From time to time throughout the year, the Chevening Secretariat will host conferences for the scholars. The scholar I will feature today is someone I met at a conference the at Durham University (they have a great campus by the way.) This young lady and I just clicked on the day, after a group discussion. When I posted a shot of her and some other scholars on my Instagram account, a friend of mine remarked that she was simply slaying the photo! I had to agree, especially because while at the conference I had remarked on her stunning fashion sense. Brilliant, beautiful and fresh from a fantastic trip and smashing presentation at the World Trade Organisation, I am pleased to introduce you to the fabulous Ofentse Lekwane. I am excited to have you meet her through my blog series, #ScholarProfiles, which showcases some of the outstanding people I meet on my Chevening Journey.
Ofentse is from South Africa, and is pursuing an MSc in Management (specialisation in Entrepreneurship)
at Durham Univer
sity. It’s not only her vivacious personality that makes her unique. Ofentse is 1 of 3 girls in her family, and all of them were born with albinism. Albinism is a genetic condition that results in the lack of melanin pigment in the hair, skin and eyes. This can cause vulnerability to sun exposure and even visual impairment. Statistics suggest that one in every 17,000 people has some kind of albinism. Persons can carry the gene for albinism even if they have no physical manifestation of the conditions. Ofentse informed me that the condition is common in parts of Africa, however, it seldom affects all siblings in a family. This is the case in her family, and she believes that statistical improbability, a miracle really, effectively makes her parents SUPER-FOLKS.
If Ofentse’s parents are super-folks, then that about confirms to me that she is a super girl. She is vivacious and always positive. Let’s see what we talked about.
Let’s talk first about South Africa
Tell me a stereotype that generally comes up when you tell people where you’re from?
I’ve heard that South Africa is dangerous. Some believe we keep wild animals such as lions and elephants for pets.
What’s the local language in your country?
We have 11 official languages and are hoping to formalise sign language and make it 12.
What’s the culture like in your country, is it diverse enough would you say?
We have 11 different languages, each of which is attributable to a different culture and/or ethnic group. We are aptly called the ‘rainbow nation’ my country is a melting pot of cultures.
What’s the most popular food, music and dance?
This differs per culture, but some common cuisine across cultures include:
Food: Pap (crushed maize cook as a starch) and Braai meat (commonly known as Barbeque in other parts)
Music: Too many variations, but our homegrown genres include Kwaito and House
Dance: We dance in our sleep, so I could never do this one justice.
Tell me two things you would like others who haven’t visited your country to know about the country and its people.
Having travelled a bit I can officially say we have some of the most hospitable people in the world. South Africa is an absolutely beautiful country. Very scenic natural surroundings like in Nelspruit, wildlife experiences in Kruger National Park will leave you spellbound, beautiful architecture from Pretoria, and we have some of the world’s best beaches which you can check out, especially in Cape Town. South Africa also boasts fantastic nightlife and cultural experiences in Johannesburg.
Ofentse, let’s hear about your Chevening Journey.
It has been humbling and scary and enriching and overwhelming. One of the steepest learning curves I have embarked on.
What has been the highlight of your Chevening Year, so far?
Definitely meeting and interacting with people from all walks of life. Dealing with people from different contexts and with different ideas, habits, religions and languages can be overwhelming and humbling. On one hand, you learn to adapt, while on the other you are challenged every day about things that you thought were simple, but that others see differently. It’s a learning curve but it teaches you respect, improves your listening skills and makes you more open-minded and curious.
How would you recommend Chevening to someone else who is interested in pursuing graduate studies in the UK?
What attracted me to Chevening was its openness to taking applicants from different fields and career backgrounds. For me, this marked its status as an organisation that values individuality but also the benefits of cross-pollinating. See, when you do what Chevening does and put people who are extremely different together, while the end result is sometimes risky and always less predictable, when done in the right way it often leads to magic.
