Nondumiso N Hlophe – Swaziland

Quick Bio – View my blog here

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Country representing	Swaziland
Gender	Female
Age	25
Languages	English French
University education	Bachelor of Social Sciences in Political Studies and Organizational Psychology (Rhodes University – Grahamstown, SOUTH AFRICA) Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in International Relations (Rhodes University – Grahamstown, SOUTH AFRICA)
I am	Activist Change Agent Concerned citizen Global soul World traveller
Areas of interest	Leadership

I am passionate about

…being the change that I want to see in the world, echoing Mahatma Gandhi’s words of a great call for action. I believe that it is only through life’s challenges, experiences and human encounters with one another, that we begin to truly understand and respect one another. The many travels that my parents’ professions has taken me on developed my global soul, whilst steadfastly encouraged pride in my unique Swazi heritage. I have been raised in an open-minded, as well as open-hearted family, one has learnt how the commonality of our humanness connects us. At age 24, I have lived on four very different continents and been exposed to their differed yet equally beautiful cultures. I have had the honour and privilege of attending esteemed educational institutions, that truly were united in the diversity of both its students and staff. Recognizing that the unknown should always be a catalyst towards discovery, my living truth is informed by three key factors: my Swati heritage, as told by and experienced within my family unit; my life thus far and the future as I hope to see realized in my lifetime. I have more to say, more to write and more to contribute on my generation reinforcing human “connectiveness” across borders.

My Projects

I am currently a Masters student, writing my thesis on cultural diplomacy from an international relations perspective, with my writings focused on Southern African cultural diplomacy during the era of independence. I am also a volunteer, one who has volunteered for many years in each of my many communities, my most recent and most immediate volunteering history being with Rhodes University’s Community Engagement Centre [CEC]. In 2010, I won the CEC’s essay competition, where my paper argued my vision for community engagement at Rhodes University, one that proposed compulsory community service for every student in order for one to be eligible for graduation. Most importantly, I am an activist who has been involved in many forums, both in and outside of my university, with my proudest achievement (to date) being that I am the former Chairperson of Amnesty International Rhodes University group (2008/9), as well as the former representative of the Eastern Cape province for Amnesty International South Africa.