• 01Jun

  Forever Changed

  Category: Aisha Moffett, Uncategorized  Posted by: Aisha Moffett at 11:16 pm   No Comments

  My mother always told me, “Don’t judge a man until you walked a mile in his shoes.”  Well, I feel similarly about the country of South Africa.  You really can not talk about it or understand it until you have visited and immersed yourself in the culture.  I learned so very much from my visit to South Africa.  Below are some insights that I gained from the experience:

  Humility-  When I reflect on my visit to Robben island, once again I am moved by the level of peace and humility and unwavering forgiveness that not only Mandela displayed but also Sparks and his fellow ex-inmates.  They practice forgiveness and humility by giving daily tours so that their story would be heard.  I amazed at the spirit of Mandela that could not and would not be broken and still contains enough stamina at ninety plus years to continue hope in a healing nation.

  Blessings- Going into poverty stricken areas of the country and seeing the conditions that some people are forced to live in allowed me to see how blessed I am.  In the United States we live such a charmed existence and do not realize true poverty.  It amazed me that the sadness that I felt for those people was more about me and not about them.  The children were so happy and comfortable in their existence because that is all that they knew, and for them it was enough.

  Progress-  A misconception about Africa is that everything you experience will be third world.  Going into many of the companies I witnessed the progressiveness of many of the businesses.  The facilities, preparedness and presentation were on a level that you would not experience visiting most U.S. companies.  South Africans take so much pride in what they do and they are moving forward at a mind blowing pace.

  Openness- This country is not just about one people or language but many.  South Africa belongs to many and the rainbow is very alive.  You can not be close minded or remain ignorant with the variety of colors, faces, races and people that make South Africa the beautiful country it is.  When I tell people “South Africa was beautiful”  I am not just speaking about the scenery but the total experience.

  In retrospect, I am forever changed by the complexity of South Africa.  The cross culture of natural beauty, international business, and social diversity make South Africa and amazing place.  I sincerely appreciate this experience and I will forever hold a special place in my heart for South Africa.

• 28May

  The Real Thing

  Category: Aisha Moffett, Uncategorized  Posted by: Aisha Moffett at 8:33 pm   No Comments

  The trip last friday to Coke was amazing.  Since I’m a marketing girl I really was soaking up all of the strategies and programs that they were doing.  Coke South Africa has really embraced knowing their customers and meeting them at all levels. The education in the communities teaching children how to recycle is really commendable.  You always hear the cliche that the “children are the future” but Coke has taken a true investment in the children of South Africa at all levels.  There are many children that are going to be given a chance because of this companies efforts.  Their marketing campaign and social outreach is seamingly flawless.  Their endeavors will ensure their life long sustainability in this country.

• 21May

  Sunday May 17th-Freedom and Equality is Golden

  Category: Aisha Moffett, Uncategorized  Posted by: Aisha Moffett at 5:45 pm   No Comments

  The Apartheid Museum visit brought the reality of what this nation has experienced to life. From the onset of the visit we experienced the heaviness of apartheid when our tickets segregated us by Whites only and/or Blacks, Coulored and/or Asian.  We were sent down separate corridors where we were able to read the stories about the reclassification system.  I was white for this exercise and I read a story of a man who was born to mixed race parents and how he was white one day and then woke up the next day coulored.  The museum was chronological and time was of the essence so I did not get to take in as much of the museum as I would have liked to or really needed to but I did get an idea. The pain and suffering that many South Africans endured, some until death for the cause of equality was stunning. There was such a strong correlation between it and the segregation in the United Stated it made me appreciate my parents and the many others that endured the hardship of that era. My heart and mind was so full leaving the museum today.

   

  The tour of Soweto was educational.  The highlight was the visit to Nelson and Winnie Mandelas home.  The story that was hardest to hear is how Nelsons family was used to break him down while he was in prison.  The work was not breaking him so they used his mother, wife and children.  We were told that Mandela was not a man to beg but he begged to funeralize his mother and was refused. The emotional and physical torture this man endured was inhumane and deplorable.  It in no wonder he is an obvious hero and leader among his people.  We had a short visit today to a gold mine and I thought about how gold is such a rare and precious element that is cherished by those that own it.  After all that I have seen today I sum it up with this statement, “Freedom and Equality are Golden.”

• 21May

  Friday May 15-The Difference Between Living Like A King And Being One!

  Category: Aisha Moffett, Uncategorized  Posted by: Aisha Moffett at 5:41 pm   No Comments

  Today we visit several places; we went to see an amazing hotel in Sun City that was definitely fit for a king.  There scenery there was beautiful and the décor was emaculate.  However, the reality in South Africa for the King of the Royal Bafokeng Institute is not so glamorous.  This King has a vision for his people, most which live in poverty.  His vision is to use the resources in his nation for the betterment of their future. He understands importance of that common business-society thread and using his resources to promote change. His nation is the size of New York and he is working diligently to build a child-centered community.  He has several schools in the nation that are laser focused on children and giving them a “world class” education from K-12.  He is also in the process of building a Royal Bafokeng University.  It is amazing the work that is being done in this nation with the uneducated teachers but most importantly the children of the future.  Once again we asked how we can contribute and were told the schools are in desperate need of scientific calculators.

   

  The kings’ mother has established and sponsored the Tagalogo HIV/AIDS Lab, Hospice and Orphanage.  This visit was the most emotionally draining thus far on the trip.  We were able to witness all facets of Tagalogo.  We had a tour of the facility and while we were on the grounds we saw a little boy that had been orphaned by his mother.  The Hospice was most heart wrenching when we were able to step into the ward and see the patients in their final days.  Then the head nurse told us about the tree in the foyer that had a leaf on it for all of the children that had died there. Each leaf bore the name of a child that was most likely born with HIV and dies in the hospice.  When the adults die they light a candle to help the grieving. The beauty of the Hospice is that it allows the patients to have a place to die with dignity care and love. I saw today how to live like a king and I witnessed how to Love like one!

• 21May

  Thursday May 14- A Long Walk For A Good Cause

  Category: Aisha Moffett, Uncategorized  Posted by: Aisha Moffett at 5:36 pm   No Comments

  The visit to Old Mutual was enlightening.  I did not know much about Micor Finance until Charmaine Groves told us how Old Mutual used the money that they had after they demutualized to do good for society.  They go to the poorest of the poor in South Africa and look at what they have and then give them financing to use their resources for profit.  They enable them to gain return on their resources and abilities.  Charmaine said that sometimes they have to walk miles and through rough terrine to get to the people but it is worth it because this is their social return to society. They not only do their initial visits but also follow-up visits where they do Impact assessments to see what the people are learning.  To date they have a 0% default rate.  The common theme on this trip is how business and society merge.  To finance one person it is 50 U.S. dollars.  We spend that eating in a day and these people are barely making it. We live such a charmed existence in America.  Old Mutual is definitely doing its part in South Africa to ensure a market of the future and sustainability for the company. This was one of many visits on this trip that I left thinking how can I contribute.  Although it would be a drop in the bucket if is for a beautiful cause in this emerging market.

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