Young leader given royal nod
Not everyone can brag about meeting the Queen of England, but for 24-year-old Siphosethu Mbuli this became a reality – and she has a year-long course with the University of Cambridge as a result.
“It was a great experience. It was surreal! We spent three or four hours at the [Buckingham] palace but it felt like it was only 30 minutes‚” Mbuli said.
She was one of two South Africans who received an invitation to the palace last week‚ where they received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award for their work.
Mbuli‚ who lives with albinism‚ was honoured for the work she does for people living with albinism in South Africa through her foundation Love‚ This Skin.
“The queen was very attentive to each of our stories. She was asking about which part of South Africa I am from and the work we have done‚” said the young woman‚ who hails from King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape but is currently based in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
After receiving her invitation to the palace six months ago‚ Mbuli paired with designer Hendrik Vermuelen to put together an outfit that would be fit for royalty.
“The dress showed my South African heritage. It had a large protea in the front and Xhosa patterns around it‚ as I am a Xhosa woman.
“It was also the same colour as my skin‚” she said.
As part of her award‚ Mbuli will be embarking on a yearlong course with the University of Cambridge aimed at helping her develop her organisation. The course will be completed via correspondence.