Young leader follows famous footsteps
A YOUNG man from the home of South Africa’s most famous statesman, Nelson Mandela, is fast putting the Eastern Cape village of Qunu back on the global map.
Despite being born into poverty which resulted in him being unable to continue his education after completing matric more than a decade ago, Phikolomzi Habe, 32, will attend an international conference on rural development, children’s rights in education and poverty reduction in New York in April. He will travel later to Senegal. Habe will be part of the initiative, started by former US president Barack Obama, after having applied last year and being accepted. But Habe needs some help. “I am appealing to the people of South Africa to support me as I am expected to pay for my own accommodation in Senegal.”
Habe said he had never considered himself leadership material as he was very quiet in high school.
After matric, he was unable to further his studies as his parents did not have the money.
Habe went to Johannesburg to find work.
But after a few years, he had a burning desire to return home and focus on helping the young people of Qunu flourish, much in the same vein as his hero and idol Mandela.
“I felt I owed it to Tata and I owe it to the community of Qunu,” Habe said.
“There are lots of people who dropped out of school and were just sitting and doing nothing.”
And so in about 2011, he and other young people from the village started the Qunu Youth Development Foundation which works with the Nelson Mandela Museum.
In 2015, he joined a nonprofit organisation called Activate Leadership which helps young people identify their strengths, set up projects and source funding.
Last year, Habe was chosen to represent the organisation in the province.
Habe is currently sourcing computers to help the young people of Qunu work online, including being able to apply for bursaries.
The foundation also works closely with libraries in the area to ensure the youths know how to use a computer before they get to university.
He believes there is no grave big enough to bury Mandela’s teachings and values.
“Tata was a traditional man. When he wanted a site to build his home in Qunu, he went to the chief of the area much like everyone else.
“He never came to Qunu as the president but as one of the people.”