Voices of OSISA Beneficiaries| OSISA invested in my future, and my future became a business.

Rhodes University

Voices of OSISA Beneficiaries

Sofonie Dala, Digital Entrepreneur and Startup Founder | OSISA Scholar, 2019

In 2019, I received an OSISA scholarship for African women media leaders to study at Rhodes University’s Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership in South Africa. That decision changed the course of my life.

The scholarship gave me everything I needed to focus fully on my growth. It covered my tuition, accommodation and meals, learning materials, medical aid, a monthly subsistence allowance and the costs of my media management internship. I did not have to choose between my ambition and my circumstances. I could simply learn, lead and thrive.

During that intensive year, I completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Media Management, the only formal media management qualification in Africa and the developing world. I gained strategic thinking, leadership skills and a practical understanding of how to build and run a sustainable organisation. I also became part of a network of women leaders from across Southern Africa, women who inspire and challenge me to this day.

The results speak for themselves. In just six years, I have gone from scholarship recipient to founder of a successful digital startup. The skills I gained at Rhodes shaped how I lead my team, serve my clients and grow my business in the digital economy.

I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Mid-Year Media Management Internship at PHD Media in Cape Town, part of Omnicom Media, a global network designed for growth. Over the course of one month as a Campaign Manager, I gained hands-on experience in a fast-paced, world-class media environment, deepening my understanding of campaign planning, client collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.

Annual Postgraduate Student Cocktail Function

In November 2019, I had the honour of being invited to the Rhodes University Postgraduate Student Cocktail Function, held on 7 November in the Senior Common Room. The event, hosted in honour of 77 outstanding postgraduate students, celebrated academic excellence, research contributions and the achievements of postgraduate scholars.

As a postgraduate student at Rhodes University, I was proud to be part of this important occasion, which brought together members of the university community to recognise the value of postgraduate work and its contribution to knowledge and society.

One of the most inspiring messages from the event came from the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela, who emphasised the importance of using research to transform society and contribute to a better world. This message resonates deeply with my own journey as an Angolan journalist, sustainability advocate and researcher committed to education, social impact and sustainable development.

Looking back at this experience, I am reminded that academic achievement is not only about personal progress; it is also about using the knowledge we acquire to create meaningful change in our communities and beyond. You can read the university’s official account here: Postgraduate achievements more than double in 2019 — Rhodes University.

Meet the People Behind the 2019 Course

To OSISA, I want to say: thank you. Thank you for believing in African women, for investing in our education and for opening doors that would otherwise have stayed closed. Your support did not benefit only me. It created opportunities for the people I work with, and it continues to inspire the women who follow me.