LESLEY Masibi, who this week competed in the new SABC1 youth development show One Day Leader, is a stalwart of the Anglo American and Sowetan Young Communicators Awards.
It is screened on Tuesdays at 6.30pm. The unassuming 23-year-old nation-builder is also a pivotal player as an adjudicator, compere or MC, facilitator, trainer and mentor in the YCA and the Model United Nations debate series. This youth-development programme is run by non-governmental organisation Education Africa and is sponsored by telecommunications company MTN.
Both the YCA, which is supported by the national education department, and the Model UN projects are public speaking education and training programmes that develop future leaders among high school pupils.
The tertiary education institutions' based Model United Nations-South Africa youth academic development organisation are the academic development organisation of both the YCA and the Model UN debate series.
Masibi's fellow contestants are Ayanda Bandla, Johan du Pisanie, Vanencia Vollenhoven, Zwelethu Kos and Sebenzile Nkambule.
These six youngsters were chosen out of 3000 hopefuls for a show that is hosted by multi-talented and popular television personality Masechaba Lekalake and that seeks to identify and develop leaders of tomorrow.
One Day Leader also focuses the public's attention on critical social and economic issues facing the nation, by encouraging young and bright minds to come up with innovative ways of addressing social issues.
Each week contestants are exposed to challenges, which they then take to the communities, with cameras in tow, to fathom answers and solutions, enlisting the public's help. Viewers choose the top achievers each step of the way.
Talking to Sowetan this week, a day after the first screening of One Day Leader, Masibi said both the YCA and the Model UN debates had helped nurture his interest in community development.
"Being chosen out of 3000 hopefuls is a significant feat in my young life, but I believe that it is my work in nation-building, particularly the Young Communicators Awards and the Model United Nations debate series, that have stood me in good stead," Masibi said.
"Youth participation in nation-building projects, including reality-television shows such asOne Day Leader, is the missing link in South Africa because most of the social problems, challenges and ills affect young people the most and it is the youth themselves who should be encouraged to seek solutions," he said.
Masibi, an honours degree in chemical engineering student at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, said working with other young people as a trainer and mentor was a humbling experience daily.
All at Sowetan, Anglo American, Education Africa, Model United Nations-SA, Model UN debate series, YCA and the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation wish our humble foot soldier all the best.
"To vote for me, please SMS the number six to 41852," Masibi said, as a parting shot.
Lesley Masibi focuses on young people
LESLEY Masibi, who this week competed in the new SABC1 youth development show One Day Leader, is a stalwart of the Anglo American and Sowetan Young Communicators Awards.
It is screened on Tuesdays at 6.30pm. The unassuming 23-year-old nation-builder is also a pivotal player as an adjudicator, compere or MC, facilitator, trainer and mentor in the YCA and the Model United Nations debate series. This youth-development programme is run by non-governmental organisation Education Africa and is sponsored by telecommunications company MTN.
Both the YCA, which is supported by the national education department, and the Model UN projects are public speaking education and training programmes that develop future leaders among high school pupils.
The tertiary education institutions' based Model United Nations-South Africa youth academic development organisation are the academic development organisation of both the YCA and the Model UN debate series.
Masibi's fellow contestants are Ayanda Bandla, Johan du Pisanie, Vanencia Vollenhoven, Zwelethu Kos and Sebenzile Nkambule.
These six youngsters were chosen out of 3000 hopefuls for a show that is hosted by multi-talented and popular television personality Masechaba Lekalake and that seeks to identify and develop leaders of tomorrow.
One Day Leader also focuses the public's attention on critical social and economic issues facing the nation, by encouraging young and bright minds to come up with innovative ways of addressing social issues.
Each week contestants are exposed to challenges, which they then take to the communities, with cameras in tow, to fathom answers and solutions, enlisting the public's help. Viewers choose the top achievers each step of the way.
Talking to Sowetan this week, a day after the first screening of One Day Leader, Masibi said both the YCA and the Model UN debates had helped nurture his interest in community development.
"Being chosen out of 3000 hopefuls is a significant feat in my young life, but I believe that it is my work in nation-building, particularly the Young Communicators Awards and the Model United Nations debate series, that have stood me in good stead," Masibi said.
"Youth participation in nation-building projects, including reality-television shows such asOne Day Leader, is the missing link in South Africa because most of the social problems, challenges and ills affect young people the most and it is the youth themselves who should be encouraged to seek solutions," he said.
Masibi, an honours degree in chemical engineering student at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, said working with other young people as a trainer and mentor was a humbling experience daily.
All at Sowetan, Anglo American, Education Africa, Model United Nations-SA, Model UN debate series, YCA and the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation wish our humble foot soldier all the best.
"To vote for me, please SMS the number six to 41852," Masibi said, as a parting shot.
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