Mivuyo Jantjies, a 16-year-old learner from Marymount RC Secondary School in Kariega, is set to represent South Africa in Germany as part of the Masifunde Change-maker Network.
This exciting opportunity comes after Jantjies was selected as a changemaker by her school and has been working tirelessly to inspire others and make a positive impact in her community.
The teen’s journey with the Masifunde Change-maker Programme began when her school introduced the initiative, and she was chosen to be part of it. She has since taken on a leadership role, working to bring people together to create change.
“The thing that keeps me going is the fact that I, Mivuyo Jantjies, am assisting with fixing the world, and that is one of the best motivations I have,” she added excitedly.
As Jantjies prepares to represent South Africa in Germany, she is overcome by a whirlwind of emotions. “I feel overwhelmed and excited to be representing my country as one of the countries that groom young people who are willing to make a change, no matter how hard it is,” she said.
She hopes to make a meaningful contribution to the international exchange with German Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), which aims to produce a documentary on tackling international social issues at a local level.
This initiative brings together eight organisations, four from South Africa and four from Germany, to collaborate on addressing global challenges.
“Given the diverse cultures and different ethnicities that exist globally, global collaborations and knowledge sharing become of high importance,” Jantjies emphasised. “These practices and experiences help us understand each other beyond the colour of our skins and not just as different races but as human beings.”
Jantjies envisions the Masifunde Change-maker Network growing beyond borders, encouraging youth to compete globally and dream big. “Something that is going to grow beyond our borders, encouraging the youth to compete globally, in standards that the world has set, which we wouldn’t under normal circumstances,” she said.
This will be Mivuyo’s first time travelling abroad, a dream she never thought would come true in this manner. “Personally, I’ve always dreamt of travelling overseas, but never imagined it would come the way it has now. This is for me, not just travelling, but an opportunity to learn more and make a change in our world as a young girl through education,” Jantjies concluded.
