Madiba helps Judy’s dream come true
A FORMER Port Elizabeth student has made history as the first Mandela Rhodes Scholar to hold a senior position at the organisation itself.
Judy Sikuza was appointed as its programme director this month.
Sikuza, 29, is now responsible for the flagship Mandela Rhodes Scholarship programme from which she herself benefited.
After working at the founda- tion as a consultant, Sikuza was appointed to the position this month.
“It is a great honour that I have received the opportunity to contribute more of my time working with the foundation,” she said
Born and raised in the Eastern Cape, Sikuza studied psychology at NMMU and passed cum laude.
“The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship entailed full funding for my honours as well as a yearlong leadership development programme.”
She completed an honours degree in industrial/organisational psychology.
“The programme changed my life,” she said, with the high point being a personal meeting with Nelson Mandela himself in 2007.
“I remember thanking him for creating such a lifechanging opportunity for so many young Africans,” she said.
Sikuza attributed most of her success to her mother, Patience Nobomvu Sikuza.
“Her resilience and nevergive-up attitude, even in the most difficult of moments, has served as a beacon of hope for me.”
Sikuza, who now lives in Cape Town, said: “I have been fortunate to have people who believe in me, and have encouraged me always to want to grow and be better in all that I do.”