St. Andrew's Alumni Magazine 2013

alumni news Roy and Bokamoso Update Dear Alums, We had a wonderful visit this year from a very strong Bokamoso group. There is much good news.

Many of the youth have completed their training and are working to support their families as nurses, IT trainers, through careers in banking, and as teachers and childcare workers. This year we welcomed an extraordinary performer, Vincent who is the first openly gay student, completely accepted in this somewhat traditional community. He was one of our Diversity speakers at chapel. Our other diversity speaker, Lovely, was selected to participate in an international women’s leadership program at Georgetown University this summer. She was recommended by the South African Embassy who celebrated Bokamoso’s work when they performed at the commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison at the Embassy.

Ambassador Rashoon has become a huge fan of this group and eloquently spoke about their mission at the Embassy, at a reception at Xander Glassman’s home, and at a performance (this year there had to be two!) at George Washington University.

This year Bokamoso was again involved with every aspect of student life at SAES and the St. Andrew’s/Bokamoso collaboration was the focus of a Voice of America tribute in February.

The fundraising Dream Breakfast was held again at St. Andrew’s and I am pleased to say, as I retire, that St Andrew’s and Bokamoso have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their continuing collaboration for the next several years. Stacy Kincaid, along with many volunteers, will lead the program.

Back in Winterveldt the Computer Center has opened and is being overseen by trained Boka youth. Also, each Saturday Bokamoso youth are featured on a talk radio show in Soshanguve describing their challenges and the work of the center.

I will be traveling to Bokamoso this summer as usual with Leslie Jacobson to help select the youth who will come to America, and to work on original music projects with group. I plan to be around and available when they return to the States in January.

Alums, it is always wonderful to hear from you and to learn how many of you are incorporating our work together into your lives. It has been a blessing to work with you all these years!

— Roy 20