“I grapple with the idea that to be a changemaker is a struggle, because that is not sustainable. Wellbeing and wellness is what will sustain our efforts,” said one of the 34 participants during Tekano’s recent Learning Festival titled Umthombo Wolwazi, meaning ‘a fountain of knowledge’.This was the first time for Tekano to host such a learning festival, the culmination of a vision to bring together like-minded organisations who care about social change and who work through a leadership development and fellowship model.
Participants stressed the critical need for social change leaders to have dedicated space and time to innovate and test their ideas.Discussions revealed that amidst the pressures leaders face and their competing priorities, there is often limited time for reflection, emphasising the necessity for safe spaces and practices for rest, learning and navigating uncertainties. Reflective spaces were identified as essential for deepening understanding, acquiring new tools, and refining practices to sustain personal and professional growth.
Another participant mentioned that in South Africa there’s “Too many fellows. Too little change”, pointing out that despite the numerous fellows, substantial change remains elusive. It was suggested through discussions that perhaps more change could be influenced where it is most needed if the fellowships’ work was more closely connected to grassroots efforts and thus more grounded in the realities of the communities they aim to serve. It was suggested that one way to achieve this may be through selecting and supporting fellows with deep community ties and firsthand experience of local challenges. Another approach, perhaps better suited to those programmes that do emphasise academic qualification, is to ensure that fellows work in and with grassroots communities and connect with local community activities.
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