Ripples of Hope international Fellowship
About the fellowship
Founded in 2022 to honor the life and legacy of social entrepreneur Greg Ricks, the Ripples of Hope Fellowship selects 12 young adult leaders each year from South Africa and the United States to participate in a life changing experience in both countries.
The Fellowship targets motivated change agents who share a commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity, equity, inclusion, and hope. They are selected for their passion and demonstrated unique commitment and potential as community leaders, driving social change and community-led movements for justice.
This distinctive international Fellowship engages fellows in a cohort experience of learning across boundaries and builds a values-driven pipeline of social entrepreneurs. Selected fellows commit to a year of monthly virtual workshops, two intensive cultural immersions in the U.S. and in South Africa, and regular meetings with a personalized mentor. As a result, fellows become a part of a lifelong international learning community, comprised of educators, activists, and social change agents from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Learn more about Our Model, Program Benefits, Our Curriculum, and Our Current Fellows below.
Our Model
A Year-long Journey of Leadership Development
Participants embark on an interactive program featuring workshops, mentorship, and practical projects aimed at refining their leadership skills and fostering a deeper understanding of social justice issues.
Cross-Cultural Exchange
The program brings together young leaders from South Africa and the United States, cultivating an environment of cultural diversity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. This experience will broaden their perspectives and enhance their ability to address complex social issues in a global context.
Benefits
Opportunities for Collaboration
The fellowship opens doors to exciting collaborative opportunities, enabling fellows to engage with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and shared learning, propelling fellows to think beyond boundaries and discover fresh perspectives. Through such collaborative endeavors, they strengthen their ability to effect transformative change by drawing on collective wisdom and diverse skill sets.
A Global Network
Fellows have the chance to connect with subject matter experts, mentors, and thought leaders, both from their own country and from our network of broader partner organizations. This invaluable network supports them in their leadership journeys and offers guidance for creating sustainable social change.
Mentorship
As part of the Ripples of Hope Fellowship Program, selected fellows have the privilege of being paired with experienced and accomplished mentors. These mentors provide invaluable guidance, support, and insights throughout their journey, helping them navigate challenges, refine their goals, and develop essential leadership qualities. This personalized mentorship will foster a strong sense of guidance and encouragement, empowering the fellows to realize their full potential and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.
Our Curriculum
The Fellowship curriculum is intentional about building upon Fellows’ existing commitments to service and social justice. This educational program begins with a cultural immersion in the U.S. or South Africa. These immersions offer an intensive experiential education exploring local/national social change movements and cultural histories, leaders, and practices. From this starting point, the yearlong educational program is designed as a “voyage” of personal, vocational, and collective growth that prioritizes:
Sustainable social change. What are the resources, knowledge, and skills that a young change maker needs in order to sustain and deepen their community-based work without burning out?
Diverse social change strategies and roles. There is no single way to achieve collective freedom and justice. How do community leaders discern the roles and strategies that are both 1) best suited to their own proclivities and strengths, and 2) responsive to what the world or their community needs?
Systemic definitions of social change. The need for social change comes from the ways in which the interlocking matrix of oppression unevenly distributes power. How can young social agents build self-awareness about their own power, privilege, and positionality? How does that awareness shape their actions?
This framework for social justice education informs the yearlong curriculum, split into monthly two-hour virtual workshops. Each gathering is inspired by a voyage theme to encapsulate some facet of their social change journey. Below, you can find a brief overview of the year’s educational program.
Meet the 2024-2025 Fellows
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Arthur Tartee
Gradate student pursuing a M.A. in International Affairs Policy and Analysis at American University and former alumni manager at the Bonner Foundation
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Athi Ndweebe
Sir Lowry's Pass Village, Cape Town | South Africa
Outreach manager, community field worker, and computer literacy educator at the Uyanda Foundation
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Danielle Santos
Boston, Massachusetts | USA
Fellow with Boston Public Schools focused on financial literacy and vocational discernment for high school graduates
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Deborah Silva
Brockton, Massachusetts | USA
Administrative staff at Tufts University and community leader in youth empowerment, multiethnic fellowship, and civic pathways
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Doan Tran
Quincy, Massachusetts | USA
College student at the University of Chicago with experience in community development and educational support
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Lona Magengelele
Bryanston, Gauteng | South Africa
English teacher and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Ambassador at Education First
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Pontsho Mateta
Alexandra, Gauteng | South Africa
College student pursuing information technology and software development at Belgium ITversity Campus
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Sinovuyo Mankayi
Rondebosch, Cape Town | South Africa
Chairperson and founder of Khululani Youth Foundation leading community programs and social philanthropy efforts
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Zackeen Thomas
Bellville, Cape Town | South Africa
Graduate student pursuing M.A. in Political Studies from the University of the Western Cape, specializing in interdisciplinary research about sustainable urban water governance
A Ripples of Hope fellow is a change maker who embodies the core values of ubuntu and service which are the driving forces behind their actions. They recognize the interconnectedness of all humanity, understanding that "I am because we are," and that our individual well-being and identity are intrinsically linked to the well-being and identity of others in our community and society. They promote compassion, empathy, and a sense of responsibility towards each other, encouraging a spirit of mutual support, collaboration, and respect. They inspire others with their purposeful leadership and unwavering ethical principles. With empathy and humility, they leave a lasting impact, creating positive waves of change that ripple far beyond themselves, transforming lives and society for the better.
about GREG RICKS
Throughout his life, Gregory Theodore Ricks championed the voices and power of youth to make a difference. At age 23, Greg became the youngest dean at Northeastern University. Greg promoted multicultural education and taught colleagues and young people around the U.S. how to work for diversity, inclusion, and social justice. In 1993, he was instrumental in the founding of AmeriCorps. At the request of President Bill Clinton, he facilitated its first Town Hall Meeting in Philadelphia and later trained hundreds of AmeriCorps members. Greg became the first dean at City Year, a service and civic program in Boston, helping to recruit and grow its staff and sites.
Through City Year, Greg eventually pursued a lifelong dream to live in South Africa. He helped build the Clinton Democracy Fellowship. He was also instrumental in the launch of City Year South Africa in 2005. Late in his career, he worked at Stellenbosch University to transform its student body, staff, and faculty, and to build supports for the success of first generation students. In 2020, Greg passed away, leaving behind his wife Feriel, sister Wendy, daughters, Keija and Chayla, and son Ethan.