Call for Nominations
2025 Leading for Humanity Cohort
“You are the indispensable agent of change. You should not be daunted by the magnitude of the task before you. Your contribution can inspire others, embolden others who are timid, to stand up for the truth in the midst of a welter of distortion, propaganda, and deceit; stand up for human rights where these are being violated with impunity; stand up for justice, freedom, and love where they are trampled underfoot by injustice, oppression, hatred, and harsh cruelty; stand up for human dignity and decency at times when these are in desperately short supply.”
― Archbishop Desmond Tutu
The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation based in Cape Town, South Africa is the programmes legacy organisation of one of the world’s most iconic leaders, and his life-long partner. Founded in 2011, the Tutu Legacy Foundation strives to preserve the legacy of the Tutus, while taking their example into the future by growing and facilitating powerful and courageous voices of uncompromising bravery in the world. We call this the courage to heal.
The goal of the Leading for Humanity programme is to catalyse the ‘million ripples’ that make up, in the Arch’s words, “the tidal wave of change”; to nurture a global generation of courageous leaders, from all ages and walks of life, to have an impact in the world by embodying the values and example left to us by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We carry his legacy as a global signpost for exceptional leadership, and profound moral courage.
We kindly invite you to nominate candidates by 20 October 2024 to be part of the Leading for Humanity (LfH) cohort of 2025 for 20 participants. The programme will take place in the greater Cape Town area from 1-8 March 2025, followed by 2-month online sessions planned till the end of May.
The Leading for Humanity (LfH) Programme
The Leading for Humanity (LfH) programme aims to break down sectoral barriers and definitions and strengthen the interconnectedness of humanity (living real Ubuntu – an Afrocentric philosophy that regards life as interdependent, relational and keeping the common good in mind); to counteract the mobilisation of violence and hatred as the response to despair and inequality and enable the world to feel a wave of possibility through this new approach to human leadership.
The immersive Leading for Humanity (LfH) programme focuses on bringing together small but diverse cohorts (across sectors, backgrounds and professions) to collectively explore the work of leading for humanity. This requires an intentional depth of engagement with one’s internal world in order to make impact on the world outside of ourselves.
Structure
The 8-day residential programme is designed as an immersive journey of recurring themes, not a linear, sequential process. It is based around the Truth to Power exhibition at the Foundation, courageous conversations, peer-to-peer exchange, storytelling, personal reflection and access to an eco-system of thought leaders. It is rooted in universal humanity while encouraging mindfulness. This is followed by bi-weekly online engagements with the cohort for a 2-month period deepening learnings from the programme.
What will the participants take away from the programme?
- sensing of the interconnectedness of self and society, and the ability to be compassionate, caring and courageous for the wellbeing of both
- a strong human compass: doing the right thing (even when it does not benefit them)
- the courage and ability to lead from where they are
- the insight and intuition to navigate across cultures, spaces and sectors
- a deep sense of purpose, the strength in partnerships and belonging to something bigger than themselves: a movement, a diverse community of shared values and experiences – a Circle of Courage
Participant profile
We are looking for young individuals (25 – 40 years) who have the potential to embody the Arch’s values and the courage to lead from where they are for the betterment of humanity. They may be community organisers, entrepreneurs, activists, corporate or public sector employees, or from any other sector.
NB: The programme is residential, and candidates must be available to attend the full 8-day period between 1-8 March 2025 in the greater Cape Town area. While the Foundation covers all costs of the residential programme, we do not cover travel costs to Cape Town and back.
Nomination deadline
Kindly submit your nominations by 12:00 on Sunday, 20 October 2024 through this online document: bit.ly/3TDrKMv
Nominated candidates will thereafter be shortlisted, invited to apply, interviewed, shortlisted again, and offered a place to participate in the programme by the middle of January 2025, also for them to make the necessary arrangements.
Please feel free to contact the Programme Officer, Olwethu Rani at lfh@tutu.org.za or phone 021-552 7524 for any further information you may require.