Exciting Launch in Cape Town
The Tutu Courageous Leadership Course
Hanns Bühler, Resident Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in South Africa
HSF
What is the Courageous Leadership Course?
The development and launch of the Tutu Courageous Leadership Course could not have been more timely, given the outcome of the 2024 national elections that have shaken up South African politics and ended the ANC's 30-year absolute majority in the National Assembly and in the provinces of Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, and in the Northern Cape. It is safe to say that good, courageous leadership is needed to bring South Africans together once more and keep South Africa's young democracy stable to pave the way for prosperity and development for all.
“It can't be stressed enough that courageous democratic leadership is paramount in building inclusive democratic societies. This is as true for European countries like Germany as it is for South Africa. The ability to lead, to bring people together, to find compromise and to build trust is crucial for the development of communities and countries, as well as for international cooperation” said Hanns Bühler, HSF’s Resident Representative for South Africa.
With this in mind, this new and engaging course reminds us of the late Arch's commitment to the democratic values of freedom, equality, accountability, peace and participation that helped bring about democratic change and social transformation in South Africa in 1994. It consists of five short videos and modules on the themes of Action, Ubuntu, Hope, Indignation and Dialogue, each focusing on a quality of courageous leadership exemplified in the life of Desmond Tutu. Inspired by original footage of Tutu's life, participants will discover how powerful their everyday actions can be in building the society they want. Although the primary target audience in South Africa is aged 15-35, the course is suitable for audiences of different focus areas and ages, such as local councillors, parliamentarians, managers, etc.
The panel during the engaging discussion
HSF
Building society through leadership - better together
To start, the Tutu Foundation will conduct regular train-the-trainer workshops to enable government, private and non-governmental organisations in the Western Cape and beyond to teach the course and integrate it into their programmes. To this end, a detailed facilitation guide for teachers and facilitators has been developed, and is available online on the websites of the Tutu Foundation and the Civic Academy, the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s free civic education initiative.
At the same time, the course is freely available in an online-format to make it accessible to as many South Africans and people abroad as possible. From July, the Tutu Foundation will also work with Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders as the first organisation to implement the online course in its network of schools and the Global Classroom Partners programme, promoting the course to its 280 schools in 20 countries.
The development of the Tutu Courageous Leadership Course was made possible with the support of the Bavarian State Chancellery. The course is part of the capacity-building projects implemented by the HSF, building on the long-standing and successful partnership between the Western Cape and the Free State of Bavaria. This partnership is itself a great example of working together to achieve common goals.
Deidre Baartman, newly appointed Western Cape MEC for Finance
HSF
The important role of youth in South Africa’s democracy
With the 2024 National Elections just behind us, and during Youth Month, the launch was a wonderful opportunity to bring together young people and representatives from various civil society organisations for a panel discussion on the topic: So we voted, what now? Supporting courageous youth leadership for democracy.
The panellists Siphelele Chirwa, CEO of Activate! Change Drivers; Jessica Dewhurst, founding CEO of Justice Desk Africa; Inam Qoma, CEO of Rothko Brand Partners; and Sandile Tshabalala, co-founder of Huruma Bantfu, reflected on the opportunities and challenges facing young people to make a difference, contribute to democratic processes and engage meaningfully in their communities.
"Each and every one of us has to take agency, we have to do what we can with what we have as individuals. (...) You have agency! You have your values, you have things that you can do and contribute to your household and the society around you," highlighted Inam Qoma, echoing the essence of what one of the Western Cape's youngest politicians, the newly appointed Western Cape MEC for Finance, Deidre Baartman, 34, had to say in her welcome address. The former Chairperson of the WCPP Budget Committee and former Deputy Chief Whip of the WCPP explained why and how she became a political leader and the tools she uses to achieve her political and social visions and goals. These include: Listening, asking the right questions, showing up and being persistent, finding mentors, striving to write and speak well and to the point, being focused and disciplined, to name a few...
After this successful launch and fruitful discussions, we are confident that the Tutu Courageous Leadership course will indeed help young people find their own tools and the necessary strength and courage to become active citizens and leaders in their own right.
Watch the recording of the launch event and discussions here.
Find an informative Teaser video here.
You can find the online-course on the website of the Tutu Foundation as well as the HSF’s Civics Academy here.
You can download the Facilitation Guide for the course on the Tutu Foundation website here - and it's also available on the Civics Academy website here.
For more information on the Train-the-Trainers courses write to: tcl(at)tutu.org.za
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