Imbali man to represent SA at UN conference
The United Nations Best Diplomats conference will be held in Dubai
A young Imbali man has been chosen to represent South Africa at the United Nations Best Diplomats conference in Dubai next month.
Lusanda Sikhakhane (20) said the opportunity to represent South Africa is an honour.
“This is something that I have been working towards as a human rights activist.
“This is one of the biggest platforms that activists like me can find themselves on and at such a young age, I am truly honoured,” said Sikhakhane.
The conference, which is hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), strives to make diplomacy more inclusive by connecting aspiring leaders worldwide, allowing them to exchange views, acquire new skills, and become the next generation of leaders working towards a more sustainable future. Sikhakhane, an aspiring youth leader, founded The LES Foundation, a non-profit organisation that focuses on assisting male rape victims, in October 2022.
“In my foundation we assist males that have been raped and/ or molested.
“We work with partner organisations such as Gift of the Givers and Auram Institute, by offering psychological assistance free of charge.
“Our partner organisations have qualified people who can offer counselling and psychological assistance,” said Sikhakhane.
Sikhakhane, who is also an author, said he believes he was chosen to attend the conference based on his contributions at another international conference in Malaysia, which helped him connect and grow his network.
The former Mconjwana High School pupil said: “I was in disbelief when I got the e-mail informing me about this conference.
“It’s a great opportunity not only for me but also for South Africa as a whole.
“There will be a lot of people with a lot of influence there which will help me grow and advocate for men’s rights; so it’s quite huge for me,” said Sikhakhane.
“I want the message of male rape and molestation to be acknowledged and placed at the forefront in the issue of gender-based violence.
“I also see myself, in the future, graduating from law school because I dropped out of university just to start and focus on my organisation,” said Sikhakhane. The conference runs from May 17 to 21.