Achievements
These represent some of the highlights of my journey with Education Africa since 1989. I wish to emphasise that these achievements are as much those of the people who have worked with me at Education Africa over the years, and who share my commitment to delivering meaningful change to the impoverished communities we serve. Together, and with the support of our donors, we have been able to Educate • Equip • Empower and I look forward to continuing this journey with them for many years to come.
2024
2024
To accommodate Education Africa’s scaling we required bigger office space! It was an honour and a privilege to be able to host our friends and stakeholders at the official opening of the new offices in Sandton, Johannesburg.
2023
2023
2023
2023
The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) case study titled: Education Africa: Dynamic Capabilities in a Non-Profit Organisation in which James was used as the protagonist, is officially launched. The launch included a panel discussion on the state of education in South Africa and James was privileged to share this platform with Professor Jonathan Jansen, Miles Japhet, one of Education Africa’s Patrons, and Dr Tracey Toefy who co-authored the case study with Abdullah Verachia. The case study was published by Ivey Publishing in Canada and is available globally through Harvard Business Publishing.
James is privileged to have been able to address the Entrepreneurship Organisation MEPA Bridge Chapter and to share his personal story with them.
Travelled to the UK for an Education Africa fundraiser and while there, James took the opportunity to run the Richmond Park Half Marathon trail run – his first trail run ever. He ran for Education Africa, managed to raise a bit of funding in his first GoFundMe campaign, and finished the race in 87th position overall, and 1st in the over 55 year category.
23 August was a memorable day in James’ life, as he officially handed over The James Urdang and Education Africa collection of memorabilia, photographs and video footage to the Nelson Mandela Foundation for safekeeping in its Archives. “I am proud that Education Africa’s story and my story is being recorded as part of Nelson Mandela’s life. Who knew that when I first met Nelson Mandela in 1992 it would lead to this? This is the biggest honour I have received regarding my life’s work at Education Arica.”
Masibambane College renamed its four Houses at this year’s Founders Day, and acknowledged Walter Sisulu, Helen Suzman and Dr Aggrey Klaaste who all played an integral part in supporting the school. The fourth House – yellow house – has been named the Urdang House in recognition of James’ role in the founding of the school, and his ongoing commitment to its success.
Always a privilege to be given the opportunity to inspire young leaders as James is asked to share his life story with the IESEG Global Executive MBA Study Tour group from France.
James is invited to speak at the Robben Island Museum’s Annual Memorial lecture which commemorated the Life of Walter Sisulu. It was a privilege to address the many guests present, to talk about his personal relationship and journey with Tata Sisulu, and to honour his friend and mentor.
It’s not often that one gets to meet Hollywood royalty, but James stood proud in February this year as he was given the opportunity to take Kevin Hart on a bespoke tour of Education Africa’s school, Masibambane College, and introduced him to Education Africa’s Marimba Hub and Early Childhood Development projects.
2022
2022
James will jump at any opportunity to show off Masibambane College and the exceptional work that is being done there, and when President Biden’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, came to visit South Africa, he took her on a tour of the school. James also facilitated an informal discussion with a group of Grade 11 history learners who had the privilege of interacting with her and discussing the danger of prejudice.
Appointed as a Senior Associate and Keynote Motivational Speaker at The Strategists - a personal win for James who is excited to share his story and lessons learned while continuing to Make real change Happen at Education Africa.
James officially registered Education Africa on 17 March 1992, which means that this year James and Education Africa celebrate Education Africa’s 30th Anniversary - that’s 30 years of Making real change Happen by implementing Poverty alleviation through Education.
GIBS, The Gordon Institute for Business Science, does a case study on Education Africa featuring James as the protagonist. This case study is set to be published by Ivey Publishing, a division of Ivey Business School in Canada, whose cases are taught worldwide and lauded for their relevance in facilitating management education’s contribution to business and society. Once published, the case study will be available through Harvard Business School Review Store.
2021
2021
Interviewed on CNN Inside Africa who produce and air a documentary on the highly successful Education Africa Virtual International Marimba & Steelpan Festival.
A 6-month music online teaching research project shows that ICT training can be used successfully and effectively for the Education Africa virtual online marimba training programme.
The annual Sounds of Celebration Concert is launched as an online, virtual event featuring collaborations between South African artists and international artists, including Grammy Award winners. Social cohesion is the cornerstone of the concert, bringing together a diverse group of people who are united by their love of collaborative music to celebrate various cultural heritages as well as unique musical talents. The concert was watched by viewers representing 25 countries from around the world.
2020
2020
On 26 March South Africa goes into Level 5 government-imposed Lockdown as a measure to curtail the spread of the Corona virus, effectively threatening to bring all Education Africa’s projects to a grinding halt. James immediately kicks into gear and meets with his staff to conceptualise innovative ways to ensure that the project work can and will continue.
James and the Education Africa ECD team develop a blended training and learning platform using educational workbooks and bringing ICT into the mix, thus ensuring that Education Africa’s students enrolled in the ECD Teach the Teacher project can continue with their studies uninterrupted.
James and the Education Africa Marimba Project team develop WhatsApp teaching tools to teach and train Marimba educators. Plans are put in motion to host Education Africa’s International Marimba & Steelpan Festival (which by this stage had become the largest Festival of its kind in the world) on a virtual platform. This virtual event allowed participation from contestants from all over the world and is hailed such a success that CNN Inside Africa produces a documentary on it.
In August, James secures sponsorship for the daily deep cleaning and fogging of Masibambane College, thus ensuring that the school will be a safe teaching and learning environment. This results in Masibambane College becoming the only school in South Africa to stay open uninterrupted for the remainder of the 2020 academic year.
Times Live, a leading South African newspaper, interviews James for an article about the effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on poverty in South Africa.
James arranges the distribution of food parcels to Education Africa’s ECD students to assist them during the lockdown period. Many breadwinners have lost their jobs during the COVID-pandemic and poverty is on the rise among many disadvantaged communities. Food and clothing parcels are also distributed to needy families in Orange Farm.
2019
2019
James is recognised with a Bronze Award for Leadership at the 2019 Gauteng Premier’s Service Excellence Awards.
To coincide with Mandela Day on 18 July, James hosts an exclusive Education Africa Executive Experience, “A Day in the Life of a Prisoner” with an overnight stay on Robben Island.
Develops a new Site Development Framework as a first step towards turning Masibambane College into a STEM school of excellence.
2018
2018
James is named as one of the awardees of the 2018 Klaus J. Jacobs Awards, an international award which honours social innovation and change-making in the field of child and youth development. The Jacobs Foundation is based in Switzerland.
Education Africa hosts the first ever SAMUN alumni cocktail party and panel discussion to facilitate ongoing relations with alumni and introduce their employers to Education Africa and the SAMUN project
2017
2017
The first ever Education Africa Education Africa Executive Experience ‘A Day in the Life of a Prisoner’ is held. This initiative is in partnership with Robben Island Museum and encompasses an exclusive overnight experience on Robben Island.
2016
2016
CNN International Inside Africa produces a three-part documentary series on the African marimba and uses Education Africa as the backbone for the documentary.
2014
2014
Friends of Education Africa in Germany gGmbH is registered in Germany, with James as a Trustee of the Board.
2013
2013
Education Africa co-hosts the first Sounds of Celebration concert in partnership with the Sydenham Hebrew Congregation. Proceeds of this annual event go towards equipping marimba hubs for the Education Africa Marimba project.
Hosted the Education Africa Strategic Development Workshop which was facilitated by Deloitte. Representatives from Education Africa’s international support structures, key donors and stakeholders attended this 2-day event.
2012
2012
The first Education Africa International Marimba & Steelpan Festival is held. This event is held annually and has grown to become the biggest Festival of its kind in the world.
Met Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King and spent several hours together at Cornell University with the SAMUN Model UN delegation to the US.
2010
2010
Opened Masibambane College High School, which was built from funding sourced by James from the Bentall Foundation in Canada.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is the 4th recipient of the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award for Africa. We took a marimba band on tour for this event and the band performed live on stage with Gloria Gaynor singing her hit song “I will Survive”.
2009
2009
The Education Africa International Arts & Culture Project is launched, and we take the Masibambane College Marimba band on a cultural tour to Vienna. This is the first of many international cultural tours for marimba bands. Subsequent tour destinations over the years include New York, London, and Slovenia, and the bands are invited to perform at a number of high profile events.
Sir Richard Branson is the 3rd recipient of the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award for Africa. The gala evening takes place at the Mayfair Hotel in London.
Launched Education Africa’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme and hosted the first graduation ceremony for caregivers that have participated in our programme. This is the first of many graduation ceremonies in future years. Today our programme has been developed further and our graduates receive NQF level 4 accreditation.
2008
2008
Education Africa Inc. is registered as a Foundation in the USA, with James is a Trustee.
Friends of Education Africa UK is launched, with James as a Trustee.
Friends of Education Africa Vienna is registered as a Verein in Austria, with James as a member of the Advisory Committee.
2007
2007
Met Sir Bob Geldof who was the recipient of the 2nd Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award for Africa.
2006
2006
Co-hosted the first Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony in New York. At this event James received a Proclamation from the City of New York recognising the Walter Sisulu Scholarship Fund’s “outstanding contribution to South Africa and to humanity”.
2005
2005
Hosted a celebration of the life of the late Walter Sisulu and produced a legacy pack on his life.
Launched Education Africa’s Social Architecture Project. 18 preschools have been built to date in under-resourced communities.
2001
2001
Proud to announce that Education Africa’s Model UN Debating Competition has been awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award – an award which recognises programme excellence in furthering the ideals of the United Nations.
Visited Masibambane College with both Walter Sisulu and Helen Suzman.
2000
2000
Walter Sisulu surprised James at his office and presents him with a signed copy of his memoire, I will go singing, in which he speaks of his life and the struggle for freedom in South Africa.
1998
1998
Launched Edu-bike Africa, a cross-curricular outcomes-based education programme which to date has reached an estimated 167 000 learners.
Was invited by the Governor of Osaka, Japan, Mr Knock Yokahama to visit Osaka. The city was a supporter of Education Africa’s Cycle Aid for Africa project in the early years.
Revived the Model United Nations General Assembly Competition for South African High Schools (now known as SAMUN) in partnership with UNESCO and the National Department of Education. Over 11 000 learners have participated in the project and through its educator development, the reach of the project extends to an estimated 1.2 million learners in just the past 10 years.
1997
1997
Published the first of six Education Africa Forum books. President Nelson Mandela wrote a message of support for this publication.
Established Education Africa’s Cycle Aid for Africa project. Deputy President Thabo Mbeki spoke at the official launch. To date 11 000 bicycles have been distributed to under-resourced schools in rural communities.
1996
1996
Together with Walter Sisulu was instrumental in the founding of Masibambane College – a school in Orange Farm built with funding by the City of Vienna, sourced by Education Africa.
Launched the Walter Sisulu Scholarship Fund together with Walter and Albertina Sisulu and accompanied Walter Sisulu on an awareness trip to the United States. Had the opportunity to meet President Bill Clinton in Washington DC and Boutros Boutros-Ghali at the United Nations.
1995
1995
Launched the first series of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Presidential medallions at the South African Mint. President Mandela was there to officially strike the first 5oz gold medallion.
1994
1994
Was presented with an award from the Hostels Peace Initiative for Education Africa’s “Contribution to peace and to bringing about a New South Africa”.
1993
1993
Worked directly with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Thabo Mbeki and other senior ANC members and was entrusted to facilitate the production of No Easy Walk to Freedom. In this historic video, James organised a coalition of South African leaders to unite their voices and call for the lifting of sanctions against South Africa, and to invite the world in the process of reconstruction of the country. The SABC would not air this video as Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was part of the sound track, and James was able to persuade MNet to air the video in South Africa.
Invited to be a guest speaker at Chris Hani’s funeral.
1992
1992
Walter Sisulu introduces James to Nelson Mandela. They met on a number of occasions over the years, and as President Nelson Mandela attended a number of Education Africa functions.
Officially registered Education Africa as a Section 21 Non Profit Company, Association not for Gain.
1991
1991
Met Walter Sisulu and was mentored by him until his passing. Over the years James forged a close bond with Walter Sisulu who became a strong supporter of Education Africa. James attributes his success today to Walter Sisulu who moulded him into the person he is today.
1989
1989
Founded Education Africa
Met Helen Suzman who became a Patron of Education Africa until her passing.
Met Aggrey Klaaste who became the first chairman of Education Africa, a position he held until his passing.