Durban – Teacher Anne Holloway with Andile Mlangeni, Sebastian Rich, Jonathan Munro and Claudio Lehman, who are going to Washington DC for the leadership summit.
They have since on Sunday been participating at the summit, where they will present discussions examining issues that plague countries, under the theme “Reconcile the past, shape the future”.
About 25 delegations from more than 10 countries will be involved.
Isabelle Pattenden, Raffaella van der Westhuyzen, Kirsten Dorkin and Puja Pande, all 16, are representing Durban Girls’ College (DGC).
They are joined by Andile Mlangeni, Sebastian Rich, Jonathan Munro, and Claudio Lehman, also all 16, from Clifton School.
Participants are also tasked with presenting South Africa’s culture through group performances.
Sue Meehan, exchange co-ordinator at DGC, told The Mercury that interested pupils had to submit an essay to the school.
“The essay had to highlight a global issue like environmental sustainability, or a social phenomenon like gender equality."
“We also looked at their involvement in cultural affairs at the school.”
She said more than 20 pupils had applied.
Meehan said the girls had been hard at work trying to prepare presentations about the impact of global issues on a local level.
“We had to prepare dialogues on four topics – access to education, environmental sustainability, racial and ethnic divisions and the current global migrant and refugee crisis."
“They will present on these topics, regarding how countries handle these issues, and compare SA to other countries.”
A selection of participants from the schools said they were excited by the challenge ahead.
“I’m very grateful,” DCG’s Puja said. “A lot of girls don’t get chances to discuss how we can better our world on this scale.”
Puja had written an essay about pollution during the selection stage.
Her fellow pupil, Kirsten, said: “We will be in the same room as people who will be very influential in the future. I feel extremely privileged.”
Andile from Clifton said his group had prepared a cultural display of gumboot dancing. They will also present a table of food unique to South Africa.
“I feel nervous it’s the first time being away from home for that many days. But on the other side of that, I’m very excited.”