AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS: OLD QUEENIAN SET TO GRACE GLOBAL STAGE

Luvo off to Asia World Model UN

AQueen s College Old Boy is

’ hoping to raise funds to attend the prestigious Asia World Model United Nations conference, where he plans to tackle human rights issues facing African people.

Luvo Ben-Mazwi, from Ezibelini, is set to attend the conference from July 3 to 6 in Bali, Indonesia, where delegates from across the globe will discuss world issues, including human rights, which he is passionate about.

The outspoken young man said he required support from local businesses and individuals to assist him with transport and accommodation funds to attend the conference so the beginning of my

“dream will come true ”.

I have e-mailed the headmaster

“of my former school asking for assistance. He referred me to the office of

“the Queen s College Old Boys

’ ’ Association.

I have also approached

“

Ayabonga Cawe, who is also an Old Boy and is doing well.

He said he would do what he

“can to help and even send shoutouts to me on his radio show on Metro FM asking people to chip in. As I head off to Johannesburg

“soon to study for a BA majoring in politics and international relations this week, I am going to meet a woman who will help me set up a crowd-funding request.

These are just some of the strides “

I have taken so far to ensure I get the money to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Ben-Mazwi said he needed about R17,000 for flights, accommodation and other essentials.

He said when he had applied to attend the conference, which he found out about through social media, he was required to identify his priority issue, which was human rights.

His focus will be on genderbased violence against women and injustice towards black African people and homosexuals. Being a homosexual black child “from the Eastern Cape makes things tricky because everything in society is against you.

For me personally, existing in

“various spaces in society was difficult, but I had to manoeuvre my way through, especially in school where everyone is trying to fit in. For instance, when it came to

“accolades, one has to fight for what you deserve because you are different from everyone else.

I got to see from a young age

“that not all spaces are welcoming and accommodating to all people.

Yes, there is a rise of

“consciousness and wokeness but

‘ ’ there is no existing institutional mandate to force systems to protect women, black excellence, the protection of [homosexuals] and the like.

I want to use this global platform “to raise these issues and hopefully see them being rooted out systemically.

I want to make it illegal for the

“marginalised to be deprived of the freedom the so-called normal people experience and enjoy in our country and other African countries.”

His ultimate goal was to one day get a seat in the UN and become an ambassador for SA or any African country because we only have

“social media activists who do not live their politics ”, he said.