Options Students Travel to Africa
Feb. 18, 2017 -- The three Options Global Ambassadors are preparing for the trip of a lifetime.
They are going to South Africa March 22-31.
The students attend the Heights High Options Program, the District’s alternative high school and will cap months of outreach to younger students, research and reflection with a trip to Africa.
Options Global Ambassadors: Roberto Osorio, Tyron Bryant and De'Shawn Gibson, (L-R).
Last year, the Coordinator of Alternative Programs Dr. Brian Williams, guided three young men on a journey to London, England. “This year, we are stepping it up a bit and heading to Africa,” said Dr. Williams.
Claude Holland, Educational Liaison, is an important part of the preparation and will join the students on the trip this year. Mr. Holland sponsored a student for the London experience and will sponsor himself this year.
The students, Tyron Bryant, De’Shawn Gibson and Roberto Osorio were selected to serve as Ambassadors. While they all expressed excitement at the opportunity, they were also very clear that they were up to the challenge of preparing for the journey.
“The preparation is really the greatest part of the trip,” said Roberto.
“Our main goal is living the process, gaining the skills and practicing leadership.”
“We want to be prepared for this opportunity and we are proud to represent our school and community when we go to South Africa,” said De’Shawn.
Tyron enjoys seeing others reaction to the group. “When people hear we are going to Africa, they are surprised and are really excited for us,” he said. “I definitely see how all of us have changed in this process, we are more confident and we just know more.”
The preparation for the March trip started in the fall but really ramped up in January. The students meet weekly with Dr. Williams and Mr. Holland for discussions and research. Their preparation includes viewing movies about apartheid and South African history, writing essays reflecting on their research, securing passports and mentoring younger students.
The mentoring is a large part of the preparation. “The preparation and this trip are like a stone tossed into a lake,” said Mr. Holland.
“You are making a difference in the lives of many others and we will see the ripple effect in the students you interact with, both here and in Africa.”
Beginning in January, The Fairfax Elementary School Leaders of Tomorrow, boys in the third, fourth and fifth grade, welcome the Ambassador students in regular small group discussions and activities. The students talk about their favorite sports teams, leadership, their favorite travel destinations and the importance working hard in school.
In addition to the school visits, the combined group will visit Tri-C in mid-March for a Gateway to College tour of the campus and fun hands-on activities in the areas of (S)cience (T)echnology (R)ecreation (E)ngineering (A)rts and (M)ath.
The Ambassadors are also part of the District’s Odyssey program for Middle School students and includes support for healthy decision making, leadership development, guest speakers and volunteering at McGregor Nursing Home.
The role of the Ambassadors is to mentor the middle school students and talk about their own life journey and their trip to Africa.
The Ambassadors leave Cleveland on Wednesday, March 22, just a few days before the District’s Spring Break and arrive in Johannesburg on Thursday evening. The group’s main partner for the experience is the Steve Biko Foundation, a community development organization inspired by the legacy of Bantu Stephen Biko.
Biko is considered to be the founder of the black consciousness movement in South Africa that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the aim of uniting Black people to oppose apartheid and white supremacy. Biko died in jail in 1970.
On Friday the Ambassadors will visit the University of Johannesburg and will attend an evening reception in their honor at the Steve Biko Foundation’s administrative headquarters. They will also visit Sweto Township where they will see the Mandela House Museum, Apartheid Museum and have a walking tour of the area. They will visit barbershops, a restaurant, the World Cup Soccer Stadium and talk to local citizens.
They will also visit Pilanesberg National Park before traveling to King William’s Town in the eastern province, once home to many of the anti-apartheid leaders, including Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu.
The Steve Biko Community center in King William’s Town will host a reception for the Global Ambassadors when they arrive followed by several evening community forums for the students to meet local citizens and discuss life in their respective communities. During the day, the Heights students will visit schools and learn about the communities’ education system and meet and connect with students in grades K-12.
“We want our students to connect with students and continue a friendship – maybe on social media - after the trip,” said Dr. Williams.
After the Ambassadors return, they will host a Donors’ Reception in early May to talk about the trip and to thank donors.
The trip is being paid for by individual donations and the students’ families. For more information about becoming a donor see the Global Ambassador webpage.
The Ambassadors will provide updates about the trip on Twitter @CHUHOptions.