When receiving the excellent news that a University of Namibia (UNAM) student in Roshaan Leukes, was awarded an International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) for the African Countries Programme in the German Parliament (“Bundestag”), her lecturers and the International Relations Office were beyond exited and couldn’t wait to share the good news.
The IPS is aimed at politically active young graduates from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and offers young people the opportunity to experience the German parliamentary system and the political decision-making processes during a 1-month (01 – 31 January 2024) programme in Berlin, Germany.
Dr Gerda–Elisabeth Wittmann (GW), Section Head German Language at UNAM, conducted an interview with Ms Leukes (RL), a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) student majoring in German and Politics on her scholarship:
GW Roshaan, congratulations on this wonderful achievement. Please tell me about yourself and your educational background.
RL My name is Roshaan Leukes and I’m 23 years old. I was born and raised in Windhoek and had the opportunity to attend two exceptional schools in Namibia, namely the DHPS and Windhoek Gymnasium. I started my school career at DHPS and transferred to Windhoek Gymnasium in Grade 10, where I successfully completed Grade 12. After matric, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to become but I knew I was passionate about language and politics. I impulsively enrolled for a Business Management degree at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), completely unaware that UNAM offers degrees in languages and politics. I then thought, why not combine German and Politics at UNAM and see where it takes me. Consequently, I decided to enrol for a BA (Hons) degree in German and Politics. Thus far, I have been performing quite well, obtaining 9 distinctions since my first year up until my third. Currently, I am in my 4th year, hoping to obtain my degree next year.
Growing up, my main aim was to make use of the opportunities my parents provided me with, considering that they had to make countless sacrifices to provide me with such remarkable opportunities. So, I always tried my best to work exceptionally hard towards the goals I wanted to attain, not only academically but personally as well. At the end of my first year at university, I lost my mom to thrombosis, and I must admit, it was an extremely challenging period to work through, but I knew that I had to continue, if I wanted to achieve the goals, I held myself accountable for. Since childhood, I have dreamed of making an impact on the lives of people in my home country, given the extreme complexities in our society today. This has undoubtedly contributed to my decision to study German and Politics.
GW Why did you apply for the bursary?
RL I applied for this bursary because I saw an educational opportunity and I’m super keen on always learning more and investing time in bettering my knowledge. I see this scholarship as the perfect opportunity for me to expand my political knowledge, especially with regards to democracy in Namibia and the importance thereof.
GW How did the application process work?
RL The application process was rather simple and straightforward. The German Embassy provided the application form on their website, which was relatively easy to complete. I had to complete this form, attach my personal documents, such as an ID copy, academic record, language certificate/proficiency form, a motivation letter, and recommendation letters from the lecturers in my department. The German Embassy called me for an interview in August, where I had to introduce myself and answer various questions about politics in Namibia and Germany. The interview was a lovely experience because the interviewers, amongst them German Member of Parliament Prof. Dr. Reinalter, had a certain openness, which just made it so much easier to genuinely express myself without any fear. A week after the interview, I received an email informing me that my application was successful.
GW What does having been awarded the bursary mean to you?
RL Being awarded this bursary means more than what can be put into words. I cannot express how deeply grateful I am for this opportunity. The scholarship represents a powerful endorsement of my goals and aspirations. As mentioned, education has always been a top priority for me, and receiving this bursary allows me the perfect opportunity to improve my knowledge in my field of study, since I plan on pursuing a Master’s degree in either International Relations or Human Rights. I see this bursary not only as an opportunity to learn more but also as one that will allow me to give back to the community because that is what life is about. All in all, it is a tremendous honour and a significant milestone in my educational journey and I will forever be grateful for these opportunities that presented themselves so unexpectedly.
GW What does the bursary entail?
RL The bursary entails a 4-week programme in the German Parliament. For a week, I will be doing an internship in the office of a member of the German parliament, in order to understand the work structure of a member of parliament in Germany. The programme also offers the opportunity to understand parliamentary democracy and how the German parliament functions. Other than that, I will partake in project management workshops, which will enable me to develop my own ideas on promoting democracy in my home country. The scholarship covers my travel costs to and from Berlin. Additionally, my health insurance and accommodation will be covered for the month that I will be spending in Germany and I will also receive a stipend of 700 Euros.
GW What do you look forward to most during your stay in Germany?
RL What I look forward to most, is being an “employee” in the German Parliament because that’s massive, and it definitely means much more to me than being a “tourist” because of the opportunities it allows for my career!
GW Thank you for the interview and have an amazing time in Berlin!
