Motivational speaker gets invitation from the US
Sibiya hopes to acquire new skills
A social entrepreneur from Ivory Park, Midrand, is set to fly the South African flag high in the US as he represents the country at a Christian leadership seminar next month.
Vuyo Sibiya, 26, has been invited to the annual event, dubbed the Awakening Tour, from July 31 to August 5.
The tour across 12 states seeks to workshop young people involved in community projects to help them become better leaders as they work to transform their communities.
Sibiya will be accompanied by colleague Mduduzi Mtakati.
The duo has been invited by The Church of God in Christ, whose website describes it as “the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States”. And that its 6.5 million membership is predominantly African-American, “with congregations in 63 countries”.
Sibiya is making a name for himself as a youth motivational speaker in the townships of Ivory Park and Tembisa. He runs an NGO called Kuzodlula Motivational Tours.
“I was inspired by the large number of pupils who dropped out of school and the high level of teenage pregnancy especially in my former school and the street where I lived.,” he said.
“I realised they just give up because they lacked role models. I started my organisation in 2007 when I was in Grade 10 at Ponelopele Oracle where my first speakers were Pastor Solly Mahlangu and singer and TV Personality Ntombi NgcoboMzolo,” he said.
Now a journalism graduate, Sibiya continues with the journey he began at school, motivating and encouraging other youths to change their lives for the better.
“Though we tell people what they might already know, the message is received with a positive attitude when they hear it from someone they look up to.
“I research issues affecting schools before I visit so the pupils are able to connect with the speakers,” he said.
Sibiya’s organisation has paid more attention to troubled schools in the townships where pupils have very low morale.
He is currently trying to raise funds for plane tickets as their flights were not covered by the tour organisers in the US. He said they were hoping to gain more experience.
“The reason for the visit is to acquire necessary leadership skills which will prepare us to positively transform the lives of young people in South Africa.
“We also aim to establish partnerships with international organisations and companies so we can sustain and broaden our programmes which ultimately make a huge impact on young people.”