never disappoints.
