My relationship with France has developed through language, study and lived experience. Three stays in the country—from attending a French school and living with a host family to public speaking in Annecy and completing postgraduate coursework in Besançon—have given me a personal understanding of French society, culture and public life. Alongside experiences in Brazil and the United States, this journey has shaped my belief in intercultural exchange, international cooperation and responsible global citizenship.
AFS High-School Exchange — France, 2017–2018
My first experience of France was a two-month AFS exchange during high school. Living with a host family and attending a local French school immersed me in the language and rhythms of everyday life. I learned to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, communicate beyond the classroom and appreciate how culture is expressed through ordinary interactions as much as through history or institutions. The experience transformed French from an academic subject into a lasting personal and intellectual interest.
BP Global STEM Academy — Brazil, 2018
In 2018, I received a scholarship to participate in the BP Global STEM Academy in Brazil. The programme brought together students from different countries to explore scientific and social challenges in an international setting. Working across cultural and linguistic differences developed my confidence, curiosity and ability to contribute to a diverse group. It also showed me how shared problems can create opportunities for cooperation between people with very different experiences.
AFS Youth Assembly — New York, 2023
As a scholarship recipient at the 2023 AFS Youth Assembly in New York, I represented South Africa in discussions concerning diplomacy, global policy and international cooperation. Engaging with young people from around the world strengthened my interest in multilateralism and the role that informed, respectful dialogue can play in addressing international challenges. The experience encouraged me to think more carefully about Africa’s voice in global decision-making and the responsibilities that accompany international engagement.
United Nations Headquarters
Scholarship Cohort
Model UN
General Assembly Hall
Concours de la Francophonie — Annecy, 2024
Winning the 2024 Concours de la Francophonie gave me the opportunity to return to France and participate in a French-language public-speaking competition in Annecy. Organised by the Alliance Française, the competition assessed both command of the French language and engagement with Francophone culture. Preparing and presenting my ideas in French strengthened my public-speaking ability and taught me to communicate with precision, confidence and cultural sensitivity.
Alliance Française d'Annecy
Day Trip to Chamonix
Journée de la Luge
Host Father – M. Phillip
Erasmus+ Exchange — Besançon, 2026
In 2026, I returned to France as an Erasmus+ bursary laureate at Université Marie & Louis Pasteur in Besançon. I completed Master 1-level coursework taught entirely in French, focusing on French-language teaching, the international diffusion of French and European language policy. During the exchange, I attained CEFR C2.1 proficiency. Studying and participating in university life in France deepened my understanding of its academic culture, educational debates and relationship with the wider Francophone world.
Language and Intercultural Communication
French is now a working language through which I study, teach, research and build relationships. I speak English fluently, French at CEFR C2.1 level, Afrikaans at working proficiency, and conversational German and isiXhosa. Learning and using different languages has made me more attentive to tone, context and the assumptions people bring to communication. It has also taught me that successful intercultural engagement begins with listening carefully and recognising that the same idea may need to be expressed differently for different audiences.
From Experience to Professional Practice
These experiences have developed my adaptability, intercultural judgement, public-speaking ability and awareness of international affairs. They inform my interest in French and South African politics, digital culture, multilateralism, the just energy transition and Africa’s role in global governance. Most importantly, they have shown me that international cooperation depends on clear, responsible communication that makes complex relationships understandable without losing their nuance.
I hope to apply this perspective to work that strengthens connections between France and South Africa, supports constructive public dialogue and makes international cooperation more accessible to the people it affects.