Also, outside of giving you access to a great country and top class education, the scholarship also gives you access to a great network of people and resources. If you use it well you can learn, share ideas, and build valuable relationships. Everyone on this scholarship is already a leader in their own right and so as a Chevening scholar, you are always co-existing with talent.
You are studying entrepreneurship. Why did you choose this field?
I needed to understand the building blocks of enterprising, idea conception and the nurturing process for good ideas. Using knowledge from the programme, I have a plan to even out the playing field of entrepreneurship in South Africa. I want to get myself, the youth, black marginalised communities and females more active in entrepreneurship and to ultimately shrink the hold of big corporates in South Africa in exchange for Small and Medium Entreprises. This way we can get some home-grown innovation, wealth redistribution and autonomy.
Some persons are preparing for Chevening interviews right now. What tips would you share with them?
If you made it to the interview round, chances are your application was great. The interview is merely a space for you to showcase your application in person. This is your chance to show all of your dynamism and character, so do not hold back. Just be the amazing person they were imagining you to be when they read your application.
What encouragement would you give to young people, and especially young women for the future?
Don’t let anyone tell you where your place in life is, just find a spot you like and OCCUPY!
Thanks for sharing with me Ofentse. I do want to echo her advice. Don’t play small in this world. Find your place, your space and Occupy.
Cheers!
If there was a MRS. Jamaica competition, I think Ann-Marie Vaz would win. A scan through her Instagram account will have you believing you are looking at an official Brand Jamaica Ambassador’s page. Beautiful, graceful and passionate about Jamaica? Yes, crown her Mrs. Jamaica. Although only recently connecting with her, I have long admired Mrs. Vaz. She is a philanthropist and the wife of Jamaican Member of Parliament, Darryl Vaz. She recently launched a foundation, One Jamaica Foundation, and almost single-handedly mobilized support for residents in Portland after heavy rains and flooding. When you meet her, you are sure to have a good time, because Ann-Marie is a ball of fun. Her passion for Jamaica, infectious energy and how I saw her help the people of Portland, has made me grateful to have met Ann-Marie Vaz.
Jamaica’s current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson-Smith, is undoubtedly one of the brightest stars of the JLP administration. I first became aware of her when she was Opposition Spokesperson on Education and Youth. She was committed and sharp. She has appeal to people across the political divide. She is strong on issues of gender, but for me, most importantly is she strikes me as an astute, insightful and decisive woman in leadership. I am told that her work with G2K, the JLP’s main youth arm, was stellar. One accomplishment of hers that stands out to me, is her championing the bill for the reintegration of teenage mothers into the formal education system. In 2017, I will continue to pay attention to her work. I am grateful for her because she inspires hope for young women interested in politics. All the attention she generates is about her work.
I first met Krystal while studying at university. I always thought she was really intelligent. We became friends later, through debate and then solidified during her time as Miss Jamaica Festival Queen. Krystal is a multifaceted, multi-talented powerhouse. This year, my friendship with Krystal has become stronger. She is a true motivator and gets excited when people do well. She is a sharp mind and we share some interests, so it is always easy to have interesting conversations with her. Krystal is a real, through and through, positive person. Check her 
In my opinion, Jamaica’s number 1 journalist is a sharp, fearless woman, in the person of Dionne Jackson-Miller. She is president of the Press Association of Jamaica and has been hosting separate programmes on radio and television for over two decades. I started Dionne on air when I was about 15 years old, so it has been over a decade. However, I would have had to listen to her programme every evening, because my mother kept the radio on RJR from about 4PM each day. I grew up respecting Dionne. Having been more attuned to current affairs in my teenage and young adult life, my respect for her grew tenfold. She asks the sharp questions, gives clear information to her audience and, allows for respectful debate through her shows. I can tune in to the programme online to know what is happening in Jamaica. I also see her giving space and amplifying the voice of numerous young people in Jamaica. For these reasons, I am grateful for DJM.