About the Siyaphumelela Scholars Programme

 

Since 2023, Siyaphumelela Partner institutions have been invited to nominate one student to participate in Achieving the Dream’s (ATD) DREAM Scholars programme. The programme provides an experiential learning opportunity for ATD member community college students in the USA and is designed to enhance leadership, critical thinking, and networking skills. Every year, up to eight DREAM Scholars are selected through a competitive application process. Fundamental to the programme, is the Scholars’ “I Am” poem, a courageous introspection, telling their personal story of challenges overcome and acknowledging hope and the way forward. Scholars share their poems on stage at the annual DREAM conference.

 

Saide, under the auspices of Siyaphumelela 3.0, is delighted to announce the launch of the Siyaphumelela Scholars programme. Modelled on ATD’s DREAM Scholar programme, the Siyaphumelela Scholars programme likewise aims to strengthen leadership, higher-order thinking and interpersonal communication skills, that will enhance and empower the Scholar’s capacity for both personal success and, beyond graduation, making a meaningful contribution in society. A total of four Siyaphumelela Scholars will be selected to participate in the programme this year and present their poems at the Siyaphumelela national conference in July 2025. One Scholar and a runner-up from this cohort will, after a further process of evaluation, be selected as the Siyaphumelela ATD DREAM Scholar and will attend and present their “I Am” poem at DREAM 2026. As a result, the responsibilities and expectations for both the Scholar and their institution will align closely with those outlined in the ATD DREAM Scholar process.