Support for Botswana Scholar Accepted in Visiting Scholar’s Program at GWU

Keba Modisane is an award-wining published author from Botswana who has been accepted into George Washington University's (GWU) Visiting Scholar's Program beginning in August 2019. GWU does not provide funding and she needs $24,000 to be able to attend. She holds a PhD from Renmin University (Beijing, China). Modisane previously worked for 16 years as an HR manager and currently works as Research Manager at BA ISAGO University in Botswana. She is passionate about issues of nature, religion, and women's empowerment. Her proposed research will focus on women leaders who work tirelessly to advance the course of other women through educational development and economic empowerment initiatives. These women are leading the way with a mortar and pestle grinding the corn of empowering their own gender. The study aims to provide a platform for these women leaders who have left their comfort zones to continue the advancement of women because they know too well the songs and wailings of ‘glass ceiling; invisible barrier; women and culture; prejudice; behave like a man....’ all of which explains the stunted or slow paced advancement of women. The study will share experiences, challenges, and aspirations of these women leaders in their quest to empower their own. I first met Dr. Modisane in Morocco at the Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference. She impressed me and she impressed the conference because they gave her the award for the best conference paper. Dr. Modisane also wrote a chapter in a book I edited along with Dr.Julia Storberg-Walker titled "Leadership and Power in International Development: Navigating the Intersections of Gender, Culture, Context, and Sustainability" published in 2018 by Emerald Publishing. Dr. Storberg-Walker, who is Associate Professor, Department of Human and Organizational Learning, Executive Leadership Program, Graduate School of Education, GWU, will serve as Dr. Modisane's GW faculty mentor. She looks forward to this opportunity: “I am excited about working with Dr. Modisane next year. Her work promises to catalyze needed changes in economic and social empowerment for women and girls on Botswana.”

Keba has written the following letter to request funding:

"My name is Keba Modisane I am from Botswana. I am requesting funding to cover expenses while in The George Washington University as a Visiting Scholar for 10 months. My determination is to support a women’s leadership course to promote empowerment and equity in Botswana and in the region. Being appointed Visiting Scholar to The George Washington University in the USA from August 2019 until May 2020 I believe is a positive step in the rightful direction for my course. It is an opportunity that will provide me with the opportunity to use GW resources and facilities to conduct independent research and also avail opportunity to meet, learn and collaborate with experts and academics in the field of Women in International Development. Upon my return to Botswana, I look forward to ploughing back my newly acquired knowledge and skills into developing and implementing leadership development programs that will particularly help advance women educationally and economically. I am therefore requesting funding of US$ 24, 000.00 (twenty four thousand US dollars) to cover costs of accommodation, food and daily expenses during my stay in The George Washington University for the 10 months. It is important to mention that advancing women economically and educationally still tops the agenda of many countries in Africa where women continue being marginalized, downtrodden and feeling ‘forgotten’. Research indicates that it requires skill, drive and candor to uplift such ‘downtrodden’ women so that they develop the self confidence and resilience needed for one to be on their own feet. The training, knowledge, skill and experiences from The George Washington University will help me cross the river at the bridge. Please support my course. Thank you."