TOP 20 INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE IN 2013

1. Phofane Ludwick Marishane, introduced us to personal care product called DryBath, which is the non-water based bath substitute lotion for the whole body. He was an ambassador for Google in 2010 and became the first African to reach the finals of the Singapore University Global Business Plan competition. Ludwick has won numerous award locally and internationally.

2. Chanda Mulaiko Pwapwa and Tanaka Mutakwa, they’re the co-founders of PrepHub. Their mission is to help you pass your exams and tests by providing a platform that allows for discussion around past papers. Prephub offers past exam / test papers as a teaching aid or learning aid.

3. Sibusiso Tshabalala, He has initiative called Afrika Kusama initiative, which promotes literacy and critical thinking skills among previously disadvantaged learners in the Free State and he also sits on the board of the Inqubela Foundation, which seeks to develop high school- age learners in a holistic way. He was also one of 100 students worldwide who were invited to attend the South American Business Forum in Argentina in 2011 and he was selected as one of Google’s 10 Young Minds.

4. Gillion Basson is not only the chairperson and co-director of Youth End Poverty, a youth-led development initiative, but also a Global Changemaker who participated in the 2008 World Economic Forum and a South Africa Washington International Programme 2010 alumnus. Believing that education is key to poverty eradication and equality, Bosman, at 25, managed the basic and higher education portfolios for the British Council in South Africa.

5. Sir Stuart Ntlathi, invented a 15-in-1 microwave oven, an electronic Vuvuzela and an auto shoe polisher.

6. Lebogang Bogopane, works as a volunteer at a 24-hour centre for abused/abandoned children and women, she not only counsels victims; she cooks, feed, bathes, and refers them to relevant professionals for further assistance.

7. Mokgethwa Mapaya is the founder of KasiMP3 which is a web platform that allows music artists to earn royalties by sharing their music for free.The platform now has more than 38,000 music artists in South Africa signed up and earning royalties through the platform.

8. Zano Sithetho, is a self-taught designer from the Eastern Cape and Creative Director of Skorzch. He blasted into the scene in 2012 when he won the Renault young designer search award at South African Fashion week.

9. Jordan Ridge, is the founder and manager of Made by Mosaic, a non-profit business which creates jobs in South African townships for families who foster or adopt orphans in the region.

10. Raelene Rorke and Nelly Fente are founders of SpringAGE which is a movement of young leaders who develop innovative ideas for creating employment opportunites.

11. Angela Larkan, is founder of Thanda which more than 300 orphans and vulnerable children are fed and supported daily through Larkan’s primary project, Larkan is helping communities to help themselves. From using existing schools and soccer fields to employing local youth as teachers, building a community library and starting a beadwork project to fund her efforts, Larkan’s practices are far-reaching in both the lives of the locals and their potential for large-scale

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12. Bandile Mdlalose is a 26-year-old Secretary general of Abahlali baseMjondolo which arose in Kennedy Road in 2005 and, with 75 branches and tens of thousands of supporters, building the power of the poor from the ground up. In fighting to protect, promote and advance the dignity of the poor. Drawing power from knowing her rights and the unity of AbM, she believes that the struggle can be won; that real freedom can be achieved. In her ideal South Africa, “everyone is respected, safe and can flourish freely”. It is a place where everyone has a voice, is entitled to dignity and democracy is not defined solely by using your X.

13. Catherine Peter, is on a mission to drive awareness for the impact that young people are having on society through action, not words. Peter work with Prince Edward, meet Bob Geldof and present a campaign she co-founded to United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon. As Africa director for One Young World she ensures that young, aspirant leaders from all African countries and socioeconomic circumstances are represented in the global One Young World movement, providing “an incredible learning and exchange opportunity” for young people to get their ideas recognised by the world at large.

14. Katleho Madikeng, Tired of seeing his fellow school mates turn to substance abuse and crime instead of sports, Madikeng started Sisonke Entertainment, a programme that engages young people (aged nine to 15) in free extra lessons and community activities like board games and soccer. The weekend project, sponsored by Investec Junior Achievement South Africa, brings around 40 young people together every Saturday at Katleho’s school in Qwaqwa. Being a neutral space, the club has slowly become a forum for young people to discuss their problems and in these instances they are referred to Beacon of Hope for counselling.

15. Janine Jellars, After a BA in international relations at Stellenbosch University, her determination and hard work got her into the postgraduate journalism programme with a Media 24 scholarship; she won the Media24 Editor’s Choice award in 2009. Today Janine is taking the world by storm as an editor for Seventeen Magazine.

16. Thulani Madondo, is a founder of the Kliptown Youth Programme (KYP) and its chairperson, the organisation provides meals for children, support with school fees, after-school care as well as educational help and tutoring to about 400 disadvantaged children from the Kliptown area. Today the organisation has also made it possible for 18 youths to get tertiary education. Madondo was one of 10 finalists for the 2012 CNN Hero of the Year award, an annual campaign which honours everyday people doing good deeds in their communities.

17. Marco Gallotta, is one of the founders of Project Umonya, which brought students from underdeveloped areas into UCT on weekends and taught them programming skills. The project, which was funded by Google, saw about 100 children who had never programmed before coming away with programming skills. Gallotta’s work at UCT landed him internships at Google in Zurich and Nvidia in the USA, putting him on the radar for tech firms on the lookout for hot talent. He also founded #breaktherules, a community project bringing student developers and software companies together.

18.Nkosana Modise, Siyabonga Ngwekazi and Ngori Takawira, together they own a funky fresh clothing label called Amakipkip. Amakipkip popularized street wear and made it cool, talk about bringing back colour. Amakipkip was recognized as one of the top clothing brands in South Africa, picking up the 2008 Old Mutual Retail Revolution Award for the Best Youth Store.

19. Orly Keit Setton, is one of 6 founders to start a NPO in 2009 called Rethink Leadership. The Organisation focuses on youth leadership thought creative thinking and skills development. The organisation also focus on bring youth together to engage in dialogue and encourages social integration. She was selected as a one of 12 Google Young Mind in 2011, and recently attend the UNAOC (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations) in vienna where she represented South Africa

20. Nick Kaoma and Mzoxolo Gcwabe, are owners of Head Honcho Clothing which is a Cape Town-based clothing company that was founded in November 2008. Head Honcho designs, manufactures and markets street wear clothing that appeals to an urban market that comprises of trend-loving and boundary-pushing young South Africans. The company has grown its product line from just t-shirts and caps a season ago to include cardigans, varsity jackets, hoodies, shirts, tank tops and dresses for ladies.