The world celebrates International Youth Day, and three inspiring leaders from Special Olympics South Africa step into the global spotlight.
Johannesburg, South Africa (13 August 2025) – Special Olympics South Africa is turning heads this International Youth Day with fantastic news! Three local champions are stepping onto the world stage! Lumka Ndileka Gogela, a driven athlete leader, her Unified partner Zamangwe Lebogang Mazibuko, and their mentor Busangani Mazibuko have been selected for the 2025–2027 Global Youth Leadership Council (GYLC). A very big deal in the world of Special Olympics.
The trio will be representing South Africa and will be among a group of 16 top youth leaders from across the globe, each bringing their voice to a council that stretches over all seven Special Olympics regions. The Council will play a major role leading up to the 2027 World Games in Chile, where inclusion takes centre stage.
“We are deeply honoured and grateful that Lumka, Zamangwe, and Busangani will be raising the Special Olympics South Africa flag high on this global stage,” said Ancilla Smith, CEO of Special Olympics South Africa. “Their voices, commitment, and leadership embody the spirit of inclusion and empowerment for all people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).”
International Youth Day, marked on 12 August each year, celebrates young people as the heartbeat of positive change. And this year, it is all about recognising youth who are stepping up and making inclusion more than just a buzzword. Especially through platforms like sport and education.
As part of their new GYLC roles, Lumka, Zamangwe, and Busangani will contribute fresh ideas to youth-driven initiatives, both locally and internationally. They will also help shape the direction of future projects, with the spotlight on the 2027 Global Youth Leadership Summit in Santiago, Chile.
Their involvement is a bold reminder that leadership does not come with limits. Whether you have an intellectual disability or not, your voice matters. This South African team is living proof.
“Our new Council members represent the very best of what youth leadership can achieve,” said Jackie Jodl, Chief Education Officer at Special Olympics International. “Their ideas, energy, and lived experience will help shape a more inclusive world from the field of play to classrooms and communities and ultimately to the global stage.”
With this milestone, Special Olympics South Africa salutes these young visionaries as they get ready to change the game for people with IDD across the world.
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Sources: Supplied
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