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GLOBALLY RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS IN THE MAKING SHAWCO GOES GLOBAL A world driven by market capitalism; driven to extremities of greed with a one track mind that aims at profits at whatever costs. The stock exchanges of the world crumble. Can we make another kind of world, a world managed by socially and environmentally conscious executives? Isn’t the education and experience that the academic institutions from which these profit-hungry executives graduated partly responsible for this mess?” SHAWCO has had an impact on scores of students at the University of Cape Town since its inception in 1943. We have now extended our mandate to provide opportunities for international students to engage with concepts such as social entrepreneurship, social businesses, globally responsible citizenship etc., it has been a roaring success and has lead to the creation of SHAWCO International. In 2008, SHAWCO International is proud to have hosted universities from America, France and Norway. The following are some of the universities that SHAWCO has partnered with in 2008 to run the following courses: Oslo University, Norway - Social Entrepreneurship 3 month credit bearing. Sup De Co, Amiens, France - Social Entrepreneurship 6 weeks College of William and Mary, USA - 4 week service learning. Arcadia University, USA - 5 week service learning. Stanford Univeristy, USA - 6 week research project. Vanderbilt University, USA - 4 week service learning. Sheffield University, UK - 2 months research project. Oslo College, Norway -2 month research project. University of New South Wales, Australia- Medical students providing health services.
These programs are divided into an Academic and Service Learning Components. Visiting students tutor SHAWCO learners in the different communities, whilst our UCT volunteers are on vacation. Their experiential learning can also be in the line of tutoring township children, research, working with small business in the community, field visits and so much more. About 140 international students took part in these tailor-made programs. This initiative benefits all parties concerned: the visiting students as they receive credits and learn about development issues, the community by keeping children active during holidays, whether by being tutored in Maths and Science or by playing sport with the visitors, SHAWCO by generating income during its downtime. A surplus of one million six hundred thousand Rand was generated during 2008 from this venture. This is much needed money to meet the administrative costs of the organisation. Through our various entrepreneurial activities, we are blazing a trail and setting an example of how a non-profit could become financially self sustainable. The program allows for sightseeing, home stays, Safari trips, visits to the Kruger National Park and is tailor made for each University. SHAWCO staff members and UCT holiday Project students coordinate and assist with the programs. The first steps of leading SHAWCO towards financial self sustainability has been turned from a DREAM INTO REALITY.
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