My Arrival to South Africa

 As we pulled into the village I observed the two young boys about three and four walk down the road holding jugs in their hands…many thoughts ran through my head one prominent one: “I have seen this before some where on tv” Only this time it was real life. This was no TV ad requesting for help…the two young boys had to fetch their water from a location outside of their house. I thought about those two little boys being my little brother Daniel (he is 7), my momma wouldn’t even allow him out of the same room as her let alone out the house to fetch some water lol. But I observed them and one thing I noticed is that they had JOY! They did not look sad such as the pictures on the TV in America, these two young men were even skipping at one point. It made me reflect back to my life and how I have been showing as ungrateful in a lot of areas…no matter the struggle what is missing is pure JOY…. because see happiness is just a feeling…. it comes and goes…But JOY…. No one can take Joy away.

Even though I have grown up in poverty I have NEVER went without. My grandmother always made sure we had what we needed even while raising us merely on $300 a month (social security for dead parents). We always had whatever food, money, and clothes we needed. I never had to fetch water…. and the little things she did ask as I remember I would give major attitude. (Who the HELL was I?!) I’ll tell you…. I felt ENTITLED! Showing up as if someone owed me something…when in reality God gave me the most precious gift…LIFE and PURPOSE and I was being a brat. These two young boys will forever be in my heart. As I prepare to return to the classrooms at Penn and complete my degree this fall…. the thought in my mind keeps popping up…”How do I maintain the joy? How do I pay homage to the two young boys fetching some water? What can I Do?”  Most of the time we think that sending money is the option, as a student of social policy and a former nonprofit Manager/ director I can tell you most of the time the children NEVER see the money. What is needed is INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. How do we  prepare our people to support themselves no matter their circumstances? You see “Thoughts of a Brown Ivy” serves a call to action! Most of us will leave our intuitions and go make six figures straight of out our programs…. in a few years some of us will even become multimillionaires…. But whom much is given much is required! How do we show up in the world as “Powerful leaders”? Because powerful people empower! How do we create innovation around the world?! How do we use out networks, resources, education to serve nations including our very own nation where children in the South Bronx are hungry currently? How do we help institute programs or systems so that toddlers in South Africa are not walking in the middle of the road almost a mile away to fetch water for their families (I can think about all of the laws put in place in America to protect our children from this very act).

One thing is for sure….After graduation (May 18, 2015) I will return to this very place in South Africa and simply say “thank you this degree is for you.”