Nikki Naylor

LLM, University College, London

Attorney and women's rights activist, Nikki started her career by doing articles as Sonnenberg, Hoffman and Galombik, one of the largest commercial law firms in Cape Town. Nikki then took up a position as attorney at the Women's Legal Centre in Cape Town. The Centre has been established to advance women's rights by conducting constitutional litigation and advocacy on gender issues. The Women's Legal Centre seeks to advance the struggle for equality for women, particularly black women, who suffer socio-economic disadvantage, through the promotion and development of human rights for women.

Nikki believes that her Master's degree in Law will stand her in good stead to make a difference to community and her country. "Issues such as poverty, socio-economic rights, violence against women and discrimination will be my focus when I return to South Africa," she says.

Shela Boshomane

MA Environment, Policy and Development, The University of Sussex

"We have a desperate need to reach a balance between 'catching up' with the inequalities of the past and advancing the status of SA as a partner in the global arena," is how Nelson Mandela Scholarship recipient, Shela Boshomane, describes the country's developmental needs.

With a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Natal, Shela has been working in project administration since July 1999 with German Technical Co-operation (GTZ).Shela believes that the MA at the University of Sussex will "enhance students' practical capacity to develop and implement governance policies in public and NGO organisational settings. Although based at Sussex, students are encouraged to follow the debates based on the functioning of political institutions within their societal context," she says.

Reginald Demana

MSc Mining Engineering, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter

Reginald has worked for the Department of Minerals and Energy as a Mine Health and Safety Inspector, then as a Senior Laboratory Technician in the Department of Mining and Environmental Geology, at the University of Venda. A lecturer at the School of Mines at Technikon Witwatersrand Reginald says that the MSc at the Camborne School of Mines will provide him with specialist analytical, design and management skills in the mining, minerals, quarrying, civil engineering and tunnelling industries. "On my return to SA, I would like to become a specialist lecturer, being able to talk with full authority in the fields of rock excavation and mine management."

Ashia Petersen

MSc, Rural Resource Management, Bangor University

With several years of experience behind her, as a Senior Scientific Officer at the National Botanic Institute at Kirstenbosh in the Western Cape, Ashia believes that the MSc at Bangor will help her to contribute greatly to the training and capacity building of rural communities.

"My focus is to move towards people-centred science, considering humans as central - albeit not the only - feature of an ecosystem. We currently have substantial political will, but find ourselves lacking academic expertise that will enable us to realise our constitutional commitment to an integrated development approach, which is so urgently needed in this field."

Anwar Jappie

MBA, University of Durham's Business School

When Anwar has completed his MBA at Durham, he plans to channel the skills into what he calls "SA's rich people power" to help to develop the economy. He believes in "thinking globally, but acting locally".

"We're influenced by global trends but at the same time, we need to take note of the local situation," Anwar explains. "I'm committed to SA and its future and hope to achieve change by combining good leadership and sound management skills with the vision of a better SA for all its citizens," says Anwar.

Cheryl Xaba

MA Environmental Management and Technology, The University of Oxford Brookes

With degrees in Environmental Health and Business Management, Cheryl has worked as a senior environmental health officer at the Durban City Health Department. Cheryl believes that the course she will pursue at Oxford Brookes will "enable me to make a valuable contribution to epidemiological health, changing public perceptions and awareness of environmental issues and then public health in general."

Cheryl sees great changes ahead in her field. "The days of compartmentalising the health disciplines are over. All sectors - nursing, social work, environmental health, medical and clinical services - should all work together to promote a holistic approach," she says.

Mzwamadoda Theo Mxakwe

MA, Global Political Economy, The University of Sussex

Theo has learnt a great deal as a Project Manager in the Presidential Imperative Programmes (PIPs). "I believe that the development of the poorest of the poor should be prioritised. In my day to day activities I've seen the sufferings of the destitute. My studies will equip me with vital tools for the reconstruction and development process.

While his experiences among the appalling repercussions of poverty distress him deeply, Theo also finds them redemptive. As he says, "They expose one to people who are hopeful in spite of their predicaments."

Sindisiwe Mhlongo

MBA, The University of Leeds

Sindi has already been on a short, London-based course and has been impressed by the impact it has made on her outlook in terms of business and investment in foreign countries. "The UK environment is very competitive, changing every day. People there have learnt ways of surviving the pressure brought about by high standards and competition for employment," she explains.

"South Africans need to learn to empower themselves and others. This is what the UK has learnt. It's broadening to be exposed to this and to other cultures. I need to be there to be enabled to get my country closer to a 'perfect economy,'" she says.

Simphiwe Mnyandu

MA Defence Administration, Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University (no picture available)

With a Bachelor's Degree (Military Honours) in Political Science (Cau Laude) from the University of Stellenbosch's Faculty of Military Science, Simphiwe already has a remarkable list of achievements to his credit. A defence analyst at the Defence Research Centre, Simphiwe has the following to say on what he will be focusing on when he returns to SA.

"I hope to assist the Department of Defence in implementing the industrial participation programme as envisaged in the SANDF's strategic defence acquisition packages, and hope to contribute to the Strategic Direction Process."

Anoosha Makka

MBA, The University of Leeds

Anoosha has recently driven a landmark policy initiative in her work with the Public Finance Chamber, the much-publicised Pension Fund Second Amendment Bill (Pension Surplus). She has shown her leadership skills in many ways within the Chamber's processes, managing volatile debates among organised business, organised labour and Government, leading to some successful agreements between the parties.

"My career objective is to help to effectively address SA's enormous challenges of massive unemployment, poverty and inequality. SMEs have a critical role to play in job creation and income generation," says Anoosha. Upon her return to SA, Anoosha hopes to continue with policy work conducive to the growth and development of SMEs.

Gcobane Quvile

MBA, University of Durham's Business School

Gcobane is both the first South African to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering, and the youngest Deputy Director in South Africa's Department of Health when he was appointed. Gcobane's work in the DoH has been focused on the development of policies and systems related to Health Technology Management (HTM).

"On my return to SA, I want to introduce concepts on integrated planning and management, help develop the local medical equipment industry and work with academic institutions to build capacity in HTM-related fields such as clinical and hospital engineering and medical physics, particularly amongst the previously disadvantaged groups," he says.