"YOU can be the generation that brings opportunity and prosperity to forgotten corners of the world and banishes hunger from this continent forever."
This is a part of what US first lady Michelle Obama told young people in Soweto during her recent visit. Among these were the 76 members of the Young Women's Leaders Forum.
Here is what three talented South Africans - Mati Ndhlovu, Gqibelo Dandala and Mhlanganisi Madlongwana - have had to say about the future:
l Mati Ndhlovu, aged 19, is the Anglo American and Sowetan Young Communicators Awards champion. She is from East London and is studying industrial engineering at Wits.
Q: How do you plan to contribute to society with your qualifications and skills?
A: Added to becoming an industrial engineer, I want to be a freelance journalist and do philanthropic work on the side.
Q: How do you think the future of this country looks?
A: Though people are quick to criticise the government, (some) people are interested in working towards improving the country.
Q: What are you doing to contribute to a brighter future for the country?
A: On campus I am part of Wits Amnesty International, a human rights organisation. I am also a volunteer visiting old age homes or tutoring students.
Q: What do you think are the biggest issues for the country?
A: General social and economic problems such as poverty and education.
Q: How do you think we can fix these problems?
A: Education should be the priority.
- lGqibelo Dandala, 33, from Mount Ayliff, Eastern Cape, is a business science honours student at the University of Cape Town.
She stopped working as an investment banker to start the Future of the African Daughter Project in 2006:
Q: What inspired you to start the Future of the African Daughter Project?
A: When I was an investment banker I noticed that there were very few of me (out) there: young, black, and educated females; and, started asking questions; like, "why we weren't represented" and, "how I could fill that space?"
Q: What does the organisation do?
A: We offer maths and science extra lessons, through a partnership with the University of Johannesburg. The leadership arm involves teaching skills, including public speaking. The third part involves life skills training.
Q: What do you think SA's future looks like?
A: We have the potential to become a real powerhouse.
Q: What do you think are the biggest issues for SA?
A: Beyond the obvious issues of education and economic empowerment, we need people to stop being apathetic, expecting the government to do everything for them, and realise the innate power within each of us.
- Mhlanganisi Madlongwana, 22, from Upington, Northern Cape, is a bachelor of commerce student at the University of Free State, where among others, he is the debating society's chairperson, and serving in the institution's International Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice.
Q: What are you doing to contribute to a brighter future for the country?
A: We need to discuss the issues affecting our society.
Q: What is your vision for SA?
A: I dream of a South Africa that functions optimally, with each citizen taking ownership and responsibility for what needs to be done for our country to thrive, and compete on the international stage; economically and politically.
Q: What do you think are the biggest issues for the country?
A: Poverty and the lack of consistency in the education sector.
Q: How do you think we can fix these problems?
A: There should be a total review of SA's economic policy, as the current system favours only those who are already "economically emancipated".
- The author is an Avusa Media Graduate Journalism Training Programme intern.
Eager to see change in SA
"YOU can be the generation that brings opportunity and prosperity to forgotten corners of the world and banishes hunger from this continent forever."
This is a part of what US first lady Michelle Obama told young people in Soweto during her recent visit. Among these were the 76 members of the Young Women's Leaders Forum.
Here is what three talented South Africans - Mati Ndhlovu, Gqibelo Dandala and Mhlanganisi Madlongwana - have had to say about the future:
l Mati Ndhlovu, aged 19, is the Anglo American and Sowetan Young Communicators Awards champion. She is from East London and is studying industrial engineering at Wits.
Q: How do you plan to contribute to society with your qualifications and skills?
A: Added to becoming an industrial engineer, I want to be a freelance journalist and do philanthropic work on the side.
Q: How do you think the future of this country looks?
A: Though people are quick to criticise the government, (some) people are interested in working towards improving the country.
Q: What are you doing to contribute to a brighter future for the country?
A: On campus I am part of Wits Amnesty International, a human rights organisation. I am also a volunteer visiting old age homes or tutoring students.
Q: What do you think are the biggest issues for the country?
A: General social and economic problems such as poverty and education.
Q: How do you think we can fix these problems?
A: Education should be the priority.
She stopped working as an investment banker to start the Future of the African Daughter Project in 2006:
Q: What inspired you to start the Future of the African Daughter Project?
A: When I was an investment banker I noticed that there were very few of me (out) there: young, black, and educated females; and, started asking questions; like, "why we weren't represented" and, "how I could fill that space?"
Q: What does the organisation do?
A: We offer maths and science extra lessons, through a partnership with the University of Johannesburg. The leadership arm involves teaching skills, including public speaking. The third part involves life skills training.
Q: What do you think SA's future looks like?
A: We have the potential to become a real powerhouse.
Q: What do you think are the biggest issues for SA?
A: Beyond the obvious issues of education and economic empowerment, we need people to stop being apathetic, expecting the government to do everything for them, and realise the innate power within each of us.
Q: What are you doing to contribute to a brighter future for the country?
A: We need to discuss the issues affecting our society.
Q: What is your vision for SA?
A: I dream of a South Africa that functions optimally, with each citizen taking ownership and responsibility for what needs to be done for our country to thrive, and compete on the international stage; economically and politically.
Q: What do you think are the biggest issues for the country?
A: Poverty and the lack of consistency in the education sector.
Q: How do you think we can fix these problems?
A: There should be a total review of SA's economic policy, as the current system favours only those who are already "economically emancipated".
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