Siposetu Sethu Mbuli and Thamsanqa Hoza have been named as winners of the ‘Queen’s Young Leaders’ awards, making South Africa proud!
The Queen’s Young Leaders programme has been running over the last 4 years. The final year of the programme took place this year and the winners have just been announced. Two South Africans have made the list and we couldn’t be prouder!
The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives. Winners of this prestigious Award will receive a unique package of training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the UK during which they will collect their Award from Her Majesty The Queen.
Siposetu Sethu Mbuli and Thamsanqa Hoza have been named for their hard work within South Africa. These are the amazing things they have been doing in South Africa:
Thamsanqa Hoza
Thamsanqa is helping young entrepreneurs and innovators to achieve their goals. In 2014, while studying at the Lawhill Maritime Centre, Thamsanqa and a friend developed the ‘Hot Nozzle’, a portable battery-operated shower head which heats up water. As a result, he was recognised by the African Innovation Foundation as one of the top ten young innovators in Africa.
He has since co-founded HN Innovate, an organisation which seeks to encourage and inspire young people to explore entrepreneurship. Thamsanqa is also launching a Robotics Science and Technology Programme to help students learn to conceptualise, design and build robot models.
Siposetu Sethu Mbuli
Siposetu is developing new ways to end the stigma of albinism in South Africa. Growing up with albinism herself, and mindful of the misconceptions that still exist around it, Siposetu co-founded Love, This Skin. The organisation assists supports and educates young people with albinism and their families. It currently works with over 100 people, the majority of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and provides them with necessities like sun protection and eye care.
As a broadcaster, Siposetu regularly tells her story and encourages other people to share theirs. Love, This Skin runs an online series which, through interviews and conversations, reports on some of the challenges people with albinism have faced. The group also works with organisations like the Western Cape Albinism and Hypo-pigment Foundation to host community initiatives focused on educating the public about albinism and eradicating misconceptions about the condition.
“I am so honoured and grateful to be named as part of the last cohort of Queen’s Young Leaders. I look forward to the many opportunities that come with this award and meeting other dynamic young leaders from across the Commonwealth.” – Sethu Mbuli
Prince Harry shared his congratulations for the winners of the final ‘Queens Young Leaders’ programme. You can watch his message below.
Today the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is delighted to reveal the final ever Award Winners – its class of 2018.
Learn more about the final winners here: https://t.co/zVBeRBkTnr #QueensYoungLeaders pic.twitter.com/k15DeVFSXV— Queens Young Leaders (@QueensLeaders) December 5, 2017
Sources: Twitter
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