Connected Inspired

Recently I had the opportunity to be connected and Inspired… myself!

I was introduced (as it always seems to happen) to Marion Scher. Award winning journalist and author Marion Scher has been one of South Africa's top freelance journalists for the last 21 years, writing for many leading magazines and newspapers. Head of Journalism Studies for 14 years at Damelin, Bramley she is also an editorial trainer for the Magazine Publisher's Association.

Her varied career has seen her working as a producer and researcher for the SABC as well as working with radio stations. 

It soon became evident over coffee,  that Marion was a woman I could look up to and learn from as she hit me hard with some honest advice…the only kind that really counts, if its mixed with the spirit to uplift, lead and support. Which it was. That time with her and her input and suggestions were of such significant value; how does the saying go… “standing on the shoulders of giants”.

The meeting that day did several things for me; it brought about the huge relevance and my deep seated passion for Mentorship. For years I have been waxing lyrical on the value of mentorship and I have had the privilege of being both a mentee and a mentor. My passion for mentorship has even taken  me to speaking arrangements and international travel. My own interns are the ones that I get to play with on the topic the most, but I have a constant niggle as to how I could extend the essence of Mentorship through SPICE4LIFE? That day Marion’s effort of taking personal time out of her very busy life, during her Christmas holidays, inspired me to take the next step. I’m not sure what it is yet.

Watch this space people…

Wait! There’s a double whammy! Marion’s husband was with her and sat patiently while I chatted through some of my frustrations and hurdles of being an entrepreneur with Marion. Ian Scher is the Founder of RESCUE SOUTH AFRICA. He also offered some wise advice and even kind words of support for my work. The short but profound time spent with these two inspiring individuals, leaders in their own arenas, left me feeling quite emotional to know that there are amazing people out there that just GET IT, or should I say just GET ME!

I feel blessed to have been connected, (thank you Carl), and inspired, (thank you Marion and Ian) to living (and not just thinking) my biggest dreams.

Written by Michelle Korevaar

About Rescua South Africa:

Rescue South Africa (RSA) is an official South African Disaster Response Team made up of volunteer emergency response specialists from the South African public and private sector emergency and ancillary services.

Rescue South Africa, organise and facilitate co-operation between all relevant bodies with the aim of rendering the best possible technical rescue and emergency medical care, should such a need arise. In the event of such an emergency often specialised equipment is needed and they are able to assist from their cache. The team that represent our country in the time of International Disaster when global resource is called on is this dynamic NGO that is positive and professional with valuable expertise and resource.

Rescue South Africa forms part of the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) operated under the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA) and hosted the INSARAG World Team Leaders' Meeting in South Africa in 2002.

·          

Incidents Rescue South Africa Have Responded To

·         Earthquake - Marmara Region, Turkey, 1999 (USAR).

·         Floods (Humanitarian aid) Southern Mozambique, 2000.

·         Earthquake – Gujarat, India 2001 (USAR).

·         Volcanic eruption – Goma, DRC, 2002 – Aid assessment.

·         Various calls Pretoria (eg 2 x building collapse – 1 x trench collapse etc).

·         Various standbys e.g., (1) September 11 2001 USA (2) Iran earthquake June 2002

·         Earthquake – Algeria 2003 (combined operation with SANDF)

·         Earthquake – Iran 2003

·         Earthquake – Pakistan 2005

·         Trench collapse, Waterworld, Johannesburg 2005

·         Conceptualised and facilitated with National Disaster Management, USAID and Gauteng Local Government the ‘Train the trainer’ for urban search and rescue – Boksburg 2006.

·         Ongoing training of urban search and rescue technicians nationwide

·         Attended training international training exercise at Fort Widely, Portsmouth, United Kingdom as part of an international rescue task force (USA, SA and Ireland).

·         Structural collapse Roodepoort 2008 – logistical and technical support

·         Earthquake – Haiti – January 2010

·         Aircraft accident – Congo Brazzaville – August 2010 – mortal remains recovery