INDLULAMITHI – Leadership Vision Grounded in Reality
The EREBB Leadership Symposium was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in April this year. The Symposium was a collaborative global program of over 40 senior leaders from Edmund Rice Schools across 15 countires. It aimed to enhance and develop the Educational and Gospel leadership capabilities of these leaders while experiencing the global Edmund Rice community.
Hosted by the Edmund Rice Schools in South Africa and the Christian Brothers Association, and facilitated by Ray Paxton (EREA National Director) and Dr Evona Rebelo (Director Western Cape Catholic Education, participants were able to:
• Network with a worldwide community of experienced educational leaders
• Develop leadership capacities relevant to educating in a globalised world
• Share ideas, programs and resources about the best ways of leading schools in the Edmund Rice tradition
• Celebrate and learn about African culture, spirituality, leadership and educational practice
• Hear from amazing speakers who have committed their lives to building a better world for all and the leadership strategies that they have used
• Visit Edmund Rice schools across South Africa and engage in leadership dialogues
• Experience the hospitality, heritage and natural wonders of the city of Cape Town and walk in the footsteps of leaders such as President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
• Commit to the global movement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UNESCO Futures of Education and the Vatican Global Compact on Education
• Develop long-term global partnerships with other leaders that will enhance the education of our young people
The EREBB Global Leadership Symposium is planned to be offered again in 2025
Above: Cardinal Stephen Brislin with Edmund Rice Leaders at the opening of the EREBB Leadership Symposium
Reflections from the Symposium Delegates
The Symposium was a powerful affirmation of Edmund Rice education in a global context. An amazing environment and a very positive group of delegates and presenters. The careful planning in advance was evident and made the event such a success. (Ireland)
I found the Symposium to be an incredibly enriching experience. Interacting with the delegates and immersing myself in their diverse stories, as well as those shared by the presenters, truly made it a life-changing event. I’m deeply grateful for the effort put in by the organizers; every aspect of the symposium felt meticulously planned and purposeful. (Uruguay)
All I can say is that sharing the time with Edmund Rice educators and leaders was inspirational and motivated me beyond even my own understanding. As overwhelming and exhausting as my role at school was and still is, I have a new found spiritual purpose and gratitude since returning from the symposium (South Africa)
The EREBB Symposium was an introduction to a loving and caring global family I didn’t know existed. (Zambia)
The EREBB Symposium cemented my concept of servant leadership, and I feel I demonstrate this in my everyday job as a leader. It has made me realise that there is a global educational platform beyond just my school and that having time to reflect on how I show empathetic leadership in my school setting. (Australia)
The Symposium was a powerful affirmation of Edmund Rice education in a global context. I can now view our school, my work and ministry, in a global context as a small part of the Edmund Rice worldwide network. I enjoyed examining scripture to influence my leadership, and would encourage all school leaders to do this regularly. (USA)
The Symposium made me develop a broader picture of an Edmund Rice school, view it as part of a bigger picture, a global network of schools, not just one school in my country. (Zimbabwe)
The EREBB Symposium in South Africa has left an indelible mark on me, both personally and professionally, for which I am deeply grateful. Immersing myself in a new culture, accompanied by thought-provoking lectures and workshops, and engaging with fellow educators from the Edmund Rice Network worldwide, has been transformative. The encounter with like-minded individuals has enriched my understanding and provided inspiration beyond measure. (Australia)
It has renewed my passion for advocacy and pushed me to understand my privilege and that of my country(wo)men. It has sharpened my belief about what’s at the core of an Edmund Rice education as well. I am clear that Edmund provided an education that offered an opportunity to lift Young People out of poverty. It was an act of activism. Of radical inclusion.These things resonate with my view of Jesus and the schools I’d like us to be. (Australia)
The Symposium inspired me to be a compassionate, visionary leader. (Liberia)
I feel it helped me see “over the trees”, as the giraffe does. Stepping away from the routine of daily life was pivotal in nourishing my soul, heart and mind. I embraced everything offered with boundless joy and gratitude. Everything was emotional and I felt it enriched me as a human being. (Uruguay)
The EREBB Symposium provided opportunities to reflect on my own journey and on my own leadership while at the same time being pushed out of my comfort zone to respond to challenging questions and situations on the ground. (Ireland)
I felt that this symposium provided a much needed reset. It is easy to get overly caught up in our own context and forget about the big picture of what exactly makes us an Edmund Rice institution and what is at the heart of our responsibilities as such. I left the symposium with a clear vision of who we are meant to be at our school and my role in facilitating that journey. (Canada)
The symposium transformed me into a leader with a broader view of the network and without a doubt a greater commitment to its mission. (Argentina)